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The study was carried out on four mature Jaffrabadi breeding bulls (4–6 years old) maintained at Cattle Breeding Farm, JAU, Junagadh for a period of 8 months during winter and summer. The seasonal and bull variations in sexual behavior traits were studied. A total of 64 observations (32 per season, 8 per bull) were availed at the fortnightly interval. The mean values/ scores for temperament (0–5 scale), libido (0–9 scale), penile erection (0–4 scale), protrusion (0–4 scale), intensity of thrust (0–4 scale), reaction time (sec) and Flehmen reaction (0, 1) during winter season were 1.28 ± 0.08, 6.75 ± 0.19, 3.22 ± 0.74, 2.88 ± 0.59, 3.15 ± 0.65, 125.00 ± 6.92 and 0.91 ± 0.43, respectively, while the respective values in summer season were 2.22 ± 0.07, 5.93 ± 0.43, 2.84 ± 0.65, 2.75 ± 0.59, 2.93 ± 0.13, 143.5 ± 7.07 and 0.88 ± 0.06. There were significant differences among seasons for temperament, libido and penile erection score of Jaffrabadi bulls. Significant differences among bulls were also found for libido score, the intensity of thrust and reaction time in the winter season, and for ejaculatory thrust in the summer season. All these traits were highly significantly and positively interrelated (r = 0.353 to 0.512), except Flehmen reaction and reaction time which were negatively correlated with all other behavioral traits (r = –340 to –0.499). Summer in general significantly exerted an adverse effect on the sexual behavior of Jaffrabadi bulls, and winter was the favored season. It could be concluded from the study that the Jaffrabadi bulls had good sexual behavior scores throughout both the seasons, however, bulls showed better sexual behavior during winter as compared to summer.

Aim: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of garlic, ginger and their combination in the diets of broiler chickens and assessment in terms of feed intake, growth performance and economics of feeding. Materials and Methods: A total of 240 1-day-old Cobb-400 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments each with three replicates of 20 chicks per replicate (n=60). Four experimental diets were formulated in such a way that control diet (T1) contained neither ginger nor garlic. While, birds in group T2 and T3 were fed with diets containing 1% garlic and ginger, respectively. Diet 4 (T4 group) contained a combination of 1% of garlic and ginger. The feeding experiment was carried out for 42 days, and different parameters evaluated includes feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, gut morphometry, and economics of feeding in terms of return over feed cost (ROFC) and European Performance Efficiency Index. Results: Feed intake of experimental birds in ginger and mixture of garlic and ginger supplemented groups, i.e., T3 and T4 groups have significantly (p

Herd structure and herd performance traits of Gir herd of Cattle Breeding Farm, JAU, Junagadh, Gujarat was studied utilizing monthly data over a period of 10 years (2001-2010). A herd with an average of 110 Gir cows had average total strength of 388.38±3.09 and total adult units (AUs) of 259.27 ±13.42. The total females present in the herd were 71.82%. The Gir herd consisted of 28.98 % cows, 22.02 % breedable heifers, 22.34 % calves (female + male) and 12.33 % males above 1 year. Wet average and herd average were 6.77±0.10 and 3.84±0.06 lit/d/cow, and % milch cows and number of milch cows were 57.03±0.85 and 63.12±1.42, respectively. Effect of month was significant on the herd average only. All herd performance traits were significantly influenced by year. Return over feed cost (ROFC) at variable feed cost was estimated to be 116.36±4.24 % at market rate of milk. Calving incidence was significantly (P less than 0.05) influenced by month. Majority (42.08 %) of calving occurred during September to December. Of 562 animals disposed of, the maximum proportion (33.96 %) was cows principally due to old age (>6 lactation) and low yield. Maximum cows, 26.21% were disposed of in their 3rd lactation. Growing/breeding males were sold @ 28.57% and castrated males to the tune of 22.32 %. The correlations among the herd structure and performance traits of the herd were negative, medium in magnitude and significant, - 0.21 to - 0.29 with wet average, -0.16 to -0.21 with herd average and -0.25 to -0.73 (P less than 0.05) with % ROFC. For the Gir herd under the study, herd structure of 30-33% cows, 18-21% breedable heifers and 72-75% total female proportion resulted in optimum wet average (>7.32 lit/d/milch cow) and herd average (> 4.17 lit/d/cow) and also higher ROFC >139.6 %.

The prostaglandin and its synthetic analogue are considered as drug of choice in reproductive management. A total of twenty Jaffrabadi buffaloes with reproductive disorders were selected from cattle breeding farm, Junagadh. All twenty buffaloes (Group I) were treated with single dose of Prostaglandin (synthetic analogue, clostrinol, 2 ml) while the animals which did not respond (Group II) to first injection of Prostaglandin were subjected to second injection of Prostaglandin 11 days after first treatment. A total of six animals (30%) responded to first dose of PGF 2 α, while eight animals (57%) responded to second dose of PGF 2 α. The mean time required for induction of heat in first and second group was 70.24 ± 1.44 hrs and 56.86 ± 1.96. The mean duration of estrus proper in first group was 19.18 ± 0.69 hrs, while in second group the mean duration was 16.13 ± 0.42 hr. The conception rate in the present study was 43.05 per cent for the first group of animals and 49 per cent for the animal that were treated with second dose of PGF 2 α. In conclusion, administration of PGF 2 α at eleven days interval causes faster heat induction and better conception rate.

Breeding and lactation efficiencies (BE and LE), parity-wise production profile, productive herd life and lifetime milk production (LTMP) of Gir cows (N=309), based on 1363 calvings during 1991 to 2010 at Cattle Breeding Farm, JAU, Junagadh were studied. Age at first calving (AFC) and calving interval (CI) of Gir cows were 1527.76±14.17 and 481.22±4.86 days, respectively. CI ranged from 386 to 505 days among different lactations. When AFC and CI were taken into account together, BE of the cows as per Tomar (BE-T) was estimated to be 86.91±0.49 %. About 17 % of Gir cows in the herd calved for the first time at >42 months of age (Av. 37.04 month) and 38 % of the cows had less than 14 months of CI. Lactation period (LP) of Gir cows varied significantly (P>0.05) from 230 days to 335 days showing an increasing trend with increase in no. of parity. Overall LP of Gir cows was 281.02±4.56 days, LE being 61.07±1.10%. Total lactation milk yield (TLMY) and standard lactation milk yield (SLMY) of Gir cows averaged 2006.29±48.77 and 1819.73±45.44 lit, respectively. Milk yield increased significantly (P>0.05), with increase in no. of parity, reaching peak TLMY (2425 lit) and SLMY (2303 lit) in 5th lactation. TLMY was 2134 to 2362 lit, and SLMY 1950 to 2110 lit in 6th to 8th lactation. Productive herd life averaged 3107.87±81.40 days (8.51 years). Mean number of calvings during lifetime was 4.25±0.15. A total of 19- 25 % of the total cows performed in the herd for more than 12 years, (average being 14.6 years) and for > 6 lactations. Gir cows produced 9988.71±649.08 lit LTMP. LTMP of Gir cows was significantly associated with both, the BE and LE (r =0.23 to 0.25). MSLMY showed significant (P>0.05) correlation (r=0.31 to 0.37) with BE-W and LE. Association of AFC was significant with BE-T (r=0.26). The 1st and 2nd CI showed a correlation (r= 0.57 to 0.59, P>0.01) of high magnitude with BE-W. The findings revealed that Gir cows in the herd are worth- retaining in the herd till 8th lactation with satisfactory breeding efficiency of about 87 % for economically viable sustainable dairy farming.

Aim: Our objective was to estimate in-vitro gas production from dry jowar fodder added with differentconcentrations of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFEs) like neutral cellulase and fungal xylanase.Materials and Methods: 34 different samples of dry jowar fodder were prepared according to differentconcentrations of neutral cellulase, fungal xylanase and neutral cellulase + fungal xylanase (1:1). Sample notcontaining any enzymes was considered as the control group. These 34 samples were subjected to further in vitrogas production analysis.Results: Statistically, significantly higher (P

Aim: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of bypass nutrients i.e. bypass lysine, methionine and fat on growth and nutritional efficiency in growing Jaffrabadi buffalo heifers aged 21 to 27 months.Materials and Methods: Twenty buffalo heifers were divided into four groups of equal number: control group (T1), bypass fat supplementation (T2), bypass lysine and methionine supplementation (T3) and bypass lysine, methionine and fat supplementation (T4). The feeds were analyzed for proximate constituents. Body measurements (body length, body height, heart girth, body girth, pelvic length and pelvic width) as well as body weights (kg) of individual animals were recorded at the beginning and thereafter at every fifteen day interval throughout the experimental period. Feed conversion ratio was determined in terms of dry matter required per kg gain in body weight under different treatments.Results: The total weight gain and average daily body weight gain during the experiment was highest in T4 followed by T2, which differed significantly (P0.05).Conclusion: Incorporation of bypass nutrients (lysine, methionine and fat) in the ration of growing Jaffrabadi heifers improved live weight gain, dry matter intake (kg/day), dry matter intake per kg metabolic weight and feed conversion ratio (DMI/kg body weight gain).

Diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), is a notorious pest of brassica crops worldwide and is resistant to all groups of insecticides. The insect system harbors diverse groups of microbiota, which in turn helps in enzymatic degradation of xenobiotic-like insecticides. The present study aimed to determine the diversity of gut microflora in DBM, quantify esterase activity and elucidate their possible role in degradation of indoxacarb. We screened 11 geographic populations of DBM in India and analyzed them for bacterial diversity. The culturable gut bacterial flora underwent molecular characterization with 16S rRNA. We obtained 25 bacterial isolates from larvae (n = 13) and adults (n = 12) of DBM. In larval gut isolates, gammaproteobacteria was the most abundant (76%), followed by bacilli (15.4%). Molecular characterization placed adult gut bacterial strains into three major classes based on abundance: gammaproteobacteria (66%), bacilli (16.7%) and flavobacteria (16.7%). Esterase activity from 19 gut bacterial isolates ranged from 0.072 to 2.32 µmol/min/mg protein. Esterase bands were observed in 15 bacterial strains and the banding pattern differed in Bacillus cereus – KC985225 and Pantoea agglomerans – KC985229. The bands were characterized as carboxylesterase with profenofos used as an inhibitor. Minimal media study showed that B. cereus degraded indoxacarb up to 20%, so it could use indoxacarb for metabolism and growth. Furthermore, esterase activity was greater with minimal media than control media: 1.87 versus 0.26 µmol/min/mg protein. Apart from the insect esterases, bacterial carboxylesterase may aid in the degradation of insecticides in DBM.

Background and purpose: In gastrointestinal smooth muscle cGMP levels in response to relaxant agonists are regulated by PKG-mediated phosphorylation and activation of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5). The aim of the present study was to determine whether contractile agonists modulate cGMP levels by cross-regulating PDE5 activity and to identify the mechanism of action. Experimental approach: Dispersed and cultured muscle cells from rabbit stomach were treated with the nitric oxide donor, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), or with a contractile agonist, ACh and GSNO. PDE5 phosphorylation and activity, and cGMP levels were determined. Key results: GSNO stimulated PDE5 phosphorylation and activity and increased cGMP levels in gastric smooth muscle cells. Concurrent activation of cells with ACh augmented GSNO-stimulated PDE5 phosphorylation and activity, and attenuated cGMP levels. The effect of ACh was blocked by the m3 receptor antagonist and by inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) or RhoA, but not by the m2 receptor antagonist or inhibitors of PI hydrolysis. The effects of ACh on PDE5 phosphorylation and activity, and cGMP levels were mimicked by a low concentration of tautomycin (10 nM), and a high (1 μM) but not low (1 nM) concentration of okadaic acid. PDE5 was associated with protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and dephosphorylated by the catalytic subunit of PP1 but not PP2A. Conclusion and implications: In gastrointestinal smooth muscle cGMP levels are cross-regulated by contractile agonists via a mechanism that involves RhoA-dependent, PKC-mediated inhibition of PP1 activity. This leads to augmentation of PDE5 phosphorylation and activity, and inhibition of cGMP levels. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, 1214–1224; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707686; published online 21 January 2008

Poultry excreta has the most economic value for use as animal feed. Poultry excreta in ruminant ration could have a considerable effect on reducing costs, increasing level of protein in diet, and on solving disposal problems. Generally poultry excreta are high in fibre and ash. Poultry excreta appear to have energy concentration, calcium, nitrogen and phosphorous levels exceeding that of some high quality hay. Poultry excreta are rich sources of many minerals. Poultry excreta is an economical source of supplemental crude protein and minerals to ruminants. Poultry excreta can be used in livestock feed specially in country like India where there is large shortage of nutritious feed. Research showed that growing and lactating animals accept these poultry wastes in concentrate supplements. Safer limit seems to be 30% in concentrate mixtures. These mixtures are readily acceptable and palatable.

A preliminary attempt was made for biological control of coconut leaf eating caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker, by releasing two Trichogramma species viz. T. chilonis Ishii and T. embryophagum Hartig @ 1,000 to 4,000 parasitised eggs per palm in Bangalore, India. The mean percent reduction in larval population by 75.6, 60.0, 33.3 and 50.0% in T. chilonis and 88.8%, 175.0, 66.7 and 75.0% in T. embryophagum was recorded in treated palms during 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation of the pest compared to untreated control. There was non- significant difference between various release rates irrespective of the species, indicating that lower release rate of 1,000 parasitised eggs/palm as adequate. On sentinel egg cards, parasitism was low 2.0 - 5.0%, 0.0 - 2.0% and 0.0% in T. chilonis, and T. embryophagum released palms and untreated control palms, respectively. The field trial gave an indication that Trichogramma could be a potential parasitoid against O. arenosella and it is suggested that the parasitoids could be released and tested on a large scale in endemic areas to authenticate efficacy.

DURING the course of a systematic screening for antibiotics with antiviral activity, Streptomyces alanosinicus nov. sp. (ATCC 15710) was isolated from a Brazilian soil sample. This culture produced, under submerged conditions, a new antibiotic with antiviral and antitumour activity to which the name “alanosine” was given.