What is Animal Blood Bank Network?National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN)/UPSC Daily Current Affairs/18 Aug 2025

Why in News ? The Centre is working on a plan to facilitate and standardise blood banking and blood transfusion in veterinary care.

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has invited comments from experts, institutions, and the public on the draft “Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Blood Transfusion & Blood Bank for Animals in India” prepared last month.

Why are SOPs needed for animal blood transfusion?

• India has a large livestock population of 536.76 million (20th Livestock Census, 2019).
• The country is witnessing a rise in pet ownership, particularly dogs and cats.
• Livestock includes cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, and also horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, camels, and pigs.
• India has the world’s largest population of cattle and buffalo, and the second-largest population of goats. The population of companion animals is estimated at 125 million.

The animal sector plays a vital role in agriculture and the rural economy. Animal husbandry and dairying together contribute 30% of agricultural GVA and 5.5% of India’s GDP.
Given this significance, the government sees an urgent need to establish and regulate animal blood transfusion practices.

Currently, India lacks structured tools, veterinary transfusion guidelines, and regulated donor screening.

How will animal blood banks function?

Eligibility of Donor Animals:

General health and suitability

• Must be clinically healthy.
• Free from tick- and vector-borne diseases.

Age and weight

• Dogs: 1–8 years, minimum weight 25 kg.
• Cats: 1–5 years, minimum weight 4 kg.
• Livestock donors: must be selected from healthy adults.

Vaccination and reproductive health:

• Donors must be fully vaccinated, dewormed, and parasite-free.
• Female donors must not be pregnant or lactating.

Integration of the System:

The draft proposes a National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN) under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

The N-VBBN will provide:

• Digitally integrated donor registries with details of species, breed, location, and blood type.
• A real-time inventory management system to ensure the availability of whole blood and components.
• Helplines and online portals to connect veterinary clinics, hospitals, and donors.
• Standardised practices for reporting, testing, and adverse reaction management.