AI and Digital Health Technology in Animal Health Care and Welfare

This edited book brings together expert contributions from renowned researchers, academics, and practitioners in the field of animal health care. The book explores the transformative potential of digital health technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in animal health care and welfare, highlighting their utility, importance, and applications.

The book comprises of 25 chapters, each focusing on a specific aspect of digital health technology and AI in animal health care, including Animal Welfare

This edited book provides a thorough understanding of the current state and future directions of digital health technology and AI in animal health care. Expert insights in the form of contributions from renowned experts in the field, offering practical guidance and theoretical foundations. Interdisciplinary perspectives: gives a holistic understanding of the complex relationships between digital health technology, AI, animal health care, and welfare.

This book is designed for:

• Veterinarians: Seeking to stay updated on the latest digital health technologies and AI applications.
• Animal health professionals: Interested in exploring the potential of digital health technology and AI in animal health care.
• Livestock producers: Looking to optimize their operations through precision livestock farming and digital health technologies.
• Researchers and academics: Investigating the intersection of animal health, digital health technology, and AI.
• Policy makers and industry stakeholders: Seeking to understand the implications of digital health technology and AI on animal health care and welfare.

S. R. Upadhyay did his BVSc & AH from Nagpur Veterinary College, Maharashtra, India in the year 2000. MVSc in Veterinary Medicine from Veterinary College, Anjora, Durg (under I.G.K.V, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India) in the year 2003 and subsequently Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine from Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences, Jammu, J & K, India in the year 2015. Dr. Upadhyay started his Carrier as Research Associate at prestigious Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. At present he is working as Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences, Jammu, J & K, India and Heading Division of Veterinary Animal Husbandry Extension Education.

Upadhyay has more than 22 years of teaching, research and extension experience. He has more than 80 publications to his credit in various national and international journals of repute. Apart he is also author and co-author of 10 books/research monographs/manuals and had also written approximately 19 chapters in books. He also presented more than 49 research papers in various national and international conferences and received more than 10 best paper/poster presentation awards. He has guided 04 MVSc and 01 Ph.D. student so far as major advisor and member in advisory committee of 10 PG/PhD students. Dr. Upadhyay is recipient of merit cum mean scholarship in graduation, honours in post graduation and merit scholarship in his Ph.D. Dr Upadhyay has been conferred with Fellow of Academy of Science for Animal Welfare and highly prestigious DC Blood Gold Medal and Professor Sushovan Roy Gold Medal for Best Teacher in Veterinary Medicine by Indian Society for Veterinary Medicine for his outstanding contribution in Veterinary Medicine. Apart, he has also been conferred with Young Scientist Award by Council for Science and Technology, Government of Chhattisgarh, India for his outstanding research in master’s degree. He has also been conferred with Young Scientist Award by Indian Society for Veterinary Medicine and Indian Association for Advancement of Veterinary Research. He is recipient of Appreciation award by various professional organisations like ISVM, ISACP, AVDI, VIPM and SBBS. He is life member of various professional and scientific bodies like ISCA, NAVS, IVA, ISVM, ISACP, ISIIP, IAAVR and VCI.

Hussain’s research broadly focused on healthcare aspects of small, large, and exotic animal species. He has a rich experience in veterinary clinical medicine/mineral and vitamin deficiency disease/endocrine disorders/ zoo animal healthcare research. He has worked on techniques of non-invasive endocrine monitoring including sample workup preparation, performance of enzyme immunoassays (EIA), data collection and interpretation at Endocrine Laboratory, Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Berlin, Germany. He has guided 9pg students, co guided 30 pg students, 1 Ph.D student and co advisor of 3 Ph.D students. In addition to this, he has more than 20 years of experience in teaching research and extension in veterinary medicine. Dr Hussain published more than 100 papers in international, national journals and Conferences/ Seminars/ Symposiums. He is active member of many international society including American Association of Zoo Veterinarian, Florida United States, European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV) and International Primatological Society (IPS). Dr Hussain is a recipient of international recognition Award -Murray Fowler International Conference Scholarship Award instituted by American Association of Zoo Veterinarian. He is fellow of Academy of Science for Animal welfare, recipient of Young scientist award by Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction (ISSAR), Award of Honour from Soc. of Mob. and Indian Society of Veterinary Medicine Appreciation award.

Neelesh Sindhu, Assistant Professor, Veterinary Medicine and working in Department of Veterinary Clinical Complex and also at Haryana Pashu Vigyan Kendra, Jhajjar, Haryana joined the Veterinary profession in 2000 as Veterinary Student. He completed graduation in 2005, Master’s in Veterinary Clinical medicine from CCSHAU, Hisar in 2007 and PhD in Veterinary Clinical Medicine in 2010 from COVS, CCSHAU, Hisar. In June, 2010, he joined as Veterinary Surgeon in Govt of Haryana and worked as field Veterinarian for Animal health Care and in December, 2013, he joined as Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and is working for welfare of dairy farmers and companion animal owners.

Being associated directly with Farmers and animal owners especially since 2006 (A total experience of more than 18 years) when his Post graduate research started on Staphylococcal mastitis, he has tried his level best to understand the ground reality challenges of farmers and dairy owners and tried level best to solve their issues at their doorsteps. In true spirit of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, his research is associated with practical problems (Lab to Land) so that his students can excel in research, education and animal welfare and care and become inspiration for farmers and animal owners especially dairy farmers. Being having passion to excel in Media along with Veterinary Skills, he is associated with many professional societies as Media Incharge and helped in conduction of webinars and dissemination of knowledge especially during COVID crisis. Being social media Incharge of ISVM, he has been given responsibility to manage Society’s Social Media handles to provide information to all members/non-members.

Pranav Kumar is a Veterinary Extension Education scientist with more than 18 years of experience in government and private sectors. Born in Begusarai, Bihar, he pursued his academic career at prestigious institutions like Sainik School Tilaiya, College of Veterinary Sciences, Hyderabad. He earned his Master Degree in Veterinary Extension Education from Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly and Ph.D. in Veterinary Extension Education from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu. Dr. Kumar's professional journey began as a Subject Matter Specialist at PRADAN, an NGO in New Delhi. He later worked in various roles, including Senior Executive at Mother Dairy and Assistant Manager at Hariyali Kisan Bazar. In 2010, he joined Division of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension Education, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, SKUAST-Jammu as an Assistant Professor and is currently working as Associate Professor.

As an academician, Dr. Kumar has taught various undergraduate and postgraduate courses, guided 11 Masters students, and published 49 research papers. He has developed innovative extension programs, including ICT based web modules on Scientific Dairy Practices, Organic Dairy Farming, Scientific Goat and Broiler Farming. He has also designed and developed several training manuals, extension booklets, and folders on various aspects of animal husbandry for the benefits of farming and scientific community. A prolific writer, Dr. Kumar has authored four books, edited two books, and contributed to 26 book chapters. He has received several awards, including the Best Extension Scientist Award, Fellow Award, Young Scientist Award, and Excellence in Extension Award. He is also involved in several externally funded projects as PI and Co-PI. He has received several awards, including the Best Extension Scientist Award, Fellow Award, Young Scientist Award, and Excellence in Extension Award. Dr. Kumar is actively involved in extension activities, including training programs, workshops, and Kisan Melas. He is a life member of several professional societies and aims to bridge the gap between the veterinary scientific community and farming community through innovative extension programs. He possesses a never-ending passion for extension outreach and connecting to the people.

Mandeep Singh Azad is an animal genetics and breeding scientist with over 13 years of experience in research and innovation in animal sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Animal Genetics and Breeding from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu. His research expertise includes molecular characterization, animal breeding, and genetics. Dr. Azad has received 18 international fellowships and attended 28 fully funded international events. He is currently associated with 10 projects as PI and Co-PI and holds a patent for an IoT-based solar-powered agricultural robot. He has also developed a mobile app with over 10,000 users. With over 100 publications, including research papers, popular articles, and books, Dr. Azad is a prolific writer. He has authored 10 books in English and Hindi and serves as an editor for a scientific periodical. Dr. Azad is a member of 11 international and national scientific organizations and has completed an international project in collaboration with organizations from the UK and Vietnam. As a scientist at SKUAST-Jammu, Dr. Azad has experience running demonstration cum training units, including dairy, poultry, and feed block units. He excels in team-based research, collaborating with national and international researchers, scientists, farmers, and experts.

Shikha Sharma completed her graduation and then master’s and PhD in Veterinary Parasitology from SKUAST-Jammu respectively in the year 2009, 2011 and 2016. She is recipient of Young Scientist Award, Merit Scholarship during her doctoral studies & few best paper/poster presentation awards in various national and international conferences. Dr Shikha has more than 10 scientific publications in high impact journals of repute, coauthored two books and presented 10 papers in various conferences. In her brief scientific carrier Dr Shikha has studied zoonotic potential of canine Giardiasis in Jammu district, complexity and pathology of induced hook worm infection in healthy and diabetic murine model and as a junior research fellow she was associated with DBT project to study impact of backyard poultry on socio-economic status of rural population of border area of Jammu. At present she is associated as faculty in private Veterinary College in Haryana.