Gastrointestinal nematode parasitism is one of the major factors limiting sheep production worldwide because they cause heavy economic losses in meat and wool production. Gastrointestinal parasitism is the major cause for morbidity and mortality in ruminants. Severe anemia, reduction in functional gastric gland mass, severe damage to gastric mucosa and villous astropy caused by these worms are responsible for the death due to parasitic gastroenteritis. In India, the common nematode species encountered is Haemonchus contortus in small ruminants. This review throws light on the different mechanisms and contributory factors affecting the development of anthelmintic resistance, the diagnosis and means to prevent the resistance at field level. The emergence of multi-resistant nematode has shown that the previously used control strategies is no longer a chemically success method. The interpretation of fecal egg count reduction test has been modified and suggestions are made on its use with persistent anthelmintics. 

With the advancement of research and development of medical technology, there is an increase in the number of animals used in research. As millions of experimental animals are being used in different experiments worldwide, there is a lot of debate about the pain, distress, and death experienced by animals during scientific experiments. Experimental animals also require skilled manpower, time-consuming protocols and are costly. There are various alternatives to animal testing to overcome the drawbacks of animal experiments and avoid unethical procedures. Russell and Burch published principles of the Humane Experimental Technique which includes a strategy of 3 Rs (i.e. reduction, refinement, and replacement) in 1959. They introduced and defined the terms replacement, reduction, and refinement, which subsequently have become known as ‘alternatives’ or ‘alternative methods’ for minimizing the potential for animal pain and distress in biomedical research. Therefore, different methods and different alternative organisms are being used to implement the 3 Rs strategy. So, a brief account of these alternatives and the advantages associated is discussed in this review with examples. An integrated application of these approaches would give insight into the minimum use of animals in scientific experiments.

The socioeconomic importance of nomadic donkey rearing, perception on health benefits of donkey milk and the marketing channels involved remain unexplored. This paper aims at providing details on nomadic donkey rearing, a traditional system prevailing in Tamil Nadu. Donkey played a significant role in the livelihood of its owners who had migrated throughout Tamil Nadu for selling donkey milk.  They traversed around 30 – 40 km per day to sell the donkey milk besides meeting the grazing needs of the donkeys. Majority of the nomadic donkey rearers were young to middle aged and were scheduled tribes. Two third of the respondents were involved in nomadic donkey rearing for nearly eight months in a year and for the remaining four months they earned their livelihood as  agricultural labourers. The study revealed that on an average, lactating jenny yield milk for six months. At the end of the lactation period, the donkey rearers sold the dry jenny to the traders and in turn purchased the lactating jenny from them. The nomadic donkey rearers believed that the donkey milk had medicinal benefits to cure ailments such as ulcer, indigestion, pneumonia,  jaundice, leukorrhea and hypernatremia. The respondents preferred institutional support in marketing donkey milk so that they could settle in one place and thrive better. 

The prevalence of haemoparasites in dogs in different regions of Andhra Pradesh was presented in this study. The overall prevalence of haemoparasitic infection was 35.0 and 48.23 per cent in Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions, respectively. Statistically, there was no significant (P>0.05) relationship between the region and prevalence of haemoparasites in dogs. Infection with single haemoparasite and co-infection with more than one haemoparasites was non-significantly higher (32.62% and 15.60%, respectively) in dogs of Coastal Andhra than in Rayalaseema region (27.50% and 7.50%, respectively). The prevalence of Babesia spp., Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis was non-significantly (P>0.05) high in Coastal Andhra than in Rayalaseema region. Among three species identified Babesia spp. were the most prevalent species in dogs in two regions. Co-infection with Babesia spp. and E. canis (10.06%; P>0.05) was more frequently observed in dogs in Coastal Andhra region than in dogs of Rayalaseema region (6.25 %). 

An experiment (97 days) was conducted to investigate the dietary lauric acid (LA) supplementation on performance, digestibility and faecal microflora counts in Large White Yorkshire cross piglets. A basal diet was (BD) prepared as a negative control without supplementation and a positive control with an antibiotic (chlortetracycline at 0.05%) supplementation (BDA). Another two diets were prepared by supplementing LA at 0.2 and 0.4% levels to the basal diet. Dietary inclusion of LA or antibiotic significantly (P<0.01) improved the body weight and feed efficiency and recorded highest (P<0.01) body weights with 0.4% LA, while lowest (P<0.01) weight gain with control group. Significantly higher FCR (P<0.01) was observed in LA fed animals and the lowest (P<0.01) was recorded in the BD and BDA groups. The improved (P<0.05) digestibility of organic matter, crude fiber, ether extract and nitrogen free extract was observed with 0.4% LA. The faecal total bacterial count and E.coli count were lowered (P<0.01) with LA supplementation, while highest count was observed in control group. Hence, it was concluded that, supplementation of LA at 0.2 to 0.4 % in the diets of LWY piglets showed increased weight gain, feed efficiency and nutrient digestibility by reducing faecal microflora count in LWY piglets.

The study designed to assess the normal reproductive tract involution in postpartum crossbred Jersey cows. Pluriparous crossbred Jersey cows (n = 10) which had recently calved were subjected to ultrasonographic assessment for postpartum involution once in two days till complete involution. The results showed that the involution time required for the vagina and cervix was 23 and 29 days respectively. The Mean ± SE of vaginal and cervical involution (cm) varied from 2.15±0.07 to 1.12±0.07 and 3.76±0.10 to 1.74±0.09 respectively. The uterine involution (cm) of gravid and non-gravid horn diverge from 4.27±0.12 and 3.47±0.14 to 1.89±0.13 and 1.67±0.14 respectively from day 4 to 23. The present findings document the reference value and period of reproductive tract postpartum involution in crossbred Jersey cows.   

A female Ongole calf aged one year and nine months was found to have nodular development around the left eye and neck region. Clinical examination revealed that the calf had cutaneous papilloma (wart), which was treated with autohemotherapy, ivermectin and levamisole injections along with placement of a ligature around wart's base. On the third day of treatment, a large papilloma on the left lower eyelid dried up and sloughed off. On the tenth day of therapy, the warts on the upper eyelid and neck began to dry and flake off, leaving behind barely visible scars at the original growth sites. The animal underwent an uncomplicated recovery and completely recovered from the ailment.

Fifteen days old Jersey crossbred calf was brought to the hospital with the history of sudden hair fall around the trunk and legs and the other calf was apparently normal in twin birth. Clinical examination revealed severe alopecia in both fore limbs, hind limbs, trunks and easy epilation of hairs, along with erythematous skin and pruritus and mild scaling around its thighs, flanks and trunk. Dermatological analysis of skin scrapings revealed negative for ectoparasites and trichogram showed no hair growth abnormalities. Haemato-biochemical parameters were in normal range except low plasma ascorbic acid (0.16 mg/dL). The case was diagnosed as vitamin C responsive dermatosis and treated with single dose of intravenous injection of 2.5 g of ascorbic acid diluted with normal saline. The owner was advised to follow tab. vitamin C total dose of 2 g/day for 10 days orally. After one week, further hair was loss ceased and complete regrowth of hair noticed after four weeks of treatment. 

The prevalence of Babesia infection was studied in newly purchased Tellicherry goats from Thalasserry, Kerala State to a private goat farm at Chennai. A total number of 168 goats were examined for the presence of Babesia. The study revealed that 58 (34.5%) goats were infected with Babesia ovis. The prevalence of Babesia infection between males and females and different age groups of goats was non-significant. Infected goats showed varying clinical signs of inappetence, depression, increased respiratory rate, weakness, coughing, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, diarrhea,   body temperature ranging 39.5- 41.2oC and abortion. Blood parameters revealed decrease in total red blood cells (RBC) count, haemoglobin concentration (Hb), Volume of packed red cells (VPRC), platelets counts and increase in lymphocyte and neutrophil count.

A study was conducted to assess the cost economics of brewery waste in twenty four Jersey crossbred dairy cattle for one year with three treatments viz., control (T0), brewery waste (T1) and balanced ration (T2) in farmer’s field conditions with eight animals in each group. The control, brewery and balanced ration animals were fed as per traditional and standard feeding practices. Statistical analysis revealed a significant (P<0.01) increase in the cost of concentrates (Rs. 15401.59/-) and total feed cost (Rs. 33278.93/-) for brewery waste fed dairy cattle than control animals. Also significant (P<0.05) increase in average gain of milk yield (0.73 Kgs /animal/day) was noticed for brewery waste fed animals than control. It is imperative to note that the total returns (Rs. 54653.18/-) were significantly (P<0.05) higher for brewery waste treated than control (Rs. 45393.15/-) animals. No significant (P>0.05) difference was evident in lactation days, cost and net returns per Kg of milk production using brewery waste. It can be concluded that farmers can utilize brewery waste to increase milk yield and total returns for augmenting income generation.