Methane (CH4) is second major gas after carbon dioxide (CO2) responsible for the warming of environment and ozone layer depletion. Although CH4 production is necessary for efficient digestion, it represents an energetic loss of up to 12% of the gross energy intake in ruminants. Methane is produced by strict anaerobes belonging to the sub-group of the Archaea domain. The past decade has shown a lot of interest in the use of plant extracts to mitigate methane production in ruminants. Addition of plant essential oils, can limit the growth of the micro-organisms participating in methane formation in the rumen, thus resulting in the reduction of its production. Reduction of methane production in the rumen ecosystem is possible to achieve with the use of plantsaponins. Tannins have been found to be toxic for many of the rumen microbes, especially ciliate protozoa, fibre degrading microbes and methanogenic bacteria as a result of this methanogenesis in the rumen is reduced. 

Meat tenderization is the disruption of meat structure, breaking the collagen subsequently resulting in good palatability and acceptance by consumer. Tenderization could be achieved by the traditional method of ripening for a long period in controlled temperature with due precautions to prevent meat spoilage. In this process endogenous muscle enzymes viz. calpains, cathepsins and caspases are responsible for proteolysis of muscle. Other processes adopted for tenderization include use of electricity, heat, physical force (hydrostatic pressure), ultrasonic waves, shock waves in water (hydrodyne), enzyme action, use of vitamins, ionic compounds, mineral salts, and chemical compounds. The electrical stimulus of low voltage is more popular than high voltage due to the cost involved. Like endogenous enzymes, plant based exogenous enzymes also cause tenderization, but their activity should be monitored to avoid over-tenderization. Chemicals, vitamins and ionic compounds activate the calcium-dependent proteases and lysosomal enzymes, which are responsible for tenderization. 

An adult Nellore brown sheep was presented to Veterinary hospital with a history of swollen unilateral protrusion of left eyeball with congestion of conjunctival mucous membrane, exophthalmos condition since 5-6weeks. Clinical examination revealed blindness due to chronic keratitis and on palpation found a large fluid filled cyst in the left eye. With the surgical intervention the cyst was removed successfully along with its membrane from the retrobulbar region of the left eye and on parasitological examination it was diagnosed as Coenurus gaigeri cyst. Surgical intervention-involved treatment coupled with antibiotic therapy was proven to be an efficient way of managing retrobulbar coenurus cases.

Foetal mummification is a common condition in swine. A four year old Large White Yorkshire sow gave birth to one mummified foetus along with 7 normal live foetuses in 4th parity.

The  breeding  values  of  51  Sahiwal  sires  were estimated from the actual and predicted FL305DMY by applying four sire evaluation methods viz., least squares, simple regressed least squares, best linear unbiased prediction and derivative free restricted maximum likelihood. The derivative free restricted maximum likelihood method had lowest error variance for both actual and predicted first lactation 305-days milk yields and it was considered to be the most efficient method. The BLUP method was second efficient  followed by LSM and SRLS method.

Helminth parasites cause a wide variety of debilitating and frequently fatal diseases in animals. Paramphistomosis caused by the paramphistome Cotylophoron cotylophorum constitutes a major group of disease in domestic ruminants. The anthelmintic activity of Syzygium aromaticum on the motility and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of the digentic trematode Cotylophoron cotylophorum was studied in vitro. The flukes were exposed to various concentrations of hexane, choloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum and the motility and mortality of the parasite were observed. As ethanol extract was very effective, further studies were carried out with five different sub lethal concentrations (0.005, 0.01, 0.5, 0.1 and 0.5 mg/ml) of ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum (SaEE). The electronic measurement of the motility of the treated parasites clearly indicate the direct impact of the drugs on the motility of the parasite. Maximum inhibition in the motility (86.27%) and AChE activity (86.86%) was observed in 0.5 mg/ml after 8h of exposure. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an enzyme which is involved in neurotransmission. It is present in the cholinergic synapses in the central nervous system as well as in neuromuscular synapses where it rapidly hydrolyzes acetylcholine. Inhibition of AChE in the parasite results in muscular paralysis and the parasite lose its biochemical hold fast and get expelled from the host.

This study was conducted to assess the effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin E and selenium on Japanese quail broilers. This trial was conducted in 525 Japanese quail birds from day- old to five weeks of age. Experimental birds were randomly divided into seven groups viz.T1Control:  Basal diet (standard Japanese quail ration), T2 Basal diet with vitamin E 150mg/kg, T3 Basal diet with vitamin E 300 mg/kg, T4 Basal diet with selenium 0.3mg/kg, T5 Basal diet with selenium 0.6mg/kg,T6 Basal diet with combination of vitamin E 150mg/kg and selenium 0.3mg/kg, T7 Basal diet with combination of vitamin E 300mg/kg and selenium 0.6mg/kg. Dietary supplementation with the combination of vitamin E 300mg/kg and selenium 0.6mg/kg resulted in significantly higher body weight, better feed efficiency, livability percentage and also enrichment of alpha-tocopherol and selenium level of liver, thigh and breast muscles in the Japanese quail broilers.

Diet of mud crab S.tranquebarica consists of crustaceans, mollusks, fish remains, detritus, debris and undigested flesh. Quantitative analysis of the gut contents contributed 53.18% crustaceans, 24.69% molluscan remains, 16.91% fish remains and 3.02% & 1.23% of detritus and debris respectively. The study indicated that this species is primarily predators of sessile and slow moving benthic macro invertebrates. The presence of detritus, debris and undigested flesh items in the stomachs suggested that the crabs are detritivorous consuming fresh and decaying flesh of all kinds. The sex wise and size wise of diet in these crabs may be largely due to relative abundance of prey species in the habitat or related to change in cheliped strength and foraging behaviour.

This study on the employment and income of fishermen in the nonmechanized fishing craft categories of Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu was carried out with the specific objectives of estimation of costs per fishing trip, seasonal employment and identification of the factors determining quantity of fish catch. The sample size was 90 fishermen respondents equally distributed among canoe, vallam and FRP boat operating villages. Descriptive analyses were used to estimate the items of costs and returns, pattern of employment and levels of net income per fishing trip for different fishing seasons. The average annual fishing days of employment was 243, 138 and 136 for canoe, vallam and FRP boat categories, respectively. The overall mean gross income per fishing trip was r. 1843.42, r.2444.77 and r. 2116.97 for canoe, vallam and FRP boat categories, respectively.

The present investigation was carried out on 25,499 weekly test day milk yield records of first lactation pertaining to 593 Sahiwal cows spread over 49 years located at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India. The comparison of three lactation curve models viz, quadratic model, gamma type function and mixed log function was made in the present investigation. Mixed log function described the best fit with highest coefficient of determination (97.9%) with lowest value of root mean square error (0.025 kg) value. The peak yield of 8.08 kg in 8thweek of lactation was observed by mixed log function. The closeness of the curves of mixed log function and gamma type function with the observed lactation curve was of the same order of magnitude. The least coefficient of determination (77.8%) was observed in quadratic model with maximum root mean square error (0.081 kg). The gamma type function when compared to mixed log function, explained low peak yield and it is recommended that this function can give best fit for the low yielding cows.