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.

         An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of application of cattle urine at a rate of 0.7 l/m2 area on carbon dioxide (CO) emissions under low, medium and high pasture cover blocks of the grazing area during rainy season at Hyderabad. CO2 emissions was significantly (P<0.05) higher in experimental plots which received cattle urine than without cattle urine. Mean CO2 concentration increased linearly with the time i.e., from 0 to 60 minutes of sample collection under different pasture cover blocks and the differences were significantly (P<0.01) different. The CO2 emissions flux (mg/m /h) ranged from 9.10 to 28.80, 12.30 to 27.80 and 10.40 to 32.50 with a mean of 16.50 ± 1.24, 17.50 ± 1.00 and 21.30 ± 1.58 mg/m2/h under low, medium and high vegetation covered chambers, respectively and no trend was observed in CO2 flux among different vegetative cover blocks. The differences in mean CO2 emissions flux among different vegetation cover plots were significantly (P<0.05) different with highest under high vegetation and lowest under low vegetation cover. It is concluded that, pasture growth would influence the CO2 emissions from the grazing lands when applied urine of grazing animals hence, appropriate pasture management combined with rotational livestock grazing helps in containing global warming.

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) is the causative agent of colibacillosis in broiler chicken and various antibacterials used to control the infection may lead to the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and pan drug-resistant bacteria. Further, antibacterial resistant bacteria also emerge as a result of inappropriate use of antibacterials in chicken, reducing the efficacy of antibacterials used for medical purposes. Keeping this in view, this study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial property of vitamin C against resistant bacteria when used along with enrofloxacin. A total of 60 liver swabs collected from the field were used in this study. E. coli were isolated using selective media and were genotypically confirmed by amplification of Adk gene. The resistant genes (qnrA, qnrB and qnrS) were detected through PCR. E. coli isolates were subjected to antimicrobial screening against enrofloxacin and vitamin C (L- ascorbic acid) both by qualitative method and quantitative method. Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion revealed enrofloxacin resistance in 83.33 percent of samples. The MIC of enrofloxacin against resistant isolates was 90.25 μg/ml, but when vitamin C was administered, the MIC was non-significantly lowered to 86.16 μg/ml in the macro broth dilution method. It was also found that vitamin C alone exhibited antibacterial activity at a concentration of ≥ 5 mg/ml. Hence, it is likely that vitamin C may improve antibacterial effects of enrofloxacin in poultry.

A Jersey crossbred heifer was presented to the Gynaecology Unit of Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu for pregnancy diagnosis. Rectal examination revealed rigid cervix and flaccid uterine horns. Further examination revealed that left uterine horn was adhering with the adnexa like a firm mass and unable to retract. However, the right uterine horn and both the ovaries were free of adhesions and were easily movable. Ultrasonographic examination revealed left uterine horn was curled and there was synechiae as evidenced by dense hyperechoic bands around the contours of left uterine horn which confirm the unilateral left uterine horn adhesion.

Follicular cyst is one of the major factors affecting the fertility of buffaloes. The present study was conducted to assess the proteo- biochemical characters of the follicular fluid (FF) and granulosa cells (GCs) of normal and cystic follicles of buffaloes. Ovaries were collected from slaughtered buffaloes and follicles were classified based on their diameter as: small (SF: < 4mm), medium (MF: 4 – 9 mm), large (LF: > 9 mm) and cystic (CyF: > 17mm). FF and GC were collected aseptically and subjected for further studies. Biochemical analysis of FF revealed significantly high concentrations of glucose and triglyceride in CyF when compared to LF, which could be due to poor metabolic activities of the damaged follicular cells. Protein fraction analysis of the FF and GC revealed increased expression of proteins in the molecular weight ranges of around 30,70 and 200 kDa relating to insulin like growth factor binding protein, heat shock protein 70 and vasculo endothelial growth factor respectively in CyF. It was concluded that poor utilization of proteins and deranged metabolic and angiogenic proteins in the follicular microenvironment would have led to the anovulatory status and persistence as cyst in buffaloes.  

Mixed infections with four gastrointestinal parasites were recorded in a desi fowl presented for post mortem in Chennai. The morphological characters of the worms found in the lumen of the gizzard, duodenum and caecum of a desi fowl were studied and the worms were identified as Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum. The caecum of a bird showed pathological changes including congestion and haemorrhages. Examination of the intestinal contents revealed the presence of eggs of A. galli and Capillaria spp along with oocyst of Eimeria spp.

A six years old Jersey crossbred cow was presented to Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu, Thanjavur district with the history of jowl edema and voiding foul smelling diarrhoea for a month. On clinical examination of the cow, pale conjunctival mucous membrane, jowl edema, moist muzzle and watery malodorous diarrhoea, body temperature 38.4 0C, heart rate - 64 bpm, respiratory rate - 28 bpm were found. Ultrasonography of liver parenchyma showed hyperechoic small areas of hepatic parenchyma with dilated hepatic vein, portal vein and caudal vena-cava and gall bladder showed distension with presence of hyperechoic sediments. On cholecystocentesis under ultrasound guidance with 20 Gauge 1.5” needle at right costochondral junction at 9th intercostal space, collected bile sample revealed Fasciola gigantica eggs. Faecal examination revealed eggs of both Paramphistomes and Fasciola gigantica. Measurement of eggs of parasites was carried by micrometry which confirmed 151 x 72 μm size Amphistome eggs in feces and 162 x 91 μm size Fasciola gigantica eggs in both bile and fecal samples. The cow was treated with oxyclozanide @ 18mg/kg body weight orally and supportive therapy. Good improvement was noticed in the health status of the animal after treatment. Further examination of faecal samples from that animal did not show any parasite eggs on 15th, 30th and 45th day after treatment. In this study, ultrasonography of liver and gall bladder combined with faecal examination was helpful in detection of concurrent paramphistomosis and fasciolosis. The present case seems to be the first report of mixed infection of Fasciola sp and paramphistome in cattle from the Cauvery Delta region of Tamil Nadu.

Semen production performance data of 88 buffalo and 179 cattle bulls of different breeds from 1975 to 2018, were collected from two frozen semen stations of BAIF Research Development Foundation. The objective of the present study was to document the lifetime semen producing performance of cattle and buffalo bulls. Traits studied were lifetime frozen semen production doses (LFSP),lifetime production period (LPP),age at first semen production (AFSP) and age at last semen production (ALSP). The factors tested for influence on these traits were breed, period and season of birth. Overall means of AFSP, ALSP, LPP and LFSP were 1859.6, 4257.2, 2581.7 days and 183631.9 semen doses in buffalo bulls, while 1386.7, 4029.4, 2076.16 days and 264566.3 semen doses in cattle bulls. Production performance for results obtained for various breeds could be useful in devising important culling and disposal policies for AI centres in the country.

Twining incidence is influenced by a wide variety of genetic and environmental factors ranging from 0.5 to 4%. This case report places on record the successful management of dystocia due to dizygotic twins in a pluriparous cross-breed cow of four and a half year of age in her third parity. Both fetuses were non identical and had separate placenta which suggest ‘Dizygotic twins’.

Colour bait preferences of Musca domestica (house fly) was evaluated in a dodecagon maze. Flies collected from a poultry unit maintained in an in sectary were used for the study. An acrylic dodecagon maze was fabricated with dimensions 30 cm L x 25.5 cm B x 26 cm H with a lid. Twelve chambers were colour coded with red, black, blue, green, yellow and white in duplicate. House flies were swiftly released into the central chamber of dodecagon maze in batches, lid closed, observed for 30 min. Out of the total 718 house flies evaluated, 81.05 per cent (582 flies) responded to different colours whereas 5.01 per cent (36 flies) were non responders. Out of the 582 house flies responded to different colours, 30.41 per cent (177 flies), 21.99 per cent (128 flies), 16.32 per cent (95 flies), 14.43 per cent (84 flies), 10.48 per cent (61 flies) and 6.35 per cent (37 flies) preferred red, black, green, yellow, blue and white colours, respectively. Preference of house flies towards different colours compared to white was found to be highly significant statistically. Findings of the present study indicate that red being the most preferred colour, it can be used in house fly traps.