The study described herein aimed to investigate the relationship between perceptions of hormone usage and customer preferences for broiler meat and meat products in Sri Lanka with special reference to Kandy district. A total of 460 respondents from Kandy district were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. The analysis revealed that 85.9% of the respondents believes the fact that the hormones are used in broiler production. Also, 75.7% of the respondents were unaware about the fact that the hormones are totally banned from Sri Lankan broiler production. Around 71.4% believed that the hormones are still being used illegally in broiler production in Sri Lanka. The study also found that the general public (36.2%), was the main source that the respondents perceived this false information concerning hormone use. Similarly, 83.7% believes that these chemical substances create health hazards to human. 76.7% of the respondents strongly believed the fact that the adolescent girls who consume broiler meat regularly during their childhood may experience early puberty. The findings of the present study concluded that three misconceptions of (i) use of hormones to attain high growth rates in broilers (ii) hormones assumed to be present in broiler meat pose health hazards to public and (iii) frequent broiler meat consumption during childhood is accompanying with the early puberty in adolescent girls, do exists. Though the majority of the sample comprises of highly educated professionals, these misinformation were spreaded from the information generated among the general public. However stipulating a valid certification with no added hormone in broiler chicken meat will be helpful in changing the mind-set of general public.

Selection of dairy cattle for higher milk yield, without considering important non-production traits, has decreased reproductive efficiency. Thus, low reproductive performance is a major problem in high yielding dairy cattle. Previous studies showed that dietary manipulation to improve fertility holds much promise and dietary fats have positive effects on reproductive functions in high yielding dairy cattle. Positive effects of fats on reproductive performance due to the fatty acids, which are the precursors of progesterone and prostaglandins. Progesterone and prostaglandins hormones are most important factors that play a role on the control of reproductive functions. The amount of linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic fattty acids in ration can be increase or decrease progesterone and prostaglandins synthesis especially PGF2α from ovary and uterus, respectively. Also fatty acids can be influence follicular development, ovulation, embryonic implantation and maternal recognition of pregnancy. This review focuses on the relationships between dietary fatty acids and reproductive functions such as hormone profiles, ovarian function and follicular development, oocyte quality, embryo development, embryonic implantation and maternal recognition of pregnancy in dairy cattle.

This study was carried out at the research field of Rainas Municipality, lamjung, Nepal from February to June 2022. It was conducted to evaluate the effect of different doses of ethephon on vegetative character, sex expression and yield of cucumber. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replications and 5 treatments (four different doses of ethephon @ 100 ppm, @ 300 ppm, @ 400 ppm and @ 500 ppm as well as water spraying as control). Spraying was done twice, the 1st at two true leaf stage and the 2nd at four true leaf stage. The observed data were analyzed using Gen stat and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) to find out the significant differences between the mean values at 5% level of significance. Among various concentration of ethephon, the most potent doses of ethephon to increase female flower were 100 ppm, 300 ppm and 400 ppm. The treatment with 300 ppm ethephon result early emergence of female flower, higher number of female flower and lower sex ratio followed by 400 ppm. Yield of cucumber was found higher with 300 ppm ethephon comparison to other treatment. The benefit-cost ratio (B:C ratio) was found highest at 300 ppm ethephon treatment and lowest in the control group. Considering various impacts of different doses of ethephon, treatment with 300 ppm ethephon is recommended.