In this study, bacteriophage M8AEC16, which is lytic to Escherichia coli O157:H7, isolated and characterized within the scope of our previous studies, was used to determine the stability during 6 months of storage at +4°C, -20°C and -85°C using glycerol, skimmed milk powder and carrageenan as cryoprotectants. For this purpose, bacteriophage M8AEC16, was enriched with E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 and then phage suspension groups were prepared by adding three different cryoprotectants (test groups) in addition to those without cryoprotectant (control). Bacteriophage suspensions were stored at 3 different storage temperatures (+4°C, -20°C and -85°C) for six mount period. During storage, phage titers were determined on double-layer LB agar by making serial dilutions of phage suspensions on the 0th day and at the end of each month. As a result of the study, it was observed that stability was maintained at all temperatures for all groups during the first two months. However, in the third and fourth months, a decrease in the counts of bacteriophages were observed at -85°C in the glycerol added group. In addition to the control group, in the fifth month, carrageenan provided the highest preservation at all temperatures. In the sixth month, +4°C glycerol provided the best preservation, while carrageenan provided the highest preservation at other temperatures compared to the other test groups. In conclusion, the most successful result was obtained at +4°C for the preservation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 phage M8AEC16 considering the cost, usefulness and effectiveness.

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.

The current study was designed to evaluate the influence of three different ground vegetable oil seeds on various physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory attributes of chicken sausages from spent broiler breeder hen stored under frozen (-18±1°C) condition. Chicken sausages were incorporated with ground poppy, sesame and peanut seeds each at 10 % level separately as three treatments and were analyzed for their keeping quality along with high fat control. The mean values of FFA, TBARS, tyrosine values, standard plate count, psychrophilic count and yeast and moulds counts were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by formulation during frozen storage and values increased significantly (P<0.05) throughout the storage period in all chicken sausages. Chicken sausages with ground sesame scored lowest standard plate counts (5.66 log CFU/g) than any others after 180 days of storage at 18±1°C. Coli forms, lacto bacillus and anaerobic counts could not be detected during entire storage period. Scores for all sensory attributes decreased significantly (P<0.05) during storage in all treatments irrespective of formulation. Study proved that, the three ground vegetable oil seeds were effective by delaying the lipid oxidation, microbial growth and preserving sensory quality during frozen storage and among them ground sesame seed was more potent to be a better preservative.

Nano silver particles are valuable alternative for antibiotics and disinfectants as it is relatively free of adverse effects. Nano silver particles (AgNPs) have new physical and chemical characteristics enabling it to have a strong antibacterial activity and used today more as a high disinfectant in poultry farms. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of 10, 20 and 50 ppm of Ag-NPs as egg shell sanitizer and assess the microbial count on the egg shell surface during different storage conditions. The total bacterial count on the egg shell and egg quality characteristics were carried out on 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of storage after sanitation. Presence of nano silver and distribution on egg shell surface were determined using transmission electron microscopy. Results showed that bacterial loads on the egg shell were declined with the increased concentration of Ag-NPs used and the 50 ppm concentration of Ag-NPs had 1-3 log reduction in the total bacterial count on one day after disinfection in the egg shell surface which were comparable with the positive control (1% Kohrsolin) used in the trial. However, the external and internal qualities of eggs did not show any significance difference among different treatments during different storage days. However, nano silver 50 ppm had comparatively better zone of inhibition than 10 and 20 ppm levels in disc diffusion method. This study concluded that using Ag-NPs at 50 ppm concentration in disinfecting chicken egg can effectively reduce bacterial load on egg shell.

A study was conducted to evaluate the biomass yield and proximate composition of biomass from the natural pastures of Madras Red sheep. Eight villages were selected from the habitat of Madras Red sheep and 40 samples each during  rainy and summer season were collected to assess the biomass yield and proximate composition. The study showed that biomass yield and proximate composition were higher during the rainy season during which these sheep completed their breeding, reproduction and lactation. The total dry matter content was higher during the summer season which was able to meet maintenance requirement of sheep during these months. Farmers managed these animals without any supplementary feeding, but during summer the animals were let in the harvested fields where they had access to crop residues for grazing.

A pluriparous non-descript doe was presented with the history of dystocia. Clinical investigation revealed the presence of closed cervix and lodged multiple foetuses in the tract. Laparo-hysterotomy was performed and four foetuses were relieved, of which one was alive, one was still born and the other two were mummified. Thus the present report describes the incidence of quadruplets in a doe comprising of dual mummies along with a stillborn and a live kid.

A five year old Large White Yorkshire sow gave birth to a conjoined cephalothoracopagus, which was stillborn.

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.

Wet distiller's grain is one of the important agroindustrial by-products used for feeding dairy cattle. A study was conducted to enhance the shelf life of distillers grains and identify and quantify the deficit nutrients in it so that a supplemental strategy could be evolved to enhance its nutritive value. Twelve samples were collected from grain-based distilleries in Southern India and subjected to proximate analysis (AOAC, 2000), fibre fractionation (Goering and Van Soest, 1970) and were also analysed for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc. In vitro degradability studies were conducted using rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) described by Czerkawski and Breckenridge (1977). Also, another study was conducted to enhance the shelflife of wet distiller’s grain by addition of deoiled rice bran (DORB) and salt at twelve differentlevels.Samples were collected on 2nd,4th, 6th, 8th and 10th days for estimation of pH (Wilson and Wilkins, 1972), mould count and yeast count (Jenkins, 1992). The degradation rate/hour, degradable soluble, degradable insoluble, undegradable and effective degradability of dry matter respectively were 0.16±0.02, 53.8±1.32,31±1.41, 15.2±1.07 and 76.87±0.43 percent and the same for nitrogen respectively were 0.12±0.01, 31.2±1.16, 53.8±1.28,15±0.95 and 62.39±1.59 per cent in wet distillers grains.The results indicate that mould count was significantly(p<0.05) lower in wet distiller’s grain and deoiled rice bran (DORB) combination of 70:30 irrespective of the number of days of preservation. Further adding salt in all combinations of distiller’s grain and DERB reduced the growth of yeast or mould.

A comparative study to assess the quantity and quality of milk production in milch cattle using TANUVAS and Commercial (AGRIMIN® FORTE) mineral mixture was conducted in two dairy farms in Ramanathapuram district in the form of On Farm Trials (OFT). Three animals in the same stage of milking were selected from each farm. The animals were divided in to three groups viz. A, B and C with one animal in each group. All the animals were in the same plane of nutrition in the particular farm. Group A was kept as control, Group B supplemented with TANUVAS mineral mixture and animals in Group C were supplemented with AGRIMIN ® FORTE and the study was conducted for a period of 4 months. Although both the treatment groups (B and C) showed elevation in volume of production and fat % and the rate of raise in fat % was found to be higher in group B and the amount of raise in volume of milk produced was found to be higher in group C. The SNF % and Protein % were found to be increased only in group C.