Test day milk yield data of 81,653 Jersey crossbred cows reared under farmers’ production system in Tamil Nadu state, over a period of 24 years (1999-2022) were utilised to determine the effects of non-genetic factors viz. agroclimatic zone, period of calving, season of calving and parity on lactation traits.  The production traits considered were 305-day milk yield (305DMY), total lactation milk yield (TMY), 180-day milk yield (180DMY), peak yield (PY), days to attain PY and lactation length (LL), the least-squares means of which were 2458.82 ± 7.02 kg, 2470.77 ± 7.04 kg, 1657 ± 4.71 kg, 10.69 ± 0.03 kg, 73.22 ± 0.56 days and 298.09 ± 0.17 days respectively. The agroclimatic zone had significant (P<0.01) influence on all the lactation traits studied with Western zone having the highest mean (2763.08 kg) for 305DMY followed by North Western zone and Cauvery Delta zone while North Eastern zone had the least (2066.85 kg) milk yield. Both period and season of calving significantly (P<0.01) affected all the traits. The estimated means of 305 DMY, TMY and 180DMY of 2960.99 kg, 2987.38 kg and 1934.75 kg respectively in period P2 (2004-2007) were significantly higher compared to other periods while period P1 (1999-2003) had the least milk production. Cows that gave birth in Northeast monsoon and Summer seasons produced more milk comparatively. Parity also had highly significant (P<0.01) influence on all the traits studied with cows above third lactation producing higher milk yield. The influence of non-genetic factors found on milk production of cows, revealed in this study will be useful in planning future breeding and management interventions for improving the milk production of the Jersey crossbred cattle under farmers’ production system in Tamil Nadu. 

The study on the assessment of body weight gain in three indigenous chicken breeds viz., Aseel, Kadaknath and Siruvidai chicken were conducted in five poultry farms of Vendhoni village, Ramanathapuram district. The body weight gain both between the breeds and farms were statistically analysed for a period of 20 weeks. All the five selected farms were distributed with day old (0 Day) Aseel, Kadaknath and Siruvidai chicks (Each 10 Nos) and about 50 kg each of commercial chick mash (Nutrikraft®). The body weight gain was recorded and assessed every week until 20 weeks. Among the three breeds analysed, a highly significant difference (P ≤ 0.01) existed with Aseel breed having higher body weight gain (1.441 kg) followed by Kadaknath (0.887 kg) and Siruvidai (0.737 kg) at 20 weeks of age.  The weight gain recorded during fourth and eighth weeks of age showed a highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) change among all the three breeds. The weight gain of Kadaknath and Siruvidai were highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) during 12th and 16th week of age. Whereas the weight gain in Aseel was found to be non-significant (P ≥ 0.05) in the same period of study. During 20th week, Siruvidai showed highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) change in weight gain and Aseel and Kadaknath showed non-significant (P ≥ 0.05) change.  Overall, Aseel had higher body weight gain than Kadaknath and Siruvidai breeds. All the three breeds were found to be well adapted to the hot and humid climatic condition of this district.

The study was conducted to document the incidence and nature of oestrus like signs and follicular biometry during the lunar and peri-lunar days in crossbred cattle. Crossbred cattle (n = 678) which were reported to be with oestrus like signs on lunar days (full moon day and new moon day) and peri-lunar days were subjected for the investigation. Only 60.6 per cent of the animals during the study period were in actual oestrus. The remaining animals (39.4%) were found to be in various reproductive statuses viz., pregnancy (17.7%), mid-cycle oestrum (6.9%) and without any oestrus characteristics (14.8 %). The diameter of the dominant follicle in cattle with oestrus signs during lunar days (10.4 ± 0.2 mm) was significantly (P < 0.05) smaller than cattle in actual oestrus during normal days (12.2 ± 0.5 mm). Exhibition of oestrous signs with smaller follicular diameter indicated the probable chances of lunar influence on the follicular dynamics, steroidogenesis and reproductive characters in cattle. 

Lice infestation is one of the major problems to the duck farming, causing irritation that lead to lowered feed intake, retarded growth, reduced weight gain and decreased egg production. The present communication deals with occurrence of different species of lice in a desi duck from Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu. A farmer from Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu brought five dead two year old native ducks for necropsy at Dept. of Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary College and research Institute, Orathanadu, Tamil Nadu. External examination of ducks revealed presence of 13 lice specimen in one bird. They were examined and identified as Trinoton querquedulae (n= 8), Anatoecus dentatus (n= 4) and Anaticola crassicornis (n= 1) morphologically. This study is the first to establish the presence of mixed lice infestation in native ducks from Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu and also first repot of Trinoton querquedulae in ducks from India.

Uterine prolapse in cats of twelve clinical cases brought to the Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with a history of cats queened recently, severe straining, anorexia, pyrexia and round red swollen edematous mass protruding through the vulva were used for the present study. Based on the clinical examination, the cases were diagnosed as uterine prolapse either unilateral or bilateral horns. Ovariohysterectomy (n=6) was performed in six delayed cases and manual reduction (n=6) was done in six fresh cases. Cats that underwent surgery recovered uneventfully after one week of postoperative management. Manually reduced cases also recovered after one week of medical management. 

A four-month-old male Labrador retriever puppy was presented to Referral Veterinary Polyclinic, Indian Veterinary Research Institute with the history of anorexia, vomiting, haemorrhagic diarrhoea and signs of hypovolaemic shock. The case was diagnosed as parvovirus gastroenteritis by rapid antigen detection test. Shock was managed by infusion of polyionic isotonic fluid.  Haematological examination revealed severe leukopenia with WBC count of 0.3×10³/µL, which was treated with administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (Filgrastim) at 5 mcg/kg subcutaneously along with supportive therapy. Dog showed elevated WBC count and improvement in clinical signs after 48 h. Administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor along with routine therapy enhanced the survivability in canine parvovirus gastroenteritis.

The identification and development of new and effective alternatives to antibiotics that do not hinder productivity assumes paramount importance in the context of antimicrobial resistance and food safety. In recent years, phytobiotics have been used as natural growth promoters in ruminants, poultry and swine, to improve growth and health. A wide variety of herbs, spices and essential oils have been used individually or as blends in poultry for their potential application as alternative growth promoters. In nursery and growing pigs supplemented with phytobiotics, intestinal pathogens were inhibited and beneficial microbial population that contributes to improving digestion and absorption of nutrients were increased resulting in increased weight gain and decrease in diarrheal syndrome. The inclusion of essential oils in the diet of finishing pigs, improved the productive yield and carcass characteristics. It also reduced the incidence of therapeutic treatment and mortality. Natural plant products have the potential to improve rumen fermentation, reduce loss of feed energy, improve animal health and productivity, increase animal lifetime performance, and reduce greenhouse gases production in ruminants. Phytobiotics with wide range of activities, is projected as a feed additive for higher market growth compared to other alternatives to antibiotics in the feed industry.

The current study was designed to evaluate the influence of three different ground vegetable oil seeds on various physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory attributes of chicken sausages from spent broiler breeder hen stored under frozen (-18±1°C) condition. Chicken sausages were incorporated with ground poppy, sesame and peanut seeds each at 10 % level separately as three treatments and were analyzed for their keeping quality along with high fat control. The mean values of FFA, TBARS, tyrosine values, standard plate count, psychrophilic count and yeast and moulds counts were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by formulation during frozen storage and values increased significantly (P<0.05) throughout the storage period in all chicken sausages. Chicken sausages with ground sesame scored lowest standard plate counts (5.66 log CFU/g) than any others after 180 days of storage at 18±1°C. Coli forms, lacto bacillus and anaerobic counts could not be detected during entire storage period. Scores for all sensory attributes decreased significantly (P<0.05) during storage in all treatments irrespective of formulation. Study proved that, the three ground vegetable oil seeds were effective by delaying the lipid oxidation, microbial growth and preserving sensory quality during frozen storage and among them ground sesame seed was more potent to be a better preservative.

A study was planned to analyze the changes in livestock population growth rates and its trends in Tiruvarur district. Tiruvarur shares 2.94 per cent of goat and 2.1 per cent of cattle population to the respective population of Tamil Nadu. The remaining livestock species (buffalo, sheep, pig and poultry) including poultry share of Tiruvarur to states respective species population was negligible, contributing less than one per cent. Recent 20th census, evinced a positive growth rate with highest favourable growth rate of 64.65 per cent for poultry, followed by 2.3 per cent in cattle and 1.44 per cent for goat population of Tiruvarur. Negative growth rates were recorded for other species, which was found to be similar to the state population growth trend. Tiruvarur had a decrease in total livestock population and species-wise too showing negative growth rates between inter census period. Percentage population change over from the base year was 3.23% for goat whereas this was on negative trend for all other species. Analyzing the compositional share of livestock population, goat had the highest share with 53.03±2.62 per cent. All other livestock showed a decreasing trend from 16th to 20th census in Tiruvarur livestock population change. Inadequate infrastructure facilities (77.3%) topped among the five constraints analysed, followed by non-availability of feeds and fodders, mortality and environmental factors. Least constraint was found to be marketing facility. It can be concluded that increasing demand for goat meat, which fetch high remunerative price along with easy managemental practices and favorable conducive environment than other livestock, makes goat farming a highly suitable farming system for Tiruvarur.

A total of 203 blood samples were collected along with data on age at first calving from Murrah / graded Murrah buffaloes maintained at different organized farms. Genomic DNA isolation and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) were performed to amplify the PCR products and were digested with HpaI restriction enzymes overnight. Population genetic indices was calculated based on basic statistical tools. At the MTNR1A / HpaI locus, three genotypes viz., CC, CT and TT identified, with frequencies of 0.225, 0.505 and 0.270 respectively. The allele frequencies of C and T alleles were 0.478 and 0.522 respectively. The overall means of age at first calving was 1385.76 ± 24.31 days. Individuals with the CT and TT genotypes (1356.78 ± 33.03 and 1378.38 ± 37.66 days) had shorter age at first calving than CC genotype (1422.14 ± 53.01 days) and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).