Mineral Content of Course Cereals Roughages as well as Their Requirement in Dairy Animals

The necessity of mineral for growth, reproduction and production as well as normal physiological functions of animal body is well documented. In most of the tropical countries coarse cereal stovers are second major feed resource after wheat and paddy straw used in the livestock feeding. The concentration of macro and trace minerals in crop residues depends on various factors including species (Singh et al., 2005). Further, limited information is available on coarse cereals stovers mineral content. Therefore, the present study was under taken to see the macro and micro mineral content of some coarse cereal stovers in relation to animal requirement

Mineral Content of Leguminous and Non-Leguminous Crop Residues \u3cem\u3evis a vis\u3c/em\u3e Their Requirement in Animals

The need of mineral for growth, reproduction and production as well as normal physiological functions of animal body is well recognized. In most of the tropical and sub-tropical countries crop residues constitute the major feed resource in the livestock. The concentration of macro and trace minerals in crop residues depend on various factors including genetic and species of plant viz., leguminous and non-leguminous (Singh et al., 1997). Further, limited information is available currently on different types of crop residues. Therefore, in the present study was under taken to see the macro and micro mineral status of some leguminous and non-leguminous crop residues in relation to animal requirement

Buffalo Rearing System in Bhadawari Breeding Tract

Bhadawari buffalo is one of the recognized buffalo breeds in India, known for high milk fat content, which may go as high as 14% (Kushwaha et al., 2012). Zachariah (1941) had first described this breed as “Bhadawan” buffalo – the best breed of buffaloes in Uttar Pradesh and found in the districts of Agra and Etah (Central India). Presently Bhadawari Buffaloes are found in the ravines of Yamuna and Chambal rivers spread over in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. These buffaloes have adapted to the harsh conditions of the ravines with undulating topography, thorny and scanty bushes, climatic stress and draught conditions. The buffaloes are of medium size with medium to low milk yield having high fat content. Animals are of copper color, have two white rings on the lower side of the neck and legs are comparatively shorter. Indiscriminate crossbreeding with Murrah buffaloes, for increasing milk production, during the last 3-4 decades has reduced the number of Bhadawari buffaloes in the region. Looking into the need to conserve this gene pool, Indian Council of Agricultural Research has initiated efforts on conservation and improvement of Bhadawari buffaloes at Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi (IGFRI) under Network program in the year 2001. The present study was conducted to collect the information regarding existing buffalo rearing practices adopted by the farmers in the Bhadawari breeding tract

Indian Forage Scenario – Region Wise Availability and Deficit

In India, rapid urbanisation, changing food habit and higher purchasing power have increased the demand for animal based food products.Proper feeding strategies using green nutritious fodderis key to increase livestock production and productivity in economical and sustainable way.Three major sources of fodder are crop residues, cultivated fodder from arable land (irrigated and rainfed) and fodder from common property resources like forests, permanent pastures, grazing lands, cultivated wasteland, fallow lands etc. Based on the livestock census, we estimated the green and dry fodder availability vis-a-vis demand and emerging deficit/surplus situation. The state wise livestock population for Cattle, Buffaloes, Goat, Sheep, Yak and Mithun were taken into account and the requirement for green, dry forage and animal feed concentrate was worked out considering factors like age, milking or non-milking state, gender, working nature, feeding practices etc. The availability of green forages was estimated based on cultivated area under forage, cropping intensity, productivity etc., green fodder from fallow land, wasteland, forest fringe areas, social forestry, pasture land. For dry fodder, availability of crop residue for fodder was calculated based on the major utilizable cereals, pulses and oilseed crops, harvest index, production, and utilization pattern. Availability of dry forages from forest, wasteland, fallow land and cultivated field after harvest available for grazing were considered. On all India basis, there is an overall deficit of nearly 11 % in green fodder availability and 23 % in dry fodder availability. To meet the deficit scenario various strategies are proposed which includea national programme in mission mode for accelerating production; grassland and grazing policy; rejuvenation of degraded pastures; targeted research and extension programme; entrepreneurship in commercial venture of fodder production and utilization

Survival, morphological variability, and performance of Opuntia ficus-indica in a semi-arid region of India

Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) can survive extreme environmental condition and is known for its fodder potential in many parts of the world. The morphological diversity of 15 introduced accessions was evaluated at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The plants were established in 2013. Survival and nutrient status were evaluated after two years. Above-ground plant height, biomass, primary and secondary cladode numbers, primary and secondary cladode lengths and below-ground root length, weight, and surface area measurements were done six years after cladode planting. Yellow San Cono, White Roccapalumba, and Seedless Roccapalumba survived 100%. The discriminant traits according to principal component analysis were: primary cladodes plant−1 (component loading, 0.87), primary cladodes biomass (0.95), secondary cladodes plant−1 (0.83), canopy width (0.84), and plant biomass (0.92). Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped 15 accessions into two main clusters based on 17 morphological traits. Cluster I showed favorable values for many above- and below-ground morphological traits while Cluster II showed higher performance for root system width, height, and biomass, and primary and secondary cladode numbers. The results indicate that cactus pear accessions have considerable morphological variability and genetic diversity suitable for promotion as alternative fodder resources in semi-arid regions of India

Spineless fodder cactus under different land use and production systems in rainfed semi-arid tropics of India

Spineless forage cactus can be a cost-effective solution for the livestock keepers of semi-arid tropics by providing a stable source of nutritive forage capable of maintaining healthy and productive herds/flocks especially during lean periods. Therefore, the feasibility of growing cactus as an alternate source of feed and fodder in different land use systems was explored for these areas. Spineless fodder cactus was planted under various land uses and production systems like boundary plantation in rainfed farming systems, silvopasture, hortipasture, intercropping with forages like tri-specific hybrid (TSH) and cowpea, waste lands and also on farmers’ fields. The growth and yield of spineless forage cactus was recorded at the one and half year-old stage. On average, cactus achieved 74.8 cm height with 13.4 cladodes plant‑1 and 7.95 kg plant‑1 fresh biomass in TSH based intercropping system. The fresh fodder yield from cactus, TSH and inter-cropping system as a whole was 79.5 t ha‑1, 106.34 t ha‑1 year‑1 and 185.84 t ha‑1, respectively. The survival, cladodes plant‑1 and green fodder yield of cactus in Leucaena based silvipastoral system ranged between 62 and 81%, 2-7 and 1.5-5.25 kg plant‑1 while the corresponding values for Emblica based hortipastoral system were 67-86%, 3-10 and 2.4-8 kg plant‑1. The boundary plantation of cactus in rainfed farming system recorded 84-96% survival, 4-14 cladodes plant‑1 and 4.8-16.8 kg plant‑1 green fodder yield. Similarly, the cactus planted on waste land recorded 73-92% survival, 3-12 cladodes plant‑1 and 2.7-10.8 kg plant‑1 fresh biomass. The cactus planted in boundary plantation system recorded higher growth and fresh biomass followed by grass inter-cropping and least under shade in silvipastoral and hortipastoral systems

Not Available

Not AvailableCactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) can survive extreme environmental condition and is known for its fodder potential in many parts of the world. The morphological diversity of 15 introduced accessions was evaluated at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The plants were established in 2013. Survival and nutrient status were evaluated after two years. Above-ground plant height, biomass, primary and secondary cladode numbers, primary and secondary cladode lengths and below-ground root length, weight, and surface area measurements were done six years after cladode planting. Yellow San Cono, White Roccapalumba, and Seedless Roccapalumba survived 100%. The discriminant traits according to principal component analysis were: primary cladodes plant−1 (component loading, 0.87), primary cladodes biomass (0.95), secondary cladodes plant−1 (0.83), canopy width (0.84), and plant biomass (0.92). Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped 15 accessions into two main clusters based on 17 morphological traits. Cluster I showed favorable values for many above- and below-ground morphological traits while Cluster II showed higher performance for root system width, height, and biomass, and primary and secondary cladode numbers. The results indicate that cactus pear accessions have considerable morphological variability and genetic diversity suitable for promotion as alternative fodder resources in semi-arid regions of India.Not Availabl

Retinoic acid mediates visceral-specific adipogenic defects of human adipose-derived stem cells

Increased visceral fat, rather than subcutaneous fat, during the onset of obesity is associated with a higher risk of developing metabolic diseases. The inherent adipogenic properties of human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) from visceral depots are compromised compared with those of ASCs from subcutaneous depots, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Using ontological analysis of global gene expression studies, we demonstrate that many genes involved in retinoic acid (RA) synthesis or regulated by RA are differentially expressed in human tissues and ASCs from subcutaneous and visceral fat. The endogenous level of RA is higher in visceral ASCs; this is associated with upregulation of the RA synthesis gene through the visceral-specific developmental factor WT1. Excessive RA-mediated activity impedes the adipogenic capability of ASCs at early but not late stages of adipogenesis, which can be reversed by antagonism of RA receptors or knockdown of WT1. Our results reveal the developmental origin of adipocytic properties and the pathophysiological contributions of visceral fat depots