To evaluate the role of dietary supplementation of astaxanthin, prill fat and their combination on antioxidants and immune status of lactating buffaloes during heat stress. Twenty four lactating buffaloes (first to fourth parity) were selected and divided equally into four groups i.e. Group I (control), Group II (astaxanthin 0.25 mg/kg body wt/day), Group III (prill fat 100 g/animal/day) and Group IV (astaxanthin + prill fat). Plasma was separated from the blood collected at fortnightly interval for the analysis of antioxidant enzymes and interleukins levels. The levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly lower in astaxanthin supplemented groups (Group II and Group IV) compared to Group I and Group III. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine (Interleukin-2) was significantly (P LT 0.05) lower in astaxanthin supplemented groups (Group II and Group IV) compared to Group I whereas levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin-10) was significantly (P LT 0.05) higher in all supplemented groups (Group II, Group III and Group IV) than Group I. Results showed that, dietary supplementation of astaxanthin (potent antioxidant) was able to alleviate the heat stress induced changes by lowering the levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) and pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-2) and improving the levels of anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines in lactating buffaloes during summer season.

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of inclusion of palm kernel meal (PKM) in the diet on intake, mineral balances and nutrient utilization in buffalo bulls. In 4*4 LSD, four graded Murrah buffalo bulls were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments (T1 to T4) comprising of green fodder viz. Super Napier, paddy straw and concentrate mixture. In the concentrate mixture, palm kernel meal is incorporated at 0 (T1, Control), 10 (T2), 15 (T3) and 20 (T4) percent levels. All the concentrate mixtures were made iso-nitrogenous. Buffalo bulls in both the groups were fed to meet the nutrient requirements as per ICAR (2013) standards. Inclusion of PKM up to 20 percent level in the concentrate mixture had no effect (P GT 0.05) on the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, NDF, ADF, hemi-cellulose and cellulose as compared to the control. All the buffalo bulls were in positive N, Ca and P balance. The average DMI of buffalo bulls expressed as g/kg W0.75 or as percent BW was comparable among the treatments. Inclusion of PKM at varying levels in the concentrate mixture had no significant effect (P GT 0.05) on DCP contents expressed as percent in the diet consumed or as g/kg W0.75. However, the TDN contents expressed as percent in the diet consumed decreased (P LT 0.05) with increased levels of inclusion of PKM from 0 to 20 percent level in the concentrate mixtures. Inclusion of palm kernel meal at 10, 15 and 20 percent level in the concentrate mixtures resulted in decreased feed cost by rupee 0.73, 1.09 and 1.46 as compared to the control. It is concluded that PKM can be included up to 20 percent level in the concentrate mixture of buffalo bulls without any adverse effects.

A retrospective analysis was conducted to examine the effect of season and climatic factors on age at puberty, service period and successful mating of Nili-Ravi buffalo maintained at a Public Sector Dairy Farm in Okara, Pakistan. Records, spread over a period of 13 years (2000 to 2012), for 583 buffaloes were analyzed for this purpose. Age at puberty was calculated by subtracting date of birth from date of first fruitful service. Average age at puberty and service period were 1056.87+-83.11 and 193.81+-47.32 days respectively. Season of birth had a significant effect (P LT 0.05) on age at puberty. Calves born in winter had a shorter age at puberty (962.09+-9.81) compared with those born in other three seasons (spring, summer and autumn). Effect of calving season on service period was significant (P LT 0.05). Autumn calvers had the shortest service period (193.81+-47.32). Service period did not differ with calving year (P GT 0.05). Month of the year and successful mating (r = 0.67) were positively correlated with each other (P LT 0.05). Maximum and minimum number of successful mating were recorded in October (21.75 percent) and June (3.88 percent). The correlation between individual climatic factors (i.e. daily temperature, rain fall, sunshine hours, relative humidity) and successful mating was non-significant (P GT 0.05). It was concluded that climatic factors did affect the reproductive activities but their individual effect was non- significant in buffalo. However, season, a combination of climatic factors, had significant effect on reproductive activities.

The present study was conducted to identify specific acoustic features which could be used as possible indicators for early diagnosis of pneumonia in buffalo calves. In pneumonia, change in elasticity and resonance of vocal sound producing organs occur which eventually affects the vocal signature of calves. Twenty Murrah buffalo calves' voice was recorded during both healthy and pneumonia infected stage where pneumonia was confirmed by lung X-RAY radiography. From the recorded vocal sound, acoustic features viz. call duration (sec.), call interval (sec.), frequency (Hz), bandwidth (Hz) and peak amplitude (P) with their sub variants were extracted with the help of PRAAT 3.2.36 software. Out of these, call duration (sec.) (0.879+-0.29 v/s 0.689+-0.24), call interval (sec.) (0.288+-0.059 v/s 0.107+-0.047) and peak amplitude (P) (start (0.750+-0.118 v/s 0.435+-0.113), end (0.102+-0.045 v/s 0.508+-0.268) and maximum (0.938+-0.210 v/s 0.684+-0.480)) were found significantly (p LT 0.05) different between two groups. Rest acoustic features did not differ statistically between two groups. This study indicates that it is possible to discriminate pneumonia voice from normal/healthy voice by acoustic analysis and farmers can acquire an early warning of pneumonia infections in calves through this non-invasive method.

Cryopreservation is connected with increased undesirable premature sperm capacitation, reduced lifespan and fertility results. Taurine acts as an antioxidant improving the semen quality after cryopreservation. The objective of the current study is to assess the effect of addition of different levels of taurine amino acid to tris-extender on bull sperm cryo-preservability. Methods: The collected semen samples were pooled and diluted with tris-citric acid-fructose egg yolk extender (control, 0 percent taurine) and different concentrations of taurine (10 mM, 20 Mm, 30 Mm, 40 Mm, 50 Mm, 60 Mm, 70 Mm, 80 Mm, 90 Mm and 100 mM) to final concentration of 60 *10**(6) motile sperm/ml. Diluted semen was processed for freezing and evaluated for sperm parameters. Results: Data showed that taurine enriched extender improved sperm parameters during cooling. Post thawing sperm motility percent, membrane integrity percent, Alive sperm percent improved and the percentages of abnormal sperm was lowered upon using taurine enriched extender. Conclusion: It could be concluded that, most the concentrations of taurine in Tris-citrate egg yolk extender ameliorated the post cooling and post freezing semen quality in buffalo bulls.

Raw milk samples of 503 individual buffaloes were collected from dairy farms located in Agra and Mathura cities in North India. Multiple tests (Indirect Fluorescent Agglutination test (i_FAT), IS900 PCR, Microscopy, Indigenous ELISA kit (i_ELISA), Dot-ELISA (d_ELISA) and Latex agglutination test (LAT)) based bio-load and bio-type profile of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) was studied. Cumulatively average bio-load was 61.2 percent using three antigen and three antibody based. In i_FAT, IS900 PCR and microscopy, 43.5, 13.3 and 40.9 percent milk were positive for MAP, respectively. Whereas, 32.8, 49.3 and 44.1 percent milk samples were positive in i_ELISA, d_ELISA and LAT, respectively. Bio-typing of representative milk samples using IS900 PCR positive raw milk (67), 13.4 percent were infected with 'Indian Bison Type' biotype using IS1311 PCR_REA. Study concluded that 'Indian Bison type' was the predominant bio-type infecting lactating buffaloes of this region. Raw milk was highly convenient sample in buffaloes and 'milk samples' were first time screened without initial processing of milk samples. Detection limits of each tests was improved. Results of five tests (d_ELISA, LAT, i_ELISA, microscopy, i_FAT were comparable, except IS900 PCR. High bio-load of MAP in milk of buffaloes was major health hazard for human health. High bio-load of MAP was alarming and calls for initiation of Johne's disease control programs in the country.

In the present study, the buffalo having surgical affections of claw were divided randomly in to two groups having six animals in each group. Tourniquet was placed circumferentially at the middle of the metacarpus in Group I (standard IVRA) and just below dewclaw in Group II (modified IVRA) animals. In Group I animals, lignocaine hydrochloride and dexmedetomidine mixture was injected 4 mg/kg and 5 micro g/kg b.wt in the radial vein. However, in Group II above drugs were injected in half doses in the axial digital vein. Heart rate and respiration rate decreased significantly in both group of animals. In Group I pulse rate decreased significantly (P LT 0.05). After removal of tourniquet no significant changes in HR, PR and RR was observed in both groups of animals. Peripheral oxygen saturation (percent) decreased significantly in both groups of animals even after removal of tourniquet. Systolic and diastolic pressure significantly (P LT 0.05) decreased in both group of animals. Mean arterial pressure decreased significantly (P LT 0.05) in both groups at 5 and 10 minutes interval. In Group II animals, the value increased significantly at 20 and 40 minutes interval. Sensory and motor block onset time was lower in Group II as compared to Group I animals. SBRT was more in Group II animals and MBRT was more or less similar in both groups. None of the animal of both group showed sign of toxicity except stumbling in 4 animals of Group I just after release of tourniquet.

This trial was conducted to check the effect of commercially available hydrolysable tannin (Silvafeed Bypro) on feed intake, protein digestibility, rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen in Nili Ravi buffalo bulls. Four cannulated buffalo bulls were alloted in 4*4 Latin Square Design. The diet consisted of 50% seasonal fodder and 50 percent concentrate. Four iso-caloric (ME: 2800 kcal/kg) and iso-nitrogenous (CP: 18 percent) concentrate rations T1, T2, T3 and T4 were formulated and supplemented with 0, 10, 20 and 30 g hydrolysable tannin respectively per animal on daily basis. Diets as a total mixed ration were given to the bulls ad libitum twice a day. The results showed that adding tannin in diet had unaltered effect (P GT 0.05) on feed intake, digestibility of crude protein, ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen. However, slightly increased numerical values were found for feed intake, crude protein digestibility and ruminal pH while slightly decreased numerical values were found for ruminal ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen at different inclusion levels of hydrolysable tannin in diet. It is concluded that numerical values for feed intake, crude protein digestibility, ruminal pH, ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen are slightly better but non-significant than control when buffalo bull were fed diets supplemented with hydrolysable tannin.

Thirty-six healthy Tarai buffaloes (280-350+-10 kg body weight, 2nd to 4th parity) were selected to investigate their milk composition. The selected animals were divided into four groups having nine buffaloes in each group as, each group from early, mid and late lactation and another group of dry buffaloes. The study carried out in four seasons and climatic variants of temperature and relative humidity were recorded for each month where temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated. Results of milk composition with advancing in lactation stage showed significantly (P LT 0.05) higher values for milk fat, urea and total solids. In season-wise, milk constituents of fat, protein and total solids were found significantly (P LT 0.05) higher during winter season except higher milk urea in summer season. Other milk constituents include lactose, SNF and pH were remain unaffected throughout the lactation period and seasons. Milk somatic cell count (SCC) is affected by both lactation period and seasons but the variations stood non-significant. Calculated THI in tarai region was found higher (79 LT THI LT 84) during summer and rainy seasons. It may be concluded that Tarai buffalo performances are affected by seasonal variations and lactation period as indicated in milk composition variations. Thus, Tarai buffalo could perform better if improvement in their management system of housing and feeding of quality nutrients.

In present investigation therapeutic efficacy of three most commonly used anti-trypanosomal drugs (isometamidium chloride hydrochloride, diminazine aceturate, and quinapyramine sulphate) were studied. Evaluations of therapeutic efficacy were assessed done on the basis of percent recovery assessment, hematological and biochemical alteration on day 0, day 7th and day 14th post treatment. All three drugs were found effective against the trypanosomosis in buffalo but the extent of improvement in terms of hematological values, biochemical values and percent recovery was observed maximum in the treatment with isometamidium chloride hydrochloride followed by diminazene aceturate and least with the quinapyramine sulphate.