Effect of season on physiological, biochemical, hormonal, and oxidative stress parameters of indigenous sheep

Research (Published online: 16-06-2017)

13. Effect of season on physiological, biochemical, hormonal, and oxidative stress parameters of indigenous sheep

Sawankumar D. Rathwa, A. A. Vasava, M. M. Pathan, S. P. Madhira, Y. G. Patel and A. M. Pande

Veterinary World, 10(6): 650-654

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of summer and winter season on physiological, biochemical, hormonal, and antioxidant parameters in Indigenous sheep.

Materials and Methods: The research was carried out during summer and winter season. 8 adult apparently healthy female sheep (aged 2-4 years) of similar physiological status were selected. Daily ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded to calculate the temperature-humidity index (THI). The THI value of summer and winter season were 82.55 and 59.36, respectively, which indicate extreme hot condition during summer season and extreme cold condition during winter season. Physiological parameters were recorded daily during the experimental periods. Blood samples were collected at weekly interval and analyzed for biochemical, hormonal, and antioxidant parameters. The results were analyzed using completely randomized design.

Results: From data obtained in this study, we found that higher THI during summer have significant effect over various physiological, biochemical, hormonal, and enzymatic indices of indigenous sheep. The physiological response such as rectal temperature, respiration rate (RR), pulse rate (PR), and skin temperature (ST) was increased significantly. We also found a significant increase in some biochemical parameters such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, creatinine (Cr), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), sodium (Na), and potassium (K). The level of cortisol hormone and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and lipid peroxidase (LPO) antioxidants increased significantly during summer. Whereas, some parameters such as glucose, cholesterol, calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (IP), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) were decreased significantly during summer season.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the THI is a sensitive indicator of heat stress and is impacted by ambient temperature more than the relative humidity in Indigenous sheep. Higher THI is associated with significant increase in RT, RR, PR, ST, BUN, uric acid, Cr, ALT, AST, Na, K, cortisol, SOD, GPx, and LPO and with a significant decrease in glucose, cholesterol, Ca, IP, T3 and T4.

Keywords: biochemical, indigenous sheep, physiological, temperature humidity index.

Induced pluripotent stem cell: A headway in reprogramming with promising approach in regenerative biology

Review (Published online: 14-06-2017)

12. Induced pluripotent stem cell: A headway in reprogramming with promising approach in regenerative biology

N. Rawat and M. K. Singh

Veterinary World, 10(6): 640-649

ABSTRACT

Since the embryonic stem cells have knocked the doorsteps, they have proved themselves in the field of science, research, and medicines, but the hovered restrictions confine their application in human welfare. Alternate approaches used to reprogram the cells to the pluripotent state were not up to par, but the innovation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) paved a new hope for the researchers. Soon after the discovery, iPSCs technology is undergoing renaissance day by day, i.e., from the use of genetic material to recombinant proteins and now only chemicals are employed to convert somatic cells to iPSCs. Thus, this technique is moving straightforward and productive at an astonishing pace. Here, we provide a brief introduction to iPSCs, the mechanism and methods for their generation, their prevailing and prospective applications and the future opportunities that can be expected from them.

Keywords: cellular reprogramming, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, stem cells.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to astrovirus in chickens in Grenada, West Indies

Research (Published online: 13-06-2017)

11. Seroprevalence of antibodies to astrovirus in chickens in Grenada, West Indies

Ravindra Nath Sharma, Romane Dufayet, Thomas Maufras, Kathryn O' Connell and Keshaw Tiwari

Veterinary World, 10(6): 636-639

ABSTRACT

Aim: Chicken astroviruses (CAstV) are known to cause mild gastroenteritis, growth depression, and even mortality in poultry, especially in chickens, turkeys, and ducks. To the best our knowledge, there is no published information on CAstV in Grenada. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of astrovirus in chickens in Grenada.

Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 366 indigenous chickens and 92 commercial chicken layers were collected from all parishes of the island and tested for antibodies against CAstV using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The seroprevalence of antibodies against astrovirus was 57.6% (95%, Confidence interval [CI]: 47.4-67.2) in commercial layers and 61.5% (95%, CI: 56.4-66.3) in indigenous chickens. The results show the presence of infection throughout the island.

Conclusion: The results show the infection with CAstV in approximately half of the chicken population in Grenada. This is the first report on the prevalence of CAstV in chickens in Grenada and the Caribbean region.

Keywords: Astrovirus, chicken astroviruses, chickens, Grenada, seroprevalence.

Enhancing the growth performance of replacement female breeder goats through modification of feeding program

Research (Published online: 11-06-2017)

10. Enhancing the growth performance of replacement female breeder goats through modification 

of feeding program

A. A. A. Ghani, M. S. Shahudin, M. Zamri-Saad, A. B. Zuki, H. Wahid, A. Kasim, M. S. Salisi and 

Hasliza Abu Hassim

Veterinary World, 10(6): 630-635

ABSTRACT

Aim: The study was conducted at a smallholder goat farm located in Labu, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of proper feeding program on growth performances of replacement breeder goats.

Materials and Methods: A total of 30 healthy female boer cross goats at the age of 4 months old with average initial live body weight (BW) of 20.05±0.5 kg were used for on-farm feeding trial to evaluate the growth performance as preparation for breeding purposes. The experimental goats were divided into two groups of 15 animals each labeled as control and treatment groups, which were kept under intensive farming system. Goats in control group were fed with normal routine feeding protocol practiced by the farmer, while goats in the treatment group were fed with new feed formulation. Throughout the experimental period, on-farm monitoring and data collection were carried out. Initial BW and body condition score (BCS) were recorded before the start of the experiment while final BW and BCS were gained after 7 months of the experimental period. Average daily gain (ADG) was calculated after the experiment end. Data on BW, ADG, and BCS were recorded from both groups for every 2 weeks and reported monthly. The feed intake for the control group was 2.8 kg/animal/day which practiced by the farmer and 3.2 kg/animal/day as new feed formulation for the treatment group.

Results: After 7 months of the experimental period, final BW shows an improvement in treatment group (39.1±1.53 kg) compared with control group (32.3±1.23 kg). The ADG in treatment group also gives promising result when comparing with control group. Goats in treatment group significantly attained better ADG than control group which were 126.7 g/day and 83.3 g/day, respectively. For the BCS, goats in the treatment group had shown an improvement where 86.67% (13 out of 15) of the group had BCS≥3 (1-5 scoring scale) and only 66.67% (10 out of 15) of the control group had BCS≥3.

Conclusion: Therefore, it was concluded that implementation of proper feeding program as shown in treatment group give promising result to improve the growth performance of replacement breeder goats which can be adopted by the farmers to improve farm productivity.

Keywords: feeding, goat, growth performance, replacement breeder.

Study of morphology, chemical, and amino acid composition of red deer meat

Research (Published online: 10-06-2017)

9. Study of morphology, chemical, and amino acid composition of red deer meat

Eleonora Okuskhanova, Bahytkul Assenova, Maksim Rebezov, Kumarbek Amirkhanov, Zhanibek Yessimbekov, 

Farida Smolnikova, Almagul Nurgazezova, Gulnur Nurymkhan and Marilyne Stuart

Veterinary World, 10(6): 623-629

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate red deer (maral) meat quality based on chemical composition, pH, water-binding capacity (WBC), and amino acid content.

Materials and Methods: Maral meat surface morphology measurements were obtained by scanning electron microscopy. Active acidity (pH) was determined by potentiometry. Samples were analyzed for WBC by exudation of moisture to a filter paper by the application of pressure. Chemical composition (moisture, protein, fat, and ash fractions) was obtained by drying at 150°C and by extraction, using ethylic ether, and ashing at 500-600°C. The amino acid composition was obtained by liquid chromatography.

Results: Maral meat, with a pH of 5.85 and an average moisture content of 76.82%, was found to be low in fat (2.26%). Its protein content was 18.71% while its ash content was 2.21%. The amino acid composition showed that lysine (9.85 g/100 g), threonine (5.38 g/100 g), and valine (5.84 g/100 g) predominated in maral meat, while phenylalanine (4.08 g/100 g), methionine (3.29 g/100 g), and tryptophan (0.94 g/100 g) were relatively low in maral meat compared to other meats. The average WBC was found to be 65.82% and WBC was found to inversely correlate with moisture content.

Conclusion: Low-fat content, high mineral content, and balanced amino-acid composition qualify maral meat as a worthy dietary and functional food.

Keywords: amino acid, composition, maral, red deer meat, quality, water-binding capacity.

Effect of high and low roughage total mixed ration diets on rumen metabolites and enzymatic profiles in crossbred cattle and buffaloes

Research (Published online: 09-06-2017)