Hematological parameters were studied in 163 apparently healthy goats comprised of 3 indigenous breeds at Adami-Tulu Agricultural Research Centre (ATARC) and Sheno, Agricultural Research Centre (SARC), Ethiopia. Data were analyzed for the effect of breed, sex, age, and season. Hemoglobin (Hb) was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) for Arsi-Bale (AB) than Longeared Somali (LES) and Central Highland (CH) goats. Packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) for LES than the other two breeds. White blood cells (WBC) (P < 0.05), neutrophils (P < 0.0001) and basophils (P < 0.0001) were higher in CH than in the other two breeds. Conversely, lymphocytes were lowest (P < 0.0001) in CH goats compared to other breeds. Female goats had significantly (at least P < 0.05) higher red blood cells (RBC), PCV, WBC, lymphocytes and eosinophils than male goats. In contrast, males had higher (P < 0.05) mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and neutrophils than females. There was no significant age difference for the erythrocytic series but the age difference was highly significant (P < 0.0001) for the leukocytic series. WBC and lymphocytes decreased as age increased while the reverse was true for neutrophils and eosinophils. Seasonal variation was also considerable for both erythrocytic and leukocytic series. RBC, Hb, lymphocytes, and neutrophils of the indigenous goat breeds were remarkably different compared to most other exotic goat breeds.

In this study, it was planned to examine the mineral levels in the milk of different dog breeds during the lactation period. Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) concentrations were analyzed in dog milk. In this research 6 Labradors, 6 German Shepherds, 6 Pointers, 5 Turkish Tazis (sighthound), 5 Setters, 7 Malinois, and 5 Golden Retrievers (a total of 40 dogs) of 3 to 4 years of age were used as research materials, all of which were under same management and feeding conditions. All dogs were on diets appropriate for gestation and lactation periods. Adequate milk volume could be collected 23 weeks after parturition, and there were no known medical problems. Each day's samples were kept capped and refrigerated after being collected. The concentrations of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, zinc, manganese and iron, were analyzed by using Varian Brand 30/40 model AAS device.The Ca, K, Na, Zn, Mn and Fe levels of milk samples from different dog breeds had no significant difference. The highest Mg level was determined in Pointer breed milk samples, and the lowest was determined in Setter milk samples. The highest Cu levels among the inspected races were in Labrador milk samples, whereas the lowest levels were determined in Setter breeds.This data shows that most of the analyzed milk content of different breeds of dogs did not change significantly during the same lactation period, and any present difference could be taken into account when evaluating breeding studies.

Sixty five dogs belonging to five different breeds were subjected to dog erythrocyte antigen 1.1 test to assess the occurrence of dog erythrocyte antigen 1.1 in Kerala state, India. Of the animals tested 51 were found positive for the antigen with considerable variation across breeds. Results of the present study indicate that the expression of DEA 1.1 in the Indian canine population may at the higher end of the international prevalence.

This study was conducted to examine comparative productive performance of different varieties of Desi chickens identified from group of Desi flock procured from rural field conditions of Mianwali and Bhakkar districts of Punjab province (Pakistan). A total of five varieties of Desi chickens viz., dark brown, medium brown, light brown, black and mixed colour were identified on the basis of their plumage colour and uniformity of body characters. Four hundred and eighty birds (96 of each variety) were selected for further study. The birds of each variety were randomly divided into 3 equal replicates. They were maintained in 15 separate pens on deep litter system under optimal managemental conditions and were fed a balanced layers ration ad-libitum. The birds were provided 16 hours light per day. The experiment was conducted for 8 weeks. The results indicated that varieties differed significantly in egg production, feed conversion efficiency and egg mass, whereas, no difference was observed in feed intake and egg weight between them. Based on the findings of this study, it appeared that different varieties of Desi chickens identified and selected during the course of this study on phenotypic basis differed in their productive potential on the basis of better productive potentials in terms of egg yield, FCR and egg mass, dark brown, and black varieties of Desi chickens could be used to carry out further selective breeding work to study possibility of improving their productive potentials.

The calf was a congenital abnormal stillbirth of Sahiwal breed of zebu cattle, with multiple musculoskeletal defects. It was born to a heifer in its first calving. The calving was normal; however, calf born had multiple anomalies. The body of the calf was flashy just like a rubber balloon filled with water (case of hydropsy). The body was without hairs (hypotrichosis). Skeleton was noncalcified and ribs were cartilaginous. The body was identifiable in three regions: head, thoraxabdomen, and limbs. Morphologically limbs were developed but were quite short in length with well-developed hoof. There was one eye like structure just above the mouth (case of cyclopia). The tongue was developed and was protruded from mouth. There was one additional structure on the head, looked like outgrowth of muscles covered with thin skin, had openings of nostrils on the end. In autopsy abdominal body cavity was found filled with fluid. The visceral organ seemed normal. It was identified as female; however, ovaries and genital tract could not be traced and examined. It was the first calving of its dam with the complete gestation period of 287 days like a normal period in cattle. Pieces of tissue from lung and blood from the heart and vena cava were collected; however, cultures were found heavily contaminated with bacterial growth. The actual cause of the defects could not be established, might be defects of certain genes responsible for incomplete growth and development.

This study was conducted to ascertain anatomical variation in different body parts of Desi, Fayoumi, Cross (Rhode Island Red x Fayoumi) and Nick Chick laying hens. A total 16 laying hens of average body weight were selected using random numbers out of 2600 laying hens, slaughtered and eviscerated. It was observed that proportion of neck, ribs, breast, back, wings, thigh and legs out of aggregate weight was highest (51.74 plus minus 2.85) in Fayoumi hens. The proportion of liver, gizzard, heart and spleen combined weight was highest (6.05 plus minus 1.81) in desi hens. The proportion of non edible offals including trachea, lungs, kidneys, blood, feathers, head, crop, proventriculus, intestines, shanks, gizzard waste, skin, tail, testes, ova, oviduct and fat was estimated to be highest i.e. 46.60 plus minus 1.16 in Nick Chick laying hens. The anatomical variation in Desi and Fayoumi chicks was attributable to scavenging habit of these birds. The high proportion of edible offal in commercial Nick Chick hens may be ascribable to higher productive and reproductive traits.

In this study five samples each of serum glucose, serum cholesterol and uric acid contents were measured in Fayoumi, Rhode Island Red, Parent desi, desi Fl and desi F2 strains of chickens. Cholesterol contents were found to be lowest in desi F2 chickens whereas in other strains there was least significant difference, which can be attributed to reduced lipogenic activity in desi F2 generation. When five samples each of meat from two locations i.e. breast and thigh was subjected to proximate analysis it was found that there was no difference (P greater than 0.05) in crude protein, crude fat, total ash and moisture contents regardless of sex and strains. Dry matter contents differed (P less than 0.05) in breast meat and found to be lowest in Parent desi stocks.

This study was conducted to examine growth performance of black, dark brown and light brown varieties of Desi Generation-1 chickens obtained from selected Desi parents (originally procured from rural areas of Mianwali and Bhakkar districts) maintained at Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi. A total number of 900 day-old Desi chicks 300 each of black, dark brown and light brown varieties were divided into 3 separate groups and further sub-divided into 3 equal replicates. The experimental chicks were maintained on littered floor in 9 separate pens under optimal managemental conditions for a period of 12 weeks. They were fed ad libitum a balanced chick starter ration (from day- old to 8 weeks) and a grower mash (from 9 to 12 weeks). The birds had free access to clean and fresh drinking water. The results showed non- significant difference in growth rate, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency (feed/kg gain), whereas, significantly (P less than 0.05) lower mortality rate was recorded in Desi light brown chicks in comparison to other two varieties. The better growth performance in different varieties of Desi chicks observed during the present study than reported in earlier findings could be due to effect of genetic improvement through selection breeding carried out in the parent Desi flock.

This study was conducted to examine the present productive potentials of field Desi chickens housed under deep litter system. For this purpose a detailed survey was conducted in rural areas of Punjab Province (Pakistan) to know availability of true specimens of Desi birds. After the survey a total number of 1329 adult Desi birds were selected from different villages of Mianwali and Bhakkar districts. The birds were housed at Govt. Poultry Farm, Mianwali for initial acclimatization for 6 to 8 weeks and subjected then to prophylactic vaccination and then they were shifted to Breeding and Incubation Division of Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi. A total number of 450 Desi birds (150 each of black, dark brown and light brown varieties) were randomly selected and were sub-divided into 3 groups of equal size. They were maintained on littered floor in 9 separate pens under optimal managemental conditions for a period of 42 weeks. The results indicated that black, dark brown and light brown groups of Desi chickens produced 1.93, 1.96 and 2.17 dozen eggs (0.0459, 0.0467 and 0.0516 dozen eggs per week) with intake of 29.75, 29.29 and 29.64 kg feed, respectively. The results showed similar performance in egg production and feed intake of different groups of Desi chickens. A similar pattern in egg weight, egg mass and FCR (feed/kg eggs) was observed, however, FCR in light brown Desi (13.68) was found to be significantly (P less than 0.01) better than that of Desi black (15.42) birds. The results further showed depression in production potential of field Desi chickens in comparison to previous production data recorded in the earlier period.