Chicken nuggets prepared from spent hens’ meat by incorporating fermented bamboo shoots at 10 per cent, beet root at 10per cent and cabbage at 15per cent levels were evaluated for different physicochemical, microbial and sensory qualities under frozen (-18±1°C) storage condition. The pH of all nuggets increased significantly (P<0.05) during the storage period. The hardness, redness (a*), yellowness (b*) and chromavalues of all the nuggets decreased significantly (P<0.05) during storage period. The ΔE values of all the nuggets increased during storage period. There was no growth of microorganisms in all the nuggets during the period. The beet root incorporated nuggets recorded better sensory qualities compared to other nuggets in the study under frozen (-18±1°C) storage up to 90 days.

The study was conducted to find out the effect of age on carcass, meat quality characteristics and nutritional composition of Nandanam Turkey-II. Totally twelve birds were separated into two different age groups viz., young (20 weeks) and adult (40 weeks). The birds were slaughtered and breast muscle was obtained. The carcass, meat quality characters, proximate composition, amino acid, fatty acid and cholesterol content of meat of two age groups were analysed. The carcass characteristics viz., edible offal weight, in-edible offal, blood weight, feather weight and head weight had significant difference (P<0.01) between two age groups. Meat quality characteristics viz., pH (P<0.05), muscle fibre diameter (P<0.01) and myofibrillar fragmentation index (P<0.01) of young turkey meat were significantly lower than adult turkey meat. The young turkey meat had significantly higher moisture content (P<0.01), while it showed significantly lower protein, fat and total ash content than adult turkey meat. The significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in lysine and phenylalanine and highly significant difference (P<0.01) was observed in arginine, isoleucine, threonine, valine, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and glycine contents of meat from young and adult age groups of turkey. The meat of young turkey had significantly lower total saturated fatty acids (P<0.01), mono unsaturated fatty acids (P<0.05) and higher poly unsaturated fatty acids (P<0.01), P/S ratio when compared to adult turkey meat. The cholesterol content of young turkey meat was significantly (P<0.01) lower than adult turkey meat. Based on the results it was concluded that the meat of young Nandanam Turkey-II had the superior meat quality characters and nutritional composition than the meat of adult birds.

Wet distiller's grain is one of the important agroindustrial by-products used for feeding dairy cattle. A study was conducted to enhance the shelf life of distillers grains and identify and quantify the deficit nutrients in it so that a supplemental strategy could be evolved to enhance its nutritive value. Twelve samples were collected from grain-based distilleries in Southern India and subjected to proximate analysis (AOAC, 2000), fibre fractionation (Goering and Van Soest, 1970) and were also analysed for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc. In vitro degradability studies were conducted using rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) described by Czerkawski and Breckenridge (1977). Also, another study was conducted to enhance the shelflife of wet distiller’s grain by addition of deoiled rice bran (DORB) and salt at twelve differentlevels.Samples were collected on 2nd,4th, 6th, 8th and 10th days for estimation of pH (Wilson and Wilkins, 1972), mould count and yeast count (Jenkins, 1992). The degradation rate/hour, degradable soluble, degradable insoluble, undegradable and effective degradability of dry matter respectively were 0.16±0.02, 53.8±1.32,31±1.41, 15.2±1.07 and 76.87±0.43 percent and the same for nitrogen respectively were 0.12±0.01, 31.2±1.16, 53.8±1.28,15±0.95 and 62.39±1.59 per cent in wet distillers grains.The results indicate that mould count was significantly(p<0.05) lower in wet distiller’s grain and deoiled rice bran (DORB) combination of 70:30 irrespective of the number of days of preservation. Further adding salt in all combinations of distiller’s grain and DERB reduced the growth of yeast or mould.

Anaemia is one of the major clinical manifestations seen in various diseases in canines. Reticulocytes and erythrocyte counting are the hallmark for evaluating the anaemic status and bone marrow response to anaemia. In this study, a simple technique was developed and followed to count both reticulocytes simultaneously with the help of Neubauer counting chamber using the diluting fluids prepared from two different supravital stains to score the merit of the method for adoption. Blood samples for the study were  collected from the dogs presented to Madras Veterinary College Teaching hospital. The dogs were classified into apparently healthy and anemic group with each of 30 dogs. The total erythrocytic count was significantly low in the anomalous group compared to the healthy group (p<0.01) and the corrected percentage was higher in the oculous group than in healthy group. The corrected percentage is called as corrected percentage (CRP). The increased corrected percentage of reticular cells (CRC) was significantly higher in ominous group. Moreover, the corrected value of CRP was significantly lower in anaesthetized dogs than in the healthy dogs. This technique can be utilised as an ideal laboratory tool in identification of the health status of the animal and to evaluate the treatment regimen in the animal.

Lantana camara is a weed which affects both livestock production and the growth of other plants near them. It is a sturdy plant with multi-colored flowers which can grow well in diverse climatic and soil conditions. Initially cultivated as an ornamental plant and transferred to various regions of the world; the plant has now become one of the  common weeds in agricultural land and forest regions. It is found in almost all parts of India and its invasion in forest cover of the country is a great concern as the plant has inhibitory effect on growth of other plants. It has been listed among the ten most toxic weed in the world. Although grazing animals primarily do not consume this plant, scarcity of pasture lands cause the animals to eat this plant. Consumption of this plant cause hepatotoxicity and secondary photosensitization in animals. The toxic compound in this plant is ‘Lantadenes’ and is predominantly found in leaves of the plant. The history, phytochemistry, toxicity in animals, toxicopathology, treatment and prevention of toxicity are reviewed in this article.

Twenty four Nellore brown ram lambs (15.32 ± 0.39 kg body weight) of 3-6 months aged were used to assess the effect of different floor types on body condition score (BCS), dirt score, eggs per gram (EPG) count of faeces and hoof condition under intensive rearing system for a period of 120 days. Lambs were assigned randomly to one of three treatments. Treatment groups were mud/gravel floor-control (T1; n = 8), concrete floor (T2; n = 8) and elevated plastic slatted floor (T3; n = 8). Significantly higher BCS observed in experimental groups in first (P<0.01) and eighth (P<0.05) fortnights, whereas the difference observed in other fortnights was not-significant. Significant (P<0.05) difference in dirt score was observed among three floor types and lowest dirt score was observed in lambs kept in T3 group. Higher dirt score indicated that the lambs reared on concrete floor were dirtier than lambs on mud floor whereas, lambs reared on elevated plastic slatted floor (low score) were cleaner than other two groups. There was a significant difference in EPG count of faeces among treatment groups. The EPG count of T3 group was significantly (P<0.05) lower from second to fourth month and T2 group also recorded lower EPG value in third month of the experiment indicating lesser incidences of parasitic infestation. The study also revealed significant (P<0.05) difference in hoof length among three treatment groups. Higher hoof length (cm) was recorded in T3 group throughout the experiment except the first fortnight. It is concluded that, elevated plastic slatted floor is recommended for rearing of ram lambs for higher BCS, cleanliness (dirt) score and lower EPG count of faeces together with a periodical hoof trimming for early marketability of healthy ram lambs.

Khillar is an indigenous cattle breed, predominant in Karnataka. Although, milk production of these indigenous breed is low as compared to crossbreds, these animals are reared for their sturdy nature, sustainability to draught, heat tolerance, disease resistance, adaptability to harsh climatic conditions and ability to survive and perform under scarce feed and fodder conditions. But, livestock farmers face lots of issues in management of Khillar Cattle. The present study was conducted to analyse the marketing and utilization pattern of Khillar cattle of Karnataka. A total of 240 Khillar cattle owners from 16 villages comprising 80 small farmers, 80 medium farmers and 80 large farmers were considered for the study and interviewed with the help of structured schedule. The results indicated that that majority of the farmers purchased Khillar cattle from the market (54.59 %) and most of them (58.75 per cent) selected the Khillar cattle based on both the breed characteristics and hair whorls, followed by hair whorls (21.25 per cent). Majority (89.58 per cent) of the farmers responded that negotiation followed by undercover method (10.42 %) was followed in the market. Among the overall farmers, Khillar cattle was majorly used for milking purpose (88.75 %), followed by use of Khillar bullocks for agricultural activities (52.5 %). Hence, there is an urgent need to assess and analyze the contribution of indigenous cattle in the livelihood of resource poor which may help the policy makers to take necessary steps to provide subsidized loan and insurance policies for the draught animals and also to provide basic amenities in the cattle markets.

The different parts of Murraya koenigii leaf are traditionally used for treatment of wide variety of ailments. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of curry leaves on growth and haemato-biochemical parameters in adjuvant induced arthritis. Sixty Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups containing ten each (n=10), Group I- Sham control, Group II- Plant extract only, Group III- Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) only, Group IV- CFA + ibuprofen, Group V- Prophylactic group, Group VI- Therapeutic group. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was induced by sub-plantar injection of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA). The body weight gain and feed intake were measured at weekly intervals upto 28th days and blood was collected on 28 day for haematology and serum biochemistry. The analysis of parameters on body weight, feed intake and haematobiochemistry revealed that curry leaf extract had a considerable effect in preventing and ameliorating the severity of arthritis. Methanolic extract of curry leaves appears to be a promising natural remedy of RA. 

Displacement of the abomasum is one of the important incidence recorded in dairy cattle especially after calving that lead to huge economic loss. A six year old Holstein Friesian female cow calved fifteen days back was presented to the Large Animal Outpatient Unit, Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal with the history of not voiding dung and anorexia for past three days. The animal was fed with corn and ragi feed. Clinical examination revealed pale pink mucous membranes, right side distension of abdomen, ping sound on right paralumbar fossa to 11th intercostal space on simultaneous auscultation and percussion. On rectal examination balloon like structure was noticed and the liptak test revealed pH of 2. Ultrasonographic examination of abomasal contents and post mortem examination confirmed RDA.

A nine months male cat was presented with the history of itching and scratching over the face, ears and forelimb since a month. On physical examination alopecia, scales, crusty, thick, wrinkled and leathery lesions were found on the face and ears. All the vitals were within the normal range. Microscopic examination of the skin scrapping revealed Notoedres cati. Further history also revealed the presence of pruritus and cutaneous lesions on the shoulder and arm region of the owner. The cat was treated with Inj.Ivermectin @200 µg/kg along with topical application of sulphur (10%).