The study was conducted on repeat breeding cows at Large Animal Gynaecology Ward, Department of Clinics, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai and some private cattle farms in and around Koduvalli region, Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. In experiment I, Jersey crossbred cows (n=31) synchronized by PGF2a and inseminated on exhibited estrum. The cows were randomly divided into five groups viz. Group I (control, n=6), group II (n=7,100mg), group III (n=6, 150mg), group IV (n=6, 200mg) and group V (n=6, 250mg) and supplemented with fish meal on day 13, 14 and 15 of post insemination in addition to their routine feed. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out by rectal palpation on day 60 of post insemination. In experiment II, twelve repeat breeding Jersey crossbred cows were selected and synchronized using PGF2a followed by timed insemination. On day 10 of post estrus, rectal examination was performed to identify the corpus luteum and randomly divided into two group viz. Group I and Group II (control). Group I cows were injected with Meloxicam @ 0.5 mg/ kg body weight through intramuscularly on day 13 to 15 post-insemination. The conception rate in experiment I as in Group I, group II, group III, group IV and group V are 16.67%, 71.43%, 66.67%, 66.67% and 50.0%, respectively. The conception rate in meloxicam treated animal was 66.7% and in control animal was 33.3%. The fish meal treatment and Cox-2 inhibitor in repeat breeding crossbred cows had improved the conception rate. Further, the supplementation of 100mg offish meal in repeat breeding cows has shown higher conception rate as compared to other groups in experiment II. Hence, it may be used in field condition for enhancement of conception rate, however, further studies in larger population is warranted.

Repeat breeding due to sub clinical endometritis (SCE) is often diagnosed by cytological examination and the effect of endocervical inflammation (ECI) on increased hazards ofpregnancy is inadequately investigated. In this study, endocervical cytology was compared with the golden standard test `endometrial cytology' to detect SCE as a cause of repeat breeding in cows. Influx of Neutrophils and endocervical inflammation will reflect the status of endometrium and may indirectly reflects the ongoing sub clinical form of endometrial inflammation. Hence, this study was aimed at fixing threshold for PMN in endocervical cytology and comparing the same with golden standard technique. Repeat breeding cows associated with endocervical inflammation with >8% of neutrophils during standing estrus in endocervical cytology will have increased hazards of pregnancy. Our study suggested that a moderate concordance/association between ECI and endometrial inflammation (EDI) in repeat breeding cows, these findings were based on the endocervical and endometrial cytology. Based on the endocervical cytology examination 85% of repeat breeding cow posses EDI (SCE) with a diagnostic sensitivity of 86% and showing moderate clinical acceptability for application of endocervical cytology as diagnostic aid to detect SCE in repeat breeding cows.

Composite cattle feed samples and raw materials like maize, wheat, sorghum, broken rice, pearl millet, groundnut cake, cotton seed cake, mustard cake, soyabean meal, rapeseed meal, sunflower meal, guar meal, safflower meal, deoiled rice bran and wheat bran were collected from various parts of India for a period 5 years and evaluated for aflatoxin B1 level by screening through ELISA and confirmation through HPLC. Among the 482 composite cattle feed samples, only 68.5per cent were having aflatoxin Bilevel below the permissible level (below 20 ppb). Higher incidence of aflatoxin B1 was recorded in west zone than east, north and south zones during monsoon period. However, it was observed that incidence of aflatoxin B1 at concentration beyond 100ppb was relatively higher in eastern zone both during monsoon and non-monsoon period than the west, north and south zones. Among the energy source, maize had the highest (7.8 per cent, 15 out of 193 samples tested) prevalence of alarming levels of aflatoxin (>100ppb) and 41.5 per cent (80 samples) in the range of 21 to 100 ppb of aflatoxin B1. Only 50.8 per cent (98 samples) were within permissible level (<20 ppb). It was observed that the presence of aflatoxin Biwas more in maize during monsoon in south zone. Only 47.2 per cent of groundnut cake (118 samples) were within permissible level of <20 ppb of aflatoxin B1. In west zone, highest sample profile (15.18per cent) and zone-wise distribution of 45.45per cent was recorded in the samples of groundnut cake having aflatoxin B1 at alarmingly high level of more than 100 ppb. Overall data reveals that monsoon favours development of aflatoxin B1 more during monsoon.

A study was conducted to assess the heat tolerance of crossbred female (n=7) calves of six to twelve months of age for thirty days each in summer, monsoon and winter. Temperature humidity index (THI) was calculated at forenoon and afternoon in all the seasons and heat tolerance was carried out using Iberia heat tolerance coefficient, Benezara coefficient of adaptability and Dairy search index. The highest THI was recorded in summer afternoon while lowest was recorded in winter forenoon. There was a significant increase in THI from forenoon to afternoon in all the seasons. IHTC was within the reference value in winter forenoon while rest of the time it was below the normal. IHTC decreased significantly from forenoon to afternoon in all the seasons. BCA was above the reference value in forenoon and afternoon in all the seasons. BCA increased significantly from forenoon to afternoon in all the seasons. DSI was significantly lower in winter compared to summer. It was concluded that crossbred female calves have low heat tolerance during afternoon in all the seasons.

The present work was formulated to evaluate the reproductive performance of Tellicherry does and the productive performance of their kids under the early weaning system. Second parity Tellicherry does aged between 2 – 2 1/2 years were divided into two groups namely treatment 1 (weaning at 90 days) and treatment 2 (weaning at 60 days) comprising of 20 does each. Reproductive parameters such as days to first estrum post kidding, days to conception post kidding, number of services per conception, and kidding interval of does were also recorded. Productive parameters such as body weight at birth, weaning, 6 months and 9 months of age, pre-weaning, post-weaning, and overall average daily gain, total biomass produced per kidding, and economics of rearing kids were recorded. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between weaning at 90 days and weaning at 60 days in terms of days to first estrum post kidding, days to conception post kidding, number of services per conception, and kidding interval. Kids born under the early weaning system and the conventional system had similar birth weights. Kids weaned early by 60 days had significantly lower (P < 0.01) weaning weight, body weight at six months, body weight at nine months, total biomass produced / kidding, pre-weaning average daily gain, post-weaning average daily gain, and overall average daily gain compared to kids weaned at 90 days. Early weaning did not improve the reproductive performance of Tellicherry does and had a negative impact on the productive performance of kids.

Emulsion based chicken meat balls were prepared with the addition of beetroot pomace powder (BPP) at levels of 1%, 2% and 3%, over and above the amount of meat along with a control without BPP, and the physico-chemical and sensory properties were assessed. Addition of BPP significantly increased the emulsion pH and non significantly increased product pH and emulsion stability. Product yield of 3% BPP incorporated chicken meat balls were significantly higher as compared to other treatments and control. Sensory evaluation scores were significantly higher in 1% BPP incorporated chicken meat balls followed by 2% and 3% BPP incorporated chicken meat balls. From this result, it is concluded that emulsion based functional chicken meat balls could be fortified with dietary fibre content by the inclusion of beetroot pomace powder up to a level of 3% without affecting the physico-chemical and sensory qualities.

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.

Obstructive urolithiasis is a serious and potentially fatal condition in male small ruminants. It is caused by obstruction of urethral lumen at the distal portion of the sigmoid flexure and at the urolithic process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of surgical tube cystostomy in the management of obstructive urinary calculi in male sheep and goat. A total of 6 animals were studied (sheep-2 and goat-4) that were referred to Large animal clinics - Out Patient- Surgery Unit of Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with a history of anuria, dysuria and stranguria. In Tube cystostomy, the animals were positioned in right lateral recumbency. The bladder was approached in left paramedianregion cranial to the last pair of rudimentaryteats. The urine was drained and calculi in the bladder was removed with the forceps. The catheter was fixed in the urinary bladder by meansof purse string suture pattern using 3/0 or4/0 polyglecaprone. Then the abdominal muscles and skin were apposed. Biochemical analysis revealed significant increase in BUN & Creatinine pre-operatively and decreases post operatively. Postoperatively normograde contrast cystourethrography on day 1 revealed filling defect of contrast agent showing obstruction at the level of Sigmoid Flexure. Ultrasonographic examination after normal urination revealed presence of calculi and also the site of obstruction in the bladder. The time period taken to return for normal urination in Tube Cystostomy was (10.66 ± 0.06 days) and the wound healing of the surgical site was better in tube cystomy.

Wildlife species identification, based on DNA is a highly reliable method for the investigation of wildlife crimes. PCR techniques and microsatellite markers are extensively used for the identification of wild animal DNA in forensic cases. Mostly, genes like Cyt B, Cox 1 and 12S RNA are amplified coupled with sequencing, to confirm the species in question. In the present study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR was performed with DNA samples from captive wild felids, canids and ursids and the finger-print pattern was analyzed for their utility in designing de novo diagnostic primers. DNA was extracted from the tissue samples from eleven animals (two numbers each from tigers and lions and one sample each from a leopard, jaguar, sloth bear, black bear, wolf, jackal and dhole). RAPD-PCR was carried out using different arbitrary decamers. Of the five decamers used, two decamers, namely AP7 and AP17 revealed consistent amplification patterns. Among them, AP7 produced monomorphic fragments corresponding to 500 bp for felids and 800 bp and 400 bp for ursids, while polymorphic bands were generated across the different genera. The decamer AP17 consistently amplified a 450 bp band from all the felid samples and polymorphic amplification with other genera. The potential for these RAPD amplicons for their applicability in the design-specific primers for genus/ species-specific detection of wild animal DNA due to their uniqueness is discussed.