Remount and Veterinary Corps

Remounts and Veterinary Corps is one of the major arms of Indian Army. Before the 1914-18 war the Remounts Directorate was responsible for the purchase, rearing and issuing of remounts to the three non-silladar regiments, the British cavalry and other artillery units. It was also responsible for the army transport animals except for their purchase, organisation of the animal resources in the country for war, fitness of the animals so produced for the use of the army, mobilisation of fighting units or of transport, mobilisation of remount units for the field and control and distribution of horses in the units. Some breeding centres were also supervised by the department.

History of Remounts and Veterinary Corps
The remount depots at Saharanpur, Mona, Babugarh, Sargodha and Ahmednagar held the animals. There was a Remounts Directorate at Army Headquarters under the Director General of Remounts. During the war the functions of the Department were enlarged and the mounting of the whole of the Indian cavalry became its responsibility. It was also made responsible for the provision of camels and draught bullocks and the maintenance of about 70,000 horses. An officer was attached to each command as an adviser to the army and district commander on all remount problems. The veterinary service was responsible for the care of the animals of British units while the Indian units looked after their animals themselves. There was a Director of Veterinary Service at Army Headquarters. For this purpose the country was divided into three circles - northern, central and southern. In the First World War, Veterinary Corps provided vet cover to animals employed in Palestine and Russia. It was in the Second World War that normal weapons such as Rifles, Bayonets, and Carbine Machines were authorised to the Corps. Vet personnel also received training in battle inoculation in addition to technical training.

Role of Remounts and Veterinary Corps
Some of the main functions of Remounts and Veterinary Corps include procurement, rearing, breeding, training of Army dogs for specialised tasks such as guarding and tracking. Prevention, control, treatment of infectious and contagious diseases, inspection of food of animal origin and prevention of zoonotic diseases are other responsibilities of Remounts and Veterinary Corps.