Influence of peripartum dietary supplementation of choline and fat in protected form on production performance of Gir cows

In this experiment, the effects of supplementing choline and fat in rumen protected form during peripartum period on feed intake, milk production and composition of Gir cows were studied. Twenty four Gir cows of 1st to 3rd parity were used from 30 days pre-partum through 60 days post-partum and randomly assigned to four equal treatment groups (n=6) on the basis of their parity, body weight and previous lactation yield. Control diet was fed to cows in group T1 (control). Additionally, rumen protected choline (RPC) @45 g/d in group T2; rumen protected fat (RPF) 80 g/d in group T3 and RPC @45 g/d + RPF @80 g/d in group T4 were supplemented along with control diet. The treatments significantly affected dry mater intake (DMI) and milk production of cows. DMI was increased in the cows fed with RPC as compared to control. Milk yield, 4% fat-corrected milk, solid-corrected milk and energy- corrected milk were higher in the cows fed with RPC and RPF alone or in combination, as compared to control. No synergistic effect was observed with these supplements on DMI or milk production. None of these supplements influenced the milk composition significantly, however yield of milk fat, protein and lactose were higher in all the nutrient supplemented cows compared to control. Net return over feed cost was higher in supplemented cows compared to control. Results indicated that supplementation of RPC or RPF can improve feed intake and productive performance of Gir cows for overall economic benefits

Studies on Interaction of Non-Ionic Surfactants with Some Acid Dyes by Spectrophotometric Method

45-48<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:arial;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">The interaction of non-ionic surfactants in aqueous solutions containing some acid dyes has been studied spectro-photometrically. The spectral shift suggests that interaction decreases with increase in sulfonic acid group and increases with increase in the hydrophobic character of the dye molecule as well as with increase in the number of ethylene oxide unit of the surfactants, The results are explained in terms of definite binding of dye with surfactant, probably in the form of complexion.</span

Effect of "singular blended clay" on microstructure and thermo-mechanical properties of vitreous sanitary porcelain

An attempt has been made to develop a ``Singular Blended Clay'' (SBC) having plastic properties and dry strength required for the production of vitreous sanitary porcelain and tableware. A predetermined mixture of a crude china clay, plastic ball clay and a plastic fire clay from Indian origin were crushed, blended together and impurities removed by wet processing including gravity settling, screening, deironing and filter pressing. The physico-chemical properties of feed raw materials have also been studied with emphasis on singular blended clay and its influence on thermo-mechanical properties and microstructure of vitreous sanitary porcelain compositions. Progressive substitution of singular blended p to 60 wt % leading to almost complete replacement of traditional crude clays resulted in an increase of flexural strength (similar to 32%) and a rse in thermal expansion (similar to 22.7%) due to decrease in residual quartz content in the compositions. The addition of SBC had although little effect on the mullite content of the fired bodies but decreased the vitrification temperature by 50 degrees C and also enhanced the vitrification range

Use of beneficiated blended clays in traditional ceramics

An attempt has been made to develop a singular blended clay having all the plastic and dry properties required for the casting of traditional ceramic products, especially sanitaryware and table wares. One semi-processed china clay, one plastic ball clay and one plastic fireclay from Indian origin were crushed and blended together in a predetermined proportion and beneficiated using the existing techniques of levigation, sieving, hydrocycloning, deironing and filter pressing. The physico-chemical properties of feed raw materials as well as blended clays were studied. The investigation also included the rheological properties of the blended clay. The results indicated that the blended and beneficiated clay obtained by levigation as well as by hydrocycloning, apart from ensuring consistency, showed higher unfired strength and increased particle fineness. The content of alumina in the levigated blend and the levigation-cum-hydrocycloned blend increased by 41 and 72% respectively in comparison to that of the feed. The investigation regarding their use in a standard sanitaryware body showed an increase in unfired strengths by 23.4 and 77.2%

Materials and Methods Inclusion of different exogenous fibrolytic enzymes to dry jowar fodder and their effect on in vitro total gas production

Abstract Aim: Our objective was to estimate in-vitro gas production from dry jowar fodder added with different concentrations of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFEs) like neutral cellulase and fungal xylanase. Materials and Methods: 34 different samples of dry jowar fodder were prepared according to different concentrations of neutral cellulase, fungal xylanase and neutral cellulase + fungal xylanase (1:1). Sample not containing any enzymes was considered as the control group. These 34 samples were subjected to further in vitro gas production analysis. Results: Statistically, significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) potential gas production was recorded for 0.7 % at 6 hr period, 0.7 % at 12 hr period, 0.7 %, 0.8 % at 18 hr period and 0.7 %, 0.8 % at 24 hr period in the samples treated with neutral cellulase. Significantly higher potential gas production was recorded for 0.5 %, 0.8 % at 6 hr period, 0.5 %, 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 12 hr period, 0.8 % at 18 hr period and 0.5 %, 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 24 hr period in the samples treated with fungal xylanase. Significantly higher potential gas production was recorded for 0.6 %, 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 6 hr period, 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 12 hr period, 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 18 hr period and 0.6 %, 0.8 % at 24 hr period in the samples treated with mixture of neutral cellulase + fungal xylanase (1:1). Conclusion: Addition of neutral cellulase and fungal xylanase into the samples of dry jowar fodder increased in vitro total potential gas production. EFEs increase substrate degradation and there by improve the nutritive value of dry jowar fodder

Effect of feeding varying levels of groundnut haulms on feed intake and growth performance in broiler chickens

Aim: This study was carried out to evaluate groundnut haulms (GNH) as alternate feed source by its incorporation and assessment in terms of feed intake and growth performance in the diets of broilers. Materials and Methods: A total of 240 1-day-old Cobb-400 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments each with three replicates (n=60). Experimental Birds in group T1 were fed with conventional feed while birds in T2, T3, T4 were fed containing 2%, 4%, and 6% of GNH replacing maize and soyabean on iso-nitrogenous basis. Results: Feed intake increases significantly (p>0.05) with increasing level of GNH in the diets of experimental birds. Highest feed intake was recorded in T4 (6% GNH), followed by T3 (4% GNH) than T2 (2% GNH) and T1 (control). Birds fed GNH gained significantly (p<0.05) higher body weight than birds fed the control diet. Birds in T4 [6% GNH] gained highest body weight, followed by T3 (4% GNH) than T2 (2% GNH) and T1 (control). However, feed conversion ratio (FCR) remained non-significant for all treatment groups. Conclusion: On the basis of the results of this study, it is concluded that supplementation of GNH can successfully replace costly ingredients like maize and soybean meal in the diets of broiler birds up to the level of 6 percent of concentrate mixture without any harmful effects on feed intake, growth and FCR