Sultan Singh

Persistent organochlorine pesticide residue in tissues and blood of goat

The production commensurate with the demand for animal products including meat is increasing due to urbanization and increase in per capita income. However, meat and meat products meant for human consumption should also be safe and free from toxic contaminants. Presence of any xenobiotics in human food web is undesirable and unacceptable particularly in the wake of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and strict regulations imposed by many countries on the ground of safety of health of the consumers. In the present study, certain organochlorinated pesticide (OCP) residues in tissues and in blood samples of goat were determined. All samples were analysed for residues of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) isomers and metabolites, endosulfan isomers and metabolite, aldrin, heptachlor and dicofol. The tissue samples were extracted in soxhlet with hexane-acetone (1:1) and cleaned up by florisil column chromatography. The analysis was performed in capillary gas chromatograph equipped with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The result indicated that 40% tissue samples were contaminated with HCH residues, while DDT and endosulfan were present in 32% samples. In blood samples, no HCH residue could be detected, but DDT and endosulfan were present in 10% and 30% samples, respectively.

Production and Reproductive Performance of Bhadawari Buffaloes in Uttar Pradesh, India

Bhadawari is one of the recognized buffalo breeds of India and is famous for high fat content in their milk. Data on production and reproductive traits were collected under Network Project on Bhadawari buffaloes, at Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The overall least squares means (±SE) for peak yield, days to attain peak yield, lactation milk yield, lactation length, 305 days milk yield, milk yield per day of lactation, service period, calving interval and dry period were 6.96±0.10 kg, 52.8±4.1 days, 1250.5±24.6 kg, 291.4±4.9 days, 1213.5±21.6 kg, 4.30±0.06 kg, 172.4±7.7 days, 522.1±12.1 days and 241.80±11.3 days, respectively. Period of calving had a significant (p<0.05) to highly significant (p<0.01) effect on all the traits studied except service period and dry period, where it was not significant. Season of calving had a significant (p<0.05) effect or lactation length and highly significant (p<0.01) effect on lactation milk yield, 305 days milk yield and all the reproductive traits under study. The lowest calving interval, service period and dry period were observed in rainy season calvers and they differed significantly (p<0.01) with winter and summer calvers. Parity had a significant effect (p<0.05) on lactation milk yield, 305 days milk yield and milk yield per day of lactation. Pair-wise comparison revealed that lactation milk yield was highest in the 2 nd lactation followed by 3 rd and 4 th lactation. Large coefficient of variation observed for different traits under study indicates that there is enough scope for improvement in the production and reproduction traits. Better breeding management and selection for increased performance is needed for genetic improvement of these traits.