The Nagpur Veterinary College was established in the year 1958 under Nagpur University and subsequently became part of Dr. PDKV, Akola and now is the constituent college of Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, since 2000. The Department of Animal Nutrition has been established since inception of the College and the postgraduate degree program was started in the year of 1974-75 with an intake capacity of 3 students and Ph.D. program was started in 2012-13 with an intake capacity of 2 students. Five students have completed Ph.D. degree programme and 88 students have completed M.V.Sc. degree programme during the golden period of 50 years of the Department.

The Department has been instrumental in conducting both fundamental and applied research. The research outcomes of the department have benefited the farmers through applications of the findings in lab to land program. Beside this, undergraduate as well as post-graduate education and transfer of technologies in the area of animal nutrition are the basic responsibilities of this department. This department is having Feed analytical laboratory which caters the need of livestock owners, feed manufacturers, poultry farm owners, government department and individual farmers. This department also provide consultancy services for preparation of livestock and poultry feed, low cost feed formulations, farmers training program namely on-farm demonstration, popularization of use of unconventional feed, green fodder production are carried out. The department also collaborates with national and international research organizations contributing to the development of advance techniques in feed and fodder evaluation for assessing feed quality and safety and nutritional strategies to improve animal health and productivity. Through a combination of teaching, research and extension activities, the department aims to advance knowledge in Animal Nutrition and support the broader goals of veterinary and animal science. The Department conducts the areas specific and need based research on livestock and poultry productivity improvement. This department also conducts industries sponsored research trials/ agencies schemes which also help in resource generation of the department. The department is actively involved in various extension activities like participation of faculty in farmers rally, exhibitions, farmers training program, training program for educated, unemployed youths, TV and radio talks and publication of leaflets, bulletin for transfer of technology from lab to farm. Validation and transfer of the nutritional technologies to the target groups is main activity of the department.