An attempt was made to overview the conduct, components and output of various livestock research activities conducted in TANUVAS for the period from 2008 to 2018. Among 152 projects completed during the study period, there were 52 health projects, 36 production, 25 social science, 16 clinical science, 14 infrastructure, six processing, two environment and one education related projects. The research investment of projects completed from 2008 to 2018 was found to be the highest for Health (Rs.1767.70 lakhs), followed by Infrastructure (Rs.1723.40 lakhs), Production (Rs.668.72 lakhs), Social science (Rs.393.82 lakhs), Clinical science (Rs.360.28 lakhs), Education (Rs.221.47 lakhs), Processing (Rs.87.50 lakhs) and Environment (Rs.14.64 lakhs). Among various livestock species, Poultry research occupied predominant position with 39 numbers of projects with outlay of Rs.791.25 lakhs. It should be noted that the research on companion animals and fodder were less than 10 in last ten years. A total of 44 patents were filed in TANUVAS during last decade, among which seven were granted. It is concluded that the focus should also be made on fodder, swine and companion animal and fodder research.

Aflatoxins are produced in poultry feed by two major fungal species viz., Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus during hot and humid seasons. To detoxify these aflatoxins, various binders are being used in the field which are mostly synthetic compounds with possible other toxicities, the harmless beneficial probiotics are being considered as binders to neutralize the effect of aflatoxins in the feed. Bacterial organisms (probiotics) like Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were selected and their cell wall structures have been retrieved and molecular docking was performed against four types of aflatoxins namely AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2. The results revealed that cell wall components of the chosen bacterial organisms have a good binding affinity towards four types of aflatoxins. Based on this in silico results, it is evident that the both the lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and wall teichoic acid (TA) in the cell wall of probiotic organisms is responsible for its binding against aflatoxins.

Food wastes of vegetable origin fed to pigs contained significantly (P<0.05) higher metabolizable energy, comparable crude protein and lower dry matter, crude fibre, total ash, calcium, phosphorus, copper and iron compared to pregnant gilt feed (NRC, 1998). To optimize the food wastes for nutrients to be comparable with pregnant gilt feed, de-oiled rice bran at 33% and mineral mixture at 2% were added as supplement for food wastes on DM basis. A feeding trial was conducted in 18 large white Yorkshire crossbred bred gilts. The treatment groups were pregnant gilt feed (T 1 ), food wastes as sole feed (T 2 ) and food wastes + evolved supplement (T 3 ) with 6 animals in each treatment. The gestation body weight gain and gestation length did not differ (P<0.05) significantly among the treatment groups. No significant difference in litter size, litter weight at birth and weaning weight were observed among the treatment groups. Higher per cent stillborns and per cent piglet mortality was observed in T 2 compared to T 1 and T 3 . The average birth weight and weaning weight of piglets were significantly (P<0.05) lower in T 2 . Supplementation to food wastes (T 3 ) increased the piglet birth weight and weaning weight comparable to T 1 . Sows body weight after farrowing and at the time of weaning and lactation body weight loss did not differ significantly (P<0.05) among the treatment groups.

Drug interaction is the effect produced by combination of various drugs administered in a biological system which may produce beneficial or adverse effects.Due to continuous usage of antibiotics to bacterial infections, pathogenic bacteria developed resistance mechanisms which leads to reduced antibacterial activity of different antibiotics. Combination of antibiotics with phytochemicals became an alternative to enhance the efficacy of antibiotics. In this connection,in the present study, the effect of certain phytochemicals namely Quercitin, Morin, Ellagic acid,  Chloragenic acid Rutin and Naringenin in combination with antibiotics Amoxycillin and Ciprofloxacin were evaluated. Staphylococcus aures and Escherichia coli were used as test organisms. They were isolated from the mastitis milk samples and their presence was confirmed using Polymerse Chain Reaction .The antibacterial activity of the antibiotics and antibiotics in combination with phytochemicals were determined using broth dilution method and agar well diffusion assay. The MIC and zones of inhibition were used as indicators for drug interaction.

A three years old male pigeon weighing 400g (racing homer) was presented to Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with the history of soft tissue growth on the keel region for the past six months and gradually increase in size was noticed. Physical examination revealed large tennis ball size soft tissue mass on the keel region. Cytological examination revealed the presence of inflammatory cells with serosanguineous background. Radiological examination revealed presence of soft tissue mass on the keel bone with no bony involvement. Surgical resection of tumour mass was performed under general anaesthesia. Histopathological examination confirmed liposarcoma in a pigeon. The bird recovered uneventfully on 10 th post-operative day without any complications.

Ceftizoxime is the third generation cephalosporin, extensively used in veterinary medicine. It has larger volume of distribution, good penetration into tissues, and useful for the treatment of mastitis which is resistant to other antibiotics. Keeping in view of generating pharmacokinetic data of ceftizoxime in different domestic animals, the present study was planned to investigate pharmacokinetics of ceftizoxime in goats (n = 6) at the dose rate of 10mg kg-1 body weight following single dose intravenous administration. Drug concentration in plasma was determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with UV detector. The values of Cmax, AUC and MRT were 44.40 ± 2.09 µg ml-1, 121.22 ± 15.40µg.h.ml-1 and 11.44 ± 1.30 h, respectively. The longer elimination half-life (8.92 ± 1.11h) along with smaller ClB (0.09 ± 0.01 Lh-1 kg-1) showed slower excretion of the drug from animal body. 

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 objective of the present study is to find out the scope and extent of utilization livestock farm service provided by the Agricultural Technology Information Center (ATIC), TANUVAS, Kattuppakam, Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. The available records for a period of two years from January 2021 to December 2022 were analysed to study the number of farmers visited, and their purpose of visits at ATIC, Kattupakkam. The findings of the study revealed that a total of 1727 farmers visited ATIC, Kattupakkam in which majority (86.21%) respondents were males. Among the specific purpose of visits, purchase of fodder seeds (35.95%) was their high priority followed by purchase of publications (32.42%), farm advisory (13.60%), livestock feed (11.92%) and others (6.07%). On farm advisory, majority were benefited on goat farming (31.66%) than other livestock farming practices. It was concluded that during the study period more than 65% of farmers benefited through the purchase for fodder seeds and publication and around 68% of the livestock farmers were likely to be more specific in their purpose of visits at ATIC, Kattupakkam. 

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 conducted to identify the suitable planting material (stem cuttings/ root slips) for propagation of Cumbu Napier Hybrid Grass Co(BN)5 understorey Cocus nucifera with different fertilizers and manures and to examine the nutritive value of the fodder. The experiment had seven treatments replicated thrice, T1 (Stem cuttings for propagation-Control), T2 (Stem cuttings + Recommended dose of fertilizer), T3 (Root slips + Recommended dose of fertilizer), T4  (Stem cuttings + Farm yard manure@10t/ha), T5 (Root slips + Farm yard manure @ 10t/ha), T6  (Stem cuttings + Farm yard manure @10t/ha + Recommended dose of fertilizer) and T7  (Root slips + Farm yard manure @10t/ha + Recommended dose of fertilizer). No significant (P>0.05) variations were observed in the yield irrespective of planting material and manuring. Significantly highest plant height was observed in Root slips + Farm yard manure @10t/ha + Recommended dose of fertilizer (T7), the number of tillers / plant and leaves per tiller, were significantly highest in Stem cuttings + Farm yard manure @10t/ha + Recommended dose of fertilizer (T6), leaves per clump were significantly highest in T6 and T7. No significant variation existed in the fortnightly body weight, average daily gain and dry matter intake of animals fed Cumbu Napier hybrid grass Co(CN)4 Vs Cumbu Napier hybrid grass Co(BN)5. However, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) in the IVth week was significantly better in Cumbu Napier hybrid grass Co(BN)5 fed cattle. It was concluded that to cultivate Co(BN)5 understorey Cocus nucifera stem cutting with application of farm yard manure and recommended dose of fertilizer was the best practice.