Broiler Production in Punjab — An Economic Analysis

The cost and return analysis of different sizes of broiler farms in the Punjab state has been carried out based on the primary data collected from 140 broiler farmers for the period March 2008 to February 2009 in three districts, viz. Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Muktsar. The study has shown that the total fixed investments per bird have been highest on small farms, followed by medium and large farms. The total variable cost per bird has been reported highest on small farms, followed by medium and large farms. The total cost of meat production per bird has been found highest on small broiler farms, followed by medium and large farms. The net returns per bird over the variable costs have been recorded highest on large farms and economies of scale prevail on these farms. The meat-feed price ratio and benefit-cost ratio have been found to increase with increase in farm-size of broiler farms, which indicates better utilization of inputs on large farms. On the basis of net present value, benefit-cost ratio and internal rate of return, investment in broiler farming has been found profitable in all farm-sizes, it being most profitable on large farms, followed by medium and small farms. The small broiler farms have been observed highly sensitive to increase in costs and decrease in net returns. The study has observed that broiler farming is a profitable venture and has a bright future in the Punjab agriculture for improving economic status of the farming communityAgricultural and Food Policy,

Larval form of the genus Thubunaea Seurat, 1914 from the body cavity of an insect, Supella sp., at Meerut (U.P.), India

The present communication deals with a larval nematode belonging to the genus Thubunaea Seurat, 1914, from the body cavity of an insect, Supella sp., at Meerut, U.P. Both encysted and free larval stages were recovered. Morphology of the larvae is described in detail

Post-harvest Application of Methyl Jasmonate, 1-Methylcyclopropene and Salicylic Acid Elevates Health-promoting Compounds in Cold-stored ‘Kinnow’ Mandarin (Citrus nobilis Lour x C. deliciosa Tenora) Fruit

An investigation was carried out to evaluate the influence of the post-harvest application of different ethylene inhibitors viz., 1-methylcylcopropene (1-MCP; 500, 1000 and 1500 ppb), methyl jasmonates (MeJA; 1, 2 and 3 mM) and salicylic acid (SA; 1, 2 and 3 mM) on health-promoting compounds such as total phenols, total antioxidants, flavonoids, protein, total free amino acids and sugars in cold-stored ‘Kinnow’ mandarin fruit. The fruit were stored at 6 ± 1°C and 90 ± 5% RH for 75 days. Fruit treated with MeJA (1 mM), 1-MCP (1500 ppb) and SA (2 mM) maintained significantly highest levels of total phenols, total antioxidants activity, flavonoids, protein, total free amino acids and sugars as compared with the control. In conclusion the post-harvest application of MeJA (1 mM), 1-MCP (1500 ppb) and SA (2 mM) can be used to maintain the highest levels of these bioactive compounds in cold-stored ‘Kinnow’ mandarin fruit for up to 60 days

Discrete Symmetries and Generalized Fields of Dyons

We have studied the different symmetric properties of the generalized Maxwell's - Dirac equation along with their quantum properties. Applying the parity (\mathcal{P}), time reversal (\mathcal{T}), charge conjugation (\mathcal{C}) and their combined effect like parity time reversal (\mathcal{PT}), charge conjugation and parity (\mathcal{CP}) and \mathcal{CP}T transformations to varius equations of generalized fields of dyons, it is shown that the corresponding dynamical quantities and equations of dyons are invariant under these discrete symmetries. Abstract Key words- parity, time reversal, charge-conjugation, dyons Abstract PACS No.- 14.80 Hv

Evaluation of Phyto Chemical Biochemical and In Vitro Antioxidant Potential of Angelica Glauca Grown at High Altitude Areas of Western Himalayas

Angelica glauca Edgew is an important medicinal and aromatic herb (family Apiaceae). The roots of A. glauca commonly used as spices by local peoples. In the present study, the phytochemical constituents, biochemical parameters and, in-vitro antioxidant activity of A. glauca roots collected from the Himalayan region have been studied. For preliminary phytochemical analysis, the hydroalcoholic and aqueous root extract of Angelica glauca were screened for the presence of carbohydrates, protein, alkaloids, glycosides, sterols, triterpenes, saponin, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, and coumarin. The biochemical parameter and in-vitro antioxidant potential of Angelica glauca were analysed by using standard methods. Phytochemical analysis of extract showed major classes of phytochemicals constituents such as carbohydrates, protein, alkaloids, glycosides, sterols, triterpenes, saponin, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, and coumarin. The results from the current study demonstrated that A.glauca roots contained carbohydrate (21±0.72 %), crude protein (12.7±0.31 %), total ash (3.86±0.034 %), dietary fiber (18.9±0.14 %), total fat (4.5±0.38 %) and ascorbic acid (68.5±0.19mg/100g). The hydroalcoholic extract showed the highest quantity of total phenol, total flavonoids, and total tannin content compared to aqueous extract. The hydroalcoholic extract exhibited high DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50=68.1±0.34 µg/ml). The result showed that A.glauca roots have high nutritional and antioxidant potential. Hence the plant can be used as a nutraceutical and natural antioxidant

Chlorpyrifos chronic toxicity in broilers and effect of vitamin C

An experiment was conducted to study chlorpyrifos chronic toxicity in broilers and the protective effect of vitamin C. Oral administration of 0.8 mg/kg body weight (bw) (1/50 LD50) chlorpyrifos (Radar®), produced mild diarrhea and gross lesions comprised of paleness, flaccid consistency and slightly enlargement of liver. Histopathologically, chlorpyrifos produced degenerative changes in various organs. Oral administration of 100 mg/kg bw vitamin C partially ameliorated the degenerative changes in kidney and heart. There was insignificant alteration in biochemical and haematological profiles. It is concluded that supplementation of vitamin C reduced the severity of lesions induced by chronic chlorpyrifos toxicity in broilers

Performance of pearl millet genotypes under irrigated and rainfed conditions at Hisar, India

A field experiment was carried out at Research Farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India to evaluate the performance of pearl millet genotypes (HHB 67 ‘Improved’, HHB 197, HHB 223 and HHB 234) under different environment (rainfed and irrigated). Results showed that irrigated condition recorded significantly (p < 0.05) higher plant height, dry matter accumulation, root dry weight, ear head girth, test weight and yield of pearl millet than rainfed condition. Root length was significantly (p < 0.05) higher under rainfedthan irrigated condition. Genotypes were found significant (p < 0.05) with respect to plant height at harvest and HHB 234 recorded higher plant height. Genotype HHB 223 recorded higher earhead girth (2.6 cm) and test weight (11.16 g) compared to other genotypes. Interaction effect was also found significant (p < 0.05) with respect to plant height, dry matter accumulation, root length and weight and yield. These were higher in genotype HHB 223 and HHB 234 under irrigated and rainfed condition respectively but at 20 days after sowing, longest root was observed in genotype HHB 67 ‘Improved’ under rainfed condition and genotype HHB 197 under irrigated condition. To examine the performance of pearl millet genotypes in terms of survivality and yield potential, evaluation trials are necessary under different environment. Therefore, release of those varieties under different situations are essential for the sustainability of the fragile arid and semi arid regions of country

Spin diffusion of the t-J model

The spin-diffusion constant of the 2D $t-J$ model is calculated for the first time using an analytical approach at high temperatures and a recently-developed numerical method based on the Lanczos technique combined with random sampling in the intermediate temperature regime. A simple relation, $\sigma = D_s\chi$, between spin conductivity and spin diffusion is established and used to calculate the latter. In the high-temperature and low-doping limit the calculated diffusion constant agrees with known results for the Heisenberg model. At small hole doping, $D_s$ increases approximately linearly with doping, which leads us to an important conclusion that hopping processes enhance spin diffusion at high temperatures. At modest hole doping, $\delta\sim 0.25$, diffusion exhibits a nonmonotonic temperature dependence, which indicates anomalous spin dynamics at small frequencies.Comment: 12 pages with figure