Research Aspects in Agriculture and Veterinary Science Vol. 3

A horse with poor body condition, periodontal infection and pain around the mandibular incisors with only fragments of the teeth left was studied and radiographed before and after surgery during a 17-month period.

Another horse with a mandibular fracture and fractured teeth were followed by yearly radiographed for a period of 9 years to observe the resorption of parts of the roots. The horse had no clinical problems at all related to the mandibular and teeth fractures.

The aim of this study was to show that resorption of the teeth in the horse is not always related to hypercementosis, and clinical symptoms are often related to infection around the teeth. A fractured root does always result in clinical symptoms. The resorption rate seems depending on the status of periodontal membrane. If the membrane is intact the resorption process is prolonged (several years). If the membrane is demolished the resorption is quite rapid (about a year). If there is infection even more rapid.

The study objectives were to find whether cow growth, milk yield, and maze learning behaviour are affected by rearing conditions until weaning and the sire lineage. 35 Holstein heifers were assigned to one of three treatments: SM, n=13, pen with mother to 21st day, then group pen (they received a maximum 6 kg milk daily); SN, n=9, after 3 days with own mother in pen with nursing cow (they received a maximum 6 kg milk daily); H, n=13, in hutch from 2nd to 56th day, 6 kg milk replacer daily), then loose housing pen to weaning (6 kg milk replacer daily). After weaning at 84th day, all heifers were kept in pens with the same ration to the calving. During the lactation, live body weight (LBW) was measured each month and milk yield each day. Maze learning was evaluated at the 5th month of lactation. The data were analysed using a General Linear Model ANOVA. At the 30th day, the LBW tended to be the highest in SN (SM 528.2±11.4 kg, SN 571.7±15.3 kg, H 533.2±12.3 kg). On the lactation end, the highest LBW was in SN and the lowest in H (SM 612.6±12.2 kg, SN 623.1±16.4 kg, H 569.8±13.2 kg, P<0.05). The SN tended to the highest production of milk (SM 7143.9±241.5 kg, SN 7345.1±319.0 kg, H 7146.7±234 kg), and the H for FCM (SM 6290.3±203.2 kg, SN 6307.6±268.4 kg, H 6399.3±197.1 kg) for 305-days lactation. Group SN crossed the maze fastest (SM 1141.4±120.5 s, SN 810.3±160.5 s, H 1120.8±118.6 s). The vocalisations number differed significantly (SM 32.3±5.7, SN 20.8±4.4, H 9.9±2.6, P<0.01). The results indicated that the rearing method to weaning may have an impact on dairy cows performance and behaviour.

Lignolytic enzymes such as laccase, manganese peroxidase, lignin peroxidase and versatile peroxidase secreted by ligninolytic fungi have been used to deconstruct lignocellulosic biomass for feeding ruminants. The article focuses on the analysis of ligninolytic enzymes and their applications with emphasis on the structures, catalysis, and reaction mechanisms. It also speaks about the fermentation methods employed for large scale production describing the analytical techniques used to assess the nutritive value of the feed in question. It does not emphasize on utilization of carbohydrate components of the crop residues for biofuel and generation of other renewable sources of energy from lignocellulosics. The objective is to provide an overall picture on the advantages of biological delignification of lignocellulosics for improved ruminant performance. The review portrays the current scenario of the ligninolytic enzyme technology and its relevance in livestock feed industry and scope for adapting the methods described for future interventions.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of probiotic on carcass characteristics of commercial broiler chicks. Two probiotic levels (without and with probiotic supplementation) were considered for the study. The experiment consisted of two replicates for probiotic groups. The carcass characteristics and Conformation traits of broiler was evaluated at 6th week of age. Data were analyzed on survivor and equal number of bird’s per subclass basis. Analysis of variance revealed that the difference between replicates were not significant for the different traits under study as such all subsequent analysis was performed on combined sex basis. Inclusion of probiotic showed the significant effect on males, females and on combined sex basis the results of present study on per cent shrinkage, per cent dressing, per cent giblet and on total per cent meat yield. Higher per cent yield was estimated for most of the carcass components in the control group than the diet supplemented with probiotic. The cut-up parts yield (leg, breast, back with neck & wings) more or less similar in control and probiotic supplemented dietary group and also the percentage was lower in probiotic supplemented diet than the control group. The proximate principles of the meat revealed that there was no effect of the treatments on moisture, fat and ash content. However, the protein content was reduced significantly in broilers diet containing Probiotics. The lactobacillus counts were recorded higher in probiotic fed groups than the control.

Electric field exposure during fish harvesting at aquaculture farm or sampling site is one of the recommended stunning method that consistence with animal welfare. The objectives of these study are to determine the microbiological and psychochemical quality of climbing perch subjected to 50, 70, 90 and 110 V electroshock for 2 min and controls were left untreated. The bacteria count in climbing perch showed a significantly (p<0.05) reduced after stunned at 70-90 V. Meanwhile, stunning at 50 and 110 V were not comparatively different (p>0.05) to the untreated samples. Stunning at 50-110 V were not significantly (p<0.05) effects the pH value in climbing perch. Climbing perch stunned at 90-110 V showed a significantly (p<0.05) lower amount of total colour compared to the untreated samples and give a pale looks and discoloration to the fish flesh. It is suggested electric field exposure for fish harvesting at range 70-90 V, which significantly contributes to reduce microbial effects and giving a minimal appearance changes.

This study was conducted in order to assess the influence of four doses (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg (g dry matter)-1 of commercial fibrolytic enzymes (MAXFIBER-I®, SHAUMANN GmbH, Wahlstedt, Germany) on in vitro fermentation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) by-products: date kernels, wasted dates, floral stems, and palm fronds. Rumen contents were obtained from two non-lactating Holstein cows. Enzyme supplementation to by-products was carried out 12 h prior to incubation.

Compared to the control, the enzymatic supplementation quadratically increased the extent but not the gas production rate of date kernel fermentation. Indeed, the potential gas production increased notably by 14.8% with the lowest enzymes dose following recorded gas production after 48, 72, and 96 h of incubation. The estimated organic-matter digestibility, metabolisable energy, and total volatile fatty acids in the incubation fluid tended to be increased with the lowest dose by 7.8%, 8.4%, and 13.9% respectively. For the wasted dates, this feed additive tended to linearly increase the gas production rate of fermentation with the highest dose. On the other hand, this supplementation had no effect on the ruminal fermentation of the floral stems and palm fronds. The exogenous fibrolytic enzymes were more effective on fibrous but not on lignified date palm by-products.

Echinococcus granulosus, a cestode parasite, causes cystic hydatid illness, which is caused by its larval stage. Hydatid cysts are one of the most common parasitic infections in Libya, causing numerous health problems in humans and resulting in financial losses due to the condemnation of infected viscera from slaughtered animals, as well as a reduction in the quality and quantity of other livestock products such as milk, wool, and meat. The adult stage of the parasite is approximately 3-7 mm long with typically three segments as well as other cestodes morphological features and characteristics which help in species diagnosis. Cystic hydatidosis is a disease that affects a wide range of animal species with varying rates of infection, such as sheep (1.6 to 40%), goats (5.6 to 70%), cattle (2.7 to 56%), and camels (2.7 to 48%), according to many abattoir examinations in Libya (2.7 to 48%). Cystic echinococcosis in livestock can be classed as hyper endemic throughout the country based on available abattoir data, as the infection rate in all animal species reached almost 50% or more, meeting WHO standards. It's difficult to assess the exact economic losses caused by cystic hydatidosis in livestock because all abattoirs lack accurate and up-to-date government records. The diagnosis of the parasite larval stage (hydatid disease) in living intermediate hosts (ante mortem) is primarily based on imaging and serological methods, whereas the examination of hydatid cysts after slaughtering the animals (post mortem) can be based on inspection of several expected infected organs, primarily the liver and lungs, but also the spleen, kidneys, heart, brain, and bones of the animal carcasses. Prevention of cystic hydatid disease focuses mostly on veterinary investigations to reduce the extent and intensity of echinococcosis in definitive host populations, which may indirectly lead to control of hydatid disease prevalence in intermediate host species. Anti-helminthic medications can be used to treat cystic hydatidosis in animals, which is still under investigation. Regular treatment, extreme caution while handling pets or dealing with animal flesh, and vaccination of ruminant intermediate hosts, are all being considered to reduce the level of infection and egg excretion.

Ten farmers consisting of large, medium, small and marginal from each of six taluka ie Pernem, Bicholim and Ponda taluka of North Goa district; Salcete, Canacona and Sanguem talukas of South Goa district in total sixty farmers from six talukas were considered for this study based on cattle population with the object to develop suitable housing system to enhance comfort of animal and to increase the productivity of animal under the agro climatic condition of Goa. Farmers were interviewed for collecting information on housing and production aspect of dairy cattle. Subsequently farmers were grouped according to type of dairy house. Data on microenvironment of cattle shed and daily milk yield of cows were recorded besides feeding and disease occurrence. Data analysis revealed that orientation of cattle shed had significant (P < 0.05) effect on av. daily milk yield, av. daily air temperature, av. daily relative humidity, while highly significant effect (P < 0.01) on av. daily temperature humidity index. Lesser heat stress and more milk yield were observed in cattle house having east – west orientation. Ventilation of cattle shed had highly significant (P < 0.01) effect on av. daily milk yield, while significant effect (P < 0.05) on av. daily air temperature, av. daily relative humidity and av. daily temperature humidity index. Significantly higher milk yield (9.896 ± 0.090 kg), significantly lower air temperature (27.62 ± 0.13°C), significantly lower relative humidity (79.43 ± 0.35%) were observed in cattle shed with good ventilation. Floor space provision inside cattle shed had highly significant (P < 0.01) effect on av. daily milk yield and all the microenvironments. Average daily milk yield (9.736 ± 0.085 kg) was significantly higher while av. daily relative humidity (79.88 ± 0.37%) was significantly lower in cattle shed where standard floor space of minimum 5 m² per cattle was maintained. Cooling arrangement in cattle house had highly significant (P < 0.01) effect on av. daily milk yield and all the micro environmental parameters. It was inferred that besides manual and mechanical cooling if false ceiling is made inside cattle house cow would feel more comfort with higher milk yield.