The objective of this study was to evaluate cost-effective intervention for enhanced fertility in buffaloes, which could otherwise remain un-bred for variable long time. A total of 165 postpartum anestrus buffaloes were examined gynaeco-clinically at farmer's door. The animals identified with corpus luteum in either of the ovary, were treated with 500 £gg of Cloprostenol, single injection or double injection at 11 days interval (Gr. I). The remaining animals with smooth and inactive ovaries were randomly divided in three different groups. The group II animals were injected 100-150 mg progesterone for successive 5 days and single injection of 500 I.U. of PMSG on seventh day. The animals of group III were administered with 20 £gg of GnRH analogue and 7 days later, with 500 _Ýg of Cloprostenol. A second injection of 10 £gg GnRH analogue was given after 48 hrs of Cloprostenol injection. Group IV animals received 50 gm mineral mixture daily for 30 days along with 30 Nutrisacc boli (1 bolus b.i.d. for 15 days). The proportion of animals that exhibited estrus were 89.13, 86.84, 82.35 and 59.57% and the mean treatment-estrus intervals were 3.97¡Ó0.46, 4.38¡Ó0.49, 3.08¡Ó0.23 and 21.78¡Ó2.56 days in group I, II, III and IV, respectively. The animals detected in estrus were bred by natural service using fertile bulls and diagnosed for pregnancy per rectum 50 days post service. The first service conception rate was 46.34, 33.33, 53.57 and 28.57 % in-group I, II, III and IV, respectively, while the overall conception rate was significantly higher (78.57%) in GnRH-treated animals. The cost of treatment in different groups was Rs. 160 or 320, 220, 525 and 150, respectively. The results indicate that better fertility in postpartum anestrus buffaloes can be obtained by GnRH therapy though; the cost of intervention seems to be higher than other treatments.

An early declining trend in haemoglobin concentration, concurrent with reduced total erythrocyte count and PCV% was observed with pentazocine or lysine acetyl salicylate (LAS) analgesic premedication in thiobarbiturate intravenous general anaesthesia in atropine-primed normal dogs. While the declining trend in PCV% persisted with pentazocine, it had abated at 1.5 hr with LAS pre-medication. No evidence of intravascular haemolysis or red cell morphological aberration was found. Alterations in the values of major haematological indices appear to be a passive consequence of volume changes in the splenic pulp: initial dilatation induced by the thiobarbiturate followed by spontaneous contraction back to original biometry. The observed early lymphopoenic-eosinopoenic response might reflect enhanced glucocorticoid titre during the anaesthetic stress.

The study was conducted on twelve normally calved, suckled, lactating Murrah buffaloes, aged 57.9±3.2 months from 1st to 3rd parity. The animals varied from 12 to 30 days postpartum at the start of experiment and suckling was restricted to twice daily (before milking). The objective of the study was to monitor ovarian follicular changes during early postpartum in Murrah buffaloes using a real time Bmode ultrasonography. Only 3 out of 12 animals showed cyclicity during observation period. Large follicles (8 to 10 mm) were detected for the 1st time at 24.4±1.99 days, whereas 10 mm follicles were first noticed at 26.0±1.41 days. The duration of growth of dominant follicle (9.3±0.48 days) was higher than duration of its regression (7.1±0.40 days), thereby indicating that the rate of regression is faster (0.73±0.03 mm/d) as compared to rate of growth (0.64±0.02 mm/d). The duration of growth of corpus luteum formed after 1st ovulation was very short (8.67±1.44 days). The largest diameter attained by first postpartum ovulatory follicle was 13.0±1.10 mm and the calving to first postpartum ovulation interval was 52.67±8.02 days in the present study. It is concluded that very few (25%) buffaloes experience ovulations in early postpartum period (within 2 months postpartum). Low number of buffaloes displayed spontaneous resumption of postpartum cyclicity although ovaries of all the animals exhibited follicular activity.

Eight female piglets from each of three farrowed crossbred (75% Hampshire x 25% Local) gilts grouped as A, B and C were weaned at 28, 42 and 56 days respectively. Piglets of each weaned groups were divided into two sub-groups _ 'a' and 'b' consisting of 4 piglets in each. Piglets of sub-groups _ 'a' were supplemented with strategic mineral mixture while the piglets of sub-group 'b' were offered commercial mineral mixture. There was significant (P0.01) rise of serum oestradiol-17â at the pubertal oestrus compared to the levels before puberty in gilts. Oestradiol concentration did not differ significantly among piglets weaned at different days of age and between piglets supplemented with strategic and commercial mineral mixture. Serum progesterone was lowest during oestrus and highest on day 10 of the oestrus cycle in all the groups. Progesterone concentration in the piglets weaned at different days of age did not differ significantly. However, the level was found significantly (P 0.05) high in piglets supplemented with strategic mixture over the piglets supplemented with commercial mineral mixture.

The study was conducted to determine the role of Ca2+ and K+ channels in Moringa oleifera flowers extract-induced myometrial contractility of buffalo uterus. Myometrial strips were prepared, mounted in an organ bath containing Ringer Locke solution maintained at 37oC and responses recorded using a kymograph. Moringa oleifera flowers extract (MOFE) produced quite conspicuous and concentration-dependent contractile effect on buffalo myometrium and the EC50 value was found to be 31.62 ìg/ml. Verapamil (10-12M) not only completely inhibited normal spontaneous rhythmic contractions of myometrial uterine strips but also inhibited MOFE-induced spontaneous rhythmic contractions. Ethylene glycol tetra acetic acid (EGTA; 0.1-0.2mM) reduced both the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions and also produced around 28% reduction in the amplitude of MOFE-induced contractile effect. Similalrly, pinacidil (10-6M-10-5M), glibenclamide (10-5M) and 4- amino pyridine (4-AP; 1mM) pretreatments inhibited spontaneous contractions as well as the contractile effects of MOFE (250ìg/ml). Based on the results of present study, it may be inferred that both the extra- and intracellular Ca2+ are very vital for the oxytocic effect of MOFE. Functional presence of K+ ATP, K+ V and/or K+ Ca channels in buffalo myometrium and their involvement in mediating MOFEinduced contractility can not be ruled out. Moringa oleifera flowers possessed promising oxytocic activity and can be exploited in drug-development programme for evolving natural and effective oxytocic or abortifacient.

The buffalo calves became ataxic at 6.16±1.07 minute of acepromazine administration. There was good sedation. The animals stood up with ataxia at 131.5±17.80 minute and complete recovery took 211.83±6.94 minutes. Significant hypotension and tachycardia were observed after acepromazine administration. Midazolam caused ataxia at 3.33±0.76 minute and animals went into sternal recumbency at 34.0±15.85 minute. There was good muscle relaxation. Complete recovery took 183.5±10.92 minutes. Significant increase in respiratory rate was observed at the its peak effect. A significant reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP) was also seen at 30 minute of midazolam administration. Diazepam produced ataxia within one minute and animals went into sternal recumbency. It produced quick onset of action and delayed recovery. A significant hypotension was observed at 5 minute of diazepam with decreased pulse pressure. No change was observed in electrocardiograph on administration of acepromazine and diazepam but slight increase in the amplitude of primary T-wave was observed after midazolam administration.

A study was carried out in 2161 quarter milk samples of 550 cows in Durg district Chhattisgarh. Out of 550 animals, 385 (70%) animals were found to be positive for sub clinical mastitis (SCM) by Modified White Side Test (MWST), 432 (78.54%) by Modified California Mastitis Test (MCMT) and 462 (84%) by somatic cell count (SCC). The quarter wise prevalence of sub clinical mastitis was 47.99%, 55.25% and 60.90% by MWST, MCMT and SCC respectively. Prevalence of blind teats was 1.77%. prevalence was highest during second and third lactations and at 5 and 6 years of age. Infection rate was higher during early and late stages of lactation. HF and Jersey cross bred cows were more susceptible than indigenous cows. Microorganisms isolated were predominantly Staphylococci. ABST revealed sensitivity to cefotaxime whereas most of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin.

A study was carried out in 2161 quarter milk samples of 550 cows in Durg district Chhattisgarh. Out of 550 animals, 385 (70%) animals were found to be positive for sub clinical mastitis (SCM) by Modified White Side Test (MWST), 432 (78.54%) by Modified California Mastitis Test (MCMT) and 462 (84%) by somatic cell count (SCC). The quarter wise prevalence of sub clinical mastitis was 47.99%, 55.25% and 60.90% by MWST, MCMT and SCC respectively. Prevalence of blind teats was 1.77%. prevalence was highest during second and third lactations and at 5 and 6 years of age. Infection rate was higher during early and late stages of lactation. HF and Jersey cross bred cows were more susceptible than indigenous cows. Microorganisms isolated were predominantly Staphylococci. ABST revealed sensitivity to cefotaxime whereas most of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin.

The effect of vacuum packaging on microbiological quality of roasted chicken. Roasted chicken were subjected to two different type of packaging treatment i.e. aerobic packaging with low density polyethylene bags (con) and vacuum packaging using barrier bags (VP.). Microbiological analyses were done on 0th, 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th day at refrigeration temperature (4±1oC). Studies revealed that microbial counts in terms of total plate count, proteolytic count and yeast and mold count increased significantly (P0.05) with the advancement of storage period and were significantly higher (P0.05) for aerobically packaged product throughout the observation period however, yeast and mould count observed only on 10th, 15th and 20th day of observation period. Lactic acid bacterial counts of vacuum packaged product were significantly higher as compared to aerobically packaged sample.

Thirty Staphylococcus aureus isolates used in the study obtained from cattle (20) and goat (10) were haemolytic on blood agar. Twenty one of the isolates (14 from cattle, 7 from goats) produced a-haemolysis, 3 produced b-haemolysis (2 from cattle and 1 from goats), and 6 isolates (4 from cattle and 2 from goats) produced both a- and b-haemolysis. The haemolysins tested against erythrocytes from rabbit, cattle and horse in order to demonstrate a-, b- and d-toxins, respectively revealed that a- and b-toxins were produced by all the isolates but b toxin was produced by only 7 isolates from cattle and by 3 from goats. On titration it was recorded that highest titre was recorded for a-toxins (for cattle, 1:2560 and for goat, 1:1280) whereas the highest titres for b and d-toxins was similar (1:160) for cattle as well as goat isolates. The result obtained for qualitative and quantitative haemolysin assays correlated well with the haemolysis pattern seen on the blood agar plates.