The possibility of production of hormone-free all male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in F2  generation, through the production of YY super males in F1 generation, was investigated in the present study. Feminization of Nile tilapia was carried out using the hormone, 17 beta estradiol at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg concentrations, orally through feed. The hormone enhanced the growth significantly (p<0.05) both in terms of length (55.39±0.67 cm) and weight (55.39±0.67 g) at 300 mg/kg feed when compared to other treatments and control. With the increasing concentrations (300 mg/kg) of the hormone, the survival rate decreased significantly (p<0.05) to 62±1.53%. The feminization rates increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing concentrations of the hormone, with the highest feminization percentage of 98.27±0.87% observed at 300 mg/kg concentration of the hormone. Two fish from F generation with the PIT tag numbers 81 and 88 produced all male progeny which was confirmed through morphological examination. The genotype of these two YY supermales was re-confirmed through molecular genotyping with the help of primers amhX1+36 and amhdY+5 DNA markers, specific to X and Y chromosomes, respectively using RAPD-PCR.

The sheep lungworm Dictyocaulus filaria is of world-wide distribution and causes verminous pneumonia which may result in weight loss and death of the infected sheep. The current investigation was carried out in an organized farm in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India during the period from 2012 to 2014. Infected sheep showed clinical illness varying from dullness, depression, moderate coughing, dyspnoea and labored breathing with little mortality. On necropsy, both larval and adult stages of lungworm were recovered from trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. The identity of the nematodes was confirmed as D. filaria based on the socks shaped spicules in males and anterior knob in the larva. Of the 55 animals, including 17 lambs examined during the study period, eight animals were confirmed to have died due to verminous pneumonia. Apart from that, in a few lambs, lung abscess was noticed. Though the infection was present throughout the year, the clinical illness was pronounced in dry summer (n=23) and rainy season of south west monsoon (n=19). The disease was managed by minimizing the exposure of lambs to the contaminated pasture and by deworming with two doses of levamisole hydrochloride @ 7.5 mg/ kg body weight at 21 day interval to control the lungworm infection in sheep.

A study was carried out to assess the effect of dietary crude protein on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Kadaknath chicken up to 12th weeks of age. A total of 240-day old Kadaknath chicks were purchased from the College of Poultry Production and Management, TANUVAS, Hosur and wing banded, weighed individually and distributed randomly into four experimental groups with three replicates of 20 chicks each. Four experimental diets were formulated with four levels of crude protein viz., 14, 16, 18 and 20 per cent with 2800 kcal/kg ME. Growth performance and carcass characteristics were studied. All the data generated were statistically analysed and interpreted. The Kadaknath chicken fed with 20 per cent crude protein with 2800 kcal /kg ME had highest 12th week body weight (1018.66± 55.19 g ) when compared to other treatment groups. The carcass characteristics of Kadaknath chicken showed significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) among treatment groups for eviscerated carcass weight, eviscerated carcass yield, ready-to-cook weight, ready-to-cook yield and per cent giblets. The per cent cut–up parts of Kadaknath chicken at 12 th week of age did not show significant difference among treatment groups. The present study concluded that Kadaknath chicken fed with higher crude protein (20 % CP) resulted in significantly higher 12th week body weight, eviscerated carcass and ready-to-cook yield.

The present case describes the successful vaginal delivery of a buffalo calf with Aplasia Cutis Congenita co-existence with Ablepharon Macrostomia Syndrome (AMS) in a graded Murrah buffalo.

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.