The optimization of Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) as a healthy alternative to refined wheat flour (RWF) in chicken nuggets was investigated to assess dietary fibre enrichment. Replacement was performed at four levels: 5% (Tl), 6% (T2), 7% (T3), and 10% (T4), while control nuggets were prepared using RWF. Product quality, texture profile, sensory evaluation, and dietary fibre content were assessed. Emulsion stability and product yield remained statistically similar, with improved textural characteristics observed up to 7% replacement with Kodo millet. The product's acceptance was highly significant (P<0.01) at 7% inclusion (7.61±0.32), with dietary fibre enrichment showing a 126.49% increase over the control. The findings concluded that 7% Kodo millet flour inclusion is the optimal level for dietary fibre enhancement in functional chicken meat nuggets.

Ricinoleic acid, a toxic compound found in castor seeds (Ricinus communis L.), can be lethal when inhaled, ingested, or injected at doses of 5-10 pg/kgto human or animals. This study presents a validated, rapid, and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) methodfor its quantification. Separation was achieved on silica gel 60 F254plates using a mobile phase oftoluene, ethyl acetate and acetate acid (6:4:0.2 v/v/v). Densitometric scanning at 450 nm detected ricinoleic acid with an Rfvalue of 0.66 (±0.04). Linearity was observed in the range of 20-100 ng/spot with R = 0.998 ± 2.62%.  

A Dalmatian dog -was brought to the Referral Veterinary Polyclinic, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar with a complaint of erythematous lesions, alopecia and intense itching and had been treated for a long time. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed based on the history and the exclusion of other infectious agents as potential causes of the dermatitis. The dog was treated with oclacitinib, antibacterial, fatty acids and antihistaminic medications and showed remarkable improvement after therapy.

Different pellet baits were prepared and evaluated for their efficacy to lure house flies in chemotactometer and glue trap bioassays. Pellets with fish meal alone (FM), fish meal + (Z)-9-tricosene (FMP) and fish meal + (Z)-9-tricosene + butylated hydroxyl toluene (FMPB) were prepared. In the chemotactometer bioassay, house flies comprising of a mixed population of males and females were released into the four arm acrylic chemotactometer, acclimatized for 10 min and observed for 30 min. Out of the 201 house flies tested in six replicates, 65.17% (131 flies) responded to the baits. The attraction was maximum towards FMP  pellets (49.61%) followed by FMPB (25.19%) and FM pellets (8.39%) with least preference towards the unbaited control (11 flies, 8.39%). The per cent fly activity was 64.82%. Flies attracted towards FMP and FMPB pellets preferred to stay and spend more time inside the baited arms of the chemotactometer exhibiting wing fanning and mating behaviour. In the glue trap bioassay, a glue trap was fabricated in thermacol sheet of 20 cm L x 10 cm B x 3 cm H with a red glue sheet pasted on it and baited with pellet baits. The traps were then placed on the floor of the insectary containing house flies for 24 h. Out of 310 house flies trapped, maximum attraction was elicited towards FM pellets (29.35%, 91 flies) followed by FMPB (27.09%, 84 flies) and FMP pellets (25.48%, 79 flies) with least attraction towards unbaited control traps (18.06%, 56 flies).   Results revealed that in the chemotactometer bioassay, more flies were attracted towards the pellet baits with (Z)-9-tricosene (FMP) followed by FMPB and FM pellets. In the glue trap bioassay, attraction was more towards FM pellets followed by FMPB and FMP pellets. Overall, male flies were found more attracted towards FMP and FMPB pellets. Both the bioassays were found efficient to evaluate the attractiveness of pellet baits for house flies and (Z)-9-tricosene incorporated in fish meal and molasses as pellet baits can be effectively used in house fly traps to improve trap efficiency.    

Antioxidant effect of Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) was exploited in the preparation of functional chicken nuggets replacing refined wheat flour at 5% (T1), 6% (T2), 7% (T3) and 10% (T4) levels while control nuggets were prepared using Refined Wheat Flour. Antioxidant potential was assessed by DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical cation decolourization assay and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power. Hunters colour analysis reflected the antioxidant effect of kodo millet in chicken nugget due to the presence of phytochemicals. Incorporation of kodo millet in chicken nuggets had enriched the antioxidant capacity by 8.26% for DPPH radical scavenging activity, 11.43% for ABTS activity, and 36.29% for FRAP activity over control.  

Placenta plays a vital role in the exchange of nutrients between the dam and fetus, ensures fetal growth and survival. Its structural and functional characteristics significantly affect the health and productivity of both calf and dam. The present study was conducted to assess the morphological characteristics of normally expelled foetal placenta and it’s association with various calf and dam parameters in the native Ongole (Bos indicus) cows. The objectives of the present study aimed to assess the morphological characteristics of foetal placenta expelled normally in Ongole cows and examine their association with various calf and dam parameters. It also evaluated the influence of factors such as calf sex, dam weight, parity and season on placental traits and expulsion duration. The study was conducted at the Livestock Research Station, Lam, Guntur, A.P, and a total of 123 placentas from normally calved animals were used. The mean values for duration of placenta expulsion, weight of placenta, number of cotyledons, overall cotyledon diameter, placental efficiency and placenta density were recorded to be 203 ± 6.5 minutes, 3.18 ± 0.06, 77.03 ± 1.32, 6.16 ± 0.06 cm, 8.38 ± 0.17 and 0.03 ± 0.004 respectively.  73.98% of placenta expelled ≥ 4hrs. The placenta weight was found to be 0.84% of dam’s weight and 12.51% of calf birth weight. The number of cotyledons differed significantly (P<0.05) between male (71.37 ± 1.44) and female (82.42 ± 1.96) births. Gravid horn constituted 68% of total number of cotyledons. The largest and smallest cotyledon size observed during the study was 11.15 ± 0.16 cm and 1.66 ± 0.07 cm, respectively. The results indicate that, while the duration of placental expulsion was affected by calf sex, the placenta weight and placental efficiency were found to be related to calf birth weight. Further, the dam weight had a significant positive correlation (P<0.05) with placenta weight (r=0.187) and cotyledon diameter (r=0.225). Parity of the dam did  not show any effect on placental characteristics. The duration of placenta expulsion (minutes) was the shortest in summer calvings (188.46 ± 24.95) follwed by winter calvings (191.67 ± 7.78) and the longest in rainy season calvings (225.83 ± 11.39).

The production performance and economic viability of Khaki Campbell ducks in backyard farming systems at NICRA-adopted flood-prone village in the Darrang district of Assam was evaluated. The study investigated key productivity metrics such as egg production, growth performance, and survival rates, in addition to economic factors like input costs, labor requirements, and market returns. The findings of the study indicated that Khaki Campbell ducks can perform well in backyard systems, with good egg production and growth rate. The mean body weight at 30 weeks of age was 1.82 kg and the average age at first egg was 163 days. Throughout the study period, the mean egg production was 185.5 and the mean mortality rate was 12.5%. The practice of backyard rearing of Khaki Campbell ducks is viable with a Benefit-Cost ratio of 2.07. The research highlighted the potential of ducks in enhancing household income and nutritional security and contributing to greater agricultural resilience against climate variability. The findings of the research contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable rural development and offers practical recommendations for similar agro-climatic regions facing the dual challenges of agricultural productivity and climate change

Value added carabeef loaves were developed with variety meat, offals and non-meat extenders (refined wheat flour-T1 and soya flour-T2) while control loaves were prepared with skeletal meat and refined wheat flour. The loaves were packed aerobically in sterile Pet/Poly packages and subjected to physic-chemical quality, microbial profile and sensory quality analysis. Incorporation of low value meat and offals did not affect the physico-chemical characteristics of the loaves as reflected by the statistical similarity between control and treatment loaves. This is further confirmed by the improved organoleptic acceptability of the treatment loaves over the control loaves. The results of total viable count and yeast and mold count reveal shelf stability of loaves for 14 days. The acceptability of T1 and T2 carabeef loaves over the control loaves concludes that low value meat and offals can be incorporated @ 25% replacement of skeletal meat and soya flour can be used as a binder in the development of value added carabeef loaves which can be stored safely up to 14 days at 4±1 °C under aerobic packaging

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dominant follicle ablation on follicle count in Sahiwal cattle. All the selected donor animals were randomly divided into two equal groups. Donor cows in group 1(n=10) were subjected to dominant follicle(s) ablation, donor cows in group 2(n=10) without ablation and both groups were administered with 10 µg GnRH followed by FSH in 3 divided doses @ 100 mg, 60 mg and 40 mg at 48, 60 and 72 hrs after GnRH administration. OPU was carried out 24 hrs after the last FSH administration in all the donor cows. The overall mean number of follicles available for aspiration by Ovum pick up (OPU) method were 7.43 ± 0.22 in group 1 and 6.19 ± 0.22 in group 2 and the difference in the number of follicles between groups was significant (p<0.05). Mean follicular count on right and left ovaries of group 1 cows were 7.87 ± 0.30 and 7.00 ± 0.30, respectively with a significant difference (p>0.05). whereas, mean follicular count on right and left ovaries of group 2 cows were 6.14 ± 0.32 and 6.24 ± 0.32, respectively without significant difference (p<0.05). While, the mean follicular count in group 1 at different timings of 0 hr, 48 hrs and 96 hrs were 7.15 ± 0.36, 7.60 ± 0.36 and 7.55 ± 0.36, respectively and in group 2 cows were 6.03 ± 0.39, 6.25 ±0.39 and 6.30 ± 0.39, respectively without significant (p>0.05). In conclusion, ablation of dominant follicle had higher follicular count in Sahiwal donor cows compared to non- ablation group cows.

Free range grazing ducks play a major role in rural economy of Asian countries in the form of meat and egg production. The present study reports a mixed infection of Tetrameres sp. and Echinostoma sp. in nomadic ducks from Orathanadu, Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. On post-mortem examination of two ducks with a history of enteritis revealed bright red nematodes in the proventricular mucosa and minute flukes in small intestine. Tetrameres sp. and Echinostoma sp. worms were identified based on morphological characteristics. Intestinal contents also revealed eggs of Tetrameres sp. and Echinostoma sp. Further snails were collected from the duck rearing areas and confirmed the release of Echinostome cercariae and the snails were also identified as Planorbis sp. The study emphasizes the significance of mixed helminthic infections in nomadic ducks from Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.