A retrospective study was employed to investigate the effect of dry period length on reproduction, incidence of reproductive and metabolic disorders and milk production in Holstein cows belonging to a commercial dairy. Over a 5 year period (2000- 2005), data about reproductive performance, postpartum and metabolic disorders were collected on 1914 multiparous Holstein cows. Out of the obtained data production performance were available only for 793 cows. According to the obtained data the dry period was categorized into 10 groups of different lengths. Reproductive performances including the interval to 1st service, service period, number of inseminations per conception, day’s open, calving interval and percentage of pregnant cows within 100 days in milking (DIM) were recorded as a function of dry period length. The incidence of postpartum reproductive and metabolic disorders included retained fetal membranes (RFM), endometritis, cystic ovarian disease (COD), mastitis, milk fever (MF), ketosis and abomasal displacement were recorded as a function of dry period length. Milk production was also studied in relation to dry period length. Statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed.The most important notifiable results were: cows with dry period less than 28 days showed the best reproductive performance and the highest incidence of abomasal displacement among all groups. In general, the incidence of MF and RFM were higher in short dry period cows, while the incidence of ketosis was higher in cows with long dry period length. A highly significant difference was recorded between daily milk yield of cows with dry period less than 64 days (27.23 kg) and those of cows with dry period > 64 days (25.20 kg).Finally, it is recommended to keep the dry period of 40-60 day lengths to obtain optimum reproduction, health and production of Holstein cows.

The effect of 10 times (10x) overdose of enrofloxacin was studied in broiler chickens. One hundred and eighty chicks were classified in 3 equal groups. The first group received normal theurapeutic dose of enrofloxacin (1x) in drinking water for the first 5 consecutive days of age and repeated again at 24th -28th day of age. The second group received 10x (overdose) at the same ages. The third group was left non-medicated as a control group. Blood samples were taken on the 6th, 14th, 29th and 34th day of age for different laboratory tests. Enrofloxacin at 10x caused a decrease in the value of the following parameters: HI antibody titers to NDV vaccine at the 14th and the 34th day of age, serum albumin at the 10th day of age, hemoglobin at the 29th and the 34th day, lymphocytic count and IBDV ELISA titers at 29th day of age, uric acid at 29th day, phagocytic activity at 34th day, Lactobacillus spp. count in duodenum, feed conversion efficiency and body weight gain. The 10x (overdose) increased serum urea and creatinine at 29th day of age, serum AST and ALT at 29th and 34th day of age, and heterophilic count. Histopathological degeneration in liver, spleen, kidneys, bursa of Fabricius and thymus were demonstrated by 10x (overdose) of enrofloxacin. Challenge with vNDV caused 66.6% mortality in birds received the 10x (overdose) compared with 33.3% in the vaccinated non treated control group.

Objective: The study was carried out to investigate the use and impact of veterinary drugs, anti¬microbials, and supplements in commercial aquaculture for fish health management measures in three selected areas of Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: Data collection was conducted through questionnaire interviews with owners of 50 fish farms and 25 drug shop owners from Trishal, Fulpur, Tarakanda, and Sadar Upazila of Mymensingh district. Results: A total of 15 trade-named veterinary antibiotics and six categories of other compounds were identified in this study. Antibiotics were found as the most used veterinary drugs (80.85%), followed by disinfectants, nutritional supplements, saline, ammonia removal agents, probiotics, and pesticides. These veterinary compounds performances for fish health management were found to vary (10%60%) significantly. Conclusion: This studys findings urge the necessity to produce and approve effective aqua drugs and treatments to ensure farmed fish and public health. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(1.000): 36-43]

Objective: The objective of the current study was to investigate the influence of probiotic Chrysonilia crassa in comparison with zinc bacitracin, commercial probiotic Bacillus subtilis, and herbal medicine waste on growth, intestinal microbiology, and blood indices of broilers.Materials and methods: Three hundreds of Lohmann day-old chicks were allocated to control diet (basal diet; CONT), basal diet with antibiotic zinc bacitracin (AZB), basal diet with B. subtilis (PROB), basal diet with C. crassa (PROC), and basal diet with herbal medicine waste (HERBW). Sample collections were conducted on day 34 of the experiment. Results: PROB showed greater (P [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2018; 5(3.000): 332-342]

Objectives: Poultry production in rural areas is considered as an important source of livelihood for most rural communities. The objective of the present study was to investigate the major factors affecting production of rural poultry in three senatorial districts in North Central Nigeria namely Kwara Central, Kwara South and Kwara North.. Materials and Methods: The major factors affecting production of rural poultry were investigated using structured questionnaire to gather data on health and management practices between January to December 2014. Results: The socio-economic characteristics of respondents showed that majority of rural poultry farmers are women and illiterate, that sourced fund from their personal savings, relations and friends. The study also showed that seasonal variation and disease significantly influenced poultry production and its marketability. Conclusion: There is the need to put in place enabling environment to encourage commercialization of rural poultry production in Nigeria and globally. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2016; 3(1.000): 79-83]

Objective-To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular administration of ethyl alcohol for arthrodesis of tarsometatarsal joints in horses. Animals-8 healthy female horses without lameness or radiographic evidence of tarsal joint osteoarthritis. Procedure-In each horse, 1 tarsometatarsal joint was treated with 4 mL of 70% ethyl alcohol and the opposite joint was treated with 4 mL of 95% ethyl alcohol. Lameness examinations were performed daily for 2 weeks, followed by monthly evaluations for the duration of the 12-month study. Radiographic evaluations of both tarsi were performed 1 month after injection and every 3 months thereafter. Gross and histologic examinations of the tarsi were undertaken at completion of the study. Results-Horses had minimal to no lameness associated with the treatments. Radiography revealed that 8 of 16 joints were fused by 4 months after treatment, with significantly more joints fused in the 70% ethyl alcohol group. Fifteen of 16 joints were considered fused at postmortem examination at 12 months. Gross and histologic examinations revealed foci of dense mature osteonal bone spanning the joint spaces. Bony fusion appeared to be concentrated on the dorsolateral, centrolateral, and plantarolateral aspects of the joints. Significant differences were not detected between treatment groups for lameness or pathologic findings. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Administration of ethyl alcohol into the tarsometatarsal joint of healthy horses appeared to facilitate arthrodesis of the joint in a pain-free manner. Results warrant further investigation into the potential use of ethyl alcohol in horses clinically affected with osteoarthritis of the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints.

Objective-To evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM13241 in healthy adult cats. Animals-15 adult cats. Procedures-Cats were fed a nutritionally complete dry food for 5 weeks. Fecal character was assessed daily, and a single fecal sample and 3-mL blood sample were collected for bacterial enumeration and hematologic analysis, respectively. Cats were then fed the same diet supplemented with L acidophilus DSM13241 (2 X 10(8) CFU/d) for 4.5 weeks. Repeat fecal and hematologic measurements were taken prior to the return to control diet for a 4-week period. Results-The probiotic species was recovered from feces, demonstrating survival through the feline gastrointestinal tract. Probiotic supplementation was associated with increased numbers of beneficial Lactobacillus and L acidophilus groups in feces and decreased numbers of Clostridium spp and Enterococcus faecalis, indicating an altered bacterial balance in the gastrointestinal tract microflora. Fecal pH was also decreased suggesting a colonic environment selective for the beneficial lactic acid bacterial population. Systemic and immunomodulatory effects were associated with administration of L acidophilus DSM13241 including altered cell numbers within WBC subsets and enhanced phagocytic capacity in the peripheral granulocyte population. In addition, plasma endotoxin concentrations were decreased during probiotic feeding, and RBCs had a decreased susceptibility to osmotic pressure. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Probiotic strain L acidophilus DSM13241 fed at 2 X 10(8) CFU/d can alter the balance of gastrointestinal microflora in healthy cats. Furthermore, administration of this probiotic results in beneficial systemic and immunomodulatory effects in cats.

Objective-To determine the pharmacokinetic disposition of IV administered caffeine in healthy Lama spp camelids. Animals-4 adult male alpacas and 4 adult female llamas. Procedures-Caffeine (3 mg/kg) was administered as an IV bolus. Plasma caffeine concentrations were determined by use of high-performance liquid chromatography in 6 animals and by use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in 2 llamas. Results-Median elimination half-life was 11 hours (range, 9.3 to 29.8 hours) in alpacas and 16 hours (range, 5.4 to 17 hours) in llamas. The volume of distribution at steady state was 0.60 L/kg (range, 0.45 to 0.93 L/kg) in alpacas and 0.75 L/kg (range, 0.68 to 1.15 L/kg) in llamas. Total plasma clearance was 44 mL/h/kg (range, 24 to 56 mL/h/kg) in alpacas and 42 mL/h/kg (range, 30 to 109 mL/h/kg) in llamas. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-High-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry were suitable methods for determination of plasma caffeine concentrations in alpacas and llamas. Plasma caffeine concentration-time curves were best described by a 2-compartment model. Elimination half-lives, plasma clearance, volume of distribution at steady state, and mean residence time were not significantly different between alpacas and llamas. Intravenous administration of caffeine at a dose of 3 mg/kg did not induce clinical signs of excitement.

Objective-To determine the disposition of a bolus of meloxicam (administered IV) in horses and donkeys (Equus asinus) and compare the relative pharmacokinetic variables between the species. Animals-5 clinically normal horses and 5 clinically normal donkeys. Procedures-Blood samples were collected before and after IV administration of a bolus of meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg). Serum meloxicam concentrations were determined in triplicate via high-performance liquid chromatography. The serum concentration-time curve for each horse and donkey was analyzed separately to estimate standard noncompartmental pharmacokinetic variables. Results-In horses and donkeys, mean +/- SD area under the curve was 18.8 +/- 7.31 microgram/mL/h and 4.6 +/- 2.55 microgram/mL/h, respectively; mean residence time (MRT) was 9.6 +/- 9.24 hours and 0.6 +/- 0.36 hours, respectively. Total body clearance (CL(T)) was 34.7 +/- 9.21 mL/kg/h in horses and 187.9 +/- 147.26 mL/kg/h in donkeys. Volume of distribution at steady state (VD(SS)) was 270 +/- 160.5 mL/kg in horses and 93.2 +/- 33.74 mL/kg in donkeys. All values, except VD(SS), were significantly different between donkeys and horses. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The small VD(SS) of meloxicam in horses and donkeys (attributed to high protein binding) was similar to values determined for other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Compared with other species, horses had a much shorter MRT and greater CL(T) for meloxicam, indicating a rapid elimination of the drug from plasma; the even shorter MRT and greater CL(T) of meloxicam in donkeys, compared with horses, may make the use of the drug in this species impractical.

Objective: In the present research work, we examined the dietary Moringa oleifera effect on gut health and growth traits in chickens. Materials and Methods: There were 280 chicks (day old) that were weighted and allotted uni¬formly in seven groupings, each containing eight replicates (n = 5). Birds were supplemented with M. oleifera leaf extract (MLE) and seed extract (MSE) for 35 days. Group I was the control (fed merely basal diets), while Group II received 0.8% MLE, Group III was given 0.8% MSE, Group IV was given 1.2% MLE, Group V was given 1.2% MSE, Group VI was given 0.8% MLE + 0.8% MSE, and Group VII was given 1.2% MLE + 1.2% MSE. At the end of the fifth week, two chickens were selected from each replica, and samples (small intestine and ileal ingesta) were collected. Results: The chicken diet with MLE and MSE supplements saw significant improvement (p < 0.05) in both feed conversion ratio (FCR) and body weight gain (BWG). In the small intestine (duodenal, jejunal, and ileal), dietary MLE and MSE supplements significantly increased (p < 0.05) the surface area of the villus and the ratio of their height/crypt depth in comparison to the control group. The MLE and MSE supplements significantly increased (p < 0.05) the total goblet cell counts in the small intestine. The Lactobacillus spp. count was significantly improved (p < 0.05) and reduced (p < 0.05) in Escherichia coli counts when the bird diet was supplemented with MLE (0.8%) and MSE (0.8%). Conclusion: Results indicated that M. oleifera leaf and seed extract diet improved the growth trait and gut health in chickens. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(2.000): 339-348]