The present investigation was conducted to study the changes in the haemato- biochemical indices in normally calved crossbred cows with retention of placenta (n=60) and dystocia with retention of placenta (n=25) and compared with normally calved crossbred cows without retention of placenta (n=10) during the period between July 2022 to December 2023. Result showed that marked leukocytosis, lymphopenia, neutrophilia and eosinophilia in retention of fetal membrane (RFM) affected cows. Serum biochemical indices revealed significant increase (p<0.05) in the concentration of enzymatic parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase), decreased mineral parameters (calcium and phosphorus) and metabolic parameters in RFM affected cows. In conclusion, enzymatic, mineral and metabolic parameters can be used as biochemical indicators for the prediction of RFM in Jersey crossbred cows.

Post mortem examination of two duck carcasses revealed the presence of worms in the gizzard and caecum. The worms from gizzard were identified as Acuaria hamulosa and caecal worm were identified as Heterakis gallinarum based on the morphological features. In addition, lice were collected from the feathers and identified as Holomenopon leucoxanthum. This study reports the occurrence of Acuaria hamulosa, Heterakis gallinarum and Holomenopon leucoxanthum in native ducks from Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu.

Food bait preferences of house flies were evaluated using olfactometry bioassays. A single cage dual port glass olfactometer was used to assess preferences of house flies towards sugar, fish meal and molasses in no choice and choice bioassays. Flies were allowed into olfactometer individually, observed for five minutes. Time spent in bait port and decision chamber, number of entries into test/control port and port selected five minutes post-exposure were recorded. In the second study in a four arm acrylic olfactometer, three food baits viz., high fish meal low molasses cake, low fish meal high molasses cake and mango essence were tested In the glass olfactometer, flies showed positive response towards food baits compared to control in no choice bioassay. In choice bioassay, flies preferred fish meal than both sugar and molasses and molasses was preferred over sugar. In four arm acrylic olfactometer bioassay, 43.87, 30.96 and 25.16 per cent flies were attracted to high fish meal low molasses cake, low fish meal high molasses cake and mango essence, respectively. Results revealed that molasses and fish meal based baits can be used in housefly traps. Olfactometry bioassays were found effective in bait preference studies of house flies.

Reducing crude protein (CP) level in the feed without altering the amino acid contents by supplementing synthetic amino acids to reduce nitrogen excretion, adding ofexogenous protease enzyme infeed to improve nitrogen utilization and treating litter with the culture ofMethylomonas methanica (MM) to prevent methane emission from litter are the proven methods in commercial poultry production, especially in broiler farming to protect the environment. However, the efficacy of these nitrogen emission reduction strategies on the performance and economics of guinea fowl in intensive production has not been studied adequately. Therefore, a biological experiment was conducted with high protein (HP) diets with (Tl) or without (T2) fish meal (FM) and low protein (LP) diets added with exogenous protease enzyme with (T3) or without (T4) FM. The levels of critical amino acids in all the feed were balanced with the supplementation of synthetic amino acids. These treatments contained six replicates of each with 15-day-old keets. At the start of ninth week, the litter of three replicates from each treatment was sprayed with MM culture additionally, forming four more treatment groups, from T5 to T8 respectively. The results of the study indicated that replacing FM with plant protein sources did not affect body weight. The overall trend revealed that the reduction of CP by 2% had a negative (P<0.05) impact on body weight; while, the addition of protease in feed had no notable effect. The feed consumption was not affected by the withdrawal of FM or reducing CP level by 2% ordietary protease supplementation or MM litter treatment. The feed efficiency was negatively impacted (P<0.05) by withdrawal ofFMin high and low protein diets; -while, feed efficiency -was not improved by protease supplementation in LP diets. The level of CP or -withdrawal FM or protease enzyme supplementation in the ration did not affect livability. The MM litter treatment did not affect gro-wth rate, feed consumption, feed efficiency and livability of guinea fowls. The results indicated that the benefit-cost ratio could be improved in guinea fowls by using low CP feed.

Food business incubation centre (FBIC) under the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University established during 2014 hadfacilitated the farmers, students and entrepreneurs in terms of training, consultancy, external project and incubation services. To evaluate the performance of the Food Business Incubation Centre on incubation services, data were collected for a period of 10 years from 2014-15 to 2023-24 and analyzed. The study also included the available data from the financial year 2018-19 to 2023-24 to assess the types ofvisitors and their purpose of visit to the incubation centre and the data were analyzed. It was concluded that majority of the incubatees utilized the FBIC for the incubation services in the area of dairy processing. Totally 14 members successfully graduated of which 50 % of them were female. The highest number of visits was recorded during the financial year 2022-2023 and the maximum of the visitor category was students from schools and colleges and only 9.7 % of the visitors were business aspirants out of the total visitors during the study period.

The optimization of Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) as a healthy alternative to refined wheat flour (RWF) in chicken nuggets was investigated to assess dietary fibre enrichment. Replacement was performed at four levels: 5% (Tl), 6% (T2), 7% (T3), and 10% (T4), while control nuggets were prepared using RWF. Product quality, texture profile, sensory evaluation, and dietary fibre content were assessed. Emulsion stability and product yield remained statistically similar, with improved textural characteristics observed up to 7% replacement with Kodo millet. The product's acceptance was highly significant (P<0.01) at 7% inclusion (7.61±0.32), with dietary fibre enrichment showing a 126.49% increase over the control. The findings concluded that 7% Kodo millet flour inclusion is the optimal level for dietary fibre enhancement in functional chicken meat nuggets.

Ricinoleic acid, a toxic compound found in castor seeds (Ricinus communis L.), can be lethal when inhaled, ingested, or injected at doses of 5-10 pg/kgto human or animals. This study presents a validated, rapid, and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) methodfor its quantification. Separation was achieved on silica gel 60 F254plates using a mobile phase oftoluene, ethyl acetate and acetate acid (6:4:0.2 v/v/v). Densitometric scanning at 450 nm detected ricinoleic acid with an Rfvalue of 0.66 (±0.04). Linearity was observed in the range of 20-100 ng/spot with R = 0.998 ± 2.62%.  

A Dalmatian dog -was brought to the Referral Veterinary Polyclinic, ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar with a complaint of erythematous lesions, alopecia and intense itching and had been treated for a long time. Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed based on the history and the exclusion of other infectious agents as potential causes of the dermatitis. The dog was treated with oclacitinib, antibacterial, fatty acids and antihistaminic medications and showed remarkable improvement after therapy.

The increasing demand for nutritious, gluten-free food options necessitates the development of innovative products. Many commercially available millet-based products fail to leverage the nutritional benefits of millets, incorporating them in minimal quantities while maintaining refined wheat flour (maida) as the primary ingredient in baked goods. This research aims to develop a Kodo millet muffin formulated entirely from Kodo millet flour and enriched with animal protein through the addition of chicken meat powder (CMP). The CMP was prepared and its inclusion level was optimized by varying from 0% to 20% in increments of 5%, based on sensory evaluation using a 9-point hedonic scale. The formulation containing 10% CMP was identified as the most acceptable. The optimized muffins were then analyzed for their textural, physicochemical and nutritional properties. The incorporation of CMP significantly affected the muffin’s texture. This Kodo millet-based, protein-enriched muffin offers a gluten-free alternative while maximizing the health benefits associated with Kodo millet.

A five-and-a-half-year-old Jersey cross bred cow was presented with the complaint of a protruding mass onright lateral aspect ofvulval lip for the past 10 days. Clinical examination revealed a soft, fluctuating, non-painful reducible mass measuring 8 inch in length and 6 inch in width on the right side of  the perineal region. Based on ultrasonographic and radiographic evaluations, it was diagnosed as a case of perineal hernia and surgical intervention was advocated. Surgical correction was performed under xylazine-ketamine-butorphanol sedation and epidural anesthesia using 2% lignocaine and butorphanol. Herniorrhaphy was successfully completed using polyester No.5 suture. Skin closure was done using No.1 polyamide suture. Post-operative care included wound management, antibiotic therapy, and pain management. Sutures were removed on 15th day and animal was made an uneventful recovery.