Genetic trend for growth and wool performance in a closed flock of Bharat Merino sheep at sub temperate region of Kodai hills, Tamil Nadu

Research (Published online: 16-03-2016)

9. Genetic trend for growth and wool performance in a closed flock of Bharat Merino sheep at sub temperate region of Kodai hills, Tamil Nadu - P. K. Mallick, S. M. K. Thirumaran, R. Pourouchottamane, S. Rajapandi, R. Venkataramanan, G. Nagarajan, G. Murali and A. S. Rajendiran

Veterinary World, 9(3): 276-280

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.276-280

Abstract

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Aim: The study was conducted at Southern Regional Research Center, ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Mannavanur, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu to estimate genetic trends for birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (3WT), 6 months weight (6WT), and greasy fleece weight (GFY) in a Bharat Merino (BM) flock, where selection was practiced for 6WT and GFY.

Materials and Methods: The data for this study represents a total of 1652 BM lambs; progeny of 144 sires spread over 15 years starting from 2000 to 2014, obtained from the BM flock of ICAR-SRRC (CSWRI), Mannavanur, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India. The genetic trends were calculated by regression of average predicted breeding values using software WOMBAT for the traits BWT, 3WT, 6WT and GFY versus the animal’s birth year.

Results: The least square means were 3.28±0.02 kg, 19.08±0.23 kg, 25.00±0.35 kg and 2.13±0.07 kg for BWT, 3WT, 6WT and GFY, respectively. Genetic trends were positive and highly significant (p<0.01) for BWT, while the values for 3WT, 6WT and GFY though positive, were not significant. The estimates of genetic trends in BWT, 3WT, 6WT and GFY were 5 g, 0.8 g, 7 g and 0.3 g/year gain and the fit of the regression shows 55%, 22%, 42% and 12% coefficient of determination with the regressed value, respectively. In this study, estimated mean predicted breeding value (kg) in BWT and 3WT, 6WT and GFY were 0.067, 0.008, 0.036 and −0.003, respectively.

Conclusion: Estimates of genetic trends indicated that there was a positive genetic improvement in all studied traits and selection would be effective for the improvement of body weight traits and GFY of BM sheep.

Keywords: Bharat Merino sheep, breeding value, genetic trend, regression.

Histomorphological studies of broiler chicken fed diets supplemented with either raw or enzyme treated dandelion leaves and fenugreek seeds

Research (Published online: 12-03-2016)

8. Histomorphological studies of broiler chicken fed diets supplemented with either raw or enzyme treated dandelion leaves and fenugreek seeds - Saim Qureshi, Mohammed Tufail Banday, Irfan Shakeel, Sheikh Adil, Masood Saleem Mir, Yasir Afzal Beigh and Umar Amin

Veterinary World, 9(3): 269-275

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.269-275

Abstract

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Aim: Herbal plants and their derived products are extensively used particularly in many Asian, African, and other countries of the world as they are considered as ideal feed additives because of their non-residual effect and ability to influence the ecosystem of gastrointestinal microbiota in a positive way. Further, the enzymatic treatment of these herbs helps in their efficient utilization by the host. Dandelion leaves and fenugreek seeds have been reported to have positive effect in terms of improving the performance of broiler chicken, but not much literature is available regarding their effect on gut histomorphology; therefore, the present study was conducted to explore the effect of these herbs either alone or in combination with or without enzyme treatment on histomorphology of liver and small intestine of broiler chicken.

Materials and Methods: To achieve the envisaged objective, 273-day-old commercial broiler chicks were procured from a reputed source and reared together until 7 days of age. On the 7th day, the chicks were individually weighed, distributed randomly into 7 groups of 3 replicates with 13 chicks each. Birds in the control group were fed diets without additives (T1). The other six treatment groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% dandelion leaves (T2), 1% fenugreek seeds (T3), combination of 0.5% dandelion leaves and 1% fenugreek seeds (T4), enzyme treated dandelion leaves 0.5% (T5), enzyme treated fenugreek seeds 1% (T6), and combination of enzyme treated dandelion leaves (0.5%) and (1%) fenugreek seeds (T7). The histomorphological study of liver and small intestines was conducted among different treatment groups.

Results: The results revealed the hepato-protective nature of both dandelion leaves and fenugreek seeds either alone or in combination with or without enzyme treatment when compared with the control group. Moreover, the histomorphological findings of jejunum revealed the beneficial effect of dandelion leaves, fenugreek seeds and enzymes on the intestinal mucosa in terms of cellular infiltration, architecture of villi, villus height/crypt depth ratio, thereby improving the intestinal health.

Conclusion: The dandelion leaves and fenugreek seeds have hepato-protective nature and beneficial effect on the intestinal morphology particularly when included along with enzymes in the diet of broiler chicken.

Keywords: broiler chicken, dandelion, fenugreek, histomorphology.

Impact of heat stress on health and performance of dairy animals: A review

Review (Published online: 12-03-2016)

7. Impact of heat stress on health and performance of dairy animals: A review - Ramendra Das, Lalrengpuii Sailo, Nishant Verma, Pranay Bharti, Jnyanashree Saikia, Imtiwati and Rakesh Kumar

Veterinary World, 9(3): 260-268

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.260-268

Abstract

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Sustainability in livestock production system is largely affected by climate change. An imbalance between metabolic heat production inside the animal body and its dissipation to the surroundings results to heat stress (HS) under high air temperature and humid climates. The foremost reaction of animals under thermal weather is increases in respiration rate, rectal temperature and heart rate. It directly affect feed intake thereby, reduces growth rate, milk yield, reproductive performance, and even death in extreme cases. Dairy breeds are typically more sensitive to HS than meat breeds, and higher producing animals are, furthermore, susceptible since they generates more metabolic heat. HS suppresses the immune and endocrine system thereby enhances susceptibility of an animal to various diseases. Hence, sustainable dairy farming remains a vast challenge in these changing climatic conditions globally.

Keywords: amelioration, health, heat stress, production, reproduction.

Effect of pre-partum prilled fat supplementation on feed intake, energy balance and milk production in Murrah buffaloes

Research (Published online: 11-03-2016)

6. Effect of pre-partum prilled fat supplementation on feed intake, energy balance and milk production in Murrah buffaloes - Shikha Sharma, Mahendra Singh, Ashwani Kumar Roy and Sunita Thakur

Veterinary World, 9(3): 256-259

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.256-259

Abstract

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Aim: To investigate the effect of pre-partum prilled fat feeding on dry matter intake (DMI), energy balance and milk production in Murrah buffaloes.

Materials and Methods: Advance pregnant Murrah buffaloes were either received a dietary supplement of prilled fat at 100 g/day for 35 days pre-partum and at 150 g/day for 95 days post-partum (supplemented group [SG]) or did not receive fat supplement (control group [CG]). DMI and the yields of milk and milk component were measured. A body condition score (BCS) was recorded. Energy balance and gross feed efficiency (GFE) were calculated. DMI and BCS were recorded and milk yield (MY), fat, protein, lactose, solid not fat, energy balance were measured. The fat corrected milk yield was calculated.

Results: The DMI was non-significant between groups and periods of study. BCS of buffaloes improved in the SG than CG (p<0.01). The energy intake in terms of total digestible nutrients (TDN%), TDN intake, digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy/kg of milk, DE of milk, net energy, and GFE were higher (p<0.01) in SG during post-partum period. Crude protein intake was statistically similar in both the groups. MY was higher (p<0.01) in SG than in CG during 95 days of early lactation. Milk fat, fat corrected MY was higher (p<0.01) in SG however protein, lactose and solid not fat content did not varied between the groups. The feed efficiency of the SG was higher (p<0.01) than the CG during the post-partum period.

Conclusion: It was inferred that prilled fat supplementation augments energy balance and milk production in transition Murrah buffaloes.

Keywords: body condition score, buffaloes, dry matter intake, energy balance, milk yield, prilled fat.

Serum muscle-derived enzymes response during show jumping competition in horse

Research (Published online: 08-03-2016)

5. Serum muscle-derived enzymes response during show jumping competition in horse - Anna Assenza, Simona Marafioti, Fulvio Congiu, Claudia Giannetto, Francesco Fazio, Daniele Bruschetta and Giuseppe Piccione

Veterinary World, 9(3): 251-255

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.251-255

Abstract

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Aim: The effect of two jumping competitions, performed in two consecutive weekends, on serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, creatinine (CREA) concentrations were evaluated in 12 healthy jumper horses.

Materials and Methods: Blood sampling was performed before the 1st day of competition (T0), at the end of each show (J1, J2), on the day after the competition (T1); the same sampling plan was followed during the second weekend (J3, J4 and T2).

Results: One-way repeated measures analysis of variance showed an increase in CPK at J1 and J2 respect to T0 and at J3 and J4 respect to all other time points (p<0.05). LDH activity showed an increase at J2 respect to T0, at J3 respect to T0, J1, J2 and at J4 respect to all other time points (p<0.05). AST values increased at J1 and J2 respect to T0 (p<0.05). A significant increase of CREA was found at J3respect to T0, T1 and J1 and at J4 respect to all other time points (p<0.05). A decrease in serum urea levels was found at J1 respect to T0, at J2 and J4 respect to T0 and T1; at T2 respect to T0 (p<0.05). A positive correlation between urea/CPK (p=0.0042, r2=0.030), LDH/CPK (p<0.0001, r2=0.535), CREA/LDH (p<0.0001, r2=0.263), CREA/CPK (p<0.0001, r2=0.496) was observed.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that 5 days recovery period between the two consecutive competition weekends is insufficient to allow muscle recovery and avoid potential additional stress. The findings obtained in this study improve the knowledge about metabolic changes occurring in athlete horse during the competition to identify muscle alterations following show jumping competitions.

Keywords: horse, muscle enzymes, physical exercise, show jumping competition

Effect of dietary supplementation of garlic, ginger and their combination on feed intake, growth performance and economics in commercial broilers

Research (Published online: 08-03-2016)

4. Effect of dietary supplementation of garlic, ginger and their combination on feed intake, growth performance and economics in commercial broilers - V. K. Karangiya, H. H. Savsani, Shrikant Soma Patil, D. D. Garg, K. S. Murthy, N. K. Ribadiya and S. J. Vekariya

Veterinary World, 9(3): 245-250

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.245-250

Abstract

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Aim: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of garlic, ginger and their combination in the diets of broiler chickens and assessment in terms of feed intake, growth performance and economics of feeding.

Materials and Methods: A total of 240 1-day-old Cobb-400 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments each with three replicates of 20 chicks per replicate (n=60). Four experimental diets were formulated in such a way that control diet (T1) contained neither ginger nor garlic. While, birds in group T2 and T3 were fed with diets containing 1% garlic and ginger, respectively. Diet 4 (T4 group) contained a combination of 1% of garlic and ginger. The feeding experiment was carried out for 42 days, and different parameters evaluated includes feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, gut morphometry, and economics of feeding in terms of return over feed cost (ROFC) and European Performance Efficiency Index.

Results: Feed intake of experimental birds in ginger and mixture of garlic and ginger supplemented groups, i.e., T3 and T4 groups have significantly (p<0.05) higher feed intake as compared to control. While, feeding of garlic have non-significant effect on feed intake as compared to other groups. A body weight gain (g/bird) was found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in garlic (T2 group) and ginger (T3group) supplemented group as compare to control and garlic and ginger mixture supplemented group (T4 group). Feed conversion ratio was significantly (p<0.05) lower in ginger (T3 group) supplemented group as compare to other groups. Mean villi length, villi width and cryptal depth were significantly (p<0.05) higher in T3 group than rest of all three groups, indicating increased absorptive surface area. ROFC was significantly (p<0.05) lower in T3 and T4 groups as compare to control. However, it was not significantly different between control and T2 group.

Conclusion: On the basis of the results of the study, it is concluded that supplementation of garlic improves the performance of broilers when added at the rate of 1% of broiler ration and can be a viable alternative to antibiotic growth promoter in the feeding of broiler chicken.

Keywords: body weight, broiler chickens, feed intake, garlic, ginger.

Effect of heat stress on reproductive performances of dairy cattle and buffaloes: A review

Review (Published online: 05-03-2016)

3. Effect of heat stress on reproductive performances of dairy cattle and buffaloes: A review - Soumya Dash, A. K. Chakravarty, Avtar Singh, Arpan Upadhyay, Manvendra Singh and Saleem Yousuf

Veterinary World, 9(3): 235-244

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.235-244

Abstract

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Heat stress has adverse effects on the reproductive performances of dairy cattle and buffaloes. The dairy sector is a more vulnerable to global warming and climate change. The temperature humidity index (THI) is the widely used index to measure the magnitude of heat stress in animals. The bjective of this paper was to assess the decline in performances of reproductive traits such as service period, conception rate and pregnancy rate of dairy cattle and buffaloes with respect to increase in THI. The review stated that service period in cattle is affected by season of calving for which cows calved in summer had the longest service period. The conception rate and pregnancy rate in dairy cattle were found decreased above THI 72 while a significant decline in reproductive performances of buffaloes was observed above threshold THI 75. The non-heat stress zone (HSZ) (October to March) is favorable for optimum reproductive performance, while fertility is depressed in HSZ (April to September) and critical HSZ (CHSZ) (May and June). Heat stress in animals has been associated with reduced fertility through its deleterious impact on oocyte maturation and early embryo development. The management strategies viz., nutrition modification, environment modification and timed artificial insemination protocol are to be strictly operated to ameliorate the adverse effects of heat stress in cattle and buffaloes during CHSZ to improve their fertility. The identification of genes associated with heat tolerance, its incorporation into breeding program and the inclusion of THI covariate effects in selection index should be targeted for genetic evaluation of dairy animals in the hot climate.

Keywords: buffaloes, cattle, heat stress zone, reproductive traits, temperature humidity index.