The data on 1721 calves from Sahiwal and Jersey-Sahiwal crossbred cattle were utilized for studying the age specific mortality and culling rate. The overall mortality and culling rate were found to be 15.92 and 19.52 per cent in Sahiwal and Jersey crossbreds respectively. The average female calf mortality from 0-1, 1-3, 3-6, 6-12 and 12 month to age at first calving was observed as 5.81, 2.92, 2.06, 1.75 and 5.01 per cent, respectively. The genetic group had no significant effect on female calves mortality. The maximum culling rate was observed from 12 month to AFC.

With the aim to examine the effect of rearing systems on major meat quality traits in native ducks, appropriate experimental investigation was conducted. Research material included a total of 160 day-old native ducklings. The experiment was organized in two treatments with two replications each. Two different rearing systems were employed the intensive (cages) and extensive system (free-range). The native ducklings belonging to same hatch were procured from a local duck farmer and reared simultaneously for a period of ten weeks. Twelve ducks (six male and six female) from each treatment were chosen randomly and slaughtered at the end of rearing period to study meat quality traits in native ducks. Differences were significant (P<0.05) among sexes and rearing systems on pre slaughter live weight, eviscerated weight and various cut up parts, the corresponding values are higher for intensively reared ducks. Regarding sex, both male and female ducks exhibited differences considerably higher weight gain, carcass and cut up parts yield than that of female ducks.

The brain samples were collected from 10 calves and 10 adult Indian buffaloes. Routine histological and histochemical processing and sectioning were done. The hippocampus was a curved elevation, lying immediately ventral to the splenium of the thalamus. Longitudinal section showed the ependyma, the alveus, the stratum oriens, the stratum pyramidale, the stratum radiatum, the stratum lacunosum and the stratum moleculare from above downwards. The prominent layer was the stratum pyramidale, composed of pyramidal cells in 2-3 rows. The four fields of the cornu ammonis, (CA1, CA2, CA3 and CA4) were identified based on the sizes of the pyramidal cells and their dendritic arborizations, both in the calf and in the adult. The presence of mucopolysaccharides was recorded. 

A clinical parameter study was conducted to file the reference serum bio-chemical values of Bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata) reared under captivity. The animals were chemically restrained and six blood samples (3 males and 3 females) were collected from the saphenous vein and processed. In this study, the mean ± S.E. of estimated value of serum biochemical profiles were close to the normal range reported earlier. But, serum glucose level was less and serum level of phosphorus was comparatively high.

The carrot tops had high crude protein (144 g/kg), calcium (24.3 g/kg) and phosphorus (7.7 g/kg), comparable to sun hemp (Crotalaria junctea), fodder berseem and oil cakes, respectively. Milk from animals fed with carrot tops were free from residues of organochlorine, carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides. Carrot tops are perishable in nature and hence were preserved as feed blocks to extend shelf life. The nutritional value and keeping quality of the blocks were also studied. The studies revealed that carrot whole tops can be a promising alternate source of green fodder, especially in hilly regions where there is a shortage of green fodder during winter.

Gastrointestinal nematode parasitism is one of the major factors limiting sheep production worldwide because they cause heavy economic losses in meat and wool production. Gastrointestinal parasitism is the major cause for morbidity and mortality in ruminants. Severe anemia, reduction in functional gastric gland mass, severe damage to gastric mucosa and villous astropy caused by these worms are responsible for the death due to parasitic gastroenteritis. In India, the common nematode species encountered is Haemonchus contortus in small ruminants. This review throws light on the different mechanisms and contributory factors affecting the development of anthelmintic resistance, the diagnosis and means to prevent the resistance at field level. The emergence of multi-resistant nematode has shown that the previously used control strategies is no longer a chemically success method. The interpretation of fecal egg count reduction test has been modified and suggestions are made on its use with persistent anthelmintics. 

This study investigated oxyclozanide, a salicylanilide anthelmintic, as an alternative treatment for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in bovine mastitis. With conventional treatments facing challenges due to antibiotic resistance, oxyclozanide demonstrated promising in vitro antimicrobial effect against MRSA isolates. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 μg/ml, indicating its efficacy. Oxyclozanide’s mechanism involved disrupting the transmembrane structure of bacteria, presenting a potential strategy against MRSA. This suggested the repurposing of oxyclozanide as a viable option for combating MRSA in bovine mastitis, prompting further investigation into its precise mechanism and therapeutic potential.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of glutathione supplementation on liquid storage of Surti buffalo bull semen. This study was performed on adult Surti buffalo bull (n = 6), and seminal ejaculates (24) were collected and evaluated for various microscopic seminal quality parameters for further processing. After preliminary evaluation, ejaculates of each collection session were mixed and divided into four equal aliquots. All the aliquots were diluted (1:10) with Tris fructose egg yolk citrate extender contained glutathione served as control (T0), whereas the other three aliquots were supplemented with 0.5, 2.0 and 5.0 mM glutathione which were grouped as Treatment-1 (T1), Treatment-2 (T2) and Treatment-3 (T3), respectively. Thereafter, the samples were stored at 4 ºC for 4 h, and various seminal parameters (individual sperm progressive motility, viability, abnormalities, plasma membrane functionality) were evaluated at equilibration. The results indicated that the mean percent values for pre-freeze sperm progressive motility, live sperm percentage and HOS responsive spermatozoa were found to be significantly higher (P<0.05) (except individual progressive motility which was non-significantly higher in Treatment-3); whereas sperm abnormalities were significantly lower (P<0.05) in semen samples treated with glutathione (Treatment-1, Treatment-2 and Treatment-3) in comparison to control. The Treatment-2 (2.0 mM glutathione), had the highest pre-freeze sperm progressive motility percentage, live sperm percentage, HOS response sperm percentage and reduced sperm abnormalities percentage compared to other three groups.

Eighteen queen cats with a history of mis-mating were confirmed pregnant by ultrasound examination and were divided into three groups of six cats each; Group I: Normal pregnancy cats, group II: Cats treated with cloprostenol alone and Group III: Cats that underwent treatment with cloprostenol and cabergoline for medical termination of pregnancy (MTP). Haematobiochemical and ultrasonographic aspects associated with MTP as well as the efficacy of cloprostenol administration alone and its combination with cabergoline in inducing MTP were studied. Ultrasonographic evaluation showed a significant increase in mean heart rate and a decrease in mean gestational sac diameter (p ≤ 0.01) values after 72 hours of initiation of the MTP treatment. Haematological parameters showed a significant reduction in RBC and PCV values; however, there was a significant increase in WBC and neutrophil values on post-hours treatment. Hence, the use of combined therapy (cloprostenol and cabergoline) can be considered a more effective protocol for MTP than single-drug therapy (cloprostenol) from 30- 35 days of pregnancy in cats. 

An in vitro study evaluated the anti-methanogenic potentiality of aqueous and alcoholic plant extract mixture of ajwainseed and soapnut berries under different roughage and concentrate ratio-based diets in a 3x3 factorial design. Dried and milled plant mixture was extracted (10 g/100 ml) in three solvents, viz, water (Control), ethanol (95 %), and methanol (98 %). Substrate (200 mg) prepared by mixing wheat straw and concentrate mixture at the ratio of 30:70, 50:50 and 70:30 was taken in glass syringes (six per treatment) and incubation medium (30 ml) dispensed anaerobically. Aqueous, ethanol and methanol plant extract (0.5 ml) were taken in three dietary treatments of groups I, II, and III respectively. All the syringes were incubated at 39°C for a running duration of 24 hours and total gas production was calculated. Hundred ml of emitted gas was injected into gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization detector for methane estimation. In vitro true digestibility of diet and ammonia nitrogen content of fermented medium were determined. Experimental data generated were analysed by adopting factorial ANOVA procedures. Results revealed that ethanol plant extract mixture had significantly (P<0.01) reduced the in vitro total gas and methane production by suppressing the true dietary digestibility of high roughage to low concentrate (70:30) based diet.