The theme of investigation was the group of 1230 Murrah buffaloes at the dairy farm of GADVASU, Ludhiana. The research was conducted for the period of forty years 1971 to 2010, to make out the mortality prototype at this organized herd. An overall 1230 animals died because of various causes during these forty years, which accounted for overall mortality of 29.36 percent of total herd. Maximum mortality in different age groups of calves was due to affections of digestive system. Mortality up to one month of age was 52.35 percent indicating that almost half of the calves died during first month of age. The mortality rate declined to 11.95 percent up to three month of age in calves and mortality rate further declined to 5.44 percent up to six month of age. The mortality rate further declined to 4.88 percent of total mortality up to one year of age. The cumulative mortality up to one year of age was 74.62 percent, which indicated that two-third of the total mortality occurred up to one year of age. Out of all the lactations maximum mortality is found in first lactation and minimum mortality is observed in 10th and above lactation. Higher incidence of mortality was found to be in the month of August 13.5 percent while lowest mortality percentage is found in the month of October i.e. 3.52.

The present study was conducted on 10 buffalo foetii ranging from 13.5 cm CVRL to 98 cm CVRL (89 to 295 days). After collection the tissue samples were processed for transmission electron microscopy. The efferent ductules of buffalo foetii were lined with simple columnar epithelium with ciliated and non-ciliated cells. The ciliated cells were few in number in comparison to the non-ciliated cells. The ciliated cells were characterized by presence of cilia on apical surface with typical 9+2 arrangement and their basal bodies just beneath the apical plasma lemma. Whereas the non-ciliated cells were devoid of cilia. The supra-nuclear cytoplasm of non-ciliated cells contained many coated vesicles. In the later stage of development some migratory intraepithelial and peritubular leukocytes were also observed. The tight junctions found to be poorly developed in the epithelial lining of efferent ductules at 13.5 cm CVRL (89 days) and were well developed at 19.5 cm CVRL (116 days) onwards. In early stage of development efferent ductules were surrounded with the mesenchymal tissue which after condensation differentiated into smooth muscle cells in later stage of development.

The study evaluated the antibody response and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression levels in naive bovine calves from a Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus (FMDV) potency test. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated from blood samples and total RNA was extracted. Two step quantitative (Real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was used for measurement of IFN-gamma specific mRNA. Plasma samples were screened to detect anti-non structural proteins (NSP) antibodies for FMDV in 3AB NSP antibody enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma samples were found free for anti- NSP antibodies for FMDV in vaccinated bovine calves as evaluated in 3AB NSP antibody ELISA test. Increase in mRNA expression level of IFN-gamma after 15 days post vaccination (DPV) was found unequivocally in all five vaccinated calves (more than two-fold increase in 4 out of 5 calves). Liquid phase blocking ELISA (LPBE) test results also revealed highest humoral antibody response on 15 DPV. Monovalent FMDV vaccination elicited highest antibody titre on 15 DPV in correlation with elevated IFN-gamma mRNA level. Humoral and cellular immunity both play important role in protection against FMDV. The study will help in further understanding the role played by both the humoral and cellular immune response against FMDV.

Farming systems and socio-economic status of farmers rearing Diara buffaloes were studied by visiting 183 farmers' herds belonging to Diara breeding tract in Patna district of Bihar, India. Results indicated that the estimated population of Diara buffaloes in the breeding tract was 0.60 million out of 3.91 million in Bihar state. Reduction in forest area, cultivable waste land, permanent pastures and grazing land, and fallow land to the tune of 36.0 percent, 60.6 percent, 55.1 percent and 44.4 percent poses a major challenge to the simple existence of Diara population. A total of 63.4 percent of the farmers in the breeding tract provided their buffaloes housing in terms of temporary sheds. The estimated age at first calving of Diara buffaloes was found to be 46.4+-2.56 months whereas the mean service period and dry period of these buffaloes in the breeding tract were observed to be 88.1+-5.25 and 127.18+-4.56 days, respectively. The inter-calving period in the habitat was found to range from 15 to 21 months. Interaction studies between different components of farming systems with Diara farmers showed that the distance between agriculture and buffalo rearing was the shortest with 15 units in the study area. Percentage contribution of Diara buffaloes to the overall income was highest with landless farmers (41.3 percent), followed by marginal (38.5 percent) and small farmers (33.8 percent). Regression analysis of different independent variables disclosed that investment on bullocks had highly significant (P LT 0.01) effect on the income of Diara farmers. Improving the role of Diara buffaloes from sustaining the farmers to prospering the farmers has been discussed.

The aim of the present study was to compare plasma mineral status of anoestrus and normally cyclic cattle and buffaloes of central zone of Punjab and to evaluate the use of area specific mineral mixture as a treatment of anoestrus in dairy animals. Thirty two non-cyclic animals (16 cattle, 16 buffaloes) and 32 cyclic animals (16 cattle, 16 buffaloes) in the 2nd to 3rd lactation were selected for the study on basis of rectal examination and plasma progesterone levels at 0, 7 and 14 days by Radio Immuno Assay (RIA) technique. Blood samples from these animals were analyzed for various minerals viz., Ca, Mg, P, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn. Anoestrus dairy animals had significantly lower levels of calcium, phosphorus and copper as compared to cyclic animals. For therapeutic trial, anoestrus animals (10 cattle and 10 buffaloes) kept as treatment group were fed area specific mineral mixture (50 gm/animal/day) for 2 months. In total, 17 animals out of 20 (85 percent) regained cyclicity i.e. had at least one value of plasma progesterone level above 0.5 ng/ml out of 3 weekly samples collected. Average time taken for animals to come into heat after area specific mineral mixture supplementation was found to be 53.4+-2.7 and 48.9+-2.1 days in buffaloes and cattle, respectively.

The present study was conducted to investigate the normal somatic cell count (SCC), associated factors in hygienic management and to define subclinical mastitis in buffaloes in Puducherry. Samples were collected from 50 clinically normal buffaloes stationed at different farms of Puducherry region. Somatic cell count was measured for all the milk samples using Newman-Lampert staining technique. The upper limit of SCC was determined as GT= 2, 00,000/ml of milk based on the mean +- 2SD of a total SCC. California mastitis test (CMT) was conducted for all the animals. In the present study subclinical mastitis was diagnosed on the basis of samples with SCCs GT= 2, 00,000/ml. In the present study 96 percent of the milk samples were negative for California mastitis test (CMT). The SCC of CMT positive quarter was significantly higher (P LT 0.01) than CMT negative quarters. Subclinical mastitis was found only in three buffaloes in the present study. Somatic cell counts were significantly higher in the buffaloes with subclinical mastitis. Regarding the hygiene, all the farms had poor management and improper housing. Proper education on hygienic management is need of the hour for buffalo owners of Puducherry region.

A 7 years old female Murrah buffalo was presented to the Referral Veterinary Polyclinic, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar with a history of high fever, anorexia and respiratory distress since 2 days. On clinical examination, high body temperature, congested conjunctival mucous membrane, open mouth breathing, tachypnoea, tachycardia and lymphadenopathy noticed. Clinical pathology revealed leukocytosis, neutrophilia with shift to left and blood sample was found to be negative for haemoprotozoan infection. Bacteriological culture of blood sample revealed mucoid dew drop colonies suggestive of Pasteurella spp. and on Gram's staining of bacterial culture, Gram-negative cocco-bacilli organisms were detected. Further, the results of Pasteurella multocida species specific-PCR (polymerase chain reaction), Pasteurella multocida multiplex capsular PCR typing and Pasteurella multocida serotype B specific PCR revealed that the isolate was of Pasteurella multocida serotype B: 2. ABST (Antibiotic sensitivity test) revealed that the organism was highly sensitive for antibiotic Ceftiofur. The animal was treated with Inj. Ceftiofur sodium (2.2 mg/kg, IM, SID) and other supportive treatment including anti-pyretics, anti-histamines, multivitamins, rumenotorics and probiotics for 5 days. The animal showed marked recovery after complete therapy.

Mannose Binding Lectins (MBL) gene possibly contributes to bacterial infection resistance and was proposed as a molecular marker for milk production traits to control mastitis A total of 60 Murrah buffaloes were selected to characterize exon 2 of MBL1 gene to identify polymorphism and its association with mastitis. A 401 bp PCR fragment of MBL1 gene targeting g.2686T GT C was amplified and digested with HaeIII restriction enzyme. Genotype analysis using PCR-RFLP revealed a monomorphic CC banding pattern. Sequencing was also carried out to explore other SNPs. The result indicates highly conserved DNA sequence in Murrah buffalo. This study provides preliminary information that the targeted region of MBL1 gene in water buffalo has no significant association with mastitis resistance which maybe a breed specific characteristic. Since present study has formulated the results based on a relatively small sample, further studies are required to validate these results in large samples.

The present study was designed to investigate histopathological changes of endometritis in 110 slaughtered buffaloes from local abattoir in Junagadh (Gujarat). Grossly, 44 genitalia exhibited thickening of uterine wall and presence of varying degree of mucopurulent/purulent exudate noted in 18 uterine samples. Histopathologically, the lesions observed were acute, subacute and chronic changes in 25.45 percent, 20.90 percent and 34.55 percent respectively. Acute endometritis was characterized by severe congestion along with marked stromal edema, degenerative changes and focal denudation of luminal epithelium, focal hemorrhage in sub epithelial zone, infiltration of inflammatory cells predominantly polymorphonuclear cells and mononuclear cells in lamina propria, infiltration of mononuclear cells in glandular lumina and peri-endometrial glands. Subacute endometritis consisted of denudation of luminal epithelium, congestion, stromal edema and Focal haemorrhagic spot, infiltration of mononuclear cells in lamina propria, glandular lumina and around atrophied endometrial gland, glandular dilation, hyperplasiaof mucosal epithelium, atrophy of endometrial glands and thickening of blood vessels. The main features of chronic endometritis were desquamation of mucosal epithelium, infiltration of mononuclear cells and plasma cells in sub epithelial zone, dilatation of endometrial glands with degenerative changes, infiltration of mononuclear cells in glandular lumina and periglandular region with narrowing of glandular lumina, perivascular and periglandular fibrosis leading to severe thickening of blood vessels resulting in narrowing of their lumina and transformation of endometrial epithelial cells into low cuboidal against the normal columnar epithelium. Beside the above histopathological lesions three uterine samples revealed adenomyosis and twenty two genitalia showed metritis.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of De-oiled mahua seed cake (DMSC) on the performance (milk yield, fat percent, nutrient intake, net income and body weight change) of lactating buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Mandla district of Chhattisgarh Hills Region of Central India. Eighteen lactating buffaloes were selected nd divided into three groups (T1, T2 and T3) on the basis of body weight, milk yield, parity and stage of lactation, containing 0, 5 and 10 percent DMSC in replacement of conventional de-oiled seed cakes in the concentrate mixture. The milk yield (kg/day), fat percent, 6 percent FCM yield (kg), DM intake (kg/day) and body weight gain (g/day) was comparable among the groups. However, net income (Rs./animal/day) and B:C ratio was higher in the groups containing DMSC. Thus, from the experiment it was concluded that conventional cake can be replaced with 10 percent DMSC economically without any adverse affect on milk yield, fat percent, nutrient intake and body weight.