An attempt was made to work out the factor shares and value shares of output in livestock sector over last 19 years and to examine in the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth of livestock production i.e. livestock production growth over and above the input growth in Tamil Nadu using secondary data for the period from 1999-2000 to 2017-18 from various reports on state-wise estimates of value of outputs from Central Statistics Office, Government of India and Department of Economics and Statistics, Government of Tamil Nadu. The share of milk to total value of output in Tamil Nadu decreased from 68 per cent to 27 per cent from the year 1999-2000 to 2017-18, whereas product shares of meat increased from 18.45 per cent to 64.77 per cent during the same period. During the same period, the factor shares of feed (47.65 per cent to 38.06 per cent) and dry fodder (36 per cent to 20 per cent) was decreased, in contrast to the share of green fodder (10 to 19 per cent). The value of TFP was found to be increasing gradually from the year 2000-01 to 2002-03 and drastically declined during the year 2003-04 (0.95), thereafter it increased gradually from the period 2003-04 to 2016-17, with drastic dip during 2011-12 and minor dip during 2007-08, 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18. From the year 1999- 2000, the cumulative TFP index increased to 6.17 during 2004-05, 12.79 during 2010-11 and 20.38 during 2017-18 with increase of one unit per annum, which indicated good sign of livestock development in Tamil Nadu. It could be concluded that the technological interventions in livestock sector (output growth over and above the input growth) in Tamil Nadu shared about 72 per cent in the growth of livestock sector for the past 19 years.

Aflatoxins are produced in poultry feed by two major fungal species viz., Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus during hot and humid seasons. To detoxify these aflatoxins, various binders are being used in the field which are mostly synthetic compounds with possible other toxicities, the harmless beneficial probiotics are being considered as binders to neutralize the effect of aflatoxins in the feed. Bacterial organisms (probiotics) like Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were selected and their cell wall structures have been retrieved and molecular docking was performed against four types of aflatoxins namely AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2. The results revealed that cell wall components of the chosen bacterial organisms have a good binding affinity towards four types of aflatoxins. Based on this in silico results, it is evident that the both the lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and wall teichoic acid (TA) in the cell wall of probiotic organisms is responsible for its binding against aflatoxins.

An attempt was made to document the management practices of the backyard goat production in Cauvery Delta zone of Tamil Nadu. The primary data were collected by interviewing 180 backyard goat farmers selected by multi-stage random sampling using pre-tested interview schedule and analyzed through descriptive statistics. About 46.11 per cent of the respondents kept their animals under open system of housing and floor of the goat shed was mud type in 96.67 per cent of the sampled farmers. All the farmers stored manure in an open place. Majority of goat farmers raise their goats solely on browsing and grazing stubble of field crops, natural pasture and tree leaves. Majority of farmers did not possess their own breeding buck but they use community buck for breeding purpose. Middlemen (57.22 per cent) played a major role in marketing of goat in all categories of flocks, followed by butcher (36.11 per cent). Only one-fifth of flock owners dewormed their flocks yearly twice. None of the sample respondents vaccinated their goat against infectious diseases. Goats were marketed round the year (87.78 per cent) and about 12 per cent marketed their goats on special occasions. The major reasons for marketing was found to be the want of money to overcome financial problem (61.07 mean score) in case of bucks / male kids and culling due to old age (66.00 mean score) in case of breeding does. Majority of the sample backyard goat farmers did not follow scientific  management practices at their farm level, which warrants intensive extension programmes. Implementation of best management practices among backyard goat farmers in Cauvery Delta zone of Tamil Nadu would improve the profitability.

The objective of the present study is to find out the scope and extent of utilization livestock farm service provided by the Agricultural Technology Information Center (ATIC), TANUVAS, Kattuppakam, Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. The available records for a period of two years from January 2021 to December 2022 were analysed to study the number of farmers visited, and their purpose of visits at ATIC, Kattupakkam. The findings of the study revealed that a total of 1727 farmers visited ATIC, Kattupakkam in which majority (86.21%) respondents were males. Among the specific purpose of visits, purchase of fodder seeds (35.95%) was their high priority followed by purchase of publications (32.42%), farm advisory (13.60%), livestock feed (11.92%) and others (6.07%). On farm advisory, majority were benefited on goat farming (31.66%) than other livestock farming practices. It was concluded that during the study period more than 65% of farmers benefited through the purchase for fodder seeds and publication and around 68% of the livestock farmers were likely to be more specific in their purpose of visits at ATIC, Kattupakkam. 

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of different levels of dried capsicum powder on the quality characteristics of chicken koftas. The capsicum dried powder was incorporated at three different levels viz. 2, 4 and 6% in the formulation. The products were analyzed for various physicochemical and sensory attributes. The pH, emulsion stability (83.56±0.011) (%), cooking yield (81.12±0.011) (%), crude protein, crude fat and total ash contents of the products showed significant (P<0.05) decreasing trend with increase in levels of incorporation of dried capsicum powder. However, a significant (P<0.05) increase in the water holding capacity (%), moisture (67.10±0.008) and crude fibre (1.56±0.006) contents of the chicken koftas was observed with increasing levels of incorporation. Sensory evaluation revealed that koftas prepared with 4 per cent capsicum dried powder had superior scores (P<0.05) compared to 2 and 6 per cent. Hence, incorporation of dried capsicum powder at 4 per cent level in chicken koftas was considered to be optimum. (Include some values of important findings). 

The present study was aimed to study the comparative anatomy of Pectoral bones in pigeon and conure bird. In both the birds Pectoral bones were composed of Humerus, Radius and ulna, carpals, Carpometacarpus and Digits. Humerus of conure on its medial tuberosity well marked facet was noticed. Bones of forearm in both pigeon and conure were composed of thicker ulna and slender Radius. Carpometacarpus was composed of three bony elements. Digits of both the birds were three in number. Pigeons have strong well developed Pectoral bones and are strongest flyer when compared to that of conure. The anatomical feature of Pectoral bones in pigeon was similar to that of conure but had few variations. 

The study was conducted on repeat breeding cows at Large Animal Gynaecology Ward, Department of Clinics, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai and some private cattle farms in and around Koduvalli region, Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. In experiment I, Jersey crossbred cows (n=31) synchronized by PGF2a and inseminated on exhibited estrum. The cows were randomly divided into five groups viz. Group I (control, n=6), group II (n=7,100mg), group III (n=6, 150mg), group IV (n=6, 200mg) and group V (n=6, 250mg) and supplemented with fish meal on day 13, 14 and 15 of post insemination in addition to their routine feed. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out by rectal palpation on day 60 of post insemination. In experiment II, twelve repeat breeding Jersey crossbred cows were selected and synchronized using PGF2a followed by timed insemination. On day 10 of post estrus, rectal examination was performed to identify the corpus luteum and randomly divided into two group viz. Group I and Group II (control). Group I cows were injected with Meloxicam @ 0.5 mg/ kg body weight through intramuscularly on day 13 to 15 post-insemination. The conception rate in experiment I as in Group I, group II, group III, group IV and group V are 16.67%, 71.43%, 66.67%, 66.67% and 50.0%, respectively. The conception rate in meloxicam treated animal was 66.7% and in control animal was 33.3%. The fish meal treatment and Cox-2 inhibitor in repeat breeding crossbred cows had improved the conception rate. Further, the supplementation of 100mg offish meal in repeat breeding cows has shown higher conception rate as compared to other groups in experiment II. Hence, it may be used in field condition for enhancement of conception rate, however, further studies in larger population is warranted.

Low Hemoglobin Density (LHD) is related to functional iron availability and hemoglobin content. To assess the use of LHD as an anaemic indicator in canine babesiosis, 108 dogs with symptoms of canine babesiosis were selected and screened for disease by polymerase chain reaction. Blood samples were collected for estimating haematological variables, serum iron, TIBC, UIBC and LHD. Based on the haemoglobin, PCV and erythrocyte count the animals were grouped into anaemic and non-anaemic populations. LHD% was higher in the anaemic population (P<0.001) and it was negatively correlated to haemoglobin, packed cell volume, erythrocytes, MCHC and serum iron. LHD% was highly depend on serum iron (P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis revealed LHD was 100.00% specific and 80.43% sensitive in identifying the functional iron deficient anaemia with cut-off value of 1.83%. This study reveals that LHD is a cost-effective parameter for identifying the functional iron deficient anaemia in canine babeisosis.

Leptospirosis is under diagnosed and under reported in developing countries due to lack of diagnostic facilities. The diagnosis of leptospirosis is complex, because the gold standard tests are not easily available. Though rapid tests are available for the past two decades, they have to be combined with the existing gold standard tests for confirmation of diagnosis. It should be adequate to diagnose leptospirosis with rapid tests. I intend to review the literature from developing countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa and suggest the need for utilizing rapid tests for diagnosis. Leptospirosis can be diagnosed only by diagnostic tests and epidemiological data, such as incidence/ prevalence data cannot be obtained without these tests. Without these data, funding cannot be obtained for diagnostic, treatment and control programs, as without diagnostic tests, leptospirosis would be considered a rare disease. In this article, the various guidelines for the diagnosis of leptospirosis will be discussed.

Bacteriological quality of khoa based sweets marketed through different retail outlets of Thrissur city was evaluated based on total viable count, coliform count, yeast & mould count and staphylococcal count. Altogether 72 samples of khoa based sweets such as peda, burfi and gulabjamun were evaluated for their bacteriological quality. Out of the total peda samples tested, coliforms were prevalent in 37.5%, yeast and mould in 91.7% and staphylococcal organisms in 41.7% of the samples. In burfi, coliforms were prevalent in 66.6%, yeast and mold in 95.8% and staphylococcal organisms in 83.3 % of the samples tested. In gulabjamun, coliforms, yeast and mould and staphylococcal organisms were present in 45.8%, 91.6% and 70.8% respectively of the samples tested. The highest rate of contamination was recorded in burfi while the lowest was recorded in peda. Strict hygienic measures during preparation and storage are recommended to ensure the quality of the products.