Indigenous duck breed of Assam are popular with considerable production potential with minimal input and mostly reared under semi intensive system of management. These ducks are maintained in all agro climatic zones of Assam and different from other indigenous duck genetic resources available in the country. But the genetic structure of these duck varieties was not fully studied; hence the genetic characterization of Assam ducks was assessed with 23 FAO recommended duck specific microsatellite markers using advanced automated genotyping technique. The analysis revealed that totally 91alleles were observed with the number ranging from 1 (CAUD025) to 7 (CAUD004 and APH009) and an overall mean of 3.957 ± 0.32 across the loci. The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.4444 and 0.5113. All the microsatellite loci were found to be highly polymorphic except CAUD025. In Assam ducks, PIC value ranged from 0.14 (APH001) to 0.71 (CAUD004) with a mean value of 0. 4813. Nearly 14 out of 23 loci had PIC values of more than 0.5 indicating that these markers can be effectively used for genetic diversity analysis. The Chi-square test revealed that among the 23 microsatellite studied, only 12 were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium proportions and the rest departed from equilibrium. Selection and non-random mating could be the main reasons for this disequilibrium. The markers used in the study were found to be highly informative, explores high genetic variation in the population which could be exploited for their improvement.

A study was undertaken with an objective to evaluate the effect of sugarcane bagasse as analternate roughage source on the feed intake, nutrient digestibility and growth performance in crossbred calves. Eighteen crossbred calves aged one year with an average body weight of154.28 kg were utilised in the study for 6 months. The animals were divided into 3 groups and fed with two different inclusion levels of sugarcane bagasse (25% and 50%) replacing conventional fodder and a control diet based on roughage and concentrates, commonly adopted in the region. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference between control and treatment groups in the digestibility of DM, OM, CF, NFE, however the digestibility of EE differed significantly (p<0.05).Even though DCP showed highly significant difference among the groups, the TDN contents were similar to the control diets for both treatment groups. The dry matter intake did not differ significantly for the 1st and 2nd months. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in the bodyweight of the animals in the entire study period.Therefore sugarcane bagasse can be safely included up to the level of 50% in the diet and can potentially replace the conventional green fodder without affecting the growth and daily dry matter intake in crossbred growing calves.

Bovine Lymphocyte Antigen DRB3 (BoLA-DRB3), a gene of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has received attention because this is considered to be a potential genetic marker associated with disease resistance traits in cattle. Hence, a study was taken up to characterize BoLA-DRB3.2 alleles in the 60 Ongole animals. The most common alleles observed in Ongole cattle was *15 and *6 with frequency of 0.225 and 0.200, respectively. Of the 22 identified alleles detedted, these 7 allleles (BoLA-DRB3.2*15,*6,*12,*13,*23, *31 and *47) represented 77.5 percent of allelic frequencies. Result indicated that the BoLADRB3 exon 2 was highly polymorphic in Ongole cattle. Direct sequencing BoLA-DRB3.2 allele reveled that at nucleotide at position 91 and 133 of the sequence had both A and G nucleotides in contrast to T nucleotide of Bos taurus breed and the variations leads to different band pattern in gels.

A survey was conducted to assess the breeder production performance in Aseel breeding farms. Aseel birds had multicolored plumage with solid feather patterns distributed all over the body. Pea combs, strawberry and single comb were observed in the population. Birds were housed in layer shed with the ratio 1 male for 8 female. Age at first egg was  recorded as 139±1.94 days. Average cumulative egg production up to 120 weeks per bird was 160.59±0.59 with the 77% hatchability. Percentage hen day egg production for Aseel was 29.72±1.60 and the effective population size (Ne) ranged from 352.94 to 4781.16 and the overall mean Ne in the Aseel population was 2086.59±148.35 with the rate of inbreeding 0.0003.

An investigation was carried out to assess the nurtional , texture profile, microbial and sensory quality of wafer cones. Refined wheat flour and water, lecthin oil, vegetable fat, baking powder, SMBS (Sodium Meta Bisulphite) were used for the preparation of the wafer cone. Treatments were prepared with casein powder at the rate of 3, 5 and 7 per cent for enriching the wafer cones and control samples were prepared by using refined wheat flour. The quality assessment for moisture, protein and fat was carried out using infrared analyser from NDC technologies. Sensory acceptability was assessed by 9- Point Hedonic Scale and results were analysed statistically.

nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; The pelvic girdle of Chinese goose was a large, elongated bone, narrow cranially (3.0 cm) and wide (8.0 cm) caudally. It consisted of two os coxae, each of which was made up of an ilium, an ischium and a pubis. The ilium of the Chinese goose was the largest and longest (14 cm) bone of the os coxae. The pre-acetabular part of the ilium was 6.80 cm long and 2.0 cm wide. The post-acetabular part of ilium was 7.2 cm long. The ilioneural canal was slightly broad in front and narrow caudally. The pelvic surface of ilium showed six openings on either side of the bodies of the lumbosacral mass. The ischiatic foramen was 3.60 cm long and 1.20 cm wide. The ischium was triangular in shape and 7.50 cm long. The caudal border of the pelvis was wide (7.50 cm) and showed a deep notch. The pubis was long (12.0cm), thin, bent rod-like bone, projected well beyond the caudal border of the os coxae and bent medially. The pectineal process was short and rounded. Pneumatic foramina were absent in the os coxae of the Chinese goose. The acetabulum was large and formed by all the three bones. The anti-trochanter was quadrilateral in shape and prominent.

A study was undertaken with the objective of assessing the utilisation pattern of ICT (Information Communication Technology) among undergraduate veterinary students in southern states of India. Data were collected from 248 final year undergraduate students of 12 veterinary colleges in five southern states of India viz. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka Andhra Pradesh and Telangana through pretested questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the students studied had 3-4 years of experience in using internet and accessed internet through mobile phone (61.29%). One-third (33.06%) of the students used internet 2-3 days in a week for academic activity while, 30.65% used internet every day for personal activity. The study revealed that students used internet mainly for the preparation of assignments (97.58%). The major problems faced by the students in using ICT tools were slow speed of internet (77.82%) and inadequate number of computers (75.81%) in the institutions. It could be concluded that veterinary students had accessed substantial information technology resources and had knowledge towards computer and internet. Provision of structured information technology training for veterinary students would help them to acquire necessary skills to maximise the utilisation of online veterinary resources. nbsp;

The present study was conducted with the aim of establishing the basic data about gross morphometric measurements in lactating and non-lactating (n=15 each) adult Tellicherry she-goats. These goats had two mammary glands (right and left halves) divided by an inter mammary groove and each had a single teat. Udder circumference and inter teat distance differed between lactating and non-lactating animals. Udder length (UL) width of right (R­UW) and left (L-UW) quarter, right and left teat length, teat diameter at base (TDB), teat diameter at tip (TDT), Teatto floor distance (TFD) and teat end floor distance (TEFD), right and left teat diameter at base (TDB), right and left teat diameter at tip (TDT) did not differ between lactating and non-lactating Tellicherry she-goats.

Objectives: This study was designed to isolate, identify, and determine the prevalence of Aspergilli in commercial chicken in selected areas of Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 lung samples from suspected dead chickens, comprising broilers (n = 32) and layers (n = 18), aged between 5 days and 45 weeks, were collected from poultry farms located in the Gazipur district in Bangladesh. Fungi were primarily identified based on the colony morphology using potato dextrose agar (PDA). DNA was extracted from the suspected colonies. Aspegillus spp. was detected by genus-specific ASAP-1 and ASAP-2. Aspergillus spp. were then screened by polymerase chain reaction targeting Aspergillus flavus (FLA-1 and FLA-2), Aspergillus fumigatus (ASPU and Af3r), and Aspergillus niger (ASPU and Nilr). Results: The overall prevalence of Aspergillus spp. was 44% (n = 22/50; p < 0.05). Among the Aspergilli, A. flavus was detected in 10% (n = 5/50) of the samples. Similarly, A. fumigatus and A. niger were detected at 26% (n = 13/50) and 8% (n = 4/50) respectively. Three samples were associated with more than one fungus; two fungi (A. flavus and A. niger) were in two samples, and three fungi (A. flavus, A. fumigatus, and A. niger) were in one sample. Conclusion: Isolation and prevalence of Aspergillus spp. in commercial chicken were studied for the first time in Bangladesh. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(2.000): 184-190]

Objective: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is one of the most important causative agents of swine diseases that pose a global economic threat. Presently, there is little or no information on the perception and awareness of PCV2 and its associated effects among pig farmers in Nigeria. Therefore, this research was carried out to describe pig farmers' views, awareness, and likely impact of PCV2 and its associated postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) on pig production in the southwestern region of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of pig farmers in Oyo and Ogun states, Southwest Nigeria, was carried out with the help of a self-administered questionnaire. Results: A total of 111 farms out of the 385 required took part in the study, resulting in a total response rate of 28.8%. 89 (79.2%, 95% CI = 70.8–85.8) pig farmers who participated were unaware of PCV2, while 46 (41.4%, 95% CI = 32.7–50.7) had heard about PMWS. The level of awareness was generally poor, with an average score of 1.43 (SD ± 1.25; 23.9%). Only 23% (25/111) of the participants had a high level of awareness. To promote awareness about PCV2/PMWS, participants' most preferred sources of information were seminars, extension services (especially by veterinary and agricultural extension officers), social media (WhatsApp and YouTube), and mobile telephone (through calls or text messages). Conclusions: The present study showed a gap in the level of farmers' awareness about PCV2/ PMWS, and to bridge the gap, more scientific-based evidence is needed to promote targeted educational programs and policy formulations. Also, with the dearth of information about PCV2, it is necessary to determine its prevalence and the characteristics of the virus possibly circulating within the swine herds in Nigeria. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(2.000): 203-210]