The College, earlier known as College of Veterinary Medicine, was established in 1960, as one of the two constituent colleges of the first Agricultural University of India the U.P. Agricultural University to impart undergraduate and postgraduate education for producing competent veterinarians; to conduct basic and applied research on various aspects of livestock health, production and livestock products technology; to carryout veterinary and animal husbandry extension activities through farm advisory services, health care services, organizing animal welfare camps, livestock shows etc. and to provide expert advice in veterinary and animal husbandry matters including diagnostic services and health coverage programs.

At that time, the college had only four departments, viz. Anatomy & Histology, Physiology & Pharmacology, Pathology & Hygiene and Medicine & Surgery. The college has been renamed as College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences after merging the department of Animal Science of the College of Agriculture with the college in 2003.

Now, amongst forty-two Government Veterinary Colleges of the Country, the College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences at Pantnagar has emerged as a role model for excellence. It endeavors to transform the illustrious students into skilled veterinarians, carry out innovative research on compelling issues of local and national interest and transferring technologies from lab to the ultimate users.

The College with all its academic activities initially organized in only four departments, has now expanded to accommodate fifteen departments and three independent units including Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Animal Biotechnology Center and Instructional Livestock Farm Complex. All the departments are manned by knowledgeable and efficient faculty members. The lecture theatres and laboratories are well furnished with state-of-the-art physical facilities and modern sophisticated equipment including atomic absorption and UV spectrophotometer, ultrasound scanner, HPLC, FPLC, large animal anaesthesia machine, ethylene oxide gas sterilizer, ELISA plate reader, autoanalyzer, ultracentrifuge, liquid nitrogen plant, etc. Every department is provided with computers and internet connectivity.

The College has also equipped with a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) as a central facility to cater to the ever-growing needs of the researchers. It is a JEOL 1011, 100 KVA machine with a resolution of 0.2 nm and magnification up to 6,00,000X, An Ice Cream Plant and Meat Processing Plant have been established in the Department of Livestock Products Technology of the college to impart entrepreneurial training to the UG and PG students.

The educational activities of the College are directed towards effective learning. Modern AV-aids are used for efficient delivery. Laboratory manuals have been developed in each course. Departmental and faculty seminars have been made regular features. Best teacher and best student awards have been implemented in order to make teaching/learning process more competitive. Besides a huge central library, the College has developed its own library stocking latest textbooks, journals and scientific and general magazines. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital operates round-the-clock. Students are engaged in clinical work even on Sundays and holidays. An Instructional Animal Farm including units on equine, ovine, caprine, canine and poultry has been established. A computer laboratory has been established to train the UG and PG students in computer handling. In addition to the B.V.Sc. & A.H. degree programme, the College offers courses for the award of M.V.Sc. degree in 19 and Ph.D. degree in 16 subjects.