The aim of this study was to evaluate two different superovulation protocols for quality embryo production. Donor animals were selected (Day 0) and a progesterone device was inserted. The superstimulatory treatment was initiated in day 7 (D7) with follicle stimulating hormone from porcine (FSHp) in eight decreasing doses each at 12 hours interval. Along with the fifth dose of FSHp, 500μg cloprostenol was administered. The progesterone device was removed 12h (Treatments P12) and 24 h after the first application of cloprostenol (Treatments P24). Twelve hours after the eighth dose of FSHp (D11) 25µg of Buserelin was administered and the inseminations were done after 12 and 24 hours. Embryos were collected in the forenoon of D18. P24 presented better results than the P12 treatment.

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.

A study was conducted to assess the heat tolerance of crossbred female (n=7) calves of six to twelve months of age for thirty days each in summer, monsoon and winter. Temperature humidity index (THI) was calculated at forenoon and afternoon in all the seasons and heat tolerance was carried out using Iberia heat tolerance coefficient, Benezara coefficient of adaptability and Dairy search index. The highest THI was recorded in summer afternoon while lowest was recorded in winter forenoon. There was a significant increase in THI from forenoon to afternoon in all the seasons. IHTC was within the reference value in winter forenoon while rest of the time it was below the normal. IHTC decreased significantly from forenoon to afternoon in all the seasons. BCA was above the reference value in forenoon and afternoon in all the seasons. BCA increased significantly from forenoon to afternoon in all the seasons. DSI was significantly lower in winter compared to summer. It was concluded that crossbred female calves have low heat tolerance during afternoon in all the seasons.

The efficacy of estrus synchronization for improving the fertility and fecundity was studied in 428 non-descript goats in Kanchipuram district (Tamil Nadu) selected based on clinical and ultrasound examination for synchronization. Non pregnant does were inserted with intravaginal progesterone sponge containing 300 mg of progesterone on day 0 and administered Inj. Cloprotenol sodium (Pragma) 125µg on day 10. The sponge was removed on day 11 of insertion followed by intramuscular injection of 200 I.U. of eCG (Inj.Folligon). Timed Artificial Insemination was done twice at 12 and 24 h interval using Tellicherry frozen semen. Among the synchronized does,359 does were confirmed pregnant by 30-45 days post insemination using transrectal ultrasonography with a conception rate of 83.87% and fecundity rate of 2.038. The study concludes that the progesterone based intravaginal sponge in combination with eCGcan be effectively used for estrus synchronization programme to improve conception rate and fecundity in non-descript goats at farmers flocks.

Hymen normally appears as a circular constriction between vagina and vulva. However varying degrees of persistence, from thin band to complete imperforate structure, may occur in all species due to segmental defects of paramesonephric ducts (Roberts, 1971). Complete obliteration of vaginal canal due to imperforate hymen was reported earlier in crossbred (Kumar et al., 2017), pure bred (Kumar et al., 2020) and buffalo heifers (Singh et al., 2010 and Kumar et al., 2016) with varying degrees of mucus accumulation. The present report places on record a case of persistent hymen with voluminous mucus accumulation in a crossbred heifer. Vaginal speculum was passed and held in position against the septum. A sterile intrauterine catheter was passed through the septum and thick cloudy mucus started flowing out following the catheterization. To facilitate easy and complete evacuation, suction pump was employed and about 15 litres of mucus was removed. After the fluid evacuation, per rectal examination revealed that the uterine contours palpable within the pelvic cavity. Ultrasonographic examination showed a clear band of tissue across the vaginal canal posterior to cervical region.

The present study was undertaken to fortify the nutritive value of chicken cutlet with the addition pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) as filler and optimize its level of addition. The cutlet was formulated with broiler chicken meat, and the spices and condiments. Four different batches of cutlets were prepared with boiled and mashed pearl millet replacing the meat by 10% (PM10), 20% (PM20) and 30% (PM30) along with a control and subjected to physico-chemical and sensory evaluation. The pH before and after cooking significantly decreased with increase in the concentration of pearl millet. The cooking yield was similar in PM20 and PM30 and significantly higher than PM10 and control. In the sensory evaluation, the texture scores were higher for the control with which PM10 was comparable. Juiciness and tenderness scores increased with the addition of PM. Flavour score and the overall  acceptability scores significantly decreased with increase in the concentration of PM. Yet, the scores were above moderately acceptable level. It conclusion, pearl millet may be used as effective filler in chicken cutlets up to a level of 10% without much affecting the sensory qualities.

Chicken nuggets prepared from spent hens’ meat by incorporating fermented bamboo shoots at 10 per cent, beet root at 10per cent and cabbage at 15per cent levels were evaluated for different physicochemical, microbial and sensory qualities under frozen (-18±1°C) storage condition. The pH of all nuggets increased significantly (P<0.05) during the storage period. The hardness, redness (a*), yellowness (b*) and chromavalues of all the nuggets decreased significantly (P<0.05) during storage period. The ΔE values of all the nuggets increased during storage period. There was no growth of microorganisms in all the nuggets during the period. The beet root incorporated nuggets recorded better sensory qualities compared to other nuggets in the study under frozen (-18±1°C) storage up to 90 days.

The study was conducted to find out the effect of age on carcass, meat quality characteristics and nutritional composition of Nandanam Turkey-II. Totally twelve birds were separated into two different age groups viz., young (20 weeks) and adult (40 weeks). The birds were slaughtered and breast muscle was obtained. The carcass, meat quality characters, proximate composition, amino acid, fatty acid and cholesterol content of meat of two age groups were analysed. The carcass characteristics viz., edible offal weight, in-edible offal, blood weight, feather weight and head weight had significant difference (P<0.01) between two age groups. Meat quality characteristics viz., pH (P<0.05), muscle fibre diameter (P<0.01) and myofibrillar fragmentation index (P<0.01) of young turkey meat were significantly lower than adult turkey meat. The young turkey meat had significantly higher moisture content (P<0.01), while it showed significantly lower protein, fat and total ash content than adult turkey meat. The significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in lysine and phenylalanine and highly significant difference (P<0.01) was observed in arginine, isoleucine, threonine, valine, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and glycine contents of meat from young and adult age groups of turkey. The meat of young turkey had significantly lower total saturated fatty acids (P<0.01), mono unsaturated fatty acids (P<0.05) and higher poly unsaturated fatty acids (P<0.01), P/S ratio when compared to adult turkey meat. The cholesterol content of young turkey meat was significantly (P<0.01) lower than adult turkey meat. Based on the results it was concluded that the meat of young Nandanam Turkey-II had the superior meat quality characters and nutritional composition than the meat of adult birds.

The research on Integrated Farming System (IFS) was conducted from 1987 onwards at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, involving different components (Jayanthi and Balusamy 2017). The IFS is an integrated resource  management strategy for obtaining economic and sustained crop and livestock production and preserving the  resource. It also includes capturing the new market opportunities through enterprise including post-harvest / value addition, from Low value to High value crops, from Water Loving crop to Water Saving crop, from Single crop to Multiple crop. The impact of technology of improved farming system: Productivity, Economic return, Energy input-output, Employment, Equity (gender issue) and Environment. This paper focuses on the development of Integrated Farming System (IFS) and its impact on the economy of agriculture, animal husbandry and standard of living of the farmers of the country as a whole.

Anaemia is one of the major clinical manifestations seen in various diseases in canines. Reticulocytes and erythrocyte counting are the hallmark for evaluating the anaemic status and bone marrow response to anaemia. In this study, a simple technique was developed and followed to count both reticulocytes simultaneously with the help of Neubauer counting chamber using the diluting fluids prepared from two different supravital stains to score the merit of the method for adoption. Blood samples for the study were  collected from the dogs presented to Madras Veterinary College Teaching hospital. The dogs were classified into apparently healthy and anemic group with each of 30 dogs. The total erythrocytic count was significantly low in the anomalous group compared to the healthy group (p<0.01) and the corrected percentage was higher in the oculous group than in healthy group. The corrected percentage is called as corrected percentage (CRP). The increased corrected percentage of reticular cells (CRC) was significantly higher in ominous group. Moreover, the corrected value of CRP was significantly lower in anaesthetized dogs than in the healthy dogs. This technique can be utilised as an ideal laboratory tool in identification of the health status of the animal and to evaluate the treatment regimen in the animal.