A study on effect of supplementary feeding of creep feed in Pattanam sheep lambs was conducted in its breeding tract of Tamil Nadu, India. Total number of 90 Pattanam sheep lambs at the age of one month were selected in the farmers flock and divided into three groups each comprising of 30 lambs, assigned to the following treatments and reared upto three months. In T-1 (control) 30 lambs were maintained by routine feeding management by farmers, in T-2 30 lambs were fed with concentrate supplementation at the rate of 50 gms per lamb per day along with routine feeding management by farmers and in T-3 30 lambs were reared by concentrate feeding at the rate of 50 gms per lamb per day with mineral supplementation through salt lick block along with routine feeding management by farmers. Fortnightly body weight (kg) and average daily gain (gms) was recorded to assess the influence of supplementation on growth rate of lambs in farmers flock. At start of the trial the overall body weight of lambs was 8.45 ± 0.91 which was non-significant. Fortnightly body weight was 9.78 ± 2.21, 10.98 ± 1.54, 11.77± 1.73 and 12.09 ± 1.73 in first, second, third and fourth fortnights respectively. Between groups significant difference (P< 0.05) in body weight gain was observed in first fortnight and highly significant difference (P< 0.01) was observed during subsequent fortnight. Average daily gain (g) was recorded as 88.67, 80.00, 52.67 and 26.00 during first, second, third and fourth fortnight, respectively. It can be observed that the lambs under T3 had superior ADG followed by the lambs under T2 and T1.

Immunochemical localization of antigenic fractions of ovine bladder worms viz., hydatid cyst, Coenurus cerebralis and Cysticercus tenuicollis is important to identify cross reactive as well as specific proteins. SDS PAGE and western blot technique were carried out to analyze various portions of three ovine bladderworms and to identify the specific protein of cystic echinococcosis. SDS PAGE analysis of fluid antigens revealed 9,6 and 9 bands for hydatid cyst(HCFA),Coenurus cerebralis(CCFA)and Cysticercus tenuicollis(CTFA) respectively and 24, 38 and 68 kDa protein bands were common in HCFA and CCFA. The common protein band between HCFA and CTFA was identified as 28kDa.24 kDa protein which was common between CCFA and CTFA. Scolex antigen revealed 3,6 and 9 bands respectively for HPSA, CCSA and CTSA. The common protein bands between HPSA and CTSA were 29, 72 and 98 kDa. Protein bands 12, 42,98 and 112 kDa were common between CCSA and CTSA. Membrane antigen revealed 4, 4 and 6 bands respectively for HGMA, CCMA and CTMA. The common protein band between CCMA and CTMA was 16kDa only. Western blot analysis revealed that the low molecular weight protein 8 kDa from HCFA was specific for cystic echinococcosis. Cross reaction was noticed between HPSA and CTMA as well as between HGMA and CTMA..

Growing health consciousness and awareness of healthy nutrition have increased consumer demand for dairy products. The present study was carried out to assess the consumer preference for different dairy products available at University retail outlets in Chennai city. 100 respondents who bought dairy products were chosen using systematic random sampling procedure from each University retail outlet in Chennai city viz., (i) Urban Chennai (Madras Veterinary College, Vepery) and (ii) Rural Chennai (College of Food and Dairy Technology, Koduvalli). A survey method was adopted for the collection of primary data from consumers with the help of well-structured and pre tested interview schedule. Majority of the respondents (76.0%) preferred pasteurized raw milk sold at university retail outlet due to its freshness and quality. Overall, majority of the respondents preferred khoa (86.0%) followed by ghee (80.0%), ice cream (75.0%), flavoured milk (72.5%), paneer (63.0%), butter milk (55.5%) and chocobar (39.0%). Overall, product safety and taste were considered as the most important reason for buying dairy products at university retail outlets. Overall, attitude of staff and shopping environment were the least important reason for buying dairy products at university retail outlets. University outlets were ranked third in consumer preference for source of dairy products after supermarket and specialized outlets. Majority of them were purchasing fluid milk and chocobar occasionally whereas majority of the respondents purchase flavoured milk, butter milk and ice cream daily as they are refreshment products. Hence, whenever the product is available, consumers are ready to take which indirectly indicates that there is always demand for the dairy products of University. This imparts the need to enhance the production of quality and variety dairy products.

An experiment was conducted by feeding diets with different levels of energy (2850, 2950 and 3050 kcal/kg in pre-starter diet, 2950, 3050 and 3150 kcal/kg in starter diet and 3050, 3150 and 3250 kcal/kg in finisher diet) and protein (21.5, 22.5 and 23.5% in pre-starter diet, 20.5, 21.5 and 22.5% in starter diet and 19, 20 and 21% in finisher diet) to commercial broilers for a period of five weeksto assess the muscle protein content in environmentally controlled and open sided housing system. The interaction between feeding different levels of energy and protein and housing system revealed no significant influence on breast and thigh muscle protein level in broilers.

A five-year old full-term pregnant Holstein-Friesian crossbred cow with the history of straining for the past 12 hours was presented to the Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital. Based on the clinical examinations, the case was diagnosed as dystocia due to foetal ascites. Successful per-vaginal delivery of foetal anomaly calf with spinal dysraphism was reported in this communication.

The modified Apgar score for puppies was evolved based on the reference range of heart rate, respiration, irritability reflex, motility and membrane mucous colour according to the physiology of canine neonate. A total of 100 puppies born to the bitches that underwent Spontaneous Whelping (SW), Assisted Whelping (AW) and Caesarean section (CS) were selected and were divided into III groups viz. SW (n=30), AW (n=35) and CS (n=35).A modified Apgar score model was used to assess neonatal viability of the puppies. Among the total 100 pups evaluated 36, 13 and 51 pups were having Apgar scores of 0 to 4, 5 to 9 and 10 to 14, respectively. Out of 36 pups having Apgar scores of 0 to 4 at birth, 5.56, 19.44 and 75.00 per cent of pups were born through SW, AW and CS, respectively. Among 13 pups born with Apgar scores of 5 to 9 at birth, 0, 38.46 and 61.54 per cent of pups were born through SW, AW and CS, respectively. Out of 51 pups with Apgar scores of 10 to 14 at birth, 54.90, 45.10 and 0 per cent of pups were born through SW, AW and CS, respectively. Among the viable pups at birth, the pups born through CS were having low and medium Apgar scores of 0 to 4 and 5 to 9, respectively. All the pups delivered through SW had highest Apgar scores at birth while the pups delivered through AW had shown Apgar scores between 5 to 9 and 10 to 14.

The objective of the present study was to assess changes in biochemical and mineral parameters during prepartum and postpartum period in Murrah buffaloes. Eight healthy pregnant Murrah buffaloes of four to six years of age were randomly selected for the study. Same animals were used as self control and divided in to two groups, G I: pre-partum (n=8) and G II: post-partum (n=8). Whole blood was collected one week before and one week after calving by venipuncture. Plasma was separated and used for estimation of biochemical and mineral parameters. Significant differences between groups were analyzed using paired t-test. The total protein, albumin, globulins, cholesterol, calcium and phosphorous levels were significantly (P<0.05) lower during post-partum compared to pre-partum period. No significant difference (P>0.05) between pre-partum and post-partum was noticed with respect to BUN and creatinine concentration. Significantly lower levels of protein profile, cholesterol, calcium and phosphorus is indicative of negative energy balance and susceptibility of dam to metabolic diseases. Thus, ameliorative nutritional strategies might be adapted to optimize animal health and production.

Animal pain management is an important aspect in veterinary medicine. Trauma, illness and surgery can all result in acute pain and good management of pain is required for animal welfare (i.e., Health, physical and mental wellbeing). Newer classes of drugs are emerging for the management of pain which has lesser side effects and more efficacy than older drugs which were used against pain. Combination of two or more drugs has been proved to be more effective for the management of pain than the single drug usage. Selection of the most suitable drug combination is based on the severity of pain, effectiveness of the drug and also health status of the animal. Management of animals that are under pain needs a combination of good nursing, nondrug therapies (for example, ice packs or heat, bandaging and physical therapy) and drug treatments. The article reviews about the classes of drugs which are used for the management of acute and chronic pain in animals, their most common side effects, and the treatment regimen for different class of drugs. It is aimed to guide the veterinary practitioner to select and dose the animals with effective analgesics for the management of pain.

Data on 1, 64,962 ejaculates of 486 bulls maintained at BAIF (Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation) Research Foundation was utilized for this study. Six semen production traits viz. ejaculate volume (EV- ml), sperm concentration (SC- 109/ml), initial sperm motility (ISM- %), post-thaw motility (PTM- %), total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate (TNS- 109/ejaculate) and the theoretical number of semen doses (TNSD) were included in the analysis. Effect of different factors like location, season, year, collection time, collection interval, ejaculation order, breed and age of the bulls was studied on the semen production traits and least-squares means were obtained for these fixed factors while adjusting for the random factors like bull and semen collector. Bayesian method using Gibbs sampling was used to obtain precise least-squares estimates along with 95 per cent posterior standard densities. Better yield was obtained in the early hours of the day before 7 AM, when the ambient temperatures were lower and the first ejaculate was better than the second ejaculate for all the traits. EV was highest when the bulls were six years old, whereas, ISM gradually declined as the age advanced.

Human–wild pig conflict is one of the main threats to farmers as wild pig destroys the growing crops completely. Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu was purposefully selected for the study as it ranked first in human-wild pig conflict incidents in Tamil Nadu. Farmers who had at least one wildlife conflict incidence in their lifetime were selected for this study during 2015- 16 on adoption and effectiveness of traditional practices to manage human-wild pig conflict situations. Sixty participants were selected using the snow ball sampling and data were collected using semi-structured interviews, complemented by free listing techniques, nonspecific prompting and reading back. A total number of nine traditional practices were identified and found that they were adopted at various levels. Further, boundary clearing, using metal cow bells and using shining tapes (100 %) were found to be most effective traditional method followed by fireworks/ crackers (75 %), noise making (72.2 %) and scarecrows (69.6 %). Although encouraging, these results require more widespread testing and demonstration to ensure their effectiveness at broader scales.