Ceftizoxime is the third generation cephalosporin, extensively used in veterinary medicine. It has larger volume of distribution, good penetration into tissues, and useful for the treatment of mastitis which is resistant to other antibiotics. Keeping in view of generating pharmacokinetic data of ceftizoxime in different domestic animals, the present study was planned to investigate pharmacokinetics of ceftizoxime in goats (n = 6) at the dose rate of 10mg kg-1 body weight following single dose intravenous administration. Drug concentration in plasma was determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with UV detector. The values of Cmax, AUC and MRT were 44.40 ± 2.09 µg ml-1, 121.22 ± 15.40µg.h.ml-1 and 11.44 ± 1.30 h, respectively. The longer elimination half-life (8.92 ± 1.11h) along with smaller ClB (0.09 ± 0.01 Lh-1 kg-1) showed slower excretion of the drug from animal body. 

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 experiment was conducted to assess the effect of replacement of maize by wheat bran on growth and feed conversion efficiency in Large White Yorkshire (LWY) pigs. Thirty weaned piglets were randomly divided into three groups and were allotted to the three dietary treatments, T1 (control ration as per NRC, 1998), T2 (50 per cent of maize of control ration replaced by wheat bran) and T3 (100 per cent of maize of control ration replaced by wheat bran) and maintained for 70 days. The daily feed intake, fortnightly body weight were recorded and average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were calculated. The average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were 813.00, 769.86, 678.43 g and 2.80, 2.88, 3.08, respectively for three dietary treatments. There was no significant difference in the performance between pigs belongs to T1 and T2 treatments but had higher average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency than that of T3 treatment. This study reveals that pigs fed diet with 50 per cent of maize replaced by wheat bran performed in a similar way to that of control fed group and was better than those fed diet with 100 per cent replacement of maize by wheat bran.

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.

The current study was designed to evaluate the influence of three different ground vegetable oil seeds on various physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory attributes of chicken sausages from spent broiler breeder hen stored under frozen (-18±1°C) condition. Chicken sausages were incorporated with ground poppy, sesame and peanut seeds each at 10 % level separately as three treatments and were analyzed for their keeping quality along with high fat control. The mean values of FFA, TBARS, tyrosine values, standard plate count, psychrophilic count and yeast and moulds counts were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by formulation during frozen storage and values increased significantly (P<0.05) throughout the storage period in all chicken sausages. Chicken sausages with ground sesame scored lowest standard plate counts (5.66 log CFU/g) than any others after 180 days of storage at 18±1°C. Coli forms, lacto bacillus and anaerobic counts could not be detected during entire storage period. Scores for all sensory attributes decreased significantly (P<0.05) during storage in all treatments irrespective of formulation. Study proved that, the three ground vegetable oil seeds were effective by delaying the lipid oxidation, microbial growth and preserving sensory quality during frozen storage and among them ground sesame seed was more potent to be a better preservative.

The present study was carried out to optimize the space and height for placement of baited delta traps to lure and kill house flies in Japanese Quail layer unit at Poultry Research Station, Madhavaram, Chennai where birds were raised in Californian caged system. Red acrylic delta traps with Z-9-Tricosene-Fish meal pellet baits were used for the optimization study. Height optimization of placement of traps was estimated by placing the traps at four different heights in poultry units, viz., ground level, 0.3 m above ground level, 0.6 m above ground level and 0.9 m above ground level. The optimal distance for placement of the acrylic delta trap was estimated by placing the traps at four different distances within poultry units, viz., close to each other, 0.3 m distance between two traps, 0.6 m distance between two traps and 0.9 m distance between two traps. Trap height optimization trial results revealed that maximum number of flies were trapped at ground level, followed by 0.3 m above ground level, 0.6 m above ground level and 0.9 m above ground level in the descending order of preference. Trap distance optimization trials revealed that more flies got trapped when the distance between two traps was 90 cm followed by 0 cm, 60 cm and 30 cm distance between traps. Results revealed that house fly delta traps deployed at ground level at a trap distance of 90 cm could be effective in house fly trapping and can play a vital role in integrated house fly management strategies. 

In the present study, the expression pattern of OAS-1 and MX-2 gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was associated with the early pregnancy in cattle. A total of 60 animals were selected and divided into 2 groups, treatment (50) and control (10) group and synchronized using double PGF2α protocol by 11 days apart followed by insemination at 72 and 96 hrs after second dose of PGF2α. The cows were subjected to blood collection on day 0, 14, 18, 20 and 25 post insemination and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) were harvested using Histopaque® solution, followed by RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis. A significantly (P≤0.01) higher expression of OAS-1 and MX-2 gene was observed on days 18 and 20 post oestrum by quantitative real-time PCR and concentration of MX-2 protein in serum were significantly higher (P≤0.05) on day 18, 20 and 25 in pregnant cows when compared with that of non-pregnant cows. Hence, the present study is concluded that the expression of OAS-1 and MX-2 genes and their encoded proteins may be used to develop a marker for early pregnancy diagnosis in cattle.

Antiviral activity of ivermectin was examined against R2B strain of Newcastle disease virus in 9 - day old embryonated chicken eggs. Five distinct concentrations (500, 250, 100, 50, 10 µg/mL) of ivermectin were used in the study. Haemagglutination test was performed to determine the antiviral activity of ivermectin by using chicken RBC. The results revealed that ivermectin can exert a significant antiviral activity against Newcastle disease virus at higher concentrations (500, 250 and 100 µg/ml) but with cytotoxic effects. On the contrary a moderate to weak antiviral activity without cytotoxicity was demonstrated at lower concentrations (50, 10 µg/ml).

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.