Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) is a university established by the Government of Kerala in December 2010 to further education, research and extension services in the field of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.The territorial jurisdiction of the university extends to the whole of the State of Kerala. Its headquarters is located at Pookode near Kalpetta in Wayanad District in Kerala State.There are six constituent colleges of the university:

• College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur
• College of Dairy Science and Technology, Mannuthy, Thrissur
• College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Wayanad
• College of Avian Sciences and Management, Thiruvazhamkunnu, Palakkad
• College of Dairy Science and Technology, KELTRON Campus, Karakulam, Thiruvananthapuram.
• College of Food Technology, Thumburmuzhy, Chalakudy, Thrissur.
• B.Tech (Dairy Science and Technology) Programme, KVASU Main Campus, Pookode, Wayanad.

Dr B Ashok, an alumnus of College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, is the first Vice-Chancellor of the University.

The foundation stone-laying ceremony of the administrative block of the university was held on 2 August 2010 by V.S. Achuthanandan, the then Chief Minister of Kerala.

Kerala, which forms 1.18 percent geographic area of the country, has many peculiarities. When the area of cultivable land gets reduced, there is increased potential for livestock products in the state. Increase in population density, high land pressure, varying climatic conditions, increase in cost of production and reduced availability of land for fodder cultivation are some of the major issues affecting this sector. Even with these adverse conditions, Kerala could achieve spectacular growth in livestock production. The state has complete network of veterinary institutions at the Grama panchayat level and has more than 90 percent crossbred cattle. During the last four decades, Kerala could achieve quantum jump in milk production. Livestock rearing is gradually shifting from subsidiary to main occupation in rural areas. Since women involvement is more than 80 percent, more number of women self help groups are actively involved in livestock farming in the state. There is sunrise potential for education and research in veterinary and animal sciences. Taking in to account the growing importance of this sector, Government of Kerala has established Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University to give emphasis to education, research and development in the livestock sector.

The newly formed Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) is located in the scenic hilly terrain of Pookot in Wayanad district, Kerala, India. KVASU has three constituent colleges which include: College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookot, Wayanad and College of Dairy Science and Technology, Mannuthy. Moreover the university has research stations at Thumbermuzhi, Thiruvazhamkunnu and Mannuthy. Since this is a newly established university, improvement of infrastructure facilities is of paramount importance. Infrastructure facilities in the areas of education, research, extension, capacity building, IT connectivity, distance learning, Clinical services, diagnostic facilities, zoonoses, animal nutrition, biotechnology, ethnoveterinary medicine, pathobiology, dairy technology and in other related sectors are most essential and are directly linked to rural development.

The University is presently enhancing the available infrastructural facilities:

• To cater to the needs of the emerging University to international level;
• To function as tropical referral and training center in the area of tropical Animal production and Veterinary medicine;
• To offer multidisciplinary courses in the area of Veterinary and Animal Sciences including Wild Life Science and improving the employment opportunities in the sector and out of the country;
• To strengthen the bond between the scientists and the farmers by speedy technology transfer which will trigger the overall rural development of the region and give a boost to the country’s target for achieving the millennium development goals within a short span of time.

One-time grant of Rs.100 crore to KVASU

The newly formed Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University has been allocated an amount of Rs. 100 crore in the Union Budget for 2011-12. This is a one-time grant for the development of the potential in veterinary and animal sciences research in the new University. The grant is to be used for developing eight research schools in the veterinary colleges at Mannuthy and Pookode and the dairy science college at Mannuthy: animal production biotechnology; bio-energy and farm waste management; zoonoses and public health; patho-biological sciences and ethno-pharmacology; new media and research; avian sciences; and instrumentation and engineering.

Institutions under KVASU

1. College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur.
2. College of Dairy Sciences and Technology, Mannuthy.
3. College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Wayanad.
4. College of Avian Sciences and Management, Thiruvazhamkunnu, Palakkad.
5. College of Dairy Science and Technology, KELTRON Campus, Karakulam, Thiruvananthapuram.
6. College of Food Technology, Thumburmuzhy, Chalakudy, Thrissur.
7. B.Tech (Dairy Science and Technology) Programme, KVASU Main Campus, Pookode, Wayanad.
8. Clinical Veterinary Complex, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode.
9. Instructional farms attached to College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode.
10. Livestock Research Station, Thiruvazhamkunnu, Palakkad.
11. Base Farm, Kolahalamedu, Idukki.
12. University Poultry and Duck Farm, Mannuthy.
13. Pig Breeding Farm, Mannuthy.
14. Goat and Sheep Farm, Mannuthy.
15. Regional Cattle Infertility Research Centre, Kozhikode.
16. University Livestock Farm and Fodder Research and Development Scheme, Mannuthy.
17. All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Poultry, Mannuthy.
18. Centre for Advanced Studies in Poultry Science, Mannuthy.
19. Centre for Advanced Studies in Animal Breeding and Genetics, Mannuthy.
20. Meat Plant, Mannuthy.
21. Dairy Plant, Mannuthy.
22. Veterinary Hospital, Kokkalai, Thrissur.
23. Veterinary Hospital, Mannuthy.
24. Cattle Breeding Farm, Thumburmuzhy.

The existing library of the faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science is a part of the faculty building .The library was established in 1959. The library being the heart of the University provides cutting-edge facilities and services to support research, teaching, learning, and scholarly communication across disciplines. It has good accommodation and excellent infrastructural facilities. It provides access to various national, international journals and periodicals in addition to an excellent collection of textbooks and reference books. There is also a separate collection of the thesis and dissertations, besides bound volumes of old journals. Facilities are also provided to students and faculty for access to internet and online journals.