In nature, cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) feed consists of a huge variety of seeds, fruits, flowers, leaves, and insects. In captivity, their feed is generally poor, as many breeders offer only a mixture of seeds as food, leading to nutrient deficiency and even obesity. This paper presents a study on cockatiel feeding behavior in artificial environments at different stages of development (growth, maintenance, and reproduction), to evaluate their preference from the offer of six different food types (sunflower seed, oats, millet, rice, ration, and a cornmeal based feed or farinhada), and an analysis of their preferences for locations in the cage. No significant differences were observed about the final weight of the birds during the stages of development. Consumption of millet seeds was significantly higher in the growth stage, but at this stage, the birds showed a preference for oats. On the other hand, at the reproduction and maintenance stages, they showed a preference for sunflower seeds. The birds in the reproduction stage were the ones that visited the nest, and the nest grid, the most. Among all the cage locations, all birds showed a preference for the perches.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the effect of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) to the lactating sows diet on piglet development at lactation and post-weaning. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four litters of hybrids sows were evaluated in this study. The sows were divided into two groups: Control (CG), sows fed conventionally and experimental (EG), sows fed with commercial fed plus cactus. Post-weaning, the piglets of both groups were moni¬tored up to the 20 kg liveweight (LW). It was evaluated, lactation (in sows): feed intake (FI), milk production (MP), and quality (MQ) and LW of the piglet. Post-weaning (in piglets): FI, LW, and length of intestinal villi (LIV) at 0, 24 h, and 42 days post-weaning. Results: FI sow-1 was higher in EG (p < 0.05). MP, MQ, and LW piglet-1 at weaning were equal (p > 0.05). FI piglet-1 in the sixth and eighth week of age was higher in EG (p < 0.05); at the end of weaning phase, EG presented higher LW (p < 0.05): 8.4% more. LIV of the jejunum were higher (p < 0.05) in EG at 48 h (28.8%) and 42 days post-weaning (29.9%). At day 0, post-weaning LIV of the descending portion was higher (p < 0.05) in CG (1,571.0 μm) versus EG (1,058.0 μm). At day 42, post-weaning LIV of the transverse portion was higher (p < 0.05) in EG: 23.7% higher. Conclusion: Cactus intake in lactating sows does not affect the piglet development. However, post-weaning piglets present higher LIV in jejunum and transverse portion, aspect that improves LW. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(3.000): 290-299]

Aflatoxins (AFs) are mycotoxins produced by numerous species of Aspergillus. AFs contaminate agricultural commodities and thus feed and food including milk. So, this study aimed to assess the effect of the feeding type on the occurrence of AFM1 in camel milk. A total of 45 camel milk samples were obtained from the natural grazing herd in Shalatin (n= 20) and small scales farm breeding in Daraw (n= 25) in the period between September to December 2021. AFM1 levels were determined in these samples using the Vicam method. A significant difference was found between AFM1 levels in milk samples from herds of camels kept in a traditional environment (Natural grazing) and that in samples from camels in semi-intensive management systems (On-farm). Of note, all milk samples obtained from the nomadic area were free from AFM1, whereas, in the camel milk samples collected from a semi-intensive farm, AFM1 was reported in eight samples (32%) with 2 (8%) samples exceeding the EU Limits of 0.05 µg/ kg and 6 (24%) samples below such EU Limits. In conclusion, there was high contamination of milk samples obtained from camels reared on-farm with AFM1, while milk samples of camels naturally grazed were negative for AFM1. Therefore, milk hygiene from the farm, chilling, and distribution should be evaluated to reduce AFM1 levels in milk.

It was aimed to investigate whether chia seeds provide an advantage during ultrasonographic imaging in cats when added to food by means of its high water-holding capacity. Ten healthy cats were ultrasonographically examined following 12- hour fasting period and after feeding with 3 different food types at 1-week intervals. Thus, 4 study group were formed as follows; FST; fasting 12- hour period, WF; feeding with wet cat food following 12- hour fasting period DWF; feeding with ½ of same wet food diluted with the same volume drinking water, CWF; feeding with ½ of same wet food mixed with 36 ml swollen chia seeds obtained by holding 2 hours 3ml chia seeds in 33 ml drinking water. Cats were evaluated ultrasonographically immediately after feeding, and at the 30th minutes and 60th minutes.Especially in terms of thickness, gastric wall evaluation was easier after food intake. In the CWF, the stomach was fully imaged on the frame at all times. The gastrointestinal tract content moved faster when cats were fed DWF or CWF; In the examination immediately after feeding the contents were in duodenum and seen in the jejunum and ileum in the 30- and 60-minutes’ examinations. CWF and DWF revealed more heterogeneous images then WF and also CWF provided better visualization for the intestinal canal wall layer.Ultrasonographic examination after feeding with chia seed added formula can be used as a complementary method following the fasting examination.

An attempt was made to document the management practices of the backyard goat production in Cauvery Delta zone of Tamil Nadu. The primary data were collected by interviewing 180 backyard goat farmers selected by multi-stage random sampling using pre-tested interview schedule and analyzed through descriptive statistics. About 46.11 per cent of the respondents kept their animals under open system of housing and floor of the goat shed was mud type in 96.67 per cent of the sampled farmers. All the farmers stored manure in an open place. Majority of goat farmers raise their goats solely on browsing and grazing stubble of field crops, natural pasture and tree leaves. Majority of farmers did not possess their own breeding buck but they use community buck for breeding purpose. Middlemen (57.22 per cent) played a major role in marketing of goat in all categories of flocks, followed by butcher (36.11 per cent). Only one-fifth of flock owners dewormed their flocks yearly twice. None of the sample respondents vaccinated their goat against infectious diseases. Goats were marketed round the year (87.78 per cent) and about 12 per cent marketed their goats on special occasions. The major reasons for marketing was found to be the want of money to overcome financial problem (61.07 mean score) in case of bucks / male kids and culling due to old age (66.00 mean score) in case of breeding does. Majority of the sample backyard goat farmers did not follow scientific  management practices at their farm level, which warrants intensive extension programmes. Implementation of best management practices among backyard goat farmers in Cauvery Delta zone of Tamil Nadu would improve the profitability.

This paper reports on the laboratory animal population in the&#xD;Laboratory Animal Unit, Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Ipoh from 2005 to 2010. Laboratory Animal Unit is a complementary unit which serves to supply laboratory animals to all diagnostic and research units in VRI. The objective of this unit is to breed and produce laboratory animals such as rabbits, mice, rats, guinea&#xD;pigs and hamsters for research projects as well as diagnostic and biological activities. The unit also supplies laboratory animals to&#xD;private agencies, universities and schools. There are 6 species of laboratory animals in VRI namely rabbit (New Zealand Breed), guinea pig (Hartlay Strain), hamster (Golden Syrian), white mice (Swiss Albino), BALB/c mice and Sprague Dawley Rat. Management of the animals includes breeding, fertility, production and disease monitoring. Generally, white mice bred well and had a high population&#xD;from 2005 to 2010 compared to the other laboratory animals due to their short gestation period and large litter size. With the higher current demand for laboratory animals, the production of the unit is&#xD;expected to increase.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was determined the influence of experimental feed mixtures on the basis of humid preserved grain (conserved rolled grain of triticale; barley (Hordeum vulgare); oat (Avena sativa)) and protein, mineral and vitamin supplement (contains rape (Brassica napus) extraction cake; wheat bran; premix PKR-2; chalk; forage phosphate) on digestibility and metabolism of nutritive elements by young stock of cattle. There were presented recipes of the developed experimental feed mixtures and studied their influence on consumption and digestibility of nutritive elements of diets, metabolism of nitrogenous substances, calcium, phosphorous, as well as on hematological indexes. The proposed mixed fodders contained metabolizable energy; dry matter; crude protein; digestible protein; crude fat; fibre; starch; sugars; calcium; phosphorous; magnesium; potassium; sulphur; iron; copper; zinc; cobalt; manganese. In course of the study there was analyzed the consumption of the main nutritive elements; coefficients of their digestibility; nitrogen balance; balance of calcium and phosphorous; morphological and biochemical blood indexes.

Studying of palatability of bait blisters applied for oral immunization of wild carnivores against rabies was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus by an example of foxes which were administrated with liquid viral vaccines against rabies. Foxes were divided into 5 groups with 8 animals in each. Animals of the first group were immunized with a liquid viral vaccine in blister baits Lisvulpen-VBF which was produced from an attenuate strain of rabies virus SAD-BERN (Belarus). Animals of the second group were immunized with liquid viral vaccine Belvak TM BP produced from the cultural living strain KMIEhV-V101 (Belarus). Animals of the rest three groups were immunized with liquid viral vaccine in blister baits which was produced from a modified strain of a fixed attenuate rabies virus KMIEV-94. Foxes of the forth group were additionally fed with ascorbic acid with baits in the doze of 0,1 g, and foxes of the fifth group were fed with 5 ml immune response modifier Nuklevit. All mentioned blister baits were studied in accordance with the following parameters: bait flavor and attraction to animals; form and size of bait; bait consistency; blister and its size in relation to bait; palatability of bait; degree of damage of bait containing a vaccine; quantity vaccine which was got into animal oral cavity; postvaccinal complication. Palatability of liquid viral vaccines in blister baits Lisvulpen-VBF was 96%, Belvak TM BP - 94%, KMIEV-94 - 80%