Biometry and follicular parameters of porcine ovaries sourced from organized and unorganized-slaughterhouses and relative comparison of oocyte retrieval methods, namely aspiration and slicing, are reported in the present study. Average length and width of the ovaries, and numbers of surface and cystic follicles were higher in ovaries sourced from organized slaughterhouses. Average number of oocytes recovered per ovary by slicing (12.93±1.49) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than aspiration (6.36±1.02). However, aspiration yielded higher percentage (65.21±5.71) of good quality oocytes (A) (P<0.01) suitable for upstream applications of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Further, our study reveals that ovaries sourced from unorganized slaughterhouses can also be used for ART, and use of aspiration method may yield better quality oocytes.

Nutritional evaluation of different pulse chunnies was carried using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) and validated with wet analysis for inclusion in livestock feeds. The portable NIRS spectrophotometer FOSS XDS RCA and FOSS 6500 chemometrics software were used for the study. A total of 324 samples of four pulse chunnies (red gram (RGC), green gram (GGC), black gram (BLGC) and bengal gram (BGC)) were assessed using NIRS. It revealed that RGC had significantly (P<0.01) highest DM content than other three samples. The mean CP content was highest (P<0.01) in GGC and lowest in BGC and significantly (P<0.01) higher ether extract (EE) was recorded in BLGC and RGC and lowest in BGC samples. The ash content was significantly (P<0.01) highest in BLGC and lowest in RGC samples. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents were higher (P<0.01) in BGC and lower in GGC samples. Wet analysis shown, the DM content did not differ (P>0.05) among pulse chunni samples, while significantly (P<0.01) higher organic matter was recorded in RGC and lowest in BLGC samples. The CP was higher (P<0.01) in BLGC and lower in BGC and significantly (P<0.01) highest crude fibre recorded for BGC, RGC and was lowest in BLGC and GGC samples. Highest (P<0.05) EE was observed in BLGC while lowest in BGC. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in nitrogen free extract among pulse chunnies, while ash content was significantly (P<0.01) higher in BLGC and lower in RGC samples. NDF, ADF and ADL were significantly (P<0.01) higher in BGC and lower in GGC samples. The study concludes that the NIRS technique can be used to screen large number of samples in lesser time for using them in livestock feed formulations as there is a high correlation between NIRS and conventional feed analysis.

An outbreak of pasteurellosis was recorded in a local Japanese quail farm in Tamil Nadu with a flock capacity of 20,000 birds per batch. Mortality was reported in new arrival of 2000 birds of 14 week old quails. Mortality was recorded to be increasing from third day to 10th day of arrival with a total mortality of 410 birds at the rate of 20 birds per day for three consecutive days and 30 to 60 for seven consecutive days with the history of depression, ruffled feathers, discharge of mucous from the mouth and nostrils, anorexia, diarrhoea and respiratory distress. Necropsy was performed on dead birds which revealed numerous greyish necrotic foci scattered on the entire parenchyma of the liver on gross examination. Heart showed petechial haemorrhages on the pericardium while other organs namely kidney, intestine, spleen and lungs showed only congestion. Impression smear of the liver revealed presence of bipolar organisms on microscopic examination. Cultural examination of heart blood swab and PCR assay carried out on liver tissues confirmed the presence of Pasteurella multocida. Based on the postmortem examination and laboratory findings, diagnosis was confirmed as pasteurellosis and all the other ailing birds were treated with enrofloxacin orally @ 5 mg/kg body weight for 7 days. The treated birds became active with normal feeding habits after 10 days of treatment. 

An attempt was made to measure the comparative advantage of dairy farming among different occupational groups of rural Tamil Nadu (540 households and 2500 persons) for its poverty alleviation role. The most commonly used measures of poverty viz., head count index (P 0), poverty gap index (P1) and squared poverty gap (poverty severity) index (P2), the Watts index and average exit time from poverty were calculated. About 59 per cent of the total sample households and close to 65 per cent of sample population were found to stay below poverty line. P1 P2 and W index were observed to be the highest among agricultural labourers and the lowest among dairy farmers. At four per cent of hypothetical income growth rate, the time required to exit out of poverty was estimated to be the least for dairy farmers (4.66 years for buffalo and 4.91 years for cattle), followed by fishermen (5.09 years). Keeping in view of poverty reduction potential of dairy farming, it shall be included in poverty alleviation programmes. 

Examination of gastro intestinal tract of 20 carcasses of backyard poultry revealed mucoid material in the lumen of the proventriculus and gizzard. The mucosa of proventriculus and gizzard were thickened. Peeling of the horny gizzard cuticle layer revealed the presence of Cheilospirura hamulosa on the sub-mucosal and muscular surface. The lumen of different parts of the gastrointestinal tract contained tenacious muco-sanguineous content. Caeca was completely filled with tarry red coloured content mixed with Subulura brumpti.

An outbreak of chorioptic mange infestation was observed in a sheep and goat flock during 2021 in the Kandukur village of Anantapur district, with a history of skin itching, thick scabs and loss of hair. Skin lesions were characterized by alopecica, crusty scabs on hind limbs, face, ears and scrotal region. Microscopic examination of deep skin scrapings revealed the presence of Chorioptes spp mites. Affected sheep and goats were treated with Ivermectin injection (200 mg/kg. body wt) administered subcutaneously weekly once for 2 weeks along with dipping using Butox spray (Deltamethrin) and supportive therapy with brotone syrup (liver tonic). Examination of deep skin scraping two weeks post treatment found negative for the Chorioptes spp mites.

A postpartum graded Murrah buffalo that calved 25 days before was presented with a history of swelling of the perianal region immediately after parturition. On examination, ventral anal region was found to be enlarged with a pouch that contained around 1.5 kg of dung. The buffalo was given caudal epidural anaesthesia and the perianal mucous membrane was scarified and sutured. Postoperatively antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine were given for 5 days and animal exhibited normal defecation without straining. The correction of unusual case of peri-partum third degree perineal laceration associated with rectal-vaginal fistula and rectal pouch formation in a graded Murrah buffalo, its management and successful recovery is reported.

A biological trial was conducted at Department of Poultry Science, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai to evaluate the effect of inclusion of RDDGS in commercial broiler diet on hematological, serum biochemical parameters. A total of 144 commercial day-old broiler chickens were allotted to four treatments with three replicates and 12 birds per replicate. Experimental diets were prepared by including RDDGS at 0, 5, 10, 15% at the expense of soyabean meal was prepared to be nearly isocaloric and isonitrogenous as per BIS (2007) standards. At the end of the experiment blood was collected from one male and one female from each replicate and analyzed for serum biochemical and hematological parameters. Statistical analysis of data revealed that there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in the hematological, serum biochemical and intestinal histomorphology parameters. It can be concluded that the RDDGS can be included up to 15% in commercial broiler diets without effecting the hematological and serum biochemical parameters.

Samples of feed ingredients were collected from the truck loads that arrived at feed processing unit located in Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. Physical examination of collected samples was carried out prior to their chemical evaluation. Chemical evaluation of feed samples revealed that moisture content in maize grain ranged from 8.47% to 17.25% and high moisture was observed in samples received during the monsoon season (September to December). The crude protein content of protein supplements viz., soyabean meal, coconut oil cake, coconut deoiled cake (DOC), groundnut cake, groundnut deoiled cake, delinted decorticated cotton seed cake, sunflower deoiled cake and gingelly oil cake were 45.49, 25.11, 24.47, 36.92, 43.89, 35.36, 30.21 and 29.89 per cent on dry matter basis, respectively. The crude protein (% DMB) and crude fiber (% DMB) content of deoiled rice bran, rice bran and wheat bran were 15.47 and 16.13, 7.55 and 36.26, 14.26 and 9.47, respectively. Due to the high moisture content in maize grain 8.77% of the total truck loads of this ingredient received at the processing unit were rejected. Similarly, of the total truck loads of oil cakes received at the processing unit 20.93 % of soyabean meal, 12.5% of coconut oil cake, 20 % of coconut DOC, 22.22% of cotton seed cake and 33.33% of gingelly oil cake were rejected due to the lower crude protein and higher crude fiber contents. All truck loads of rice bran (100 %) were rejected due to their lower crude protein, higher crude fiber and Acid Insoluble Ash (AIA) content. The study thus revealed that quality control measures are essential to check the entry of poor quality raw materials before processing the feed.

The diseases in poultry cause huge losses in the form of mortality in acute infections or as substandard performance due to chronic illness. Biosecurity and vaccination are considered as two important primary strategies for disease prevention in poultry. On the other hand, breeding for disease resistance is an alternate strategy to combat the damages of diseases. Although, attempts were initiated to develop disease resistant poultry by breeding almost a century before, this branch of science renewed the interest among scientists because of catastrophic emerging and reemerging diseases like Avian influenza. It has proven over a period of time that poultry  exhibits genetic resistance to viral diseases like avian leukosis complex, Marek’s disease, avian influenza and Newcastle disease, bacterial disease like salmonellosis and may parasitic infestations. The key genes responsible for resistance to specific diseases have also been demonstrated. The breeding attempts for developing disease resistant poultry has yielded positive results with varying degree of success. The advent of sophisticated molecular methods like genomic selection using highdensity SNP chips, RNA-seq technique and identification of key marker genes and transgenesis could complement the conventional breeding methods to a larger extent in developing disease resistant poultry.