The current study was designed to evaluate the carcass and meat quality characteristics of Siruvidai chicken of Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Ariyalur and Perambalur districts of Tamil Nadu.  The carcass characteristics namely New-York dressed weight, eviscerated carcass weight, ready-to-cook weight, giblets weight, abdominal fat weight and meat: bone ratio were recorded. No significant differences observed in carcass characteristics among the districts except for pre-slaughter weight and breast yield. A significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher breast yield was recorded from Ariyalur and Perambalur districts. The pH, water holding capacity, shear force value, tyrosine value and thio-barbituric acid (TBA) number did not show significant differences among the districts. The Siruvidai chicken of Tamil Nadu is meant for egg production and mothering ability. From this study, it is concluded that Siruvidai chicken may be utilized economically for meat production and processing.

An in vitro study evaluated the anti-methanogenic potentiality of aqueous and alcoholic plant extract mixture of ajwainseed and soapnut berries under different roughage and concentrate ratio-based diets in a 3x3 factorial design. Dried and milled plant mixture was extracted (10 g/100 ml) in three solvents, viz, water (Control), ethanol (95 %), and methanol (98 %). Substrate (200 mg) prepared by mixing wheat straw and concentrate mixture at the ratio of 30:70, 50:50 and 70:30 was taken in glass syringes (six per treatment) and incubation medium (30 ml) dispensed anaerobically. Aqueous, ethanol and methanol plant extract (0.5 ml) were taken in three dietary treatments of groups I, II, and III respectively. All the syringes were incubated at 39°C for a running duration of 24 hours and total gas production was calculated. Hundred ml of emitted gas was injected into gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization detector for methane estimation. In vitro true digestibility of diet and ammonia nitrogen content of fermented medium were determined. Experimental data generated were analysed by adopting factorial ANOVA procedures. Results revealed that ethanol plant extract mixture had significantly (P<0.01) reduced the in vitro total gas and methane production by suppressing the true dietary digestibility of high roughage to low concentrate (70:30) based diet.

The current study utilized 20 postpartum anestrus buffaloes maintained at an organized dairy farm in Vuyyuru, Krishna district to compare the metabolic (glucose), mineral (calcium) and anti-oxidant (superoxide dismutase) levels in ovsynch-48 (n=10, G48) and ovsynch-56 (n=10, G56) postpartum anestrus graded Murrah buffaloes. G48 group of buffaloes received 20 µg of GnRH on Day 0, followed by 500 µg PGF2 on Day 7, a final dose of 20 µg of GnRH was given 48 hours after PGF2α on Day 9. Whereas, G56 group of buffaloes received 20 µg of GnRH on Day 0, followed by 500 µg of PGF2α on Day 7, a final dose of 20 µg GnRH was given 56 hours after PGF2α on Day 9. In both groups, FTAI was performed at 16-21 hours interval after observing estrus. Results revealed that on different days of treatment, serum glucose and calcium levels did not differ significantly (P>0.05) in both treatment groups; however, Superoxide dismutase levels varied significantly (P<0.05) on different days of treatment in both groups. The results of the study parameters could play pivotal role in reproductive function and may provide insights into the underlying mechanism of anestrus.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of luteal regression on the conception rates in postpartum anestrus graded Murrah buffaloes. Ovsynch protocols: G48 group (n=10) and G56 (n=10) graded Murrah buffaloes, both received a 20 µg dose of GnRH on day 0, followed by 500 µg of PGF2α on day 7. On day 9, a final dose of 20 µg of GnRH was administered 48 hours after PGF2α for G48 and 56 hours after for G56. Fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) was conducted at 16-21 hours after 2nd injection in both groups. The luteal regression rates in both the groups were evaluated by progesterone hormone (P4) assay at different days of treatment. The results showed that in both groups, the concentration of P4 differed significantly (P<0.05) between and within groups at different days of treatment. In conclusion, it was found that the G56 group (70.00 per cent) had a higher overall conception rate than the G48 group (50.00 per cent) due to better luteal regression.

Avian species reproduce sexually by the fusion of male and female gamete spermatogonia and oogonia-produced by differentiated testes and ovaries. Fertilization is internal and all birds are oviparous. Reproduction in birds entirely varies from other animals. The two essential reproductive organs ere the ovary and oviduct which were involved in the synthesis of egg in adult laying hen. Gross and morphometrical studies were carried out on the female reproductive tract in twelve Siruvidai chicken of which six at laying phase and six at broodiness phase. The birds were reared in Poultry Research Station, Madhavaram, Chennai-51. In laying phase, the left ovary showed mature ovarian follicles whereas the ovary during broodiness phase was in the form of a bunch of grapes with no hierarchical follicles. There was no significant difference in the body weight of the bird during laying and broodiness. The mean length, weight and width of ovary and oviduct had a highly significant difference during laying and broodiness phase. Gross morphology revealed that only the left female reproductive tract was well-developed both during laying and broodiness phase and the morphometric data analyzed will provide a baseline for subsequent studies and also for comparison with other avian species.

The study was carried out to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of digital planimetry apps for wound measurement in dogs. Twenty four clinical cases of dogs with the history of wound presented for wound management were randomly divided into four groups consisting of six animals each and wound measurements were taken on 0, 2, 4 and 7th day. The wound was measured with length, breadth, area and circumference using Imito Measure mobile application through smart phone camera. Based on reduction in wound size healing rate was assessed. Digital planimetry applications are accurate and precise in wound measurement compare to standard ruler method and tracing method.

This case report details the episiotomy approach employed in managing vulval hypoplasia in a two year old Miniature Pomeranian bitch. The animal was presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrical Unit, Madras Veterinary College, displaying a history of greenish black discharge and continuous straining for two hours. The animal was bred before 64 days. Physical examination revealed a small vaginal opening, measuring approximately 1.5 cm in length. Digital examination indicated fetal hind limbs and tail extending into the vaginal passage, while all other vital parameters were within the normal range. Attempts to induce uterine contractions using Inj. Oxytocin and 10 % Calcium gluconate in 5 % DNS proved unsuccessful. Therefore, under local anesthesia (2 % Lignocaine injection), median episiotomy was made and a single live male puppy was successfully delivered with mild traction. Closure of the incision site was accomplished using PGA 1/0 with a simple interrupted suture pattern. The patient had uneventful recovery after 5 day treatment regimen, involving a single dose of subcutaneous Inj. Cefovecin (antibiotic) and anti-inflammatory drugs, along with meticulous wound management.

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 study aimed to characterise the genetic diversity of Kangayam, Umblachery, Alambadi, Bargur, Pulikulam, Deoni and Ongole cattle breeds present in South India. A total of 96 animals were genotyped for 27 FAO-recommended microsatellite loci. The genotypes were analysed using various bioinformatics tools. A total of 1340 alleles were observed across the 27 microsatellite markers and 7 breeds, with allele count ranging from 6 to 13. The average number of observed alleles obtained in Alambadi, Bargur, Deoni, Kangayam, Ongole, Pulikulam and Umbalacherry cattle were 6.59 ±2.15, 6.96 ± 2.05, 7.52 ±2.42, 6.19 ±2.32, 6.67 ± 2.11, 8.07 ± 2.13 and 7.63 ± 2.34, respectively. The highest number (Na=14) of alleles was observed in Deoni, whereas the lowest number (Na=3) of alleles was noticed in Ongole, Kangayam and Alambadi breeds of cattle. Most of the microsatellite markers were considered informative (PIC > 0.50) and the PIC values showed a significant positive correlation with the number of alleles (r = .517, p = .006), regardless of differences in allele size. The dendrogram among the seven breeds revealed that the Alambadi and Bargur breeds of cattle formed one cluster, while the Kangayam, Umblacherry and Ongole cattle were distinctly different from all other breeds of cattle.