The carrot tops had high crude protein (144 g/kg), calcium (24.3 g/kg) and phosphorus (7.7 g/kg), comparable to sun hemp (Crotalaria junctea), fodder berseem and oil cakes, respectively. Milk from animals fed with carrot tops were free from residues of organochlorine, carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides. Carrot tops are perishable in nature and hence were preserved as feed blocks to extend shelf life. The nutritional value and keeping quality of the blocks were also studied. The studies revealed that carrot whole tops can be a promising alternate source of green fodder, especially in hilly regions where there is a shortage of green fodder during winter.

A study was undertaken to evaluate carbohydrate and protein fractions of crop residue based complete rations as per the procedure of Cornel Net Carbohydrate and Protein (CNCPs) system.  Three iso-nitrogenous complete rations were prepared comprising of maize stover (T1) straw , red gram straw (T2) and black gram (T3) and concentrate mixture in 60: 40 ratio, respectively and were analyzed for CNCPS fractions. Maize stover contained lower (P<0.01) lignin (% NDF) compared to red gram or black gram straws. Lignin (% NDF) was lower (P<0.01) and starch (% NSC) was higher (P<0.01) in T1  when compared to T2 or T3. NDICP (% CP) was higher (P<0.01) and ADICP (% CP) was lower (P<0.01) in T1 when compared to other complete rations. Carbohydrate fraction CA (% CHO) was higher (P<0.01), while fraction CC (% CHO) was lower (P<0.01) in T1 when compared to other complete rations. Protein fractions PB1 and PB3 (% CP) were higher (P<0.01) in T1 while the fraction PC (% CP) was similar among the complete rations under study. Similar trend of higher (P<0.01) CA, PB2 and PB3 and lower (P<0.01) CC fractions were observed in maize stover than in red gram or black gram straw. The present study concluded that complete ration (T) comprising of maize stover was better in terms of carbohydrate and protein fractions with higher (CA, PB1and PB3) and lower CC and PC fractions when compared to other complete rations.

This study investigated oxyclozanide, a salicylanilide anthelmintic, as an alternative treatment for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in bovine mastitis. With conventional treatments facing challenges due to antibiotic resistance, oxyclozanide demonstrated promising in vitro antimicrobial effect against MRSA isolates. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 μg/ml, indicating its efficacy. Oxyclozanide’s mechanism involved disrupting the transmembrane structure of bacteria, presenting a potential strategy against MRSA. This suggested the repurposing of oxyclozanide as a viable option for combating MRSA in bovine mastitis, prompting further investigation into its precise mechanism and therapeutic potential.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of glutathione supplementation on liquid storage of Surti buffalo bull semen. This study was performed on adult Surti buffalo bull (n = 6), and seminal ejaculates (24) were collected and evaluated for various microscopic seminal quality parameters for further processing. After preliminary evaluation, ejaculates of each collection session were mixed and divided into four equal aliquots. All the aliquots were diluted (1:10) with Tris fructose egg yolk citrate extender contained glutathione served as control (T0), whereas the other three aliquots were supplemented with 0.5, 2.0 and 5.0 mM glutathione which were grouped as Treatment-1 (T1), Treatment-2 (T2) and Treatment-3 (T3), respectively. Thereafter, the samples were stored at 4 ºC for 4 h, and various seminal parameters (individual sperm progressive motility, viability, abnormalities, plasma membrane functionality) were evaluated at equilibration. The results indicated that the mean percent values for pre-freeze sperm progressive motility, live sperm percentage and HOS responsive spermatozoa were found to be significantly higher (P<0.05) (except individual progressive motility which was non-significantly higher in Treatment-3); whereas sperm abnormalities were significantly lower (P<0.05) in semen samples treated with glutathione (Treatment-1, Treatment-2 and Treatment-3) in comparison to control. The Treatment-2 (2.0 mM glutathione), had the highest pre-freeze sperm progressive motility percentage, live sperm percentage, HOS response sperm percentage and reduced sperm abnormalities percentage compared to other three groups.

The selection of breeding bucks stands as a pivotal decision in both organised and field populations aiming for genetic enhancement. Incorporating bucks with high genetic merit into breeding programme holds the potential to significantly elevate the overall productivity of the stock. This, in turn, serves to augment the economic viability of rural goat keepers who adhere to zero-input management systems. Hence, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the influence exerted by non-genetic factors on semen characteristics among bucks within a particular breed is imperative for effective breeding management. In this study, a total of 108 ejaculates from four adult Kanni Adu bucks were analysed to determine the effect of season and order of the ejaculate on conventional semen attributes using linear mixed models with lme4 package in R software. The estimated marginal means for semen volume (ml), sperm concentration (million per ml), mass activity (0 to 5 scale), initial, pre-freeze and post-thaw sperm motility (per cent) were 0.623 ± 0.056, 3841.00 ± 238.00, 4.73 ± 0.08, 86.87 ± 0.02, 85.49 ± 0.01 and 56.15 ± 0.01 respectively.

The current study was designed to evaluate the carcass and meat quality characteristics of Siruvidai chicken of Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Ariyalur and Perambalur districts of Tamil Nadu.  The carcass characteristics namely New-York dressed weight, eviscerated carcass weight, ready-to-cook weight, giblets weight, abdominal fat weight and meat: bone ratio were recorded. No significant differences observed in carcass characteristics among the districts except for pre-slaughter weight and breast yield. A significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher breast yield was recorded from Ariyalur and Perambalur districts. The pH, water holding capacity, shear force value, tyrosine value and thio-barbituric acid (TBA) number did not show significant differences among the districts. The Siruvidai chicken of Tamil Nadu is meant for egg production and mothering ability. From this study, it is concluded that Siruvidai chicken may be utilized economically for meat production and processing.

An in vitro study evaluated the anti-methanogenic potentiality of aqueous and alcoholic plant extract mixture of ajwainseed and soapnut berries under different roughage and concentrate ratio-based diets in a 3x3 factorial design. Dried and milled plant mixture was extracted (10 g/100 ml) in three solvents, viz, water (Control), ethanol (95 %), and methanol (98 %). Substrate (200 mg) prepared by mixing wheat straw and concentrate mixture at the ratio of 30:70, 50:50 and 70:30 was taken in glass syringes (six per treatment) and incubation medium (30 ml) dispensed anaerobically. Aqueous, ethanol and methanol plant extract (0.5 ml) were taken in three dietary treatments of groups I, II, and III respectively. All the syringes were incubated at 39°C for a running duration of 24 hours and total gas production was calculated. Hundred ml of emitted gas was injected into gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization detector for methane estimation. In vitro true digestibility of diet and ammonia nitrogen content of fermented medium were determined. Experimental data generated were analysed by adopting factorial ANOVA procedures. Results revealed that ethanol plant extract mixture had significantly (P<0.01) reduced the in vitro total gas and methane production by suppressing the true dietary digestibility of high roughage to low concentrate (70:30) based diet.

A 3 year old Spitz- Pomeranian mixed breed was presented with a history of bilateral hind limb lameness and walking in abnormal gait since birth. Radiographic diagnosis revealed bilateral lateral luxation of patella with deformity of both stifles. Surgical correction of congenital deformity was done on right hind limb using the technique of trochlear wedge resection sulcoplasty (TWRS) and transposition of tibial tuberosity (TT) which showed normal weight bearing and good functional outcome on 50th post-operative day.

A two and half year old intact 19 kg female Doberman was referred to small animal medicine outpatient unit of Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with the history of lateral recumbency, dyspnoea, weight loss, inappetence, brownish diarrhoea for past 2 weeks. Clinical examination revealed fever, blanched mucous membrane, lymphadenopathy, dehydration > 5%. Hematology revealed severe anaemia, moderate thrombocytopenia and severe leukocytosis with neutrophilia. Ultrasonography evidenced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and peripheral blood smear cytology confirmed Hepatozoan canis gamonts in neutrophils. Emergency fresh whole blood transfusion was done and treatment initiated with a combination therapy including single dose of Imidocarb dipropionate @7.5 mg/kg and Doxycycline @ 10 mg PO for 28 days following which the dog showed progressive improvements.

To improve the production performance of white Guinea fowl, selective breeding was carried out continuously for six generation. A total 1000 Guinea fowl hatching eggs were procured from various government institutions and private entrepreneurs, and subsequently keets were hatched out and base population was created. The production traits were given due importance during selective breeding for six generations to improve both body weight and egg production. The traits such as hatch weight 4th, 8th, 12th,16th and 24 week body weight (g), FCR, livability, age at sexual maturity (days), Hen – Day Egg Production (HDEP) and Hen - Housed Egg Production (HHEP), annual egg number, egg weight (g), adult livability, total and fertile hatchability (%) were studied in all six generations. The day-old chick weight of all six generations ranged from 26.46 to 28.10 g. The 4th and 8th week mean body weight of the first generation white Guinea fowl was 180.85g and 481.69 g respectively, which increased to 220.95 g and 494.13 g, respectively in 6th generation. Similarly, the 12th and 16th week body weights in 1st generation increased from 767.12 g to 805.29 g and 951.04 g to 1079.15 g, respectively, at 6th generation. The linear regression analysis of 4th and 8th week body weight over generations revealed significant increment of 7.59 g and 7.72 g, respectively, per generation. Similarly, the 12th and 24th week body weight in each generation had a positive change with high degree of goodness of fit. The 12 and 16th week FCR showed a positive change of high magnitude over generations. The hen day and hen housed egg production (29-51 weeks) from 1st generation to 6th generation increased from 39.26 to 40.55 % and 37.53 to 38.83 %, respectively, during the course of selection. The total and fertile egg hatchability also showed marked changes due to selection with values varying from 49.52 to 53.14 % and 71.37 to 72.38 % across the generations. This study concluded that the multi stage short-term selection can improve both body weight and egg production in white Guinea fowl.