The diseases in poultry cause huge losses in the form of mortality in acute infections or as substandard performance due to chronic illness. Biosecurity and vaccination are considered as two important primary strategies for disease prevention in poultry. On the other hand, breeding for disease resistance is an alternate strategy to combat the damages of diseases. Although, attempts were initiated to develop disease resistant poultry by breeding almost a century before, this branch of science renewed the interest among scientists because of catastrophic emerging and reemerging diseases like Avian influenza. It has proven over a period of time that poultry  exhibits genetic resistance to viral diseases like avian leukosis complex, Marek’s disease, avian influenza and Newcastle disease, bacterial disease like salmonellosis and may parasitic infestations. The key genes responsible for resistance to specific diseases have also been demonstrated. The breeding attempts for developing disease resistant poultry has yielded positive results with varying degree of success. The advent of sophisticated molecular methods like genomic selection using highdensity SNP chips, RNA-seq technique and identification of key marker genes and transgenesis could complement the conventional breeding methods to a larger extent in developing disease resistant poultry.

The plant Limonia acidissima belongs to family Rutaceae. Various parts of this plant like fruit, seed, rind, bark, leaves and roots are being used to treat human and animal ailments. The fruits of the plant are most essential therapeutic portion containing bioactive molecules. This study is intended to reveal presence of some phytoconstituents from leaf extracts and review it thoroughly in order to validate its medicinal use. In the study it was found that aqueous and ethanolic extracts revealed maximum types of phytochemical classes as compared to acetone and petroleum ether extract which can be used for treatment with reference to its mentioned use. Many phytochemicals namely alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, proteins, saponins, phenols, resins, etc. were detected which  reflects its therapeutic value.

A biological trial was conducted to study the effect of multi enzyme supplementation on ileal digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), phytate phosphorus (PP) and non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) in terms of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), hemicellulose and cellulose in broilers for a period of 0-6weeks. The broilers used in this trial were fed diets supplemented with enzyme at 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 g/ton of feed with a proportionate reduction in metabolizable energy (ME-1.25, 2.5, 3.75 and 5 %), crude protein (CP-0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 3 %), methionine + cytine (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 %) and available phosphorus (2.2, 4.4, 6.6 and 8.8 %). The level of individual enzyme per gram of multi enzyme supplement was cellulase 146 IU, xylanase 241 IU, pectinase 98 IU, protease 74 IU, amylase 778 IU and phytase 33 IU. The ileal digestibility was conducted on 6 th week of trial. The ileal DM digestibility (%) was significantly (p<0.01) increased in 750 g and 1000 g enzyme supplemented groups than other treatment groups. The increase in ileal DM digestibility was significantly (p<0.01) higher (6.2 %) in the group fed with 750 g enzyme supplementation than control. The digestibility of ileal crude protein (%) significantly (p<0.01) increased in 500, 750 and 1000 g enzyme supplemented groups than control. The increase in ileal protein digestibility was 12.20 % in 500 g/ton, 9.90 % in 750 g/ton and 10.12 % in 1000 g enzyme supplemented groups than control. However a non significant difference was observed in ileal EE digestibility in all treatment groups. The ileal phytate phosphorus digestibility significantly (p<0.01) increased in all the enzyme supplemented groups (33.69 % in 250 g/ton, 38.75 % in 500 g/ton, 39.53% in 750 g/ton and 42.11% in1000 g/ton) than control (31.71%). A highly significant (P< 0.01) increase in ileal neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and hemicellulose was observed in 500 to 1000 g enzyme supplemented groups than control. Similarly significant (P<0.01) increase in ileal acid detergent fibre (ADF) and cellulose digestabilities (%) were observed in all enzyme supplemented groups than control. It was concluded that the multi enzyme supplementation at minimum inclusion level of 500 g per ton of feed increased the ileal digestibilities of CP, PP, NDF, ADF, hemicelluloses and cellulose by 12.20 %, 18.17 %, 13.57 %, 55.63 % 12.77 % and 52.64 % respectively than control in broiler diet than the control diet in broilers.

A survey was conducted among the small holder dairy farmers in 80 Panchayaths of 14 districts in Kerala in order to evaluate the reproductive performance of crossbred cattle population in Kerala at field level. Analysis of the data showed that the herd size of cattle in Kerala was around 3 per house during the period of 2012 and 2013. Three fertility traits, age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI) and number of services per conception (NSC) were studied in detail and the averages of these traits were 1093 ± 10.52 days, 551 ± 48 days and 2.02 ± 0.01 services per conception, respectively. Fixed model analysis was carried out to see the effect of some of the major factors leading to variation in AFC, CI and NSC and found that there was significant difference in reproductive performances among different genetic groups. AFC and NSC of crossbred Holstein Friesian cows and CI of Sunandini cows were lower compared to other genetic groups. Other factors significantly influencing AFC were period of birth and season of birth. Apart from genetic groups, number of services per conception was influenced by type of semen used and also the level of peak milk production.

The prime objective of the study was to analyze the ecological features and to identify the fish species present along the upstream region of Pechipparai reservoir. Seventeen species of freshwater fishes belonging to 11 genera and 8 families have been recorded. Cyprinidae was the dominant family (6 species) in the study area. Of the 17 species, Dawkinsia arulius belong to the endangered category, Hyporhamphus xanthopterus and Dawkinsia rohani to vulnerable and Ompok bimaculatus to near threatened category. All the 17 fish species are found to be endemic to India and ornamentally appreciated.

In recent times drug repurposing has gained interest over the traditional drug discovery due to reduction in time and cost of development of new drug. Drug repurposing approach has given promising drug candidates for various viral diseases like COVID 19, Ebola, Zika, Dengue, Influenza, HIV, Herpes, etc. Ontarget and off-target are the two basic strategies of drug repurposing. Macrolide, Artemisinin, Quinoline antiparasitic drugs are some of the drugs repurposed against cancer and drugs like thalidomide are repurposed against COVID-19 infection. Repurposing of veterinary drugs like ivermectin, levamisole and benzemidazole group of antiparasitic drugs are also under consideration. This review elaborates repurposing of antihypertensive drugs like angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers as anti- neoplastic drugs, anti-diabetic drugs against Alzheimer’s disease, fluorophenyl benzimidazole (FPD) as antihypertensive drug, thalidomide against COVID-19 infection, levamisole as antineoplastic drug, benzimidazole as anti-cryptococcal drug and some other new drugs. Usage of in silico techniques and pharmacophore modeling strategies can further accelerate the process of drug repurposing. The drug repurposing strategies significantly minimize research and development costs, provide greater chances of success, shorter research time and lower investment risk.

A study was carried out to check the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in ice cream marketed in Thrissur city, Kerala. Altogether 80 ice cream samples belonging to 10 different brands were randomly collected from different retail outlets of the city and were analysed for total viable count, coliform count and for the presence of Salmonella spp. The mean total viable count and coliform count in ice cream samples were 11.90±0.06 and 3.72±0.17 log cfu/g respectively. Thirty per cent of the ice cream samples exceeded the standards prescribed for coliform count by Food Safety and Standards Act (2006). Salmonella spp. was isolated from one of the ice cream samples. The presence of potential pathogen such as Salmonella in ice cream samples reveals the importance of strengthening the quality control measures to be followed during manufacture as well as storage and distribution of ice cream in order to reduce public health risk.

The morphology of the abducent nucleus of the buffalo has been described by materials collected from eight buffalos. Nissl and myelin stained serial and semi serial sections of brain stem were used for the study. The abducent nucleus in the buffalo extended from the cranial pole of the rostral cochlear nucleus to the caudal pole of the motor nucleus of the trigeminal nerve. An accessory abducent nucleus which is present in amphibians, reptiles, birds and some mammals could not be identified in the buffalo. The nucleus appeared as a rounded body in its caudal pole and was roughly triangular at rostral pole in transverse sections. The average length of motor nucleus of abducent nerve in the buffalo was 2.4 mm. The average maximum width and height of the nucleus was 1.48mm and 1.75 mm respectively.

An attempt was made to document the management practices of the backyard goat production in Cauvery Delta zone of Tamil Nadu. The primary data were collected by interviewing 180 backyard goat farmers selected by multi-stage random sampling using pre-tested interview schedule and analyzed through descriptive statistics. About 46.11 per cent of the respondents kept their animals under open system of housing and floor of the goat shed was mud type in 96.67 per cent of the sampled farmers. All the farmers stored manure in an open place. Majority of goat farmers raise their goats solely on browsing and grazing stubble of field crops, natural pasture and tree leaves. Majority of farmers did not possess their own breeding buck but they use community buck for breeding purpose. Middlemen (57.22 per cent) played a major role in marketing of goat in all categories of flocks, followed by butcher (36.11 per cent). Only one-fifth of flock owners dewormed their flocks yearly twice. None of the sample respondents vaccinated their goat against infectious diseases. Goats were marketed round the year (87.78 per cent) and about 12 per cent marketed their goats on special occasions. The major reasons for marketing was found to be the want of money to overcome financial problem (61.07 mean score) in case of bucks / male kids and culling due to old age (66.00 mean score) in case of breeding does. Majority of the sample backyard goat farmers did not follow scientific  management practices at their farm level, which warrants intensive extension programmes. Implementation of best management practices among backyard goat farmers in Cauvery Delta zone of Tamil Nadu would improve the profitability.

An one and half year old Jersey crossbred heifer was presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal with the history of recurrent bloat, copious salivation, severe respiratory distress and abdominal distension. Under local infiltration with 2% lignocaine hydrochloride, trocharization was performed on left paralumbar fossa using trochar and canula to relieve the gas from the rumen. Palpable hard mass noticed in the caudal cervical esophagus and attempt was made to retrieve with the hand through the oral cavity was unsuccessful. Oesophagogram revealed barium stasis on ventral aspect between 4 th and 5 th cervical vertebra. As the obstruction could not be relieved by passing a probang, cervical oesophagotomy was performed and foreign body (Trichobezoar) was retrieved without any complications.