The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of two oestrus induction protocols on 30 postpartum anoestrus crossbred cows reared by rural farmers of Puducherry region. The cows were randomly divided into Treatment I (CIDR+PGF2α+GnRH; n=15) and Treatment group II (Ovsynch+ CIDR; n=15) with double fixed timed inseminations at 12 and 24 hours post-administration of last GnRH. Oestrus induction response was 100% in both the treatment groups with majority of the cows (80%) in both the treatment groups showed intermediate intensity of oestrus. The mean time to onset of oestrus from the time of removal of CIDR in Treatment I and Treatment II was 43.45 ± 9.21 and 45.81 ± 6.34 h respectively. There is no significant difference in the serum progesterone concentration at the time of AI between Treatment I (0.92±0.26 ng/mL) and Treatment II (0.92±0.18 ng/mL). Though the conception rate was higher in treatment II (40 %) compared to Treatment I (20 %), the difference is not statistically significant. From the present study, it was concluded that Ovsynch in combination with CIDR found to be effective in oestrus induction and conception following fixed timed AI in anoestrus cows under field conditions. 

One year old male Labrador Retriever dog, was presented with the history of inability to retract the penis back into preputial sheath since 24 hours after a mounting attempt. Massage therapy, application of magnesium sulfate and ice pack failed to reduce penile oedema. Topical application of oxytocin around bulbus gland is successfully reduced oedema, thereby aided in easy repositioning. Purse-string sutures were applied around the tip of the preputial sheath and post reduction therapy followed. Animal had an uneventful recovery. 

This study presents two clinical cases in Chinchilla and Himalayan rabbits, exhibiting symptoms such as alopecia, skin lesions, and ear lesions. Skin scrapings and fecal samples were collected and processed, revealing the presence of Sarcoptes scabiei mites, Psoroptes cuniculi mites, and Eimeria oocysts. Treatment involved subcutaneous administration of Ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg), accompanied by supportive and topical application of Benzyl benzoate. The rabbits displayed clinical improvement, with complete recovery observed within 30 days.

A survey was undertaken to screen and evaluate the presence of organochlorine pesticide residue in poultry products. Both commercial and desi chicken eggs and meat samples were collected from Namakkal area of Tamil Nadu and analyzed by thin layer chromatography and confirmed by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry. Total Endosulfan in commercial chicken egg and in broiler thigh and breast muscle exceeded the MRL of Codex alimentarius. The occurrence was 50 percent with regards to broiler meat and 33.33 percent with regards to commercial egg. Desi chicken adipose tissue had a high incidence of endosulfan residue (58.33 per cent) with the levels of 28.57 ± 2.85 ppb. But the detected mean values were below the permissible MRL. DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) was detected in broiler thigh and breast meat. The values obtained were below the MRL of Codex alimentarius and EU standards. BHC (Benzene hexa chloride) was detected in broiler liver, thigh and breast meat while the per cent incidence was higher in liver (33.33). The detected mean values were below the maximum permissible level of Codex alimentarius and EU standards. Both desi and broiler egg and meat analyzed were negative for aldrin, dieldrin and endrin residues which indicate that there may be these pesticides are not used in the geographical area from where samples were obtained. The findings of this study indicates that the presence of organochlorine pesticide residues, though at low level of incidence, still continues to be a threat for poultry products, hence it is essential to have a constant screening and monitoring of these compounds in feedstuff and feed at feed mills and mixing plants so as to prevent contamination in the eggs and meat.

Anthelmintics are used traditionally as an integral part of helminthic control strategies for grazing livestock to prevent production losses from parasitic infections. The continuous and indiscriminate use of the same anthelmintics over years together as the sole means of control are now failing due to the emergence of resistance strains of helminths. Resistance to the commonly used anthelmintics in gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep has become an increasingly wide spread problem throughout the world. The present study was aimed to determine the resistance against albendazole, fenbendazole, levamisole and closantel in gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. Fifty five naturally infected Madras Red lambs of 6 - 12 months of age were selected and distributed randomly into five treatment groups of eleven animals each. Four groups were treated orally with albendazole (5mg/kg), fenbendazole (7mg/kg), levamisole (7.5m/kg) and closantel (10 mg/kg) respectively, while the fifth group served as untreated control.  Faecal samples were collected per rectum of each lamb just prior to treatment (pre treatment) and then on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after treatment. The anthelmintic resistance was evaluated by in vivo faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT), post treatment larval culture and in vitro egg hatch assay. In the faecal egg count reduction test, albendazole reduced the faecal egg count by 86.50 per cent, 84.81 per cent, 85.28 per cent and 84.47 per cent respectively for four weeks after treatment. Faecal egg count reduction using fenbendazole was 92.64, 93.04, 90.80 and 90.06 per cent respectively for four weeks after treatment.  The per cent efficacy for levamisole and closantel was more than 95 per cent. The post treatment larval culture contained only Haemonchus contortus. In the in vitro egg hatch assay, the ED 50 value for benzimidazole was 0.299 µg thiabenazole/ml and levamisole showed an ED 50 value of 0.283 µg /ml.

High performance thin layer chromatographic method was developed and validated according to the protocol on “Validation of Analytical Procedures: Methodology, Veterinary International Cooperation on Harmonization (VICH)” with respect to linearity, sensitivity, precision and accuracy for determination of aflatoxin B1 in feed ingredients and feed. Chromatography was performed on thin layer chromatography (TLC) silica gel 60F254, aluminum sheets by Camag Linomat-5 applicator, with mobile phase condition acetone : chloroform (1 : 9). Analysis of samples viz. feed ingredients and feed, for aflatoxin B1was carried by HPTLC method and compared with TLC method. Extraction of aflatoxin was done as per AOAC method with screening and quantification by TLC and further quantification by HPTLC using reference standards. Out of 38 samples of nine types of feed ingredients analysed, samples of Bengal gram and rice bran & wheat bran mixture were negative by both methods. The other ingredients like cumbu/bajra, de-oiled rice bran, groundnut oil cake, maize, soyabean meal and sunflower oil cake, by HPTLC method wherein the Aflatoxin B1was found to be ranging from 1.61 ppb to 630.73 ppb of 77.42% positive samples, whereas by TLC method it was from 05 ppb to 140 ppb in 70.97% positive samples. While 4 samples of wheat bran analysed were all negative for Aflatoxin B1 by TLC method, whereas 50% (2 samples) found to be positive with HPTLC method with concentration ranging from 2.73 to 17.88.Similarly out of 59 feed samples analysed, 47 and 46 samples were positive for Aflatoxin B1 representing 79.66% and 77.97% of the samples, with concentration ranging from 0.54 ppb to 204.72 ppb and from 05 ppb to 710 ppb by HPTLC and TLC respectively. In the present study, the Limit of detection by HPTLC was 0.5 ppb whereas it was 5 ppb with TLC method.

A total of 30 maize samples, 30 deoiled rice bran (DORB), 20 groundnut oil cake (expeller) and 20 dried distillers’ grain soluble (DDGs) feeds samples were collected from different parts of Namakkal district. Aflatoxin B1 was estimated in all the samples by extracting the aflatoxin and spotted in an activated thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate with standards and ascertained the concentration by visual comparison method in a UV viewing cabinet. Among 30 samples of maize, analyzed for aflatoxin, 20 samples (60%) contained traces of aflatoxin and 8 samples contained between 10-30 ppb. Two samples contained between 50-100 ppb. Similarly, among 30 samples of DORB analyzed for aflatoxin, 24 samples contained traces of aflatoxin and five samples contained between 10-30 ppb. One sample contained between 50-100 ppb of aflatoxin. Three samples of GNC and Four samples of DDGS had 50-100 ppb of aflatoxin. It reveals that, very few samples of maize and DORB contained high level of aflatoxin. Hence the regular screening of toxins in every lot of feed prior to feeding the animals or poultry needs to be regularized.

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. 

The present study was aimed to assess the seroprevalence of brucellosis in sheep of Cauvery Delta region by collecting serum samples from apparently healthy sheep and sheep with the history of abortion. Serum samples from a total of about 123 animals including 64 from apparently healthy animals, 54 from animals with previous history of abortion and 5 from aborted animals were subjected to serological tests like Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), Standard Plate Agglutination Test (SPAT) and indirect Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay (i-ELISA). Molecular identification was carried out with the aborted materials from 5 animals with Bcsp31 gene. The prevalence rate of Brucellosis was 26.01 %, 22.76 % and 41.46 % by RBPT, SPAT and i-ELISA respectively. Among the 5 aborted animals, two were found to be positive for brucellosis with all the four diagnostic tests. Among the three serological tests, the highest seroprevalence of 41.46 % was observed when i-ELISA was used. However, RBPT was considered to be cost effective and easy to test. Hence, from this study it can be concluded that periodical screening of animals with cost effective serological tests for diseases like brucellosis, which is of economic and public health significance is mandatory to prevent the disease outbreak and economic loss to thefarmers.

A biological trial was conducted to investigate the effect of bacteriophage on carcass characteristics of commercial broilers with or without bacterial challenge. Totally 180 day old Vencobb broiler chicks were randomly allotted into five dietary treatments designated as T1 to T5 with each treatment replicated thrice. T1 and T2 served as negative and positive control respectively, while birds in T3, T4 and T5 were exposed to E. coli on different days during 35 days course. Dietary treatments included T1 - basal diet, T2 - basal diet with bacteriophage in feed (50 mg/bird/ day up to 7th day and 25 mg/bird/day up to 35th day), T3 without bacteriophage, T4-bacteriophage in feed (50 mg/bird/day up to 35th day) and T5 - bacteriophage in feed (50 mg/bird/day up to 7th day and 25mg/bird/ day up to 35th day). E. coli was introduced orally in groups T3 and T4 on day 10, while T5 on day 26 (106 CFU/ bird). The bacteriophage supplementation to E. coli challenged birds had significantly increased the weights of eviscerated carcass, giblets, ready-to-cook meat; the cut-up parts like breast, back and drumstick compared to non-supplemented group. Results shed light on the potential benefits of bacteriophage as a natural alternate approach to antibiotic growth promotors in broiler production.