Duvvuru Venka Reddy (D. Venkareddy/ D.V.

Reddy)
0116. Veterinary and Animal Science Research Foundation (VASREF) is pleased to
confer the award of Fellow of Veterinary and Animal Science (FVASc) to Professor
(Dr) D.V. Reddy, Founder Professor and Head, Department of Animal Nutrition and
former Dean, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research (Pondicherry University),
Puducherry U.T., in recognition of his momentous contribution to veterinary and animal science in
the year 2016.

Antecedent: Professor Reddy was born in Allur in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh state of India,
the habitat of Nellore breed of sheep, famous for mutton production, on 15 August 1954.

Academic accomplishments: Professor Reddy was graduated (BVSc) in 1978, with 3.18/4.0 OGPA,
and completed post-graduation (MVSc) in Animal Science in 1981, with 3.9/4.0 OGPA, from the
College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati, with financial support extended by the Department of Atomic
Energy, Govt. of India, in the form of Junior Research Fellowship in a BARC sponsored scheme, and
was awarded Andhra Bank Gold Medal for scoring highest OGPA in MVSc. He completed his
doctoral degree (PhD) in Animal Nutrition at Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar,
Uttar Pradesh in 1989 with 3.565/4.0 OGPA, financed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) in the form of Senior Research Fellowship, and worked on the research project ‘Response to
supplementation of critical nutrients in buffaloes fed with diets based on ammoniated wheat straw’
for his PhD dissertation that entailed him Dr. N.D. Kehar Award for the best PhD thesis (1989-90) in
‘Animal Nutrition’, which later, paved way for development of ‘Feed-Block technology’ used for the
production of ‘Readymade Feed’ to livestock.

Scientific achievements: Professor Reddy was Principal Investigator of the project ‘Development of
straw based practical diets for buffaloes using catalytic level of supplements’ funded by International
Foundation for Science (IFS), Sweden (1992-1994), and was the Principal Investigator of the project
‘Development of LAMP based method for the detection of animal by-products in feedstuffs’ funded
by Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India, New Delhi (2012-2014). Besides, he was involved with
various departmental research projects of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and
Research (RGIVER), Pondicherry.

His most significant research achievements are:

 Development of strategic supplementation technology of deficient nutrients in ruminants for
optimization of rumen fermentation and enhancement of straw utilization for augmentation of
animal productivity. The collateral benefit of the technology is diminution of global warming
through reduction of methane emission, besides optimum utilization of ammonia for synthetic
purposes.

 Evaluation and standardization of technology for use of fresh foliage of Subabul (Leucaena
leucocephala), Sesbania (Sesbania grandiflora), Jack (Artocarpus heterophyllus), and Acacia
(Acacia auriculiformis) trees as supplementary source of nutrients for sustainable production of
ruminants reared on grass-based diets under self-subsistence farming system.

 Evaluation and standardization of technology for use of leaves of Cashewnut (Anacardium

occidentale), Guava (Psidium guajava), and Pencil (Acacia auriculiformis) trees with high
condensed tannins for use as ‘Organic protectors’ to enhance rumen protein utilization, thus
reducing environmental pollution from ruminants.

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 Development and standardization of technology of high-sensitive loop-mediated isothermal
amplification (LAMP) assay method capable of detecting the presence of ruminant animal protein
in cattle feed (0.25 ng of target DNA by LAMP compared to 2.5 ng by PCR).
Publications: Professor Reddy is the author of 48 research papers published in various national and
international research journals, and presented in various workshops and seminars. He was deputed
to Germany for presentation of his research papers in the symposium ‘Small-Scale Ruminant
Production in Tropical Areas’ held at University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart on 24 September 1994,
and VIII International Symposium on ‘Ruminant Physiology’, held in Willingen (25-30 September
1994).

He has authored 45 popular science articles in veterinary and animal science for easy access of
research findings to common man.

He is the author of five text books in the field of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, and has
contributed specialised chapters in Animal Nutrition in text books & year books.

Research guidance: He has guided two MVSc students as Major Advisor and was Minor
Advisor/Member of the Student Advisory Committee for 23 MVSc students.

Professional Honours & Awards: Professor Reddy was conferred with Fellow Membership diploma
(FUWAI) by United Writers’ Association, Chennai in 1998, Fellow of National Academy of Veterinary
Sciences (FNAVS) in 2006, Fellow of the Animal Nutrition Association (FANA) in 2006, and
‘Achievement Award’ in recognition of meritorious services rendered in the field of Animal Nutrition
Research by Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers’ Association of India in 2014.

Professional assignments: Professor Reddy is the Consultant Editor of Animal Science Reporter
(International Journal of Animal Science Research), Member of Editorial Board of Ruminant Science,
Honorary Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition (Animal
Nutrition Society of India), and Honorary Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Animal Nutrition
and Feed Technology (Journal) of Animal Nutrition Association, India.

Professor Reddy was Member of Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) of Central Institute for Research
on Buffaloes, Hisar for the period from 1996 to 2005. Besides, he was endowed with several
professional responsibilities in various ICAR institutes and Universities.

Member of Professional Organizations: Professor Reddy is Life member of Alumni Association of

College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati, Animal Nutrition Society of India, Indian Society for Buffalo
Development, Animal Nutrition Association of Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Dairy
Herd Improvement Association, Chennai, Indian Society for Nuclear Technology in Animal Sciences
(ISNUTAS), Chennai, Federation of Veterinary Nutrition and Animal Welfare (FVNAW), Indian Meat
Science Association (IMSA), Indian Veterinary Association, and Member of Veterinary Council of
India, and Pondicherry Veterinary Council.

Professor Reddy retired from service on superannuation on 31 August 2016.

It is said ‘Retirement is a Journey ... Not a Destination’.
We retell the same for Professor Reddy.
Address for communication:
Prof. D. Venka Reddy, TF 1, Maragatham apartments, Ellaipillaichavady, Puducherry-605005,
Mobile: 0- 94865 35293, Email: [email protected], www.facebook.com/venkareddyduvvuru,
www.facebook.com/DUVREY