CONTROL OF IRON DEFICIENCYANAEMIA IN PIGLETS THROUGH 2-7-10-15 MODULE OF ORAL IRON SUPPLEMENTATION

Iron deficiency anemia is the leading cause of piglet mortality. It happens due to low iron stores in piglets at birth, increasing body weight with the high demand for hemoglobin carrying red blood cells, presence of a very low amount of iron in sow’s milk, and immature mechanism of iron absorption in piglets. Iron supplementation is the only way to control it. The present study investigated the efficacy of oral iron supplementation in two different doses @ 30 mg/kg body weight and 150 mg/ kg body weight on suckling piglet performance, control of iron deficiency anemia, and blood as well as organ iron status. The iron supplementation was given on the 2nd, 7th, 10th, and 15 th- day post birth. Oral iron supplementation to piglets improved growth parameters, hemoglobin level, serum Fe and serum ferritin levels, and organ (liver and spleen) Fe levels. Moreover, at weaning, hemoglobin levels of supplemented piglets were normal whereas the un-supplemented piglets were suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Therefore, oral iron supplementation @ of 30 mg/kg body weight on 2-7-10-15 days post-birth may be recommended for control of iron deficiency anemia and improvement of iron status in piglets

Technical Bulletin No. 15

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Technical Bulletin No. 14

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Not AvailablePig farming is one of the most economically viable options for the rural backward and resource-poor farmers in Asian countries. Growth rate and litter size are the most important traits based on which the crossbreeding programs are typically planned in commercial pig farming. The modern system of farming with high yielding improved pig germplasm helps in economic growth in piggery enterprises. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of various genetic and non-genetic factors on growth and reproductive performances of 75% crossbred progenies of Large White Yorkshire and indigenous Agonda Goan pigs. Body weights were recorded at birth, weaning, and at monthly intervals up to 10 months of age. Reproductive performances were also recorded for litter size and weights at birth and weaning stages, age at first farrowing, number of services per conception, farrowing interval, and pre-weaning mortality. The general linear model was used to estimate overall least square means of body weights at different ages considering the effects of different factors at certain levels viz., generation (i = first, second, third, fourth), sex (j = male, female), litter size at birth (k = 1–3, 4–6, 7–9, ≥10), parity (l = 1, 2, ≥3), season (m = summer, rainy, spring), and period of birth (n = 2012–2015, 2016–2019). The heritability and genetic correlations for different traits were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method using WOMBAT software. The re(production) parameters were analyzed to assess the genetic improvement in successive generations. There was significant difference (p < 0.01) in body weights among different generations where animals belonging to latest generation showed maximum body weights indicating ideal selective breeding in the herd. Other fixed effects also had significant effects on growth performance which clearly signifies to the crucial influence of rearing environment and animal factors like parity of dams as well as litter size at birth. The overall birth weight, weaning weight, and weight at 10 months of age were 1.00 ± 0.01 kg, 7.57 ± 0.07 kg, and 81.58 ± 1.96 kg, respectively. Nevertheless, weaning weight and weight at marketing age (8 months) were 8.04 ± 0.27 kg and 75.48 ± 1.40 kg, respectively, in fourth generation, indicating higher post-weaning growth rate of 337.20 g/day. During this fourth generation, mean litter size at birth was 8.35 ± 0.43 and litter size at weaning was 7.79 ± 0.39 with lowest percentage of pre-weaning mortality (4.11 ± 1.51). The average age at first farrowing and farrowing interval was 293 ± 17.24 and 195 ± 4.78 days, respectively. There was apparently greater genetic gain in each generation except for the second generation which might be due to the environment and managemental issues that hindered reproductive performance traits and body growth. The heritability estimate for weaning weight was 0.45 and higher heritability values were observed for all the body weights except weight at third month. Genetic as well as phenotypic correlations were moderate to high among the growth traits. The heritability and genetic correlations at birth and weaning indicate the reliability of selection at an early age. The findings indicated that there is scope for improvement through genetic selection in later generations and the 75% crossbred pigs thrived well in the prevailing hot and humid tropical coastal climate. The improved germplasm could satisfy the farmers’ need in a commercial venture with high economic return.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableShiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 and several other serogroups of non-O157 STEC strains present as commensalism bacteria in small ruminants that possess a high potential of attaining pathogenic virulent genetic elements. The pathogenicity of non-O157 strains is emerging progressively in animals as well as in humans especially in the rural areas as they get transmitted through unsanitary practices of living, consumption of uncooked meat and milk, human-livestock close proximity as well as within livestock pathogenic bacterial transmission. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of non-O157 E.coli isolates and characterize based on clinical history, antibiotic sensitivity testing, multiplex PCR (mPCR) detection of virulence genes, genotype identification using pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic separation of antigenic proteins to determine their prevalence, virulence and genetic comparison between host and environment for epidemiological significance. A total of 300 E.coli isolates were recovered from rectal swabs of goats and their surrounding environment over a period of one year (2016–2017) by selective isolation. Among which 50 isolates were confirmed to be from the non-O157 E.coli family. The mPCR analysis of these 50 isolates revealed the presence of two or more virulent genes, viz., hylA (90%), fliC (74%), eaeA (56%), stx1 (48%) and stx2 (22%).Four isolates exhibited multidrug-resistance to amoxiclav, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin and ceftriazone. The PFGE fingerprint profile showed six major clusters at 100% similarity from the 50 isolates. The major antigenic proteins identified from the isolates were stx1A, stx2B and fliC. This study has significant implications for understanding the molecular diversity of emerging pathotypes of non-O157 in young goats in terms of virulence and epidemiological aspects.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableBrucellosis is a highly contagious zoonotic infection affecting livestock and human beings. The disease has been reported worldwide except in few countries where it has been eradicated. The prevalence of brucellosis among cattle from 11 farms having a history of abortions was studied. A total of 481 samples comprising of blood, milk, vaginal swabs, vaginal discharges, placental tissues and fetal tissues were collected from 296 animals. Clinical samples were processed for the isolation of Brucella. Serum samples (n = 296) were tested by Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and indirect ELISA. A total of 90 (30.40%) and 123 (41.55%) samples were positive by RBPT and indirect ELISA, respectively. Also 27.02% samples were positive by both the tests. Brucella isolates (n = 8) were recovered from clinical samples using Brucella selective media. All the isolates demonstrated PCR amplification for the bcsp31 and IS711 genes. Amplification of B. abortus specific primer was demonstrated by all the isolates in AMOS PCR indicating isolates to be of either B. abortus biotype 1, 2 or 4. Risk factors for transmission of brucellosis among cattle population were studied by field surveys. It was observed that lack of awareness about brucellosis (OR = 8.739, P = 0.138) and inadequate floor space (OR = 0.278, P = 0.128) were crucial risk factors for transmission of bovine brucellosis.Not Availabl

Ecosystem Network Analysis in a Smallholder Integrated Crop–Livestock System for Coastal Lowland Situation in Tropical Humid Conditions of India

The integrated crop&ndash;livestock system (ICLS) is a farming strategy that helps to sustain agrobiodiversity, ecosystem services, and restores environmental sustainability. Furthermore, ICLS provides food and nutritional security to the small and marginal farmers in developing nations. In this context a mass-balanced ecosystem model was constructed for a smallholder ICLS along the Indian west coast to analyze the agro-ecological performance in terms of sustainability, resource use, nutrient balance and recycling. Thirteen functional groups were defined in the ICLS model with trophic levels ranging from 1.00 (detritus and benthic nitrogen fixers) to 3.00 (poultry and ruminants). The total system throughput index was estimated to be 1134.9 kg N ha&minus;1 year&minus;1 of which 60% was from consumption, 15% from exports, 10% from respiration, and the remaining 15% eventually flowing into detritus. The gross efficiency of the ecosystem was estimated to 0.3, which indicated higher growth rates and low maintenance energy costs. The higher food self-sufficiency ration of 7.4 indicated the integration of crop&ndash;livestock as an imperative system to meet the food and nutritional requirement of the farm family. The indices such as system overhead (60%), Finn&rsquo;s cycling index (16.6) and mean path length (3.5) denoted that the ICLS is a small, resource-efficient, stable, maturing and sustainable ecosystem in terms of the ecosystem principles and recycling. The present model will serve as the first model on the ICLS from the humid tropics and will help in the evaluation of the other agro-ecological systems using the Ecopath modelling approach. In conclusion, farm intensification through crop and animal diversification has the highest impact on farm productivity, food self-sufficiency and resource-use-efficiency of the smallholder&rsquo;s livelihood security

Legacies of domestication, Neolithic diffusion and trade between Indian subcontinent and Island Southeast Asia shape maternal genetic diversity of Andaman cattle

Andaman cattle is a precious indigenous livestock species endemic to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Till date, origin and genetic makeup of the breed which is warranted for breed conservation is not known. Moreover, the spread of zebu cattle from Indus valley to different parts of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) is not properly understood. Here, we report the genetic diversity, population structure of Andaman cattle and their evolution in the context of epicentre of zebu domestication and ISEA. High genetic diversity in complete mitochondrial D-loop sequences indicated the ability of the breed to withstand impending climate change. Total 81 haplotypes were detected and all of them except three belonged to Bos indicus. The presence of taurine haplotypes in Andaman cattle indicate introgression by European-derived cattle. A poor phylogenetic signal of Andaman cattle with genetic affinities with cattle of Indian subcontinent and ISEA was observed. The poor phylogenetic structure may be due to multidirectional gene flow from Indian subcontinent and ISEA, with which Andaman shares a close cultural and trade relationship from Neolithic age. We hypothesize that Andaman cattle is the outcome of Neolithic diffusion from centre of zebu domestication along with multidirectional commercial exchange between Indian subcontinent and ISEA

Ecosystem Network Analysis in a Smallholder Integrated Crop–Livestock System for Coastal Lowland Situation in Tropical Humid Conditions of India

Not AvailableThe integrated crop–livestock system (ICLS) is a farming strategy that helps to sustain agrobiodiversity, ecosystem services, and restores environmental sustainability. Furthermore, ICLS provides food and nutritional security to the small and marginal farmers in developing nations. In this context a mass-balanced ecosystem model was constructed for a smallholder ICLS along the Indian west coast to analyze the agro-ecological performance in terms of sustainability, resource use, nutrient balance and recycling. Thirteen functional groups were defined in the ICLS model with trophic levels ranging from 1.00 (detritus and benthic nitrogen fixers) to 3.00 (poultry and ruminants). The total system throughput index was estimated to be 1134.9 kg N ha−1 year−1 of which 60% was from consumption, 15% from exports, 10% from respiration, and the remaining 15% eventually flowing into detritus. The gross efficiency of the ecosystem was estimated to 0.3, which indicated higher growth rates and low maintenance energy costs. The higher food self-sufficiency ration of 7.4 indicated the integration of crop–livestock as an imperative system to meet the food and nutritional requirement of the farm family. The indices such as system overhead (60%), Finn’s cycling index (16.6) and mean path length (3.5) denoted that the ICLS is a small, resource-efficient, stable, maturing and sustainable ecosystem in terms of the ecosystem principles and recycling. The present model will serve as the first model on the ICLS from the humid tropics and will help in the evaluation of the other agro-ecological systems using the Ecopath modelling approach. In conclusion, farm intensification through crop and animal diversification has the highest impact on farm productivity, food self-sufficiency and resource-use-efficiency of the smallholder’s livelihood security