Ten cattle with severe generalised skin lesions due to dermatophilosis were taken up for the study. Typical exudative dermatitis lesions with matting of hairs, thick scab formation and fissures on the skin were noticed in lower limbs, udder, perineum, inguinal region, axilla, neck and ears. Haematological analysis revealed anaemia and an increase in the absolute eosinophil count in affected animals. Serum biochemical estimations revealed hypoalbuminaemia, hyperglobulinaemia, a decrease in A/G ratio, increase in the blood urea nitrogen value and decrease in the zinc level in affected animals

The quantum of inclusion of concentrates in cattle feeding depends solely on availability and its price. An attempt was made to model and forecast the feed prices of dairy cattle feed in Tamil Nadu using time series data collected from Central Feed Technology Unit, Kattupakkam for the period from January 2012 to December 2022. Various time series models viz., Mean, Naïve, Random drift, Seasonal naive, Simple Exponential Smoothing, Holt linear, Holt-winter, Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average - ARIMA and Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models were fitted. The error measures, parameter estimates, forecast estimates and plots were assessed to ascertain the best fit model. Random drift model and ARIMA (0,1,0) model were found to be the best fit models for dairy cattle feed. Further, Holt-winter multiplicative model and SARIMA (1,1,0)(1,0,1) model were identified as the best fit models for the dry cattle feed price forecasting. Thus, these models could be utilized by the various stakeholders to predict the short term price forecasts of cattle feed for efficient planning and making right decisions. 

In the present study, the expression pattern of OAS-1 and MX-2 gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was associated with the early pregnancy in cattle. A total of 60 animals were selected and divided into 2 groups, treatment (50) and control (10) group and synchronized using double PGF2α protocol by 11 days apart followed by insemination at 72 and 96 hrs after second dose of PGF2α. The cows were subjected to blood collection on day 0, 14, 18, 20 and 25 post insemination and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) were harvested using Histopaque® solution, followed by RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis. A significantly (P≤0.01) higher expression of OAS-1 and MX-2 gene was observed on days 18 and 20 post oestrum by quantitative real-time PCR and concentration of MX-2 protein in serum were significantly higher (P≤0.05) on day 18, 20 and 25 in pregnant cows when compared with that of non-pregnant cows. Hence, the present study is concluded that the expression of OAS-1 and MX-2 genes and their encoded proteins may be used to develop a marker for early pregnancy diagnosis in cattle.