Indigenous duck breed of Assam are popular with considerable production potential with minimal input and mostly reared under semi intensive system of management. These ducks are maintained in all agro climatic zones of Assam and different from other indigenous duck genetic resources available in the country. But the genetic structure of these duck varieties was not fully studied; hence the genetic characterization of Assam ducks was assessed with 23 FAO recommended duck specific microsatellite markers using advanced automated genotyping technique. The analysis revealed that totally 91alleles were observed with the number ranging from 1 (CAUD025) to 7 (CAUD004 and APH009) and an overall mean of 3.957 ± 0.32 across the loci. The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.4444 and 0.5113. All the microsatellite loci were found to be highly polymorphic except CAUD025. In Assam ducks, PIC value ranged from 0.14 (APH001) to 0.71 (CAUD004) with a mean value of 0. 4813. Nearly 14 out of 23 loci had PIC values of more than 0.5 indicating that these markers can be effectively used for genetic diversity analysis. The Chi-square test revealed that among the 23 microsatellite studied, only 12 were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium proportions and the rest departed from equilibrium. Selection and non-random mating could be the main reasons for this disequilibrium. The markers used in the study were found to be highly informative, explores high genetic variation in the population which could be exploited for their improvement.

Fodder quality and availability are major determinants in profitable ruminant production system. Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Tamil Nadu and other related institutions promote fodder production through several schemes and projects. Intensive fodder production through promotion of sustainable fodder production model under irrigated condition is one among them. The objective of the present study was to validate the fodder production potential of the ten-cent model for livestock feeding. In livestock farm complex Madhavaram, ten-cent model fodder plot was established with Hybrid Napier grass variety Co (BN) 5 in 4 cents area; fodder maize (African Tall) in 1 cent; fodder sorghum (CoFS 31) in 2 cents; fodder cowpea (Co 8) and Velimasal (Desmanthus virgatus) in 1.5 cents area each; Agathi (Sesbania grandiÀora) and Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) were cultivated as boundary plantation. Standard agronomical management practices were adopted during the study period (15 months) and fodder was harvested at specified intervals. The total biomass yield realized was 9918 kg. The average yield/cut (kg) of Co5, sorghum, maize, cow pea, Desmanthus and Agathi/Subabul were 1340.0, 264.6, 160.0, 178.0, 71.0 and 98.0 kg respectively. Highest fodder yield was noticed during south west monsoon season (2492.0 kg) followed by north east monsoon season (1796.5 kg) and lowest yield noticed in summer season (1465.0 kg). The total CP and TDN yield (on dry matter basis) of ten-cent model fodder plot, estimated from available standards were 1121.71 kg and 5586.58 kg respectively during the study period. The results of this study revealed that quantity and quality of fodder harvested from the ten-cent model fodder plot can support one cattle or five goats for a year. It is possible to sustain one cow or five goats through fodder production in the ten-cent model fodder plot.

Vibrio is a major sea food pathogen which needs to be monitored regularly for devising appropriate control strategy to ensure food safety among sea food consumers and handlers. The present study aims to ascertain the occurrence of Vibrio spp. in seafood viz fishes, prawn/shrimps, crabs and water samples collected from various fish markets in and around Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 175 samples were screened, of which 106 (60.57%) samples were found positive by PCR targeting the 16s rRNA of Vibrio genus and all the positive isolates were subjected to toxR gene identification by Multiplex PCR for species level identification. At the species level 28(26.41%) were positive for Vibrio parahemolyticus (Vp), 6 (5.67%) positive for Vibrio Cholerae (Vc), 2 (1.89%) positive for Vibrio vulnificus (Vv). The presence of mixed vibrio species were also observed of which 56 samples (43.40%) revealed the presence of Vp and Vc, 7 (6.60%) with Vp and Vv, 3 (2.84%) with Vv and Vc and 14 samples with (13.20%) Vp, Vv and Vv. The present study identified the presence along with mixed Vibrio spp. in most of the samples tested from the study area.

Bovine Lymphocyte Antigen DRB3 (BoLA-DRB3), a gene of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has received attention because this is considered to be a potential genetic marker associated with disease resistance traits in cattle. Hence, a study was taken up to characterize BoLA-DRB3.2 alleles in the 60 Ongole animals. The most common alleles observed in Ongole cattle was *15 and *6 with frequency of 0.225 and 0.200, respectively. Of the 22 identified alleles detedted, these 7 allleles (BoLA-DRB3.2*15,*6,*12,*13,*23, *31 and *47) represented 77.5 percent of allelic frequencies. Result indicated that the BoLADRB3 exon 2 was highly polymorphic in Ongole cattle. Direct sequencing BoLA-DRB3.2 allele reveled that at nucleotide at position 91 and 133 of the sequence had both A and G nucleotides in contrast to T nucleotide of Bos taurus breed and the variations leads to different band pattern in gels.

A study was conducted to assess the quality control practices of both physical and chemical methods of evaluation adopted by feed mills in India while procuring the feed ingredients for preparing poultry feeds. Based on physical methods of evaluation of different feed ingredients, 6.4 % of lots were found to be inferior quality out of 2606 lots tested. The results indicated that the moisture content of grains procured during the period from October to December months was high whereas it was low from April to July. The protein content of soybean meal varied from 45.5 to 47.5% while its solubility varied from 72.1 to 83.2%. The rejection of raw material consignments was 7.85 %. The major reasons for rejection included high moisture, low protein, high level of sand amp; silica, adulteration / contamination with foreign materials. the findings of this study emphasis ther sgnificance of strict quality control measures to be adopted to ensure feed and food safety.

A 3 time calved cross bred Jersey cow with its 20 days old calf was presented to the outpatient medical unit of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal with the history of anorexia, mild respiratory distress and eruptions on the skin for a period of 10 days. General clinical examination revealed high temperature, anaemia, icteric conjunctival mucous membrane, enlarged prescapular amp; cutaneous lymph nodes, eruptions on the skin and presence of ticks on the body. Fine needle aspiration cytology of pre scapular lymph node and pheripheral blood smear examintaion confirmed theileriosis. Incidentally its 20 days old calf too had similar symptoms. Both the dam and the calf were treated with suitable therapeutic regimen including blood transfusion.

A Seven - month old female Kankrej calf was presented to Large Animal Clinics - Out-Patient - Medicine Unit of Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital, Chennai, with the history of recurrent tympany for two months with scanty dung with a pasty consistency. Onclinical examination of the animal, bilateral distension of the abdomen was noticed. Haematobiochemistry revealed neutrophilia with leucocytosis and significantly elevated Gamma-Glutamyl-Transferase values. In radiography, no change in the silhouette of reticulum could be appreciated other than a mild bronchial pattern. Ultrasonography revealed an anechoic encapsulated cavity with echogenic internal spots of the reticular wall. Based on these findings, the calf was diagnosed with an abscess in the reticulum. Accordingly, the abscess was drained and the animal was treated with antibiotics and supportive therapy and the animal recovered uneventfully.

A study was undertaken with the objective of assessing the utilisation pattern of ICT (Information Communication Technology) among undergraduate veterinary students in southern states of India. Data were collected from 248 final year undergraduate students of 12 veterinary colleges in five southern states of India viz. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka Andhra Pradesh and Telangana through pretested questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the students studied had 3-4 years of experience in using internet and accessed internet through mobile phone (61.29%). One-third (33.06%) of the students used internet 2-3 days in a week for academic activity while, 30.65% used internet every day for personal activity. The study revealed that students used internet mainly for the preparation of assignments (97.58%). The major problems faced by the students in using ICT tools were slow speed of internet (77.82%) and inadequate number of computers (75.81%) in the institutions. It could be concluded that veterinary students had accessed substantial information technology resources and had knowledge towards computer and internet. Provision of structured information technology training for veterinary students would help them to acquire necessary skills to maximise the utilisation of online veterinary resources. nbsp;

A study was undertaken with an objective to evaluate the effect of sugarcane bagasse as analternate roughage source on the feed intake, nutrient digestibility and growth performance in crossbred calves. Eighteen crossbred calves aged one year with an average body weight of154.28 kg were utilised in the study for 6 months. The animals were divided into 3 groups and fed with two different inclusion levels of sugarcane bagasse (25% and 50%) replacing conventional fodder and a control diet based on roughage and concentrates, commonly adopted in the region. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference between control and treatment groups in the digestibility of DM, OM, CF, NFE, however the digestibility of EE differed significantly (p<0.05).Even though DCP showed highly significant difference among the groups, the TDN contents were similar to the control diets for both treatment groups. The dry matter intake did not differ significantly for the 1st and 2nd months. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in the bodyweight of the animals in the entire study period.Therefore sugarcane bagasse can be safely included up to the level of 50% in the diet and can potentially replace the conventional green fodder without affecting the growth and daily dry matter intake in crossbred growing calves.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common occurring malignancies in the world and has been reported in various species ofanimals including dogs, cats, sheep and pigs. The aim of this study was to assess the ameliorative effects of nanoforms of silibinin and resveratrol on the body weights, feed intake, and water intake of hepatocarcinogenesis induced rats. One hundred and eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into nine groups and feed intake, water consumption, body weight gains were recorded. The study revealed a significant difference in the feed intake, water intake, body weights in carcinogen group with control and treatment groups.Nano resveratrol and nano silibinin groups effectively ameliorated compared to raw resveratrol and raw silibinin groups there by suggesting their usage in therapy for liver cancer.