Managemental practices and welfare of pack animals in middle Himalayan region of India

The results revealed that most of the owners provided all kind of feed to the pack animals but there was variation in amount of feeds during work and rest. Majority of them provided Kutcha type shelters to pack animals with less adequate heights and floor space areas. Majority of the equines had dry matted coat, normal mucous membrane, no limb deformity, free from ectoparasties and about 75% of them had scars on their body, alert aptitude and almost all animals were friendly to owners. They carried load of 100 kg on back of animals and majority of them (55%) used the animals for 6–9 h with rest in between. The owners put best efforts to keep the animals in the best way. The farmers followed all the routine practices recommended for pack animal rearing, although most of them were not aware of the scientific rearing practices. Most of the farmers consulted a veterinarian for treatment. However, they also exploited the animals and did not follow the norms made by the government, therefore, the pack animal owners need to be trained as per the scientific recommendation for better management practices of the pack animals so that they can utilize these animals to their maximum potential for enhancing livelihood without compromising with the welfare measures

Perceived constraints and suggestions in adoption of goat husbandry technologies: A study in semi-arid zone of Uttar Pradesh

Present study was conducted in semi-arid zone of Uttar Pradesh under Mainpuri and Firozabad districts among 240 goat farmers and 30 experts to study the constraints restrict the adoption of improved technologies leading to productivity losses of animals. Availability of input was considered as one of the most important constraints. Poor veterinary infrastructure and services, availability of quality buck, poor extension activity were the most serious input constraint. High cost of veterinary service, shrinkage of grazing land and lack of credit facility were the most important economical constraints. Poor knowledge about improved technology, lower literacy rate and ignorance among farmers were most important socio-personal constraints. All the experts suggested to increase the number of veterinary hospital and number of veterinary staff to provide better health service. Majority of experts suggested the provision of quality buck at village level, increasing extension staff in line department, use of mobile phone SMS service, timely availability of vaccine in veterinary hospitals, increasing number of training by the institution, protecting the common property of village for grazing and sensitizing bank staff to provide loan to poor goat farmers

PCR-SSCP and Sequencing of CXCR2 Receptor Gene in Vrindavani Cattle

Genetic markers associated with inflammatory responses during mastitis could aid in the selection of diseased cattle. One potential marker is CXCR2, a chemokine receptor required for neutrophil migration to infection sites. The objective of this experiment was to identify genetic polymorphism of CXCR2 gene and associate it with subclinical and clinical mastitis. Ninety five Vrindavani crossbred cows (42-mastitis tolerant and 53-clinical mastitis) that completed at least two full lactations were taken for study. Blood of selected crossbred cows was collected, and genomic DNA was isolated by phenol chloroform method. The DNA of good quality having OD ratio (260/280 nm) between 1.7-1.9 were used for further analysis. PCR-SSCP technique was used to reveal the polymorphism in 269bp fragments of CXCR2 gene. The 269 bp fragment of CXCR2 gene was found to be monomorphic in all the DNA samples of crossbred cows

Contract goat farming: an emerging model for livelihood generation among resource poor farmers of western Odisha

The present study was taken up with the objective to find out the pattern of contract goat farming (CGF) in western Odisha. Data were collected through personal interview from 60 contract goat farmers for pattern and practices in CGF and 20 key informants for understanding the existing models in CGF in the study area. The study showed that there were a number of models of CGF existing in the study area based on provision of input, services and marketing of kids. All of these models revealed that these types of contract goat farming were acting as a source of income and employment for the resource poor farmers and rural youth. The study showed that the traditional goat farming over the years had taken a commercial outlook in the form of contract goat farming. Though it was informal but the services and marketing strategies to be provided were clearly defined in various models of the CGF before entering into contract. The various models revealed an equal distribution of profit among the two parties, which was the basis of a strong bonding and a long term business venture. The CGF operational in western Odisha suggest an excellent model of employment and income generation for resource poor rural people and educated youth. In fact these models if taken up on a large scale in areas with similar agro-climatic zones can definitely boost the livelihood security among the educated unemployed youth and poor farmers

Enhancing the knowledge level of dog owners using an electronic self-learning module

The present study was taken up to assess the knowledge about dog health and management among the pet owners and the effectiveness of a need based electronic self learning module “Dog Health Management Trainer” (DHMT) for enhancing their knowledge. The DHMT was developed and tested on 100 dog owners visiting the polyclinic at IVRI. Results revealed that dog owners were mainly facing problems related to diseases of skin, gastrointestinal system and parvoviral infection besides various other problems. Majority of the owners had medium knowledge about dog diseases while low knowledge about dog breeding and reproduction. Results revealed that DHMT was highly effective in enhancing the knowledge level and dog owners found it very much interesting and user friendly with an overall utility index of 0.87. The price proposed was negatively and significantly correlated with the pre-test knowledge scores for dog health indicating that those dog owners who were having low knowledge quoted higher price for procuring the DHMT

Effect of shade materials on rectal temperature, respiration rate and body surface temperature of crossbred calves during rainy season

An attempt was made to study the effect of different shade materials on body surface temperature, rectal and respiration rate in Vrindavani calves during the rainy season. Crossbred calves (18) were divided into 3 group, viz. thatch shading roof with plastic covering (T1), agro-net shading roof- 60% light diffusion (T2), and asbestos with canvas shading roof (T3). The recording of macro and microclimate as well as the entire physiological parameters, viz. rectal temperature, respiration rate and body surface temperature were recorded at 9:00 and 2:00 PM for 2 consecutive days at every fortnight interval. The microclimate, viz. maximum and minimum, RH, THI and surface temperature of roof was lower in T2 group. The physiological parameters values were significantly lower in T2 group. It can be concluded that in rainy season agro-net helped to protect calves from the hot and humid condition

Antimicrobial resistance pattern, clustering mechanisms and correlation matrix of drug-resistant Escherichia coli in black Bengal goats in West Bengal, India

A cross-sectional study covering four agro-climatic zones of West Bengal, India, was carried out to understand the risk-factors, antimicrobial resistance mechanism and clustering of the resistance characteristics of Escherichia coli isolated from healthy (170) and diarrhoeic (74) goats reared under intensive (52) and semi-intensive (192) farming practices. Of the 488 E. coli isolates, the majority, including the extended spectrum (n: 64, 13.11%) and AmpC β-lactamase (ACBL) (n: 86, 17.62%) producers, were resistant to tetracycline (25.2%), followed by enrofloxacin (24.5%), cefotaxime (21.5%) and amikacin (20.5%). Statistical modelling revealed that the isolates from diarrhoeic animals (p < 0.001) are likely to be more ACBL-positive than those from the healthy counterparts. Similarly, cefotaxime (p < 0.05) and enrofloxacin-resistance (p < 0.01) were significantly higher in diarrhoeic goats and in goats reared intensively. The isolates (n = 35) resistant to multiple drugs revealed the presence of β-lactamase [blaCTXM-1-(21), blaSHV-(7), blaTEM-(3), blaCMY-6-(1), blaCITM-(3)]; quinolone [qnrB-(10), qnrS-(7), aac(6’)-Ib-cr-(3)]; tetracycline [tetA-(19), tetB-(4)] and sulphonamide resistance determinants [sul1-(4)]; multiple plasmids, especially those belonging to the IncF and IncI1 replicon types; and active acrAB efflux pumps. Further, two isolates harbored the carbapenem resistance (blaNDM-5) gene and eight were strong biofilm producers. This first ever study conducted to unravel the status of AMR in goat farming reveals that not only the intensive farming practices but also certain clinical ailments such as diarrhoea can increase the shedding of the drug-resistant isolate. The emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) E. coli in goats, particularly those that are carbapenem resistant, is a cause for concern that indicates the spread of such pathogens even in the livestock sub-sector generally considered as naive

Effect of weaning on milking behaviour and temperament of Murrah buffaloes

The study was conducted to compare the milking behaviour and temperament of Murrah buffaloes due to suckling and weaning at different ages. Initially, 42 recently calved buffaloes were selected and assigned alternately in to 3 groups as suckling (Gr 1), weaning at birth (Gr 2) and weaning on 45th day (Gr 3). The different behavioural parameters of the buffaloes were recorded for the first 15 days of milking/weaning during each milking. The overall average milk let down time was non-significant among the groups. The average milk yield per milking (morning and evening) was significantly (P<0.01) higher in Gr 1 (3.44±0.14 kg) and Gr 2 (3.18±0.46 kg) in comparison to Gr 3 (2.24±0.25 kg). The overall average milking time was significantly (P<0.01) higher in Gr 1 (4.41±0.14 min) than Gr 3 (3.05±0.21 min); however milking time in Gr 2 (4.29±0.41min) was not significantly different from Gr 1. The percent of dams showing stepping behaviour in Gr 1, Gr 2 and Gr 3 was 20.23, 27.57 and 44.11, respectively, and the corresponding value for kicking behaviour was 2.61, 10.60 and 13.39, respectively. The average number of dams showing bellowing behaviour in Gr 1, Gr 2 and Gr 3 was 3.56, 9.09 and 12.66, respectively. Similar trends were observed among the groups as mentioned in stepping and kicking. The percentage of dams which licked calf or looked at milker in Gr 1, Gr 2 and Gr 3 was 34.99, 9.38 and 33.33 respectively. The percentage of dams showing head shaking activity during milking operation in Gr 1, Gr 2 and Gr 3 was 26.42, 0.00 and 10.00 percent, respectively. The overall mean milking temperament score was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Gr 3 (1.73±0.18) than Gr 1 (1.20±0.05) and Gr 2 (1.48±0.17). The success rate of weaning practice in dairy buffaloes was higher at calving than later stage of lactation

Effect of different heat ameliorating measures on the micro-climate of buffalo sheds during hot-dry summer

Present investigation studied the effect of heat ameliorating measures on micro-climate of sheds of Murrah buffalo heifers during hot dry summer. Buffalo heifers (24) were categorised in 4 groups (6 in each), viz. control (T0), cooling jacket (T1), cooling jacket+forced ventilation (T2) and sprinklers+forced ventilation (T3). Daily minimum and maximum and dry and wet bulb temperatures of both micro and macro-climate were measured at 10.00 AM and 2.00 PM of Indian Standard Time (IST) by using maximum and minimum and dry and wet bulb thermometer, respectively. Significant reduction in maximum temperature was observed in T3, T2 and T1 groups than control group. However, significantly higher minimum temperature was found in T0 group as compared to T3, T2 and T1 respectively. Relative humidity (RH) was significantly lower in T3 and T2 (65.67±0.48 and 65.97±0.53%, respectively) than T0 (68.51±0.56%) group at 10.00 AM whereas, at 2.00 PM significant reduction in RH was observed in T3, and T2 (55.31±0.51 and 57.20±0.62) than T0 (58.96±0.63%) group. During peak hot periods, significantly lower Temperature humidity Index (THI) was found in T3, T2 and T1 than T0 group. However, at 10.00 AM significant reduction in THI was found in T3 and T2 groups than T0 group. The findings of the present study indicated that forced ventilation along with sprinklers and cooling jacket had helped in protecting the animals from thermal stress under loose housing system during hot-dry summer