A study was conducted to assess the factors inÀuencing the occurrence of downer cow syndrome in Tamil Nadu. For this, primary data from the 67 dairy farmers (60 cow and 07 buffalo farmers) from Namakkal and Karur districts of Tamil Nadu having downer cow syndrome affected dairy animals were collected. Using logistic regression model, Wald statistic were obtained for the independent variables which indicated that the coefficients for parity, stage of lactation, summer and winter season, previous occurrence of metabolic diseases, feeding of green fodder, feeding of concentrate, proximity to parturition (near term) and species of dairy animal were observed significant. The log odds of the animal going to be affected by downer cow syndrome enhanced by 8.199 and 4.581, when parity and mid-stage of lactation were changed from 0 to 1. These findings suggested that more concentration on these factors were warranted to minimise the risk of incidence of downer cow syndrome in bovines.

Data of 229 hatches of commercial country chicken hatchery for a period of four years from 2017-2020 was collected and analyzed to study the effect of genetic makeup and season on fertility and hatchability in chicken varieties developed for rural chicken rearing viz., Aseel cross, Kaveri, Grampriya and Vanaraja. Kaveri chicken varieties recorded significantly higher fertility of 85.04 per cent (P<0.01) followed by Aseel cross, Gramapriya and Vanaraja which are comparable in fertility values of 81.68, 81.33 and 82.80 per cent, respectively. In terms of fertile and total hatchability, Kaveri recorded significantly higher values of 94.16 and 80.08 per cent than other varieties. Winter and North East Monsoon seasons recorded significantly higher value of 89.39 and 87.91 per cent in Kaveri, 85.22 and 83.84 per cent in Aseel Cross and 84.85 and 86.42 per cent in Gramapriya. On the other hand, summer season recorded the lowest fertility rates in all the chicken varieties.

The aim of the present study was to standardize and evaluate and acceptance of Japanese quail egg pickle. A simple, cost-effective and efficient technology need to be developed for pickling of Japanese quail eggs for storage at ambient temperature and marketing it in a ready-to-eat form for at least 6 months. Results on sensory evaluation revealed that highly acceptable nutrient rich Japanese quail egg pickle prepared by soaking in citric acid solution was superior than those made from other trials and recorded highest sensory score of 8.0. Storage study showed that the pickles stored in both food grade pouches and glass bottles could be stored up to six months. Training programmes were organized to demonstrate Japanese quail egg pickle production among farmers, farm women and SHG women. Feedback of the farmers and SHG showed that the Japanese quail egg pickles was tasty and can be used as side dish for any food item, easy to prepare and market. A case study on a successful entrepreneur showed that Japanese quail egg pickle had a good demand among the people suffering from respiratory problems. The pickle was sold as 200g bottle with a profit margin of 40 per cent. Developed Japanese quail egg pickles are also sold in 200 g bottle at the KVK Rural mart with FSSAI license and labeling.

Proventriculo-ventricular intussusception is the telescoping of proventricular portion of the avian stomach into the ventriculus. Even though occurrence of intestinal intussusceptions in chickens commonly observed, the reports on proventriculo-ventricular intussusceptions were very scarce. The study was done as a part of screening the gut lesions in the chicken carcasses for a period of one year and 18078 chicken carcasses of multiple age groups belonging to 15 pure line breeds and two commercial breeds were screened. Proventriculoventricular intussusceptions noticed in two female PD2/Vanaraja chicks of 4 days and 3 weeks of age and in a 9 weeks old male Nicobari grower. While the intussuscepted proventriculus of Vanraraja chicks had unremarkable inflammatory lesions, severe congestion of proventriculus along with koilin displacement in the anterior portions of ventriculus were evident in Nicobari grower. The present study, point out the occurrence of proventriculoventricular intussusception in young synthetic and native lines of chicken. 

On post-mortem examination helminthic worms were collected from the intestine of a backyard native chicken in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu during the month of November 2020. These helminths were identified as Ascaridia galli, Raillietina echinobothrida and Heterakis gallinarum. Mixed helminthic infection was confirmed and documented in backyard native chicken in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. These worms are responsible for severe morbidity and indirect economical losses to the farmers. Periodical deworming will be useful to control the worm load in native desi chickens.

An one and half years old tom cat weighing 5.2 kg was presented at Veterinary Clinical Complex, Navania, with the history of swallowing a sewing-needle along with the thread. Lateral radiograph was taken for confirmatory diagnosis. Diagnosis and a successful surgical retrieval of ingested 3.4 cms long sewing-needle attached with 17 cms long thread was carried out and the animal recovered by a week after surgery without any complications.

A case of dystocia due to Schistosomus reflexus fetal monster in a Jersey crossbred cow and its per vaginal delivery through fetotomy is reported in this communication. A five years old, full term pregnant Jersey crossbred cow in her third parity was presented with the history of straining and difficulty in parturition for the past eight hours. Per vaginal examination revealed fully dilated cervix and the fetus with exposed visceral organs and ankylosed limbs. Based on the obstetrical examination, the case was diagnosed as dystocia due to fetal monster. By performing fetotomy, a Schistosomus reflexus fetal monster was successfully delivered per vaginum.

The challenges faced by India in achieving the food and nutritional security to the fast growing population need a concerted approach for growth of livestock sector. Various forecasting models like combinations of ARIMA models and Exponential Smoothing models like Simple, Holt, Brown and Damped trend were used to identify the growth patterns and to predict the future trends in livestock and poultry production in India. Time series data on milk production from 1950-51 to 2017-18 were used to forecast the milk production in India up to 2050-51. Brown Exponential Smoothing was the best fit model for forecasting of milk production in India. The forecast obtained showed that milk production would increase to 207.57, 311.86, 416.16 and 520.45 MT respectively during 2020-21, 2030-31, 2040-41 and 2050-51 from 121.80 MT during the year 2010-11. ARIMA (0,1,1) was the best fit model for forecasting meat and wool production, the forecasted values of meat production showed that meat production would increase from 1.08 MT in 2000-01 to 5.18, 7.63, 10.07 and 12.52 MT, respectively during 2020-21, 2030-31, 2040-41 and 2050-51. Wool production would increase appreciably over years with a production of 46.26, 52.06, 58.59 and 65.17 million kg, respectively during the years 2020-21, 2030-31, 2040-41 and 2050-51 from 43.00 million kg in 2010-11. The Brown Exponential Smoothing model was the best fit model for forecasting egg production in India. The forecasted values obtained from the best fitted Brown ES was 103341.99, 144374.02, 185406.04 and 222334.86 million numbers during the years 2020-21, 2030-31, 2040-41 and 2050-51, respectively.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) genome consists of 10 segmented double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA). Of these, genome segment 2 (Seg-2), which encodes outer capsid protein VP2 is the primary determinant of virus serotype. In the present study, partial VP2 gene of KRL2/2017 (BTV-16) isolate collected from Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh was amplified to know the evolutionary relationship of this isolate with previously reported Indian and global BTV-16 isolates. Seg-2 sequence data of KRL2/2017, showed >98% nucleotide identity with other Indian isolates. Comparison of this isolate with BTV-16 isolates across the world, showed higher sequence homology to isolates of Japan followed by Greece and China than to those of isolates from South Africa, Italy, UK, Australia and Indonesia. Phylogenetic analysis suggest that the isolate of the current study belong to eastern topotype similar to the viruses recovered from Japan, Greece and China reflecting their common eastern origin.

The effect of GnRH pretreatment on superovulatory response (SOR) and embryo yield in crossbred cattle was studied. Six crossbred cows were subjected to three superovulatory treatments: i. Control: Four day FSH schedule was initiated on Day 10 of the cycle ii. Gn-D8: GnRH was administered on Day 6 and FSH schedule was initiated on Day 8 and iii. Gn­D10: GnRH was administered on Day 6 and FSH schedule was initiated on Day 10. In control group, the mean SOR was 13.7 + 5.8 CL. In Gn-D8 group, the SOR is inconsistent (5.0 ± 1.7) with recovery of poor quality embryos, which was attributed to significantly higher progesterone concentration on the day of superovulatory oestrus. In Gn-D10 group, SOR (11.0 ± 1.6) and embryo yield were comparable to the control group. Transferable quality embryos were signcantly higher in Gn-D10 group which could be attributed to the follicular maturation under favourable endocrine environment. Thus, GnRH pretreatment in superovulation protocol ensured consistent SOR and increased yield of transferable quality embryos in crossbred cattle.