Amitava Dey

Effect of feeding different dietary levels of energy and protein on growth performance and immune status of Vanaraja chicken in the tropic.

Aim: The present study was conducted to observe the effect of feeding dietary level of energy and protein on growth performance and immune status of Vanaraja chicken in the tropic. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted for 56 days on 540 1-day-old chicks, which were individually weighed and distributed into nine groups having 60 birds in each. Each group was further subdivided into triplicates having 20 birds in each. Nine different experimental rations were formulated with three levels of protein, viz., 17%, 19%, and 21%; each with three levels of energy (2600, 2800, and 3000 kcal metabolizable energy [ME]/kg), respectively. Group T8 serves as control fed with 21% protein and 2800 kcal energy as per Project Directorate of Poultry, Hyderabad given requirement. Feed consumption, live weight gain, body weight change, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated based on the amount of feed consumed every week. All the birds were vaccinated following standard protocol. The hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test have been performed to assess the immunity potential of birds due to dietary effect, and serum samples were subjected to HI test at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of age. Finally, economics of broiler production was calculated on the cost of feed per kg live weight gain. Results: This study revealed that the effect of feeding different levels of energy and protein on growth parameters such as body weight gain and FCR was found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) containing 19% and 21% crude protein with 3000 kcal ME/kg in Vanaraja birds. There was a gradual increase in antibody titer against New castle disease virus as the level of protein and energy increase. It is speculated that the better body weight gain corroborate health and antibody titer. Moreover, the better immune response recorded in the study might be due to better nutrient utilization and its extension toward the better immune response. Higher energy with medium protein diet positively reflects to obtain desirable performance economically. Conclusion: It was positive inclination toward ration containing high protein and energy which influence the immune response of Vanaraja birds to obtained desirable performance economically also.

Behavioural, biochemical and hormonal responses of heat-stressed crossbred calves to different shade materials

ABSTRACT An attempt was made to study the effect of different shade materials on physiological, behavioural, biochemical and hormonal responses in crossbred Vrindavani calves during the summer seasons in the Cattle and Buffalo Farm of Indian veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India. During experiment, 28 crossbred calves were divided into four groups: thatch shading roof (T1), agro-net shading roof – 60% light diffusion (T2), asbestos with canvas shading roof (T3) and well-grown tree (T4). The daily macro- and microclimate data were recorded at 0900 and 1400 h. The data for each ongoing behavioural activity were recorded by closed circuit television consecutively for three days for each animal in each group from 1000 to 1700 h. Blood was also collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days of the experimental period for estimation of different biochemical parameters. The microclimate, that is, maximum and minimum temperatures, relative humidity and temperature humidity index of the roof, was lower in the T2 group. There was significantly more (P < .05) time spent in shade structure by the T2 group as compared to other groups. Among the behaviour, feeding, rumination, resting and sleeping activities were more in the T2 group, whereas standing, moving, drinking, time spent near water tank and abnormal behaviour (cross-sucking, licking) were more in T3 and T4. Among the blood parameters, haemoglobin was significantly higher (P < .05) while, Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase and Alkaline Phosphatase were significantly lower in the T2 group.

EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS UNDER INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM (IFS) FOR SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMERS UNDER SEMI-HUMID CLIMATIC ENVIRONMENT

SUMMARY For efficient utilisation of available farm resources and to increase the income per unit of land, seven integrated farming systems were developed and different combinations of crop, animal, fish and bird were evaluated at three locations of Eastern India, viz. Patna, Vaishali and Munger districts, to sustain productivity, profitability, employment generation and nutrient recycling for lowland situations from 2007– 2008 to 2009–2010. Among the tested different Integrated Farming System (IFS) models, viz .( i) crop + fish + poultry, (ii) crop + fish + duck, (iii) crop + fish + goat, (iv) crop + fish + duck + goat, (v) crop + fish + cattle, (vi) crop + fish + mushroom and (vii) crop alone, crop + fish + cattle model recorded higher rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain equivalent yield (RGEY) (18.76 t/ha) than any other combinations, but in terms of economics, crop + fish + duck + goat model supersedes over all other combinations. The highest average net returns (USD 2655/yr) were recorded from crop + fish + duck + goat system over all other systems tested here. Higher average employment of 656 man-days/year were also recorded from crop + fish + duck + goat system because of better involvement of farm family labours throughout the year. Based on a sustainability index (SI) derived from different models, crop + fish + duck + goat system was found superior with a maximum sustainability for net returns (73.1%), apart from the addition of appreciable quantity of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium into the system in the form of recycled animal and plant wastes. The wastes/by-products of crop/animals were used as input for another component to increase the nutrient efficiency at the farm level through nutrient recycling. Results on integration of different components with crop depending upon suitability and preferences were found encouraging, and to enhance the productivity, economic returns, generating employment for farm families and maintaining soil health of the farm, the crop + fish + duck + goat combination could be adopted in the eastern part of India than cultivating the crop alone on the same piece of land under irrigated condition. Addition of organic residues in the form of animal and plant wastes could also help in improving the soil-health and thereby productivity over a longer period of time with lesser environmental hazards. The livelihoods of small and marginal farmers could be improved by their adoption of IFS technologies on a larger scale, as they provide scope to employ more labour year-round.

Functional redundancy in Echinocandin B in-cluster transcription factor ecdB of Emericella rugulosa NRRL 11440

Highlights • To elucidate the regulation of Echinocandin B biosynthesis, there is necessity to characterize the in-clustered transcription factor ecdB.• ecdB deletion did not significantly affect the Echinocandin B production and transcription response of Echinocandin B biosynthetic genes.• Purified EcdB protein in-vitro interacts with ecdA, ecdH, ecdK and ecdI promoter DNA sequence.• EcdB transcription factor protein could not significantly affect the gene expression and Echinocandin B production in Emericella rugulosa

Effect of Feeding Tanniniferous Acacia nilotica Pod Meal on Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Black Bengal Kids

The study was conducted to assess the effect of supplementation of tannin rich feed on growth performance and nutrient utilization of goats fed on tanniniferous babul (Acacia nilotica) pod meal. For growth study twenty-four Black Bengal male kids (3.5 months, 6.50±1.50 kg BW) were distributed into four equal groups. The experimental animals were fed graded level of babul pod meal (0, 10, 20 and 30 percent) mixed in concentrate mixture equivalent to tannin concentration of 0, 1.91, 3.82 and 5.73 percent in control, T1, T2 and T3 diet, respectively. The intake of different nutrients was numerically higher in T2 group as compared to control. There were no significant changes (P>0.05) in respect of nutrient digestibility. The N balance was 38.0% higher in T2 group as compared to control. The ADG was 11.21 and 25.48 percent higher in T1 and T2 group as compared to control, whereas reduction in BW and ADG was noted in T3 group. The feed conversion efficiency was significantly (P<0.05) better in T2 than control and T3 group. The FCR in 20% babul pod meal supplemented group was 22.60% lower than control group. It is concluded that locally available tanniniferous babul pod could be used as a feed constituents in the diets of goats.

Non-genetic factors affecting birth weight of shahabadi lambs

A study was undertaken in 105 flocks in the breeding tract (Buxar, Bhojpur and Rohtas districts of Bihar) of Shahabadi sheep to analyse the effect of non-genetic factors (location, flock size, season, sex, and type of birth,) on birth weight. The overall least squares mean of birth weight in Shahabadi lambs was 2.34±0.03 kg. All the non-genetic factors except flock size had significant (P<0.01) effect on birth weight. Lambs reared at Buxar and Bihiya blocks of Buxar district, winter season, male lambs and lambs born as single, registered higher birth weights. The findings of the study could be useful to breeders for considering these factors which had significant effect on the birth weight during the selection of animals for future breeding programme.