This study was conducted to ascertain anatomical variation in different body parts of Desi, Fayoumi, Cross (Rhode Island Red x Fayoumi) and Nick Chick laying hens. A total 16 laying hens of average body weight were selected using random numbers out of 2600 laying hens, slaughtered and eviscerated. It was observed that proportion of neck, ribs, breast, back, wings, thigh and legs out of aggregate weight was highest (51.74 plus minus 2.85) in Fayoumi hens. The proportion of liver, gizzard, heart and spleen combined weight was highest (6.05 plus minus 1.81) in desi hens. The proportion of non edible offals including trachea, lungs, kidneys, blood, feathers, head, crop, proventriculus, intestines, shanks, gizzard waste, skin, tail, testes, ova, oviduct and fat was estimated to be highest i.e. 46.60 plus minus 1.16 in Nick Chick laying hens. The anatomical variation in Desi and Fayoumi chicks was attributable to scavenging habit of these birds. The high proportion of edible offal in commercial Nick Chick hens may be ascribable to higher productive and reproductive traits.

In this study five samples each of serum glucose, serum cholesterol and uric acid contents were measured in Fayoumi, Rhode Island Red, Parent desi, desi Fl and desi F2 strains of chickens. Cholesterol contents were found to be lowest in desi F2 chickens whereas in other strains there was least significant difference, which can be attributed to reduced lipogenic activity in desi F2 generation. When five samples each of meat from two locations i.e. breast and thigh was subjected to proximate analysis it was found that there was no difference (P greater than 0.05) in crude protein, crude fat, total ash and moisture contents regardless of sex and strains. Dry matter contents differed (P less than 0.05) in breast meat and found to be lowest in Parent desi stocks.

This study was conducted to examine growth performance of black, dark brown and light brown varieties of Desi Generation-1 chickens obtained from selected Desi parents (originally procured from rural areas of Mianwali and Bhakkar districts) maintained at Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi. A total number of 900 day-old Desi chicks 300 each of black, dark brown and light brown varieties were divided into 3 separate groups and further sub-divided into 3 equal replicates. The experimental chicks were maintained on littered floor in 9 separate pens under optimal managemental conditions for a period of 12 weeks. They were fed ad libitum a balanced chick starter ration (from day- old to 8 weeks) and a grower mash (from 9 to 12 weeks). The birds had free access to clean and fresh drinking water. The results showed non- significant difference in growth rate, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency (feed/kg gain), whereas, significantly (P less than 0.05) lower mortality rate was recorded in Desi light brown chicks in comparison to other two varieties. The better growth performance in different varieties of Desi chicks observed during the present study than reported in earlier findings could be due to effect of genetic improvement through selection breeding carried out in the parent Desi flock.

This study was conducted to examine the present productive potentials of field Desi chickens housed under deep litter system. For this purpose a detailed survey was conducted in rural areas of Punjab Province (Pakistan) to know availability of true specimens of Desi birds. After the survey a total number of 1329 adult Desi birds were selected from different villages of Mianwali and Bhakkar districts. The birds were housed at Govt. Poultry Farm, Mianwali for initial acclimatization for 6 to 8 weeks and subjected then to prophylactic vaccination and then they were shifted to Breeding and Incubation Division of Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi. A total number of 450 Desi birds (150 each of black, dark brown and light brown varieties) were randomly selected and were sub-divided into 3 groups of equal size. They were maintained on littered floor in 9 separate pens under optimal managemental conditions for a period of 42 weeks. The results indicated that black, dark brown and light brown groups of Desi chickens produced 1.93, 1.96 and 2.17 dozen eggs (0.0459, 0.0467 and 0.0516 dozen eggs per week) with intake of 29.75, 29.29 and 29.64 kg feed, respectively. The results showed similar performance in egg production and feed intake of different groups of Desi chickens. A similar pattern in egg weight, egg mass and FCR (feed/kg eggs) was observed, however, FCR in light brown Desi (13.68) was found to be significantly (P less than 0.01) better than that of Desi black (15.42) birds. The results further showed depression in production potential of field Desi chickens in comparison to previous production data recorded in the earlier period.

One of the first potential biotechnology products for animals production is BST. Effect of BST on lactating buffaloes was studied 8 buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) were injected with sustained release formation Boosting-250, after 60 plus minus 5 days of calving. The overall increase in milk production was observed 18 percent and in milk fat 6.1 percent. BST is a protein hormone. Quality of management is the major factor affecting the magnitude of milk response to BST.

This study was carried out for investigation of an outbreak in Karachi. A disease outbreak in poultry was reported during April, 2000 in Karachi. The main symptoms included respiratory distress, sneezing and gasping. Autopsy of dead birds showed tracheitis, air-sacculitis and involvement of lungs. The morbid material was collected for processing in the laboratory. During the investigation for isolation of pathogenic bacteria or virus, Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale was isolated on 5% sheep blood agar plates in an atmosphere containing 5-10% CO2 at 37 degree C and identified through biochemical and fermentation tests. A Lasota like virus was also isolated from the same material which showed HA activity but was found negative to Avian Influenza virus against known Avian Influenza serum. The isolated virus was sent to Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge, U.K. which confirmed it to be Lasota virus having comparatively high Intracerebral Pathogenicity Index (ICPI) as 0.90. Attempts for the transmission of the disease in susceptible healthy broiler chicks was successful through aerosol route using combination of inoculum of the isolated bacteria and virus. On post-mortem of infected birds air- sacculitis, tracheitis and unilateral pneumonia were noticed. Again ORT and NDV were isolated from the material harvested from these chicks. According to the observations of these experiments, it was concluded that the isolated ORT had a triggering effect on Lasota virus or vice versa. The environmental temperature and other stress factors might have aggravated the disease problem.

Bovine chondrocytes were cultured in monolayers and alginate beads with or without ascorbic acid (Asc) for 16 days. Cell proliferation was examined every 4 days by staining with Hoechst 33258 dye. The gene expression of aggrecan, and collagen type I and II was analyzed at 16 days by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction.Cell morphology and the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) were evaluated by cytochemical, immunocytochemical and electron microscopical methods.Cells were continuously cultured in alginate beads with Asc for 2 months, and the cell morphology and ECM were examined. The proliferation of chondrocytes was significantly stimulated with Asc in both monolayers and alginate beads at 16 days. Expression of the collagen type I gene in both cultures was increased, and that of the collagen type II gene in alginate beads was decreased, by Asc. There were no significant cytochemical and immunocytochemical differences between the cultures in alginate beads with or without Asc at 16 days.In alginate beads cultured with Asc for 2 months, proliferating cells were observed mainly at the periphery of the beads, and glycosaminoglycan and collagen type II were found around the cells. These results suggest that Asc stimulated the proliferation of chondrocytes and maintained the chondrogenic properties of the cells in an alginate beads culture.