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Not AvailableUsing climatic data from 1991 to 2016 recorded at Avikanagar, wind chill index (WCI) was calculated for each day during winter (December–February) coinciding with major lambing season. The WCI (kcal/m2/h) was categorized as no chill (<300.0), low (<300.1–350.0), moderate (350.1–400.0), high (400.1–450.0) and extreme (>450.1) and the neonatal lambs death (857) in a total of 2257 days (December– February of each year) were considered to observe the effect of WCI. The overall annual neonatal lamb mortality was 5.85%. Over the years daily WCI revealed a significant increase in number of extreme chill days (WCI > 400.1 kcal/m2/h) since December 2003. The overall proportion of neonatal death ranged from 2.10% (WCI < 300 kcal/ m2/h) to 69.34% (WCI > 400.1 kcal/m2/h). The climatic data showed that out of total days, majority of days (64.99%) covered were of high to extreme chill in nature (WCI > 400.1 kcal/m2/h). The daily rate of neonatal mortality found to possess a positive and linear relation with WCI and ranged from 0.25 lamb death/day (WCI < 300 kcal/m2/h) to 0.46 lamb death/day (WCI > 450.1 kcal/m2/h). The entities responsible for exposure-inanition syndrome (EIS, debility, exposure, inanition) had positive relation with WCI. The contribution of EIS in overall neonatal mortality ranged from 29.08 (WCI 300.1–350.0 kcal/m2/h) to 42.00% (WCI > 450.1 kcal/m2/h). The analysis suggested requirement of proper shelter management for neonatal lambs during extreme climate.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe study was conducted with the primary objective to establish the influence of FecB gene mutation on the growth and reproductive performance of Garole × Malpura ewes. The duration of the study was for 5 months involving 97 adult Garole × Malpura (GM) ewes. These 97 animals were segregated based on FecB genotype and the animals were divided into three groups as group I (FecB BB ; n = 13), group II (FecB B+; n = 65), and group III (FecB ++; n = 19). All the animals were kept under semi-intensive management system by subjecting the animals to grazing during day time and housing them in the night. Apart from grazing, ewes were provided with concentrate mixture at the rate of 150 g/day/ewe. The ewes in estrus after 12 h of onset of estrus were hand mated twice at 12-h intervals with a ram of proven fertility in the morning and evening. The pregnancy was confirmed by real time B-mode transabdominal ultrasonography. The experiment was continued until lambing. Under the treatments of different FecB genotype, the ewe’s growth and reproductive parameters were assessed. FecB genotype significantly (P < 0.05) influenced body weight, heart girth, pin shoulder length, height at wither, lambing percentage, litter size, twinning percentage, and birth weight of lambs. From this study, it can be concluded that breeding Galore and Malpura breed shall help insure an economically viable production system.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA study was conducted with the primary objective to establish the influence of body condition scoring on the growth and reproductive performance of Garole x Malpura ewes. The duration of the study was for five months involving 97 adult Garole X Malpura (GM) ewes. The animals were allocated in three groups by body condition score (2.5 BCS; n= 11, BCS 3.0; n=59 and BCS 3.5; n=27). All the animals were kept under semi-intensive management system by subjecting the animals to grazing during day time and housing them in the night. Apart from grazing, ewes were provided with concentrate mixture at the rate of 150 g/day/ewe. The ewes in estrus after 12 h of onset of estrus were hand mated twice at 12 h intervals with a ram of proven fertility in the morning and evening. The pregnancy was confirmed by real time B-mode transabdominal ultrasonography. The experiment was continued until lambing. Under the different BCS, the ewe’s growth and reproductive parameters were assessed. Results: BCS significantly (P<0.05) influenced body weight, heart girth, lambing %, and birth weight of lambs. The highest (P<0.05) body weight was recorded in 3.5 BCS group while the lowest (P<0.05) being in 2.5 BCS group (Table 1). The highest (P<0.05) heart girth was recorded in 3.5 BCS group while the lowest (P<0.05) being in 2.5 BCS group. The highest (P<0.05) lambing rate recorded in 3.0 BCS group while the lowest (P<0.05) was in 2.5 BCS group. Further the highest (P<0.05) birth weight recorded being in 2.5 BCS group. Conclusion: Thus it can be concluded from the study that active management of Garole X Malpura sheep flock to maintain optimum BCS will help to ensure an economically viable production system.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe magnitude of risk for neonatal mortality (NM) due to non-genetic factors was assessed using data on 5,722 Malpura lambs born during 1991–2016 at ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan. The association of non-genetic factors influencing lamb mortality was obtained by odds ratio (OR). The overall annual NM was 4.07% with around 3 times higher in hebdomadal (3.15%) than post-hebdomadal (0.93%) phase. In comparison to lambs with >3.50 kg birth weight, the OR varied from 2.03 (birth weight 3.01–3.50 kg) to 19.29 (birth weight <2.00 kg). Neonatal mortality was significantly higher (6.51%) in lambs born to younger ewes (up to 2 yr). The parity of dam had significant effect on NM with maximum mortality in lambs born to ewes in 1st (5.59%) parity. Dam’s weight at lambing revealed significantly maximum (32.35%) mortality in lambs born to ewes with <20.0 kg body weight. In comparison to ewes with 30–35 kg body weight at lambing, the OR for NM was maximum (17.28) in lambs born to ewes with <20.0 kg body weight at lambing. The causes of neonatal lamb mortality exhibited predominance of septicaemia/ toxaemia with 25.75% contribution in total deaths followed by neonatal inanition (21.89%), pneumonia (12.02) and enteritis (8.58%). The study revealed that NM during early phase of life wasprimarily influenced by both lamb and ewe factors. Strategies should be adopted for proper nutritional care of primiparous and weak ewes during gestation, intensive monitoring of lamb and ewes during the neonatal period with ensured colostrum or milk replacer feeding and suitable housing facility to minimize the neonatal losses.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIndigenous chickens play a vital role in providing nutritional security and economic support for the rural and tribal people in tropical countries like India. Ghagus, an indigenous chicken breed of India, was characterized for growth, production, and reproduction (fertility and hatchability) traits over different generations and for carcass and meat quality traits. Heritability, and genetic and phenotypic correlations among growth traits were estimated using mixed model least squares and maximum likelihood methods. Estimates of heritability of growth traits such as bodyweights at different age and 8-week shank length were high (0.32 to 0.39) in initial generation and moderate to high during latest generation (0.20 to 0.42). The correlations of growth traits with 40-week egg production were positive and significant (P < 0.001). There was improvement in 8-week bodyweight (559.3 ± 4.40 g) by 177 g over the generations. The average egg production up to 40 weeks over the generations was 35.66 eggs. There was also a significant (P < 0.001) increase in egg weights over the generations. The fertility (mean 89.3%) ranged from 85.2 to 92.3%. The hatchability on fertile egg set (mean 90.8%) ranged from 86.5 to 94.1% and it was improved by 3.9% over the generations. The carcass and meat quality study revealed that this breed has the lean meat, high protein, and attractive meat color with desirable meat quality characteristics. The study concluded that the Ghagus breed with self-propagation capacity has the potential to be improved as an indigenous meat-type breed to meet the ever-increasing demand for indigenous chickens’ meat in the country.ICA

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Not AvailablePCR amplification of callipyge gene yielded an amplified product of 426 bp in Indian sheep breeds. RFLP study of callipyge gene with FaqI (BsmFI) restriction enzyme revealed presence of wild type allele A with only one genotype (AA) and absence of the mutant allele G which is responsible for callipyge phenotype and enhanced mutton quality. The results revealed that there is absence of polymorphism at this locus and callipyge mutation is not found in all the studied Indian sheep breeds and fat tailed dumba sheep.Not Availabl

Not AvailableGENETIC ANALYSIS FOR EGG PRODUCTION TRIATS

Not AvailableTraditionally, heritability has been estimated by correlations of close kin. It is likely to be biased by determinants such as non genetic factors, inbreeding, selection and shared environment. Whereas, an animal model takes into account all relationships in a pedigree and is therefore expected to provide estimates of quantitative genetic parameters with higher precision. The egg production data in the current study was analyzed using animal model to have more precised and accurate estimates of genetic parameters. The heritability of growth and egg weight traits was moderate to higher. Whereas the heritability was lower for egg number and ASM traits. The body weights were positively correlated with egg weights and negatively correlated with egg numbers traits. The egg number produced at different age intervals was positively correlated. The genetic correlation of EP40 and EP52 with EP64 were 0.83 and 0.92, respectively. Therefore, the part period egg production of EP52 would give better selection response for egg production at 64 than EP40. Hence, the selection of higher egg numbers can be done earlier at 52 weeks rather than waiting for EP64.Not Availabl