Faecal samples of 264 sheep from 4 different sheep farms belonging to three different districts of Karnataka were screened to note the incidence of gastrointestinal nematodes. It was found that 93% of the sheep harboured strongyle infection. The faecal egg counts were found to be light to moderate. The in vitro egg hatch assay was employed to assess the resistance of strongyles in 4 sheep farms. The ED50 value for albendazole ranged between 2.5μg/ml to 6.9 μg/ ml which indicated the resistance of the gastrointestinal nematodes. All the samples were also subjected to another in vitro test, viz., larval development assay. The values ranged between 3-2μg to 4.2μg / ml which also indicated the development of resistance to albendazole. Larval paralysis assay confirmed the development of resistance to albendazole. 

Microbial quality of air in a dairy processing plant was evaluated to ascertain the contribution of air as a source of contamination and spoilage of milk and milk products. The mean total aerobic counts obtained in the air by sedimentation method were 32.66 ± 3.82, 25.32 ± 4.17 and 33.36 ± 3.53 cfu/m 2 in raw milk reception dock, pasteurization room and product preparation room respectively. The respective mean total coliform counts were 1.52 ± 0.14, 0.66 ± 0.08 and 0.99 ± 0.16 cfu/ m2. Total coliform count observed in the raw milk reception dock was significantly higher (P< 0.01) than the other areas.  The mean Staphylococcal counts were 2.52 ± 0.10, 3.84 ± 0.31and 5.82 ± 0.30 cfu/ m2. The product preparation room showed highest mean Staphylococcal counts followed by pasteurization room and raw milk reception dock.  The mean yeast and mould counts obtained were 5.42 ± 0.39, 3.84 ± 0.31and 5.82 ± 0.30 cfu/ m2  in raw milk reception dock, pasteurization room and product preparation room respectively. Effect of fumigation on the microbial quality of air in the dairy processing area was also studied by comparing the microbial load in the air before and after fumigation. Fumigation practice followed in the dairy processing area was highly effective against total aerobic organisms, coliforms, and Staphylococci but not very effective in the case of yeast and moulds.

The research was carried out to study the effects of dietary supplementation of Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) and selenium on ALT and AST enzyme levels in broiler chicken. A total of forty-two broiler chicks of day old divided into six groups of seven each were used for this study. Ocimum sanctum leaf powder (0.25% and 0.5%), organic selenium (0.3 ppm) and their combinations were added to the basal diet. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded at weekly intervals. Blood samples were taken at the end of 6th week for enzymological assay from each treatment. The enzymes assayed were alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Dietary supplementation of Ocimum sanctum leaf powder at 0.25%, 0.5% levels and its combination (0.5% level) with selenium (0.3 ppm) reduced the levels of ALT and AST significantly (P<0.05). It was concluded that Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) has hepato-protective properties.

Odontotermes formosanus termites are recognized as one of the major ecosystem engineers in tropical soils. This termite depends on intestinal microorganisms for cellulose digestion. Nine bacterial isolates from termite gut were identified using sugar fermentation and biochemical tests and confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The aerobes isolated from the termite gut were Bacillus sp., Citrobacter freundii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The facultative anaerobes isolated were Salmonella entrica, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Staphylococcus gallinarum and Serratia marcescens. DNA from these bacterial cultures was extracted for molecular identification by 16S rRNA gene amplification. The cellulolytic activities of these bacteria were assessed by congo red assay. This study revealed the presence of cellulolytic aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria in the gut of termite Odontotermes formosanus which could be manipulated for their cellulose digestion in rumen. 

A study was conducted to analyse the migratory sheep production system in southern agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu. Reproductive performance of the rams and ewes was recorded through the questionnaire both in migratory and non-migratory flocks. Mean lambing percentage, twinning percentage, livability at birth percentage, age at first mating (months) in ewes, age at first mating (months) in rams, age at first lambing (months) and weaning percentage in migratory and non-migratory flocks were 93.56 and 91.50; 1.87 and 1.52; 98.32 and 98.73; 12.34 and 13.22; 19.64 and 21.44; 18.54 and 19.68; 85.98 and 87.15, respectively. The weaning period for ram and ewe lambs were 2.94+0.96 and 5.03+0.13 in migratory flocks and 4.82+0.13 and 6.06+0.17 in non-migratory flocks, respectively. Reproductive performance of sheep in migratory flocks was significantly better than nonmigratory flocks. The months of October,  November and December were main lambing season and the months of April and May were second lambing season.

Punganur breed of cattle in Andhra Pradesh is under the threat of extinction and efforts are being made for conservation, propagation of this breed under in situ conservation. All breedable female animals were bred to Punganur bulls available by natural service. The average birth weights of male and female calves were 10.31 ± 0.43 kg and 10.35 ± 0.75 kg, respectively. The mean height at withers, chest girth ,body length, pin bones width, paunch girth, poll length, tail length, and ear length in male calves  were 45.81 ± 1.05, 46.72 ± 1.34, 43.90 ± 1.29, 7.54 ± 0.73, 45 ± 1.2, 18.09 ± 0.94, 27.45 ± 1.77, 8.54 ± 0.7 cm, respectively. Majority of the calves were born with a mixture of white and brown coat colour, black muzzle, black colour hooves and black switch. The average lactation milk yield was 457.5 ± 81 liters with a lactation length of 153 ± 24 days. The average daily milk yield and peak yield were 3.04 ± 0.16 and 3.90 ± 0.17 liters respectively with an average 5.4 % fat and 9.53 % S.N.F.

The bacteriocin nisin at various concentrations (50, 100, 200, 300 IU/ml) was studied as a bio-preservative to extend the shelf life of standardized, pasteurized milk. A minimum of one-week extension in shelf life was obtained for standardized milk at 4°C. Higher concentrations of nisin showed no additional effect. The effect of nisin on physico-chemical, microbial and sensory qualities were also studied. Addition of nisin had significantly reduced the development of acidity and standard plate count during storage. Addition of higher levels of nisin had significantly affected the sensory scores.

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.

Sub-adult Macrobrachium rosenbergii were reared in plastic tank and fed on Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (HUFA) enriched Artemia, unenriched Artemia and commercial feed in order to investigate the relationship of moulting to growth. Moulting frequency was found to vary according to diet. HUFA enriched artemia fed sub-adults had greater frequency of moulting than other feed.

The socioeconomic importance of nomadic donkey rearing, perception on health benefits of donkey milk and the marketing channels involved remain unexplored. This paper aims at providing details on nomadic donkey rearing, a traditional system prevailing in Tamil Nadu. Donkey played a significant role in the livelihood of its owners who had migrated throughout Tamil Nadu for selling donkey milk.  They traversed around 30 – 40 km per day to sell the donkey milk besides meeting the grazing needs of the donkeys. Majority of the nomadic donkey rearers were young to middle aged and were scheduled tribes. Two third of the respondents were involved in nomadic donkey rearing for nearly eight months in a year and for the remaining four months they earned their livelihood as  agricultural labourers. The study revealed that on an average, lactating jenny yield milk for six months. At the end of the lactation period, the donkey rearers sold the dry jenny to the traders and in turn purchased the lactating jenny from them. The nomadic donkey rearers believed that the donkey milk had medicinal benefits to cure ailments such as ulcer, indigestion, pneumonia,  jaundice, leukorrhea and hypernatremia. The respondents preferred institutional support in marketing donkey milk so that they could settle in one place and thrive better.