Nano silver particles are valuable alternative for antibiotics and disinfectants as it is relatively free of adverse effects. Nano silver particles (AgNPs) have new physical and chemical characteristics enabling it to have a strong antibacterial activity and used today more as a high disinfectant in poultry farms. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of 10, 20 and 50 ppm of Ag-NPs as egg shell sanitizer and assess the microbial count on the egg shell surface during different storage conditions. The total bacterial count on the egg shell and egg quality characteristics were carried out on 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of storage after sanitation. Presence of nano silver and distribution on egg shell surface were determined using transmission electron microscopy. Results showed that bacterial loads on the egg shell were declined with the increased concentration of Ag-NPs used and the 50 ppm concentration of Ag-NPs had 1-3 log reduction in the total bacterial count on one day after disinfection in the egg shell surface which were comparable with the positive control (1% Kohrsolin) used in the trial. However, the external and internal qualities of eggs did not show any significance difference among different treatments during different storage days. However, nano silver 50 ppm had comparatively better zone of inhibition than 10 and 20 ppm levels in disc diffusion method. This study concluded that using Ag-NPs at 50 ppm concentration in disinfecting chicken egg can effectively reduce bacterial load on egg shell.

A study was conducted to evaluate the biomass yield and proximate composition of biomass from the natural pastures of Madras Red sheep. Eight villages were selected from the habitat of Madras Red sheep and 40 samples each during  rainy and summer season were collected to assess the biomass yield and proximate composition. The study showed that biomass yield and proximate composition were higher during the rainy season during which these sheep completed their breeding, reproduction and lactation. The total dry matter content was higher during the summer season which was able to meet maintenance requirement of sheep during these months. Farmers managed these animals without any supplementary feeding, but during summer the animals were let in the harvested fields where they had access to crop residues for grazing.

A pluriparous non-descript doe was presented with the history of dystocia. Clinical investigation revealed the presence of closed cervix and lodged multiple foetuses in the tract. Laparo-hysterotomy was performed and four foetuses were relieved, of which one was alive, one was still born and the other two were mummified. Thus the present report describes the incidence of quadruplets in a doe comprising of dual mummies along with a stillborn and a live kid.

A five year old Large White Yorkshire sow gave birth to a conjoined cephalothoracopagus, which was stillborn.

The present study was undertaken to fortify the nutritive value of chicken cutlet with the addition pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) as filler and optimize its level of addition. The cutlet was formulated with broiler chicken meat, and the spices and condiments. Four different batches of cutlets were prepared with boiled and mashed pearl millet replacing the meat by 10% (PM10), 20% (PM20) and 30% (PM30) along with a control and subjected to physico-chemical and sensory evaluation. The pH before and after cooking significantly decreased with increase in the concentration of pearl millet. The cooking yield was similar in PM20 and PM30 and significantly higher than PM10 and control. In the sensory evaluation, the texture scores were higher for the control with which PM10 was comparable. Juiciness and tenderness scores increased with the addition of PM. Flavour score and the overall  acceptability scores significantly decreased with increase in the concentration of PM. Yet, the scores were above moderately acceptable level. It conclusion, pearl millet may be used as effective filler in chicken cutlets up to a level of 10% without much affecting the sensory qualities.

Wet distiller's grain is one of the important agroindustrial by-products used for feeding dairy cattle. A study was conducted to enhance the shelf life of distillers grains and identify and quantify the deficit nutrients in it so that a supplemental strategy could be evolved to enhance its nutritive value. Twelve samples were collected from grain-based distilleries in Southern India and subjected to proximate analysis (AOAC, 2000), fibre fractionation (Goering and Van Soest, 1970) and were also analysed for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc. In vitro degradability studies were conducted using rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) described by Czerkawski and Breckenridge (1977). Also, another study was conducted to enhance the shelflife of wet distiller’s grain by addition of deoiled rice bran (DORB) and salt at twelve differentlevels.Samples were collected on 2nd,4th, 6th, 8th and 10th days for estimation of pH (Wilson and Wilkins, 1972), mould count and yeast count (Jenkins, 1992). The degradation rate/hour, degradable soluble, degradable insoluble, undegradable and effective degradability of dry matter respectively were 0.16±0.02, 53.8±1.32,31±1.41, 15.2±1.07 and 76.87±0.43 percent and the same for nitrogen respectively were 0.12±0.01, 31.2±1.16, 53.8±1.28,15±0.95 and 62.39±1.59 per cent in wet distillers grains.The results indicate that mould count was significantly(p<0.05) lower in wet distiller’s grain and deoiled rice bran (DORB) combination of 70:30 irrespective of the number of days of preservation. Further adding salt in all combinations of distiller’s grain and DERB reduced the growth of yeast or mould.

A comparative study to assess the quantity and quality of milk production in milch cattle using TANUVAS and Commercial (AGRIMIN® FORTE) mineral mixture was conducted in two dairy farms in Ramanathapuram district in the form of On Farm Trials (OFT). Three animals in the same stage of milking were selected from each farm. The animals were divided in to three groups viz. A, B and C with one animal in each group. All the animals were in the same plane of nutrition in the particular farm. Group A was kept as control, Group B supplemented with TANUVAS mineral mixture and animals in Group C were supplemented with AGRIMIN ® FORTE and the study was conducted for a period of 4 months. Although both the treatment groups (B and C) showed elevation in volume of production and fat % and the rate of raise in fat % was found to be higher in group B and the amount of raise in volume of milk produced was found to be higher in group C. The SNF % and Protein % were found to be increased only in group C.

Wildlife species identification, based on DNA is a highly reliable method for the investigation of wildlife crimes. PCR techniques and microsatellite markers are extensively used for the identification of wild animal DNA in forensic cases. Mostly, genes like Cyt B, Cox 1 and 12S RNA are amplified coupled with sequencing, to confirm the species in question. In the present study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR was performed with DNA samples from captive wild felids, canids and ursids and the finger-print pattern was analyzed for their utility in designing de novo diagnostic primers. DNA was extracted from the tissue samples from eleven animals (two numbers each from tigers and lions and one sample each from a leopard, jaguar, sloth bear, black bear, wolf, jackal and dhole). RAPD-PCR was carried out using different arbitrary decamers. Of the five decamers used, two decamers, namely AP7 and AP17 revealed consistent amplification patterns. Among them, AP7 produced monomorphic fragments corresponding to 500 bp for felids and 800 bp and 400 bp for ursids, while polymorphic bands were generated across the different genera. The decamer AP17 consistently amplified a 450 bp band from all the felid samples and polymorphic amplification with other genera. The potential for these RAPD amplicons for their applicability in the design-specific primers for genus/ species-specific detection of wild animal DNA due to their uniqueness is discussed.

Incidence of candidiasis and its ability to be a primary infection in a native chicken flock of 500 birds reared in cage system was reported. Grossly, pseudomembranous growth giving turkey-towel appearance was noticed in dead birds. Crops from affected chicken yielded Candida albicans was confirmed by culture and germ tube production in poultry serum from the crop samples collected from affected birds. Administration of copper sulphate was found to be effective in containing illness and the signs associated with candidiasis in the affected flock.

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.