A study was undertaken with an objective of evolving substrate specific customized non-starch polysaccharidase mixture for effective utilization of sorghum stover and groundnut haulm. Enzyme activity (IU/g) assay revealed that the activity of cellulose, xylanase and pectinase were 1368.33±23.30, 2294.16±65.17 and 930.83±52.22 respectively. All enzymes were found to have associate activity of other enzymes. An invitro trial was conducted to identify the concentration range of individual non-starch polysaccharidase enzymes required for inclusion to sorghum stover and groundnut haulm for maximum hydrolysis. A second invitro trial was conducted to identify the precise concentration of individual non-starch polysaccharidase enzymes required for inclusion to sorghum stover and groundnut haulm for maximum hydrolysis. The third in vitro trial was conducted to optimize the concentration of non-starch polysaccharidase mixture for inclusion to sorghum stover and groundnut haulm for maximum hydrolysis. The efficacy of customized non-starch polysaccharidase mixture was further evaluated at three levels (viz the selected level, 10% higher than selected level and 10% lower than the selected level)to arrive at their optimal level of inclusion separately for sorghum stover and groundnut haulm.

With the advancement of research and development of medical technology, there is an increase in the number of animals used in research. As millions of experimental animals are being used in different experiments worldwide, there is a lot of debate about the pain, distress, and death experienced by animals during scientific experiments. Experimental animals also require skilled manpower, time-consuming protocols and are costly. There are various alternatives to animal testing to overcome the drawbacks of animal experiments and avoid unethical procedures. Russell and Burch published principles of the Humane Experimental Technique which includes a strategy of 3 Rs (i.e. reduction, refinement, and replacement) in 1959. They introduced and defined the terms replacement, reduction, and refinement, which subsequently have become known as ‘alternatives’ or ‘alternative methods’ for minimizing the potential for animal pain and distress in biomedical research. Therefore, different methods and different alternative organisms are being used to implement the 3 Rs strategy. So, a brief account of these alternatives and the advantages associated is discussed in this review with examples. An integrated application of these approaches would give insight into the minimum use of animals in scientific experiments.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of sex on growth pattern and carcass characters of commercial broilers. One hundred and twenty numbers of day-old chicks were wing banded, weighed and reared up to 40 days of age. The body weight was individually recorded from all the birds on 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 40 days of age to assess the influence of gender on body weight. At the end of the experiment 12 males and 12 females were subjected to slaughter studies to assess the carcass characters. The body weight between males and females were similar up to 14 days of age and thereafter, males recorded significantly (p<0.01) higher body weights on 21, 28, 35, 40 days of age, weighing 35.79, 107.69, 179.73, 211.88 g respectively higher than females. The ready-to-cook weight (%) and dressed carcass (%) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in males; whereas, New York carcass (%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in females. Among the cut of parts, the drumstick percentage was significantly (p<0.05) higher in males, whereas, the wings percentage was significantly (p<0.05) higher in females. Among processing yields and losses, only shank & feet and abdominal fat (%) showed significant (p<0.05) difference between sexes; while, feather, blood, head, viscera, kidney and total offal yields had non-significant difference between sexes. Among giblets, only the heart yield was significantly (p<0.05) different between sexes with higher value in females. The results showed that the males attain marketable weight early, therefore can be marketed early. The males can be slaughtered earlier than females for producing specialized products from drumstick; whereas, females can be slaughtered early to harvest drumette.

The prevalence of haemoparasites in dogs in different regions of Andhra Pradesh was presented in this study. The overall prevalence of haemoparasitic infection was 35.0 and 48.23 per cent in Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions, respectively. Statistically, there was no significant (P>0.05) relationship between the region and prevalence of haemoparasites in dogs. Infection with single haemoparasite and co-infection with more than one haemoparasites was non-significantly higher (32.62% and 15.60%, respectively) in dogs of Coastal Andhra than in Rayalaseema region (27.50% and 7.50%, respectively). The prevalence of Babesia spp., Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis was non-significantly (P>0.05) high in Coastal Andhra than in Rayalaseema region. Among three species identified Babesia spp. were the most prevalent species in dogs in two regions. Co-infection with Babesia spp. and E. canis (10.06%; P>0.05) was more frequently observed in dogs in Coastal Andhra region than in dogs of Rayalaseema region (6.25 %). 

Six adult dead ducks from neighbouring area of Namakkal district were brought for post-mortem examination with a history of chronic debility, morbidity and mortality to Poultry Disease Diagnosis and Surveillance Laboratory, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. Post mortem examination of carcasses revealed that flatworms were attached to the lining of the mucosal epithelium and obstructing gastro intestinal tract indicative of verminous enteritis. The flukes were identified as Hypoderaeum conoideum. The parasitological studies revealed that H. conoideum was the cause of verminous enteritis in the affected flock.

A study was undertaken to assess the economic impact of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) project run by AICRP on pigs at Tirupati on the livelihoods of beneficiaries of piggery units. The study was carried out in Chittoor, Nellore, Kadapa and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh state. Data were collected from 30 beneficiaries, who were supplied germplasm under RKVY project. These beneficiaries were purposively selected for impact studies since they have completed 3 years of pig rearing and were personally interviewed for collection of data. The constraints that impede the successful management of swine farms were identified and ranked. The most pressing problem of swine farms was the non-availability of Swill feed which is most important ingredient round the year in required quantities. The other equal important constraint was the accessability to institutional credit agencies. Cost of vaccines was another factor in terms of severity as expressed by the farmers. In addition lack of demand for dreessed pork in rural areas, limited availability of breeding stock were identified. Apart from these major problems there were other constraints too affecting the efficient management of swine farms.  

The prevalence of Babesia infection was studied in newly purchased Tellicherry goats from Thalasserry, Kerala State to a private goat farm at Chennai. A total number of 168 goats were examined for the presence of Babesia. The study revealed that 58 (34.5%) goats were infected with Babesia ovis. The prevalence of Babesia infection between males and females and different age groups of goats was non-significant. Infected goats showed varying clinical signs of inappetence, depression, increased respiratory rate, weakness, coughing, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, diarrhea,   body temperature ranging 39.5- 41.2oC and abortion. Blood parameters revealed decrease in total red blood cells (RBC) count, haemoglobin concentration (Hb), Volume of packed red cells (VPRC), platelets counts and increase in lymphocyte and neutrophil count.

A study was conducted to assess the cost economics of brewery waste in twenty four Jersey crossbred dairy cattle for one year with three treatments viz., control (T0), brewery waste (T1) and balanced ration (T2) in farmer’s field conditions with eight animals in each group. The control, brewery and balanced ration animals were fed as per traditional and standard feeding practices. Statistical analysis revealed a significant (P<0.01) increase in the cost of concentrates (Rs. 15401.59/-) and total feed cost (Rs. 33278.93/-) for brewery waste fed dairy cattle than control animals. Also significant (P<0.05) increase in average gain of milk yield (0.73 Kgs /animal/day) was noticed for brewery waste fed animals than control. It is imperative to note that the total returns (Rs. 54653.18/-) were significantly (P<0.05) higher for brewery waste treated than control (Rs. 45393.15/-) animals. No significant (P>0.05) difference was evident in lactation days, cost and net returns per Kg of milk production using brewery waste. It can be concluded that farmers can utilize brewery waste to increase milk yield and total returns for augmenting income generation.

The present study was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin C and nano vitamin C on the serum biochemical profile of Japanese quail during the summer season. The experiment was carried out on 96 day-old Japanese quail chicks which were divided randomly into three treatment groups. Each treatment contained two replicates with sixteen birds per replicate. The experiment was carried out for a period of six weeks during the summer season in May and June. Feed and water were provided ad libitum to study the effect of the inclusion of vitamin C (200 mg/kg) and nano vitamin C (20 mg/kg) on serum biochemical profile of Japanese quail during the summer season. The study revealed that the mean serum levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, HDL cholesterol and SGPT/ALT increased significantly (P<0.01); whereas, serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides decreased significantly (P<0.01) in treatment groups supplemented with nano vitamin C. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in serum SGOT/AST among treatment groups.

A study was conducted to evaluate external and internal egg quality characters of three chicken breeds/ ecotypes namely, indigenous Siruvidai, TANUVAS Aseel and White Leghorn.  A total of 180 eggs (120 eggs from Siruvidai chicken, 30 eggs from TANUVAS Aseel and 30 eggs from White Leghorn) were subjected to this study. The weight, length, width and surface area of White Leghorn eggs were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of TANUVAS Aseel and indigenous Siruvidai chicken. Shape index was found to be significantly (P<0.05 higher in Siruvidai chicken eggs compared to that of TANUVAS Aseel and White Leghorn. Among the internal egg qualities, the height and width of albumen and albumen index were significantly (P<0.05) higher in White Leghorn chicken eggs compared to that of TANUVAS Aseel and Siruvidai chicken. Yolk height and yolk index of three breeds showed no significant difference among breeds. Yolk width was significantly (P<0.05) higher in TANUVAS Aseel compared to that of Siruvidai chicken. Yolk colour was significantly (P<0.05) higher in TANUVAS Aseel and Siruvidai chicken compared to that of White Leghorn. Shell thickness was significantly (P<0.05) higher in TANUVAS Aseel and White Leghorn as compared to Siruvidai chicken. Haugh unit was significantly (P<0.05) higher in White Leghorn compared to TANUVAS Aseel and Siruvidai chicken. The results revealed that the egg quality characters like egg weight, egg length, egg width, shape index, surface area, albumen height, albumen index, shell thickness and Haugh unit of indigenous Siruvidai chicken is different from other indigenous breed like Aseel and exotic breed like White Leghorn.