The present study was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin C and nano vitamin C on the serum biochemical profile of Japanese quail during the summer season. The experiment was carried out on 96 day-old Japanese quail chicks which were divided randomly into three treatment groups. Each treatment contained two replicates with sixteen birds per replicate. The experiment was carried out for a period of six weeks during the summer season in May and June. Feed and water were provided ad libitum to study the effect of the inclusion of vitamin C (200 mg/kg) and nano vitamin C (20 mg/kg) on serum biochemical profile of Japanese quail during the summer season. The study revealed that the mean serum levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, HDL cholesterol and SGPT/ALT increased significantly (P<0.01); whereas, serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides decreased significantly (P<0.01) in treatment groups supplemented with nano vitamin C. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in serum SGOT/AST among treatment groups.

A study was conducted in four flood-prone villages at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Assam Agricultural University, Dhubri to assess the production performance of Khaki Campbell ducks and the economics of rearing them under NICRA (National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture) project. A total of 10 farmers were selected from Dhubri village on the basis of their experience in duck farming. Two hundred day-old Khaki Campbell ducklings, twenty numbers irrespective of sex per household, were distributed and reared up to 72 weeks. On attaining 30th week of age, the male ducks were sold out. The data including body weight, mortality, age at first egg and egg production were recorded. The average age at first egg was 163.0±3.6 days, and 30th  week mean body weight was 1.8±0.1 kg. The mean egg production and mortality rate were 180.8±4.1 and 13% respectively during the study period. It was found from the study that Khaki Campbell duck farming has contributed notably to the livelihood of the rural farmers with benefit-cost ratio of 1.87. 

In recent years, concerns about the use of antimicrobial products in food-producing animals have focused on human food safety because foods of animal origin are sometimes identified as the vehicles of food borne disease in humans and, therefore, also vehicles of  resistant food borne pathogens and resistant genetic material. The major zoonotic pathogens of concern for the development of  antimicrobial resistance are Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter jejuni. A broad spectrum of antimicrobials are in use in animals One such antimicrobial is Silver, used to treat a various infections . The current wide spread and uncontrolled use of silver may result in more bacteria developing resistance, analogous to the emergence of antibiotic and biocide resistant bacteria. This could be very detrimental to many industrial and medicinal properties that depend on the microbial properties of silver. In the present study, in order to gain an insight into bacterial resistance to silver the clinical isolates of Salmonella typhimurium were plasmid cured, the antibiotic sensitivity was tested in order to find out whether the strains were drug resistant; the Plasmid cured bacterial strains were then grown in nutrient broth containing silver nitrate, in order to determine silver resistance. To identify the protein encoded by this silver resistance determinant, a whole cell lysate was made and an SDS-PAGE was carried out. Plasmid was cured .The results of the study showed that silver resistance is plasmid encoded. A low molecular weight protein found in wild strains was found missing in the plasmid cured strains and possibly could play role in silver resistance.

We estimated the incidence of clinical mastitis (CM) and antimicrobial agent (AMA) usage for its treatment in an organized dairy farm over a period of six months. The incidence of mastitis at different stages of lactation was also quantified. The incidence of mastitis was higher in Sahiwal cows (9.52%) compared to crossbred cows (3.61%). Among different AMA usage, enrofloxacin (22%), ampicilin with cloxacillin (18.57%), gentamicin (18.29) and ceftriaxone (12.57%) drugs were most commonly used against CM cases. Penicillin group and their combinations (29.43%) was found to be the most commonly used AMA for CM followed by fluoroquinolone (22%), aminoglycosides groups (21.43%) and cephalosporins group (16.86%) of drugs. Tetracyclines (9.14%) and chloramphenicol (1.14%) were least choice as evidenced by less frequent usage. From the findings of the study it may be concluded that the incidence of mastitis was high in Sahiwal cows milked with machine milking system and mastitis animals needed an average of five days treatment for clinical cure. Further, â-lactam group of antimicrobial drugs were predominantly used in mastitis treatment, despite entry of new AMA in the market.

Hydatidosis, caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus is considered to be an important condition in herbivores such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats. Due to its presence in the food animals meant for meat purpose, the disease is considered to be of economic and public health significance owing to the impact it produces on the meat industry by condemnation of the affected organs. Food animals such as sheep, goats get infected by accidental ingestion of contaminated feed and water with the eggs of the tapeworm. Development of the cysts in the intermediate host such as sheep and goats occurs in the lungs, liver and other visceral organs. The disease remains asymptomatic in most cases in spite of the presence of the hydatid cysts for a long period. A study was undertaken to find out the incidence of the hydatid cysts in sheep and goats in the Corporation slaughter house by examination of the carcasses of the slaughtered sheep and goats. By the study, an overall incidence of 6.5% in sheep and 5.8% in goats were observed with the sheep harbouring more number of fertile hydatid cysts which plays a major role in dissemination of infection to dogs.

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.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of calcium, carnitine, zinc and their combinations for 5 weeks in eighty adult crossbred cocks which were divided into eight treatment groups each consisting of ten cocks. Cocks were fed with treatment diets. The treatment groups consisted of control (T1), control + calcium 2 per cent (T2), control + carnitine 250 mg/kg (T3), control + zinc 100 mg/kg (T4), control + calcium 2 per cent + carnitine 250 mg/kg (T5), control + calcium 2 per cent + zinc 100 mg/kg (T6), control + carnitine 250 mg/kg + zinc 100 mg/kg (T7) and control + calcium 2 per cent + carnitine 250 mg/kg + zinc 100 mg/kg (T8). Semen volume revealed no significant difference between treatment groups during five weeks period. Overall sperm motility was significant (P<0.01) between treatment groups except between T4 and T5 groups. Overall sperm concentration was significantly (P<0.01) higher in all treatment groups compared to control. Inclusion of calcium, carnitine, zinc and their combinations had significantly (P<0.01) reduced the overall dead and abnormal of sperms when compared to the control group. The results revealed that inclusion of 2 per cent calcium, 250 mg/kg of carnitine, 100 mg/ kg of zinc and their combinations in feed improved the sperm motility and concentration in cross-bred cocks. 

The genus Capripoxvirus (CaPV) comprises three members namely, sheep pox virus (SPPV), goat pox virus (GTPV) and lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) affecting sheep, goats and cattle, respectively. Capripoxvirus infections produce similar symptoms in sheep and goats, and the three viruses cannot be distinguished serologically. The Capri pox virus disease is an economically important notifiable disease of cattle, sheep and goats (OIE, 2018). This article reviews about the current scenario of Capri pox disease and the better opportunities for prevention and control of disease. Recent outbreaks of the disease have caused the major economic loss in most of the countries including India.

The present study was carried out in eight highly duck populated districts comprised of four clusters of Tamil Nadu. From each of the clusters, 40 duck farmers were selected randomly to study their socio-economic status. Using a pre-tested, structured schedule, data were collected through face to face interview method. The results of the study revealed that 50.60 per cent of the farmers belonged to old age group (Above 45 years). Most of the farmers were married (92.50 %) and majority of them were found to be illiterate (48.80 %). Most of the farmers found to be rearing ducks as their primary occupation (84.37 %). Highest proportion of farmers (43.75 %) had duck farming experience of 37 – 55 years. The risk-taking abilities of the duck farmers were at medium level (51.50 %). Nearly one-half (48.75 %) of the respondents had contact with input dealers followed by 33.75 per cent had contact with progressive farmers for obtaining information’s related to duck farming. 

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.