Remount Veterinary Corps

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REMOUNT VETERINARY CORPS

The Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) is responsible for breeding, rearing and training of equines for the Army. The Corps is one of the oldest in the Army, having being raised on 14 December 1780. It provides animals, generally mules, to the Animal Transport (AT) Units and horses to the President Body Guard (PBG) as well as other cavalry units. The Corps is controlled by Additional Director General who functions under Quarter Master General's Branch. It has two Equine Breeding Studs (EBS) at Hisar, Haryana and Babugarh, Uttar Pradesh for breeding of horses & mules and two Remount Training School & Depots (RTS&D) at Hempur and Saharanpur for rearing, training and issue of remounts. With expansion of the breeding base in 1985, these depots are now performing the role of breeding also. In the field of scientific development, the Equine Fertility Centre (EFC), a pioneer institute in 'Development of Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT) the only one in the country has been established at the EBS in Babugarh and has successfully standardized the procedure for embryo transfer in equines. The Corps has also developed techniques of artificial insemination in equines to suit Indian conditions and have standardized the procedure. With the standardization of this technique, it has become the only centre in the world where mass scale production of mules is undertaken through artificial insemination.

The Corps also carries out production and rearing of specialized sports horses of various breeds such as Thoroughbreds, Hanoverians, Evening, Show Jumping, Trooper and Polo ponies. In addition, RVC is the premier agency in breeding of quality dogs and their training. These dogs are noted for performing guarding, tracking, mine detection, explosive detection, search & rescue and avalanche rescue duties in the army. Army dogs and their handlers are providing exemplary service to the nation and act as a force multiplier in the Indian Army. The dogs are doing outstanding performance in counter insurgency operations in J&K and the North-East. The success of these Army dogs is indeed a tribute to the high training standards and professionalism maintained by RVC. The Central Military Veterinary Laboratory (CMVL) located at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh is RVC's premier laboratory of national repute and is involved in the field of disease investigation and diagnostics. It also conducts various research and development projects in the field of animal sciences. RVC plays a significant role in quality control of food of animal origin for troops. The Corps also provides technical expertise in the form of treatment, breeding and management of Military Farm animals thereby providing wholesome milk to the troops. RVC personnel are also part of a number of Indian peace keeping contingents deployed in various UN missions abroad. The assistance provided by the Corps in the treatment and control of diseases by carrying out mass vaccination of animals has been widely acclaimed by UN authorities.

The Corps has one RVC Centre and School at Meerut for imparting training to Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks of RVC and other arms & services and one Record Office at the same station. In April 1985, the breeding base of RVC was expanded by the Ministry of Defence from 2700 animals to 3973 animals (3766 mares and 207 stallions) to achieve self sufficiency in production of the animals. The additional requirement of animals was met by spending a sum of Rs 7.06 crores on import of breeding stock. The actual holding of brood mares in July 1993 was 2822 animals. The Corps has seen action during both world wars. After Independence it took part in J&K Operations (1947-48), NEFA 1962 and in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. The Corps has also given support to the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka. In the Kargil Operations, the contribution of the Corps has been substantial and it is presently involved in counter insurgency operations in J&K and the north east.