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Purpose: This paper explored the impact of prolonged lockdown caused by coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic on the academic aspects of veterinary students of India and its relationship with their socio-economic status. Design/methodology/approach: We conducted a study with 224 first-year veterinary students engaged in e-learning system from four veterinary colleges of India at the end of 7th week of lockdown using Google Forms questionnaire in a set of multiple-choice questions. The primary data were analysed using the non-parametric chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Kendall's tau-b correlation coefficients using the SAS software. Findings: The pandemic situation exerted an effect over the socio-economic and academic aspects of the students. The alternate e-learning system of education was adapted to the veterinary students and the teachers. The techniques of e-learning were mostly useful for the students from less affected family with sound income. Practical implications: The study suggests the decision-making for adopting e-learning system of education and also helps to assess the impact of lockdown in versatile socio-economic and diversified institutional infrastructural stratum of India. Theoretical implications: Any education is effective when it results in changes of behavioural components such as knowledge, attitude, skill and action of an individual. Based on this basic theory, the study has been conducted, which will help the policy makers to make a strategic plan for the implementation of e-learning system as an effective alternative in teaching and learning of agricultural education system. Originality/Value: This study provides a clear dimension about the degree of adoption of the e-learning system as a substitute of physical classroom teaching during crisis situation apart from any gender or institutes.

Simple Summary: This present study evaluated the efficacy of dietary benzoic acid (BA) and oregano essential oil (OEO) separately or together as a substitute for a commercial coccidiostatic drug (salinomycin) on growth performance and physiological and immunological responses in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria species. It was found that the BA and OEO applied alone or in combination significantly reduced gut pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella and Escherichia coli) and Eimeria spp. and concurrently enhanced the Lactobacillus population with better body weight gain, improved feed utilization, and superior hematological values. It boosted the immune system by enhancing Eimeria-specific immunoglobulin Y titer and up- and down-regulated various immune gene expressions to protect the chickens from inflammatory reactions that were not demonstrated in salinomycin-treated birds. This study suggests that the combined application of OEO and BA can substitute for salinomycin in controlling coccidiosis as well as improving growth performance, gut health, and immune responses in broiler chickens. To overcome the antimicrobial residues in food, benzoic acid (BA) and oregano essential oil (OEO) are used in the broiler chicken industry. Independently, both exerted anticoccidial and antimicrobial actions and improved growth performance in broiler chickens. Their effect may be multiplied when they are used in combination. This present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of dietary BA and OEO alone or in combination as a substitute for a commercial coccidiostatic drug on growth performance and physiological and immunological responses in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria species. A total of 252 unsexed 1-day-old broiler chicks were equally allotted to 36 pens, each pen containing seven chicks. The pens were randomly assigned to six treatments with six pens (replicates) for each treatment (n = 6)—(i) negative control, (ii) positive control, coccidia-challenged and non-treated, (iii) supplemented with salinomycin (an anti-coccidial drug) at 60 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged, (iv) supplemented with BA at 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged, (v) supplemented with OEOat 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged (OEO), and (vi) supplemented with BA at 500 mg/kg of feed and OEO at 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia-challenged (B&O). The liver enzymes and thyroxine and creatinine levels were not affected (p > 0.05) both in coccidia-challenged and supplemented chickens. The BA and OEO applied separately or in combination (B&O) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced gut pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella and Escherichia coli) and Eimeria spp., and concurrently enhanced (p > 0.05) the Lactobacillus population with better body weight gain, improved feed utilization, and superior hematological values. It also up-regulated (p > 0.05) the interferon-γ gene expression and down-regulated (p < 0.05) the interleukin-10 and Toll-like receptor-4 gene expression to protect the chickens from inflammatory reactions, which were not demonstrated in salinomycin-treated birds. The B&O supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the immune system by enhancing Eimeria-specific immunoglobulin Y titer and lymphocyte proliferation response. This study suggests that the combined application of OEO and BA can substitute for a commercial anti-coccidial agent (salinomycin) in controlling coccidiosis as well as improving growth performance, gut health, and immune responses in broiler chickens with a means of antimicrobial-resistant free food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghoongroo pigs have good adaptability in a low input production system with high prolificacy. The present study was conducted on pre-and post-weaned Ghoongroo piglets from 2–3 days to 12 weeks of age to evaluate the effect of a milk replacer and oregano essential oil (EO) on growth, physiological and immunological responses. Thirty six piglets were randomly divided into three groups. The control group (n = 12) was allowed to suck mother's milk. Second group piglets were provided milk replacer (MR) and piglets of the third group were provided milk replacer along with oregano EO at 500 mg/kg diet. After weaning, piglets were provided standard concentrate diets. The results showed that the body weight in MR and MR + EO groups were significantly higher compared with the control. The MR + EO group had better intestinal microbiota, greater nonspecific innate immunity with the phagocytosis efficacy of neutrophils, lower cortisol concentration and more stable thyroid hormones than the other groups. The better haematological status supported the rapid organ development and improved intestinal health status in both the experimental groups. In conclusion, milk replacer, especially with the inclusion of oregano EO, can lower weaning stress, enhance nonspecific immunity and improve growth and health status of piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood samples (5 mL/animal) were collected from male (n = 50) and female (n = 50) black Bengal goat kids to evaluate the alterations in plasma Na, K, Ca and Fe during pre-pubertal growth phase. The plasma sodium concentration significantly (P < 0.01) decreased with the advancement of age in both male and female kids. Plasma K did not differ significantly between age group and sex. There was a significant (P < 0.01) increase in plasma calcium level. There was no significant alteration in iron levels during different days of pre-pubertal period in the kids of both sexes. Baseline data of plasma Na, K, Ca and Fe levels in black Bengal kids of either sexes during different days of pre-pubertal growth stage generated in this study will be required to calculate mineral requirements in goats during growth phase. It can be recommended that during ration formulation for goat kids in early growth stage, mineral levels do not need to be adjusted based on sex, as sex had no influence over the above said minerals. In addition, the net Ca requirements for growth increase and Na requirements decrease as the animals grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the antimicrobial residues in food, benzoic acid (BA) and oregano essential oil (OEO) are used in the broiler chicken industry. Independently, both exerted anticoccidial and antimicrobial actions and improved growth performance in broiler chickens. Their effect may be multiplied when they are used in combination. This present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of dietary BA and OEO alone or in combination as a substitute for a commercial coccidiostatic drug on growth performance and physiological and immunological responses in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria species. A total of 252 unsexed 1-day-old broiler chicks were equally allotted to 36 pens, each pen containing seven chicks. The pens were randomly assigned to six treatments with six pens (replicates) for each treatment ( n = 6)-(i) negative control, (ii) positive control, coccidia -challenged and non-treated, (iii) supplemented with salinomycin (an anti-coccidial drug) at 60 mg/kg of feed and coccidia -challenged, (iv) supplemented with BA at 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia -challenged, (v) supplemented with OEOat 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia -challenged (OEO), and (vi) supplemented with BA at 500 mg/kg of feed and OEO at 500 mg/kg of feed and coccidia -challenged (B&O). The liver enzymes and thyroxine and creatinine levels were not affected ( p > 0.05) both in coccidia-challenged and supplemented chickens. The BA and OEO applied separately or in combination (B&O) significantly ( p < 0.05) reduced gut pathogenic bacteria ( Salmonella and Escherichia coli ) and Eimeria spp., and concurrently enhanced ( p > 0.05) the Lactobacillus population with better body weight gain, improved feed utilization, and superior hematological values. It also up-regulated ( p > 0.05) the interferon-γ gene expression and down-regulated ( p < 0.05) the interleukin-10 and Toll-like receptor-4 gene expression to protect the chickens from inflammatory reactions, which were not demonstrated in salinomycin-treated birds. The B&O supplementation increased ( p < 0.05) the immune system by enhancing Eimeria -specific immunoglobulin Y titer and lymphocyte proliferation response. This study suggests that the combined application of OEO and BA can substitute for a commercial anti-coccidial agent (salinomycin) in controlling coccidiosis as well as improving growth performance, gut health, and immune responses in broiler chickens with a means of antimicrobial-resistant free food products.