First-ever framework for veterinary blood banks announced in India

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (AH&D) has released guidelines for establishing blood banks for livestock and pet animals—the first such framework in India. The move comes amid criticism that animal blood donations are often conducted without proper blood group assessment.

Globally, animal blood donation is practised to treat conditions such as blood clotting disorders, excessive blood loss during surgery, contagious diseases, and growth deficiencies. The AH&D guidelines aim to provide a scientific and ethical blueprint for safe blood collection and transfusion in such emergencies.

Criteria for Blood Donation
Dogs:  Age - 1 to 8 years
Weight: Minimum 25 kg
Must have received anti-rabies vaccination and deworming
Donation interval: Every 4 to 6 weeks

Cats: Age- 1 to 5 years
Weight: Minimum 4 kg, and should not be obese
Donation interval: Every 8 to 12 weeks

Cattle
Only fully grown, healthy cattle are eligible
Pregnant cattle should not be used as donors

Other Key Recommendations

• Creation of a national veterinary blood bank network, supported by a digital registry and helpline.
• Establishment of state-level blood banks with bio-safety systems.
• Mandatory blood group assessment for pet animals and cattle to prevent adverse reactions.
• Standard rules for assessing health, age, weight, and disease status of donor animals.
• System for registration of donor animals and reporting of side effects.
• Inclusion of special training on animal blood donation in the veterinary science curriculum.
• Deployment of mobile collection units for animal blood donation drives.
• The new guidelines are expected to streamline animal blood donation in India, ensuring safety and ethical practices while improving veterinary care across the country.