Triveni Dutt

Effect of heat ameliorative measures on the biochemical and hormonal responses of buffalo heifers

A study was conducted from June to September 2004 to evaluate the effect of sprinkling and fan on the biochemical and hormonal responses of buffalo heifers. Eighteen Murrah buffalo heifers between 15 and 30 months of age were divided into three equal groups on the basis of body weight viz. T1 – Control without fan and sprinkling, T2 – provided with only fan and T3 – provided with fan and sprinkling. Among haematological parameters, only haemoglobin differed significantly (P<0.01) among treatment groups. All the biochemical parameters viz. blood glucose, protein, albumin, globulin, sodium and potassium differed significantly (P<0.05) among the groups. Among the enzymatic and hormonal parameters, only cortisol differed significantly (P<0.05) between treatment groups and was higher in T1 than T2 and T3. It was concluded that provision of sprinkling and fan provided comfortable environment to the buffalo heifers which was evident through the biochemical and hormonal responses.

Effect of live Saccharomyces cerevisiae (NCDC-49) supplementation on growth performance and rumen fermentation pattern in local goat

Twenty female kids of local goats (6.42±0.28 kg, 3-month-old) were divided into two equal groups. Kids in experimental group received Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCDC-49 (5.6×109 cells/head/day) whereas the control was unsupplemented. This study lasted for 120 days. Rumen liquor was collected for three consecutive days after two months and at the end of the experiment before offering feed. The body weight gain, height at withers and heart girth were higher with superior feed conversion in the treatment group. Colony forming units were higher with lower NH3 concentration in yeast culture fed kids. It is concluded that S. cerevisiae NCDC-49 supplementation improved growth and feed conversion efficiency and had some positive influence on the rumen fermentation parameters.

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.

Study on udder morphology and its relationship with production parameters in local goats of Rohilkhand region of India

An attempt was made here to study udder morphology and establish its relationship with milk production in 25 local goats of Rohilkhand region. Udder morphological traits recorded were udder length, udder row width, udder column width, udder depth, udder circumference, teat length, teat diameter, teat circumference, teat height from ground, distance between teats and udder volume. Total milk produced during 90 days was measured and average daily milk yield was calculated. Body weight was also recorded. The udder volume in primiparous and multiparous goats was 516.54± 74.52 and 940.76± 46.47 ml, respectively which differ significantly (P< 0.05). The values of all udder morphological parameters were significantly (P< 0.05) higher in multiparous than primiparous goat except Teat height from ground, where it is vice versa. Average daily milk yield was positive and significantly (P< 0.01) correlated with all udder morphological traits except for teat height from ground (THG) as correlation was found negative. All udder morphological traits had positive and significant (P< 0.05) correlation with does body weight at different intervals. It was concluded from this study that mammary system of this local goat is comparable with any other dual purpose Indian goat breed.

Estimation of Direct Additive Genetic and Maternal Variance for Growth Traits in Vrindavani Cattle

Abstract Singh, R.R., Dutt, T., Kumar, A. and Singh, M. 2010. Estimation of direct additive genetic and maternal variance for growth traits in Vrindavani cattle. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 38: 145–148. The growth records of Vrindavani calves were analyzed to estimate the variance components and genetic parameters using two univariate and a multivariate animal model based on algorithm of derivative free restricted maximum likelihood. These univariate animal models were simple animal model (AM I) and animal model with additional random maternal effect (AM II). The multivariate animal model (AM III) included all the traits under investigation by considering their relationship. For all growth traits (Birth weight and body weight at 3, 6 and 9 month) the estimate of additive genetic variance was highest in the simple animal model (AM I). The direct estimates of heritabilities were also inflated towards higher side for all the four traits using AM I. The multivariate animal models revealed lowest magnitude of direct additive genetic variances and thus direct estimate of heritabilities for all the traits. The direct estimates of maternal heritability ranged from 0.064 (Birth weight) to 0.197 (body weight at 6 month) and it was zero in 6 and 12 month body weights. The genetic correlations of birth weight with 3, 6 and 12 month body weights were low and non-significant because of significant impact of maternal effect on birth weight. However, the phenotypic correlations between traits were found to be positive and significant.

Effect of Body Condition Score on Performance Traits in Crossbred Dairy Cows

Abstract Singh, R.R., Dutt, T., Joshi, H.C., Sinha, R.R.K. and Singh, M. 2009. Effect of body condition score on performance traits in crossbred dairy cows. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 36: 283–286. Sixty crossbred cows from three different genetic groups (1/2 Holstein Friesian (F) × 1/2 Hariana (H), 1/2F x1/4 Brown Swiss × 1/4 H), (1/2Fx1/4 Jersey × 1/4 H) were randomly selected to study body condition score after calving and its association with performance traits. The correlations between body condition score and body weight at different stages of lactation were positively significant. The correlations between body condition score and peak yield were negative and significant at 42nd (-0.316) and 56th (-0.404) day of lactation. The effect of body condition score on other performance traits was found to be non- significant. It is concluded that high producing cows mobilize greater amount of body condition score than the low producing cows in early lactation.

Role of Land Holding Patterns for Adoption of Dairy Husbandry Practices in Rural Areas of Bareilly District in India

Abstract Bhushan, B., Singh, S. K., Umang, Agrawal, N., Dutt, T., Kumar, P., Sharma, A. and Ahlawat, S.P.S. 2008. Role of land holding patterns for adoption of dairy husbandry practices in rural areas of Bareilly district in India. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 34: 185–188. To find out the effect of various land holdings on dairy husbandry practices, door-to-door survey was conducted to collect information on landholdings and dairy husbandry practices in rural areas of Bareilly district. Out of 1932 dairy owners, majority (55.12%) had marginal land holding. Adoption scores of management practices increased from 53.17 to 60.46 and management indexes from 44.19 to 50.38 with increasing land holdings. R2 value was higher when only one practice was taken at a time and 48.6% of the variation in total practices score was explained by health practices score. Prediction equation also showed that with every one unit increase in the score of health practices, there would be an increase of 2.85 scores in total practices score. It can be concluded that the land holding patterns of the farmers influenced the various management practices of cattle and buffaloes under rural areas.

DNA Polymorphism of BoLA-DRB3.2 Gene in Tharparkar Cattle ( Bos indicus ) by PCR-RFLP

Abstract Bhushan B., Patra, B. N., Paswan, C., Umang, Kumar, P., Dutt, T., Das, P.J., Sharma, A. and Ahlawat, S. P. S. 2007. DNA polymorphism of BoLA-DRB3.2 gene in Tharparkar cattle (Bos indicus) by PCR-RFLP. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 32: 187–190. PCR-RFLP study of BoLA-DRB3 exon 2 was carried out in 36 Tharparkar cattle using three restriction enzymes namely HaeIII, RsaI and Pstl. Two genotypes i.e. HaeIII-aa and HaeIII-ab with frequencies 0.833 and 0.167 and major fragment sizes as 167, 52 and 65 and 219, 167, 52 and 65, respectively, were observed when the 284 bp PCR products were digested with HaeIII restriction enzyme. Digestion with Rsal revealed 10 different patterns (I, II, III, IV, V, I/II, I/III, II/III, III/? and I/?) and out of these five alleles were new and all these alleles were in heterozygous conditions. The frequencies of these were 0.031, 0.156, 0.281, 0.125, 0.156, 0.063, 0.031, 0.063, 0.063 and 0.031, respectively. 75% animals were found homozygous for ReaI enzyme site. The results revealed loss of polymorphism of DRB3 haplotypes. However, further studies may help to understand the mechanisms of loss of polymorphism.

Effect of reduced floor space allowances on performance of crossbred weaner barrows

Study was conducted in 36 crossbred (Landrace x Desi) weaned male piglets (6 weeks of age) divided into three groups (n=12) based on space allocation viz. T1 {0.9 m2/weaner pig- as per Indian Standards (IS)}, T2 (0.6 m2/pig- 33% reduction of IS) and T3 (0.45 m2/pig- 50% reduction of IS). The average initial (6 week) and final (14 week) body weight of weaner barrows were 8.67±0.26, 9.01±0.33, 9.13±0.36 kg and 19.57±1.19, 21.02±1.22, 21.55±1.28 kg for T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively. Average total body weight gain during the experimental period was 10.90±1.09, 12.01±0.97 and 12.42±1.19 kg for T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively. Average daily gain (ADG) of weaner barrows during the experimental period was 194.72±19.46, 214.44±17.37 and 221.73±21.23 g/day for T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively. The overall feed conversion efficiency (FCE) for T1, T2 and T3 groups for whole period was 0.477±0.009, 0.447±0.006 and 0.461±0.011, respectively. Main economic indicators like ADG, FCE and health indicators like mean total lesion score and mean lesion score of body parts (except head and ears) did not differ significantly among groups and these values were within the acceptable limits. Even lowest k value (coefficient used for floor space allocation based on body weight of pigs) i.e. for T3 group, was higher than suggested critical k value in western countries and performance of animals of this group were also not affected. Therefore, weaner barrows of up to 20 kg body weight can be reared in economically efficient manner using 0.45 m2/pig space allowance in Indian conditions.

Estimation of variance and genetic parameters for pre-weaning weights of individual Landrace X Desi synthetic piglets

Variances and genetic parameters were estimated for birth weight (BW), 14 day body weight (14dW), 28 day body weight (28dW), 42 day body weight (42dW) and weaning weight or 56 day body weight (56dW) in the Landrace X Desi synthetic piglet population reared under sub-temperate agro climatic region of India. The data were analyzed using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) fitting six animal models with various combinations of direct and maternal effects. Estimates of genetic and permanent environmental correlations were obtained using bivariate analysis of an animal model and computed with the DFREML program. A log likelihood ratio test was used to select the most appropriate univariate model for each trait. The direct estimates of heritability were 0.43 ± 0.04, 0.31 ± 0.04, 0.35 ± 0.05, 0.40 ± 0.06, and 0.49 ± 0.06 for BW, 14dW, 28dW, 42dW, and 56dW, respectively and it increased with age from 14dW to 56dW. The permanent litter effect progressively decreased and was minimum at 56dW, ranged from 0.21 ± 0.06 to 0.34 ± 0.04. Further, maternal genetic heritability was the highest, ranging from 0.16 ± 0.07 (model 5) to 0.18 (model 6), at age of weaning and the lowest for BW, from 0.04 ± 0.03 (model 5) to 0.06 (model 6). The presence of permanent litter effect was more important since it increased the accuracy of last three models (models 4–6) significantly over the first three models (models 1–3) without permanent litter effect. The selection of 56dW would be more reliable for genetic progress rather than the selection of BW. The direct additive genetic correlation (ra) between BW and 56dW was −0.158 ± 0.29 which revealed that higher BW may not result for favorable changes in weaning weights which was in contradiction to many earlier reports.