STUDIES ON THE PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES OF SOVIET CHINCHILLA AND NEW ZEALAND WHITE BREEDS OF RABBIT UNDER THE SUBTROPICAL CONDITION OF TRIPURA

ABSTRACT Productive and reproductive performances of New Zealand White and Soviet Chinchilla breeds of rabbit were studied under the sub-tropical climate of Tripura in India. Data from 261 litters were collected and studied. Both the breeds under study performed equally well. Only the number of service per conception and inter kindling interval were significantly (p<0.01) higher in New Zealand White than Soviet Chinchilla. Both the breed and sex of the rabbit had no significant effect on individual body weight at weaning (d-42) as well as at day of slaughter (d-90). Season of kindling exerted highly significant (p<0.01) effect on service period, kindling interval, and individual weight at weaning (d-42) and at slaughtering age (d-90). Winter season (November-March) was the most favourable season for kindling in terms of both their productive as well as reproductive efficiency where as summer season (April-June) turned to be the most unfavourable season. Age at first fertile service, age at first kindling, gestation period, litter size at birth did not influence by the season of kindling

Rainwater harvesting and integrated development of agri-horti-livestock-cumpisciculture in high altitudes for livelihood of Tribal farmers

Participatory rainwater harvesting for promoting integrated development of agri-horti-livestock-cum-pisciculture was implemented during 2004-2008 at high altitude (> 1500m MSL) areas of Mawlangkhar village, West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya in a watershed approach to assess and refine improved package of practices integrating crops, fruits, vegetables, fish and animal production for higher productivity and income. Soil and water conservation measures like construction and renovation of ponds, jalkund- a micro rainwater harvesting structure on hilltops, bench and half moon terraces were developed with the active participation of the local peoples. The quantum of water harvested at one point of time during monsoon season through two ponds in community lands (2.69 million litre water), two ponds in individual farmer’s land (1.2 million litre water) and 15 jalkunds (0.45 million litre) on hill tops estimated to be about 4.3 million litre, was utilized for multiple purposes including irrigation, pisciculture, livestocks and domestic purpose. The cost of water harvesting in community pond was computed at ₹ 12/1000 litre (L) and for jalkund ₹ 82/1000 litre considering the lives of pond and jalkund for at least 20 and 3 years, respectively. Impact analysis revealed that the productivity has gone up by 30–40% in potato and 45-50 % in rice with the introduction of improved package of practices for various crops, availability of irrigation water and integration of different components. Farmers are now able to get about ₹ 2 440/month from community dairy unit and the individual farmer’s income from piggery unit increased substantially which ranged from ₹ 8 465 to 16 654/year. Besides, farmers are earning a substantial income (₹ 10 000/annum from community pond) from composite pisciculuture. Therefore, integrated watershed programme could be considered as a successful model for high altitude areas of North East India and similar other ecosystems for livelihood improvement of resource poor tribal farmers

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Not AvailableIt is an irony that an area like the Northeast known for its high precipitation rate, suffers from water scarcity during post-rainy season (November to April). In the absence of major and medium irrigation potential/ facilities, the alternative method is to explore minor irrigation potential through effective water-conservation measures. A low-cost rainwater harvesting structure called Jalkund of varying capacity (6000–30,000 l of water) has been developed for the hilltops at the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya. However, farmers may have option for the capacity according to their water requirement for the crop intended to be cultivated and also for diversified use of stored water in various farm activities like crop, livestock and fish production during post-rainy season (stress period). The Jalkund was made up of clay and cow-dung plastering followed by 3–5 cm cushioning with dry pine leaf, laying down of 250 mm LDPE black agri-film and covering with 5–8 cm bamboo thatch. The study revealed that the cost/l of stored water was Rs 0.14 during the first year considering Rs 4205 of total cost which came down to Rs 0.046/l of stored water during the third year owing to negligible maintenance cost. Feedback from beneficiaries envisages that 30,000 l of stored water in Jalkund could support 200 tomato plants, rear five piglets or two ducks or 50 poultry birds along with reasonable amount of fish seedling from November to April. Using stored water economically in various farm activities is the most acceptable and profitable one particularly to those in the hilltops, who are the worst sufferers due to water scarcity. This economically viable and easily adoptable technology needs to be popularized among large sectors of farmers.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableGenital organs of 10 healthy, adult Mithun bulls (6-8 years old) that were slaughtered at the dwellings of tribal people for meat were collected. Immediately after collection, spermatozoa from 3 different regions of the epididymis, i.e. the head, body and tail, were obtained to study morphological changes of the spermatozoa during passage through these regions. The prevalence of proximal cytoplasmic droplets significantly decreased from the head to the tail of the epididymis. Conversely, the percentage of distal cytoplasmic droplets increased significantly from the head to the tail region. The incidence of tailless heads rose significantly from head to body and then reduced significantly in the tail region. The percentage of total head abnormalities did, however, not change markedly, but total mid-piece and tail abnormalities differed significantly between the three epididymal regions.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableCharacterization of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) partial gene in mithunNot Availabl

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Not AvailableThe objective of this study was to develop a simple and quick DNA extraction procedure for rapid diagnosis of sex of chicken and its embryos using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using alkaline method of DNA extraction from whole blood and feather bulb of adults, and tissue samples from embryos, the present study demonstrated that identification of sex by multiplex PCR protocol is simplest, safer, faster and inexpensive. Multiplex PCR was used to amplify W chromosome specific 481-bp fragment in female and 256bp fragment of 18S ribosomal gene in both male and female chicken. DNA samples were prepared by conventional phenol-chloroform-iso-amyl alcohol (PCI) method, modified PCI method, wizard genomic DNA purification kit and a simple alkaline method from blood samples and feather bulbs of adults and tissue samples of embryos. The protocol successfully identified sex of embryos and White Leghorn (Exotic), indigenous and Vanaraja (Hybrid of exotic and indigenous) varieties of chicken. Sequence comparison of W chromosome specific PCR products amplified from these three varieties showed no difference among them.SER

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Not AvailableA simple and rapid multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed for quick diagnosis of sex of duck and duck embryos. W chromosome specific DNA sequence was selected and primers were designed to amplify 335 bp fragment from female sex while 16s ribosomal sequence was selected to design primers to amplify 468 bp PCR products both in male and female sex as an internal control. Nucleotide sequences of W chromosome specific DNA fragments of Khaki Campbell and Indian Runner breeds of duck were found to be identical both in size and sequences, The study concluded that the protocol was successful in precisely identifying the gender of ducklings belonging to both Indian Runner and Khaki Campbell breeds of ducks and duck embryosSER

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Not AvailablePanigrahi, M., Kumar, S., Deb, S.M., Mitra, A., Sharma, A. and Bujarbaruah, K.M. 2009. Lack of polymorphism in partial insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and insulin like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) genes of mithun. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 36: 41-44. A 396 bp fragment encompassing exon 5 of Insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene and 652 bp fragment encompassing exon 2-3 of Insulin like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) gene were digested by HindIII and NlaIII restriction enzymes, respectively, in 90 mithun (Bos frontalis). The PCR-RFLP analysis showed the absence ofpolymorphism in these fragments in the animals screened. HindIII restriction enzyme produced two fragments of 269 and 127 bp in exon-5 of IGFl. Similarly maIII restriction enzyme produced two fragments of 551 and 101 bp in exon 2-3 of IGFBP3 gene. Two single nucleotide differences in IGFl while six such differences in IGFBP3 gene existed in mithun sequences when compared to cattle. The sequence of the amplicons, which were the first reports on these genes in mithun, were submitted to GenBank (Accession numbers EF686016 and EF686017, respectively).Not Availabl

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Not AvailableKumar, S., Gupta, S., Manohar R.P.V., Deb, S.M., Mitra, A., Sharma, A. and Bujarbaruah, K.M. 2009. Nucleotide variability of partial somatotropin hormone (STH) gene in mithun (BOS frontalis). J. Appl. h i m . Res., 35: 165-168. A fragment of 544 bp corresponding to exon 1 and 2 of somatotropin hormone (STH) gene was amplified in 90 mithun (Bos frontalis). The nucleotide sequence similarity of mithun with zebu cattle, yak, exotic cattle and buffalo was found to be 99.6,99.4,98.9 and 93.5%, whereas, the corresponding figures for deduced amino acid sequence were 100, 100, 99.4 and 98.8%, respectively. The PstI and PvuII PCR-RFLP analysis produced bands of 479, 65 and 448, 96 bp, respectively, in all the animals indicating no mutant allele and hence monomorphism in the mithun population studied. The sequence of the amplicon was submitted to GenBank (Accn no, EU166347).Not Availabl

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Not AvailableKumar, S., Manohar, R.P.V., Deb, S.M., Mitra, A., John, B., Sharma, A. and Bujarbaruah, K.M. 2008. Genetic variability of somatotropin releasing hormone (SRH) gene in Mithun (Bos frontalis). J. Appl. admin. Res., 33: 205-207. A fragment of 452 bp corresponding to exon 2 and 3 of somatotropin releasing hormone (SRH) gene on amplification in 90 mithun (Bos frontalis) revealed two genotypic patterns viz. AA genotypic pattern (bands of 292 and 160 bp) and AB genotypic pattern (452,292, and 160 bp) with respect to SauI restriction enzyme. The sequence of the A allele, which was the first report on mithun SRH gene, was submitted to GenBank (Accession No. EF014289).Not Availabl