A study was conducted to evaluate the biomass yield and proximate composition of biomass from the natural pastures of Madras Red sheep. Eight villages were selected from the habitat of Madras Red sheep and 40 samples each during  rainy and summer season were collected to assess the biomass yield and proximate composition. The study showed that biomass yield and proximate composition were higher during the rainy season during which these sheep completed their breeding, reproduction and lactation. The total dry matter content was higher during the summer season which was able to meet maintenance requirement of sheep during these months. Farmers managed these animals without any supplementary feeding, but during summer the animals were let in the harvested fields where they had access to crop residues for grazing.

Phylogenetic analysis of organisms not only offers crucial details on the genesis and evolution of genes, genomes, and species, but also helps with ecological and behavioural research while forecasting the magnitude and direction of future evolutionary trends in living things. In the present study, cytochrome b gene sequence of mitochondrial DNA obtained from captive Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris) from the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, was phylogenetically analysed with reference sequences of cytochrome b gene of fourteen sequences of the genus Panthera obtained from NCBI gen bank database. The similarities and differences between the different sequences were studied and the use of phylogenetic analysis as a forensic tool for investigation was discussed. The phylogenetic tool can also be used for pedigree checking where the parentage details are maintained and the place of origin of the species can be traced in case of samples seized during animal poaching.

A proper care, prompt reporting and immediate surgical inervention will save the life of the animal. A four year old pluriparous doe was presented with the history of dog bitten wound with eviscerated mass from the injured site at the left lateral aspect of the abdomen. The goat was kept on lateral recumbancy, on clinical examination revealed eviscerated rumen without any lacerations. Surgical area was prepared aseptically, under Inj. Xylazine as premedication and Inj. ketamine and inj. diazepam as induction anaesthesia reconstructive surgery was performed. Rumenotomy was performed to reduce the content and rumen was closed by the two rows of inversion suture. Peritoneum and transverse abdominus muscle were apposed by inversion suture pattern and oblique abdominus internus and externus muscle were apposed by interrupted suture pattern using catgut no 1. Skin was apposed by interupted suture pattern using cotton thread (no 8). Postoperatively Inj. Tetanus toxoid (5 Lfu), ceftriaxone @ 10 mg per kg and meloxicam @ 0.5 mg per kg were given intramuscularly and the animal was maintained with fluid therapy, antibiotic and analgesic for five days and animal recovered after one week.

A five-year-old intact male non-descript dog was referred to the Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with a history of blindness, persistent fever, inappetence, lethargy and corneal opacity for a week. Clinical examination revealed pale mucous membrane, pyrexia, and enlarged superficial lymph nodes and ophthalmic examination confirmed bilateral corneal opacity (5/5) and related vision loss. Hemato-biochemical profile revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and elevated creatinine levels. The wet film examination was positive for Trypanosoma evansi (+++) and following which the animal was treated with Diminazene aceturate @ 3.5 mg/kg deep IM, tab. Prednisolone @0.5 mg/kg, oral hematinics and evaluated after 2 weeks. Corneal opacity cleared After 14 days of treatment; haemato-biochemical parameters were back to normal range, and after one week of clinical recovery, the dog showed neurological signs. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed mild splenomegaly, ocular ultrasonography revealed normal ocular structure. CSF was positive by PCR for Trypanosoma evansi upon which the animal succumbed to death.

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 efficacy of estrus synchronization for improving the fertility and fecundity was studied in 428 non-descript goats in Kanchipuram district (Tamil Nadu) selected based on clinical and ultrasound examination for synchronization. Non pregnant does were inserted with intravaginal progesterone sponge containing 300 mg of progesterone on day 0 and administered Inj. Cloprotenol sodium (Pragma) 125µg on day 10. The sponge was removed on day 11 of insertion followed by intramuscular injection of 200 I.U. of eCG (Inj.Folligon). Timed Artificial Insemination was done twice at 12 and 24 h interval using Tellicherry frozen semen. Among the synchronized does,359 does were confirmed pregnant by 30-45 days post insemination using transrectal ultrasonography with a conception rate of 83.87% and fecundity rate of 2.038. The study concludes that the progesterone based intravaginal sponge in combination with eCGcan be effectively used for estrus synchronization programme to improve conception rate and fecundity in non-descript goats at farmers flocks.

Hymen normally appears as a circular constriction between vagina and vulva. However varying degrees of persistence, from thin band to complete imperforate structure, may occur in all species due to segmental defects of paramesonephric ducts (Roberts, 1971). Complete obliteration of vaginal canal due to imperforate hymen was reported earlier in crossbred (Kumar et al., 2017), pure bred (Kumar et al., 2020) and buffalo heifers (Singh et al., 2010 and Kumar et al., 2016) with varying degrees of mucus accumulation. The present report places on record a case of persistent hymen with voluminous mucus accumulation in a crossbred heifer. Vaginal speculum was passed and held in position against the septum. A sterile intrauterine catheter was passed through the septum and thick cloudy mucus started flowing out following the catheterization. To facilitate easy and complete evacuation, suction pump was employed and about 15 litres of mucus was removed. After the fluid evacuation, per rectal examination revealed that the uterine contours palpable within the pelvic cavity. Ultrasonographic examination showed a clear band of tissue across the vaginal canal posterior to cervical region.

The present study was undertaken to fortify the nutritive value of chicken cutlet with the addition pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) as filler and optimize its level of addition. The cutlet was formulated with broiler chicken meat, and the spices and condiments. Four different batches of cutlets were prepared with boiled and mashed pearl millet replacing the meat by 10% (PM10), 20% (PM20) and 30% (PM30) along with a control and subjected to physico-chemical and sensory evaluation. The pH before and after cooking significantly decreased with increase in the concentration of pearl millet. The cooking yield was similar in PM20 and PM30 and significantly higher than PM10 and control. In the sensory evaluation, the texture scores were higher for the control with which PM10 was comparable. Juiciness and tenderness scores increased with the addition of PM. Flavour score and the overall  acceptability scores significantly decreased with increase in the concentration of PM. Yet, the scores were above moderately acceptable level. It conclusion, pearl millet may be used as effective filler in chicken cutlets up to a level of 10% without much affecting the 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.