Prosthogonimiasis is one of the most pathogenic neglected fluke infections affecting bursa Fabricii, oviduct and cloaca of poultry, reared in free ranging systems especially low intensity farming in rural areas. A farmer from Orathanadu brought a dead, ten months old hen with enlarged bursa Fabricii. A yellowish caseous mass of about 5 gm weight was present in the bursa Fabricii on the cut section. Microscopical examination of impression smears from caseous mass revealed a large number of ova of Prosthogonimus spp. Histopathologically, bursa Fabricii revealed proliferation of interfollicular fibrous tissue. Few follicles had turned into cyst like structures that contained irregular blue calcified material. Lymphoid depletion was seen in most of the follicles. This is the first report of Prosthogonimiasis in native chicken from Tamil Nadu.

A study was undertaken to know the effect of udder and teat shapes, parity and lactation stage on milkability and milk flow traits and their relationship with milk yield in Jaffarabadi buffaloes. A total of 150 animals from private farms located around Hyderabadwere selectedand grouped according to udder and teat shapes, parity (1st to 4th lactation) and stage of lactation (early, mid and late).Among milkability and milk flow traits, average milk let down time, milking time, stripping time and total milking time, stripping yield and average milk flow rate (AMFR) recorded in Jaffarabadi buffaloes under hand milking were 1.54 ± 0.01 min, 3.49 ± 0.04 min, 1.28 ± 0.01 min, 6.31 ± 0.05 min, 0.19 ± 0.001 kg and 0.65 ± 0.01 (kg/min), respectively. The AMFR in buffaloes with bowl shaped udders was highest (P<0.05) followed by globular, pendulous and goaty shapes and buffaloes with bottle shaped teats was highest(P<0.05) followed by cylindrical, funnel, pear and conical shaped teats.The AMFR was significantly (P<0.05) high in 3rd parity (0.67 ± 0.01) and low in 1st parity (0.60 ± 0.01) buffaloes and significantly (P<0.05) higher AMFR was recorded during early (0.66± 0.01 kg/min) and mid (0.64 ± 0.01 kg/min) compared with late (0.63 ± 0.01 kg/min) stages of lactation. Positive and highly significant (P<0.01) correlation was observed between average daily milk yield (ADMY)with milking time (r=0.523), total milking time (r=0.489) and AMFR (r=0.624) and significant correlation (P<0.05) with stripping time (r=0.188) and stripping yield (r=0.188).The total milking time and stripping yield had significant (P<0.01) positive correlation but total milking time was negatively correlated with AMFR (r=-0.366, P<0.01). The study concludes that,higher AMFR and higher ADMY were found in buffaloes with bowl shaped udders. Therefore, while selecting buffaloes for milk production, bowl shaped udder should be taken into consideration.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of citric acid supplementation on growth performance of weaned LWY pigs up to market weight at 205 days. Thirty LWY weaned pigs were selected, divided randomly into five experimental groups and fed with five iso-nitrogenous and iso-calorie ad libitum diets, that contained citric acid at 0, 0.5 %, 1 % and 1.5 % and 2 % of feed. Feed intake was measured daily and body weight was recorded at fortnight intervals. The Escherichia coli count of excreta was estimated for all the weaned pigs for initial, middle and end of the experimental period. The weight gain was significantly (p<0.01) increased by 2.61, 4.59 and 4.74 % at 1 %, 1.5 % and 2 % citric acid supplemented groups than control. The feed intake decreased (p<0.05) and feed conversion efficiency improved (p<0.01) in citric acid supplemented groups as compared to control. Best feed efficiency was observed in 1.5 and 2 % citric acid supplemented groups. The Escherichia coli count in feces was significantly (p<0.01) decreased in citric acid supplemented groups than control and best results were observed in 1.5 and 2 % citric acid supplemented groups. It was concluded that the minimum level of citric acid supplementation at 1.5 % improved the growth performance and cost effectiveness to the maximum extent with lower faecal E. coli count in LWY pigs.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of extrusion of swine grower feed on the nutrient digestibility and production performance in twenty- four conventionally weaned LWY piglets 30 days of age and 7.60 kg average body weight. They were grouped in to two groups with twelve piglets in each group and fed individually with mash feed (MF) and extruded feed (EF) ad libitum.The experiment was conducted for 90 days. The feed was formulated with maize (62.5%), soybean meal (10%), fish meal (6%), wheat bran (8%), deoiled rice bran (11%), mineral mixture (2%) and salt (1%). The extrudate was air-dried overnight and analysed for its chemical composition.The results indicated that the moisture (MF- 9.54% and EF - 5.17%), total ash -TA (MF- 7.77% and EF - 6.35%), crude protein-CP (MF- 18.14% and EF - 17.36%), ether extract -EE (MF- 2.04% and EF - 1.74%), crude fibre– CF (MF- 6.13% and EF - 5.04%), nitrogen free extract – NFE (MF- 65.05% and EF - 69.51%), calcium (MF- 0.07% and EF - 0.06%), phosphorus (MF- 0.44% and EF - 0.45%) and gross energy– GE (MF- 3870.55 kcal/kg and EF - 4105.75 kcal/kg). The extrusion process decreased moisture, TA, EE and CF significantly (P<0.05) and also increased NFE and GE significantly (P< 0.01) in the extruded feed.The digestibility of dry matter (MF- 84.19% and EF -87.28%), CP (MF- 91.29% and EF -93.21%), EE (MF- 69.21% and EF - 1.74%), CF significantly (P<0.05) and also increased NFE and GE significantly (P< 0.01) in the extruded feed.The digestibility of dry matter (MF- 84.19% and EF -87.28%), CP (MF- 91.29% and EF -93.21%), EE (MF- 69.21% and EF - 1.74%), CF (MF- 81.44% and EF -87.54%) and energy (MF- 77.94% and EF -83.36%) were recorded.The digestible nutrients of EE and CF were increased significantly (P<0.05) and energy of (MF – 77.94%) extruded feed was increased significantly (P<0.01) by 7 per cent than the mash feed (EF- 83.36%).The average feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) different from MF (2417.43g/day) to EF (2106.97g/day) group. The average daily gain (MF- 446.02g and EF - 479.44g) and feed conversion ratio (MF- 5.42 and EF - 4.39) were highly significant (P<0.01) in EF group. The average feed cost for every kg body weight gain was Rs.108.40/- for mash feeding and Rs. 92.29/- for extruded feeding. Extrusion of mash feed increases the gelatinization and surface area of starch granules, which improves starch utilization present in the maize, energy utilization, palatability and nutrient digestibility. Extruded feed increases the feed conversion ratio and reduces the feed cost. Hence, it is concluded that extruded feed is recommended for feeding pigs to improve the production performance.

Low cost technologies for small and large scale production of meat products need to be developed to initiate and attract a large number of entrepreneurs to the processed meat industry. Retort pouches have advantages of shelf-stability, less weight, less storage space, ease of opening & preparation and storage without refrigeration.It has been shown that the use of retortable pouches for the thermo-processed foods is technical and commercially feasible. The present study was conducted to determine the suitable recipe formulation, retort processing temperature and shelf-life of the chicken curry with desi and broiler under ambient temperature (32+2°C)up to 3 months of period. Shelf-life studies included changes in microbiological, physicochemical composition and sensory characters.

Bovine visceral schistosomosis is an important economic, chronic wasting blood fluke illness caused primarily by Schistosoma spindale. The abattoir samples of mesenteric veins, mesenteric lymph nodes and mesenteric fat of S. spindale infected cattle were subjected to histopathological studies. Microscopically it was observed that the mesenteric veins had a cross section of Schistosoma spindale adult worms with mild intimal proliferation and slight thickening of tunica media layer. Mesenteric lymph node revealed mild lymphoid cell depletion and thickening of the medullary trabeculae. The macrophage laden with hemosiderin pigment in cortical and paracortical area of lymph node was confirmed by Perl’s Prussian blue staining. Fat necrosis with mononuclear cell infiltration and venous thrombosis were also observed in the mesenteric fat.

In-vivo follicular developmental pattern was characterized in postpartum anoestrus (PPA) crossbred cows using the ultrasound imaging technology. A total of 12 PPA and six normally cycling cows were selected and investigated. In PPA cows, the ultrasonographic examination of ovaries was initiated randomly on any day and examined every other day continuously for a period of 25 days. In cyclic animals, the ovaries were ultrasonographically monitored every other day from the day of observed oestrus (Day 0) to Day 10 targeting the dominant follicle (DF) of first follicular wave. Ultrasonographic monitoring of the follicular turnover in PPA cows revealed that both the ovaries exhibited dynamic follicular activity. A maximum of two waves could be recorded during the observation period of 25 days, with each wave extending for a period of 8 – 10 days. The follicular wave of PPA exhibited coordinated growth, static and regression phases, with significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged static phase than their counterpart in normally cycling cows. Eventhough the DFs attained >10mm diameter, the animal did not evince any symptom of oestrum which might be due to deficient steroidogenic capacity of the follicular cells as a result of aberrant follicular microenvironment.

The objective of the present study is to explore the bacteria associated with the dead-in-shell eggs of psittacines. A total of 132 dead-in-shell eggs of different psittacine breeds (Macaws, Lories, Conures, Amazons, Eclectus, Cockatoos, Grey parrots and Jardine parrots)were obtained from the incubation unit of Cavin estate exotic bird farm, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and subjected to microbological analysis. The overall prevalence of bacteria isolated from the dead-in-shell was 80.30% (106/132). Among these, Gram-negative bacteria were predominant (49.24%, 65/132) was observed followed by Gram-positive organisms (28.78%, 38/132) and Gram-positive filamentous organisms (2.27%, 3/132) were also isolated from dead in shell embryos. Among the Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus sp. (21.12%) was found to be more followed by Bacillus sp. (3.78%), Corynebacterium sp. (2.2%) and Enterococcus sp. (1.51%).Similarly, among the Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia sp. (25%) was identified more followed by Pseudomonas sp. (6.60%), Serratia sp. (6.60%), Acinetobacter sp. (4.5%), Enterobacter sp. (3.78%), Yersinia sp. (3.77%), Citrobacter sp. (2.27%), Buttiauxella sp. (1.52%), Klebsiella sp. (1.51%), Cedeacae sp. (1.51%) and Erwinia sp. (0.75%). Among the psittacine species, more numbers of the dead in shell cases were found to be in conures (37%) and lories (14.5%). Commonly found bacterial isolates were subjected to antibiotic sensitivitytest. All the isolates were found to be sensitive to enrofloxacin and cefotaxime whereas, most of the bacteria showed resistance to trimethoprim + sulphamethoxazole and kanamycin. Resistance to other antibiotics were variable. Multiple resistance was not observed for any of the isolate. 

A study was carried out among sheep farmers in Dhubri district of Assam on socio-economic status and management practices adopted by them. Altogether 120 numbers of farmers were selected randomly from two blocks of this district. The data were collected through personal interview method with the help of a well-structured, comprehensive and pre-tested interview schedule. Most of the sheep farmers were illiterate and belonged to middle age group. Majority (65.00%) of the respondents had agriculture as their main occupation. Majority (73.33%) of the respondents had low annual income followed by medium annual income (22.50%) and high  annual income level (4.16%). The study revealed that sheep were sheltered during night only. There was no separate housing for the sheep alone. Sheep were let loose in the morning and returned back to the night shelter before evening when there was no crop in the field. During flood, the animals were shifted to an elevated area and were mostly fed with tree leaves such as jackfruit, mango, neem, guava, banana, and babool. During rainy season, when most of the fields were waterlogged, they even graze in knee deep condition in marshy land. Due to grazing in marshy land during rainy season, they were highly prone to parasitic infection particularly liver fluke infection. During flood, most of the sheep died due to severe starvation. Majority of the farmers reported two breeding seasons in sheep viz. June-August and January-March. None of the farmers vaccinated their sheep in the study area. Hence, there is an urgent need to adopt improved management practices to exploit the production potential of this local sheep. By adopting improved management practices, better growth could be achieved, which will ultimately increase the income of the rural poor.   

Barnacle of the genus Octolasmis are commonly called goose-neck barnacle and are frequently found in infesting corals, echinoderms, molluscs, horseshoe crabs, lobsters, isopods, sea- snakes, stomatopods. They are found in shallow waters attachedto the exoskeleton of the decapod crustacea, including crabs and few are found in depthgreater than 1000 meters. During a visit to Pazhaverkadu fishlanding center located near Pulicat Lake, Tiruvallur district, a single individual of Portunuspelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) infested with Octolasmis sp. (Gray, 1825) was encountered. A further work on the effect of Octolasmis sp., and the correlationof its infestation with the thinning of muscle mass and histopathological changes mustbe studied.