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Among the established breeds of buffalo in Pakistan, the Nili-Ravi breed is dominant in the Punjab Province. The purpose of the study is to determine the chemical composition and fatty acid profile of buffalo milk. Milk is a complete food and contains all the nutritional components in balanced form. It helps to meet important nutritional needs of the human body. The buffaloes were divided into 3 groups on the basis of lactation period i.e. early, middle and late lactation. A total of 90 milk samples were obtained for analysis. Buffalo milk samples were analyzed for proximate analysis, parameters like fat, crude protein, lactose, ash, solids not fat (SNF), total solids (TS), pH and acidity were determined. Fatty acid profile of buffalo milk was determined by the method, Association of Office of Agricultural Chemists (AOAC, 2000). Milk fat content (%) was found to be significantly (p<0.05) lower in the early (6.52) and mid lactation (6.61) stages than the late lactation stage (6.85). The content of TS (%) was found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in the late lactation (14.62 and 15.45) stage than the early (12.94 and 13.65)) and mid lactation (13.76 and 14.14) stages. In contrast, the content of total protein (4.31% to 4.78%), Solid not fat (8.40% to 8.70%), lactose (4.36% to 4.74%) and ash (0.18% to 0.19%) did not vary significantly among the different lactation stages. The values of Butyric acid, Caproic acid, Myristic acid, Stearic acid and Oleic acid showed significant increase towards end of lactation. These values of fatty acids also revealed that there is significant difference among the animals and lactation stages of Nili Ravi buffalo milk. Results showed that Capric acid, Lauric acid, Palmitic acid, Linoleic acid and Linolenic acid decreased in early to middle and increased towards end of lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strangles is the most common infectious and contagious disease of equines that affects upper respiratory tract. It is prevalent among the horses in sub-continent from pre partitioned times, an effective study to isolate locally prevalent strains in the area and study of factors affecting their consequent growth is essential. For the said purpose, twenty nasal swab samples were collected, ten from clinically sick and ten from apparently healthy horses with the history of disease. Isolated strains were undergone identification through biochemical and lancefield testing. Maximum in-vitro growth of Streptococcus equi (S. equi) is a critical factor for its cost effective bioceutics production. Effect of different factors like composition of medium such as (Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB), Nutrient Broth, Brain Heart Infusion broth (BHI), Reinforced Clostridial Medium (RCM) and Peptone Broth, pH (5, 7, 9), gas (oxygen availability, 5% CO2, aeration), horse serum (2%, 5%, 10%) and temperature (35°C, 37°C, 39°C) on growth of S. equi was therefore carried out. Growth was expressed in form of Colony Forming Units (CFU) which was converted into log values followed by statistical analysis. TSB among media, pH 7, CO2 5% gas, horse serum 5% and incubation temperature 37°C showed optimum growth of S. equi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]