An experiment was conducted to study the effect of sex on growth pattern and carcass characters of commercial broilers. One hundred and twenty numbers of day-old chicks were wing banded, weighed and reared up to 40 days of age. The body weight was individually recorded from all the birds on 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 40 days of age to assess the influence of gender on body weight. At the end of the experiment 12 males and 12 females were subjected to slaughter studies to assess the carcass characters. The body weight between males and females were similar up to 14 days of age and thereafter, males recorded significantly (p<0.01) higher body weights on 21, 28, 35, 40 days of age, weighing 35.79, 107.69, 179.73, 211.88 g respectively higher than females. The ready-to-cook weight (%) and dressed carcass (%) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in males; whereas, New York carcass (%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in females. Among the cut of parts, the drumstick percentage was significantly (p<0.05) higher in males, whereas, the wings percentage was significantly (p<0.05) higher in females. Among processing yields and losses, only shank & feet and abdominal fat (%) showed significant (p<0.05) difference between sexes; while, feather, blood, head, viscera, kidney and total offal yields had non-significant difference between sexes. Among giblets, only the heart yield was significantly (p<0.05) different between sexes with higher value in females. The results showed that the males attain marketable weight early, therefore can be marketed early. The males can be slaughtered earlier than females for producing specialized products from drumstick; whereas, females can be slaughtered early to harvest drumette.

An experiment (97 days) was conducted to investigate the dietary lauric acid (LA) supplementation on performance, digestibility and faecal microflora counts in Large White Yorkshire cross piglets. A basal diet was (BD) prepared as a negative control without supplementation and a positive control with an antibiotic (chlortetracycline at 0.05%) supplementation (BDA). Another two diets were prepared by supplementing LA at 0.2 and 0.4% levels to the basal diet. Dietary inclusion of LA or antibiotic significantly (P<0.01) improved the body weight and feed efficiency and recorded highest (P<0.01) body weights with 0.4% LA, while lowest (P<0.01) weight gain with control group. Significantly higher FCR (P<0.01) was observed in LA fed animals and the lowest (P<0.01) was recorded in the BD and BDA groups. The improved (P<0.05) digestibility of organic matter, crude fiber, ether extract and nitrogen free extract was observed with 0.4% LA. The faecal total bacterial count and E.coli count were lowered (P<0.01) with LA supplementation, while highest count was observed in control group. Hence, it was concluded that, supplementation of LA at 0.2 to 0.4 % in the diets of LWY piglets showed increased weight gain, feed efficiency and nutrient digestibility by reducing faecal microflora count in LWY piglets.

Six adult dead ducks from neighbouring area of Namakkal district were brought for post-mortem examination with a history of chronic debility, morbidity and mortality to Poultry Disease Diagnosis and Surveillance Laboratory, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. Post mortem examination of carcasses revealed that flatworms were attached to the lining of the mucosal epithelium and obstructing gastro intestinal tract indicative of verminous enteritis. The flukes were identified as Hypoderaeum conoideum. The parasitological studies revealed that H. conoideum was the cause of verminous enteritis in the affected flock.

 Open fontanelle is a soft spot located on top of the head in a newborn due to incomplete fusion of the cranial bones. They are the normal structure in young puppies, especially in small breeds and get hardened by 9-12 weeks of age following fusion of growth plates in the skull. The aim of our study was to describe the presence, diagnosis and management of open fontanelle. A puppy was presented with the history of swelling over the frontal region, intermittent seizures for the past two weeks. Clinical examination revealed a swelling over the mid-frontal region of head. Radiographic examination of skull revealed hydrocephalus with open fontanelle.

A study was undertaken to assess the economic impact of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) project run by AICRP on pigs at Tirupati on the livelihoods of beneficiaries of piggery units. The study was carried out in Chittoor, Nellore, Kadapa and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh state. Data were collected from 30 beneficiaries, who were supplied germplasm under RKVY project. These beneficiaries were purposively selected for impact studies since they have completed 3 years of pig rearing and were personally interviewed for collection of data. The constraints that impede the successful management of swine farms were identified and ranked. The most pressing problem of swine farms was the non-availability of Swill feed which is most important ingredient round the year in required quantities. The other equal important constraint was the accessability to institutional credit agencies. Cost of vaccines was another factor in terms of severity as expressed by the farmers. In addition lack of demand for dreessed pork in rural areas, limited availability of breeding stock were identified. Apart from these major problems there were other constraints too affecting the efficient management of swine farms.  

High mortality in a period of one month due to hepatic coccidiosis was reported in a rabbit farm. Typical nodular lesions in liver and unsporulated oocysts of E. stiedai could be detected. Animals were treated with sulphaquinoxyline and diaveridine for five days followed by repetition of treatment after five days. Strict sanitary measures and disinfection of cages by spraying with 10 per cent ammonia solution was adopted. All animals with poor body conditions were removed from the flock and the disease was controlled.

A study was conducted to record the gross thickness of skin in various regions of the body at different age groups on Bakerwali goats. The animals were divided into three age groups viz, neonatal, young and adult. The thickness of skin increased with advancement of age. Neck dorsal showed the maximum thickness and thorax ventral showed the minimum thickness among the different regions in all the groups studied. 

The present study was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin C and nano vitamin C on the serum biochemical profile of Japanese quail during the summer season. The experiment was carried out on 96 day-old Japanese quail chicks which were divided randomly into three treatment groups. Each treatment contained two replicates with sixteen birds per replicate. The experiment was carried out for a period of six weeks during the summer season in May and June. Feed and water were provided ad libitum to study the effect of the inclusion of vitamin C (200 mg/kg) and nano vitamin C (20 mg/kg) on serum biochemical profile of Japanese quail during the summer season. The study revealed that the mean serum levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, HDL cholesterol and SGPT/ALT increased significantly (P<0.01); whereas, serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides decreased significantly (P<0.01) in treatment groups supplemented with nano vitamin C. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in serum SGOT/AST among treatment groups.

Babesiosisis a tick borne hemoprotozoan disease of canines and anaemia is the predominant clinical syndrome. This disease causes considerable morbidity and mortality in canines. Several factors such as leukocyte activation, vascular endothelial cell injury and release of chemical mediators lead to multi-organ failure and coagulation abnormality in complicated form of babesiosis. The assessment of these biomarkers is used as indicators of severity of disease and outcome in dogs with MODS in babesiosis. Successful treatment of babesiosis is challenging task and no drugs have been demonstrated to clear B. gibsoni (Asian genotype) infection. Newer successful treatment has shown encouraging response in cure of B. gibsoni infection which includes combination of clindamycin, metronidazole and doxycycline.

Six cattle presented with history and clinical signs pertaining to intestinal disorders requiring surgical intervention were subjected to left flank laparotomy. The animals were clinically examined and stabilized with fluid therapy before performing exploratory laparotomy. Left flank laparotomy was performed under Farquharson’s paravertebral nerve block in standing position. The efficacy of surgery through left flank to intestinal affections was evaluated by ease of approach, accessibility and visceral pain. It was found that caudal left flank approach allowed more ease of exteriorization of intussuscepted masses that were in jejunum, jejuno-jejunum, ileum and ileo-caecal parts of the intestine and also allowed complete exploration of the abdominal cavity. Left flank laparotomy approach with or without rumenotomy resulted in more area of exploration, prevented the proximal distended intestines to spill out and specific exteriorisation of the affected segment, by which mesenteric pain was alleviated that otherwise leads to recumbency and kicking at abdomen by the animals which could result in multiple rupture of intestines.