Oestrus detection plays an important role in the reproductive management of a dairy farm. To improve the post-breeding oestrus observation practice among the farmers, a reproductive management tool called ‘Oestrus Monitoring Chart’ (OMC) was designed and developed. The effectiveness of this technology on oestrus detection, timed artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis was studied in a small scale crossbred cattle dairy farm. Breeding parameters viz., number of inseminations carried out per animal, duration between two successive inseminations for each animal, duration between artificial insemination and pregnancy check-up and conception rate was studied for a period of one year before (G1) and one year after installation of OMC (G2). Perusal of the data revealed that the duration between successive artificial insemination (AI) and the duration between AI and pregnancy diagnosis was significantly (P lt; 0.01) decreased in G2 group when compared with G1 group. The conception rate was also significantly improved after the installation of the OMC and introduction of OMC as a reproductive management tool improved the oestrus detection attitude among the farm personnel.

Nasal washings and faecal samples were collected from 110 cows during the period between July 2019 and June 2020 in and around the Orathandu, Cauvery delta zone of Tamil Nadu to document the seasonal prevalence of Schistosoma nasale and Schistosoma spindale. These samples were processed and screened by using the standard parasitological techniques. Out of 110 nasal washings, 23 samples (20.9%) confirmed the Schistosoma nasale infection by the presence of eggs. No faecal samples could be detected positive for Schistosoma spindale infection during the study period

A study undertaken to analyse the design and operational aspects of Needlefish gillnets of four different fishing villages of Ramanathapuram district of Tamilnadu, revealed the existence of notable difference with respect to catch rate despite having many common design features. Relatively shallow and broader continental shelf boarded with coral reef was found to serve as an ideal habitat for Needlefishes along the coastal villages of this district. Six species viz.,Ablenneshians, Tylosurus crocodiles, T. choram, T. agus,Strongylura strongylura and S. leiura were found to constitute the fishery of Needlefish in gill nets with the dominant species being either A. hians orT. crocodiles.A. hians was dominant in the gillnet catches Gulf of Mannar while T. crocodiles showed its dominance in the gillnet catches from the fishing villages of Palk bay. Trawling was found to be a common disturbing activity forNeedlefish gillnetting in all the four fishing villages studied. Among four villages, Mundal was found to be notable for Needlefish gillnetting as relatively longer gill nets involving more number of fishing crafts were found to be operated from this village. The catch composition of gillnets revealed that the mean Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) of Needlefishes ranged from 23 to 25 nos/boat/day while the CPUE of commercially important fishes such as seer fish, barracudas, mackerels, flying fish, queen fish and sail fishes altogether ranged from 15 to 19 nos/boat/day. The study suggests evolving a selective pelagic longline gear for capturing Needlefishes considering the rich resource of Needlefish along the coast of Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of addition of estradiol and growth hormone on in vitro growth, maturation and antrum formation of preantral follicles (PFs’) in sheep. Preantral follicles isolated from the sheep ovarian cortical slices were cultured for six days in bicarbonate buffered tissue culture medium 199B, standard culture medium supplemented with estradiol and growth hormone during the culture period at different time points. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) segregated from the follicles toward the end of six days culture in various treatments were exposed to in vitro maturation for extra 24hrs. Estradiol plus growth hormone supplementation during 0-2 days of the culture significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the average diameter of PFs' and supported better for antrum formation. Further the in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes in COCs isolated were developed to metaphase II stage at a higher rate. First two (0-2) days supplementation with estradiol plus growth hormone to TCM 199B in vitro culture medium followed by standard medium in later stages (3-6 days) supports better development of PFs' and appears to be advantageous for the development of oocytes to M-II stage.

The present study was conducted in Palakkad district of Kerala as a research activity of ASRTC Trust. A Schedule was developed to record socioeconomic profile of the respondents. Data was collected from 240 dairy farmers using questionnaires by personal interview method and was analysed with statistical tools like frequency and percentage. The distribution of farmers according to age observed in the present study was 51.7 per cent in middle age, 46.8 per cent in old age and 1.70 per cent in young age groups. Farmers with education of class X and less accounted for 75.88 per cent of respondents while 17.65 per cent were graduates and 4.12 per cent had post-graduation or higher education. Illiterate farmers accounted to 2.35 per cent of respondents. Majority of farmers were from OBC communities (46 %) followed by general (39 %) while SC/ST category accounted for 15 per cent of the respondents. Family size was small (less than 5) in 70.4 per cent of respondents and 27.9 per cent of farmers had medium sized families with 6-10 members. About 1.7 per cent of farmers had large families (more than 10 members). Majority of the respondents maintained small herds (65.8%) while 21.3 per cent had medium sized herds. Large herds were maintained by 12.9 per cent of respondents. Majority of the farmers (40.4%) belonged to medium income group, 33.8 per cent had low income and 25.8 per cent had high income. Most farmers had a landholding between 11 cents and up to one acre (45.08 %). Almost equal proportions of farmers had less than 10 cents (27.98 %) and more than 2 acres (26.94 %). Biogas plant was installed by 14.2 per cent of the respondents.

Canine pyometra is the most common diestrual uterine disease of intact bitches and is characterized by accumulation of purulent material in the uterine lumen, typically occurring during or immediately following a period of progesterone dominance. Pyometra can be classified as open-cervix or closed-cervix, with the latter being a medical emergency requiring rapid intervention to prevent subsequent sepsis and potential patient death (Pretzer, 2008).

The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Haemonchus contortus and hematological changes in different age groups of H. contortus affected Nellore brown sheep. A total of 180 Nellore brown sheep flock maintained in an extensive system of grazing were selected randomly. Even though the sheep were dewormed regularly, an outbreak was noticed during May 2020 in Raptadu mandal of Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. Eight sheep were found dead in the flock prior to screening. During screening out of 180 sheep, 128 sheep were found normal and were kept as control group and 52 which exhibited clinical signs of anemia, poor growth, emaciation, diarrhea were selected. Blood samples were analyzed for the parameters like hemoglobin concentration (g/dl), Packed cell volume (%), Total erythrocyte count (TEC) and white blood cells (TBC), MCV (fl), MCH(pg), MCHC (g/dl) and compared with normal animals. The infection was confirmed to be due to H. contortus following the recovery of Haemonchus worms at post-mortem. The prevalence of H. contortus was recorded to be 40.9 percent in males (18 out of 44) and 25 percent in females (34 out of 136) with an overall prevalence of 28.89 percent (52 out of 180) in this present study.

Mycotoxins are carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic toxic metabolites that are known to cause detrimental effect on the health of animals consuming its contaminated feed. The objective of this study was to study the seasonal occurrence of mycotoxins, aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2), citrinin, ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin in feed and feed ingredients submitted to Pharmacovigilance Laboratory for Animal Feed and Food Safety (PLAFFS). A total of 412 samples which included feed (289) and feed ingredients (123) received during 2019-2020 were analyzed using thin layer chromatographic method. Among the 249 positive samples, the incidence of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, Aflatoxin G1 amp;G2, citrinin and ochratoxin A were 85.54%, 14.06%, 1.2%, 20.08%, 3.21% and 2.41% respectively and the concentration of these mycotoxins ranged between 1.14 to 899.78 μg kg-1. Only few samples were contaminated with aflatoxin G1 amp; G2, Ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin. Seasons had an influence on the mycotoxin contamination and the highest incidence was detected during winter, whereas, Citrinin and T-2 toxin were maximum at monsoon and summer respectively. Regular monitoring of mycotoxin contamination in animal feed is essential to prevent the entry of mycotoxins in the food chain.

An exploratory study was carried out to ascertain the socio economic and nutritional contribution of Nattukuttai cattle to the farmers in Villupuram, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts of Tamil Nadu. Forty respondents were selected from each of the three selected districts and thus the total respondents accounted to 120 Nattukuttai cattle rearers. Majority of the farmers rearing Nattukuttai breed of cattle were middle aged, Hindus, belonging to Scheduled caste category and were employed as agricultural labourers. Majority of the Nattukuttai rearers had an annual income ranging from Rs. 80,500 -1,61,000/-. The mean annual income obtained from rearing Nattukuttai cattle alone was Rs. 27,945/-. Majority of the respondents were rearing Nattukuttai cattle for meat, milk and manure purpose under zero input system. The male calves were reared till 2-3 years of age and sold to the local vendors for meat purpose. Most of the farmers in the study area had the practice of consuming beef. Nattukuttai breed of cattle had a direct socio economical, ecological and nutritional impact on the sustainable livelihood of the farmers in the study area. A targeted livestock service is suggested towards Nattukuttai cattle rearers to safeguard this cattle genome as well as its ecosystem.

The study was undertaken to assess the adoption level and constraints perceived by goat farmers about improved scientific goat rearing practices. The data was collected through personal interview method with the help of well-structured interview schedule from 60 goat farmers randomly selected in Irumbulikurichi village, Ariyalur district of Tamilnadu. The recommended practices were categorized in to three areas i.e., breeding, feeding and health care management. Overall adoption index of improved goat husbandry practices by the farmers revealed that, feeding practices obtained highest adoption index (52.33%) followed by health care practices (48.83%), breeding practices (42.83%) and also the overall adoption index of goat rearing practices among the farmers is 48 per cent. Likewise, the major constraints perceived by goat farmers were lack of grazing land (88.33%), lack of knowledge on scientific farming practices (80%) followed by lack of credit facility (75%). Hence, the study recommends that innovations in technological interventions on scientific goat farming shall be imparted through vocational training, demonstration of efficient technologies, optimizing the flock size and motivating the goat farmers with extension support and services might help them to adopt recommended improved technologies for sustainable goat production thereby enhancing the farmers’ livelihood.