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Zinc incorporation and the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were investigated in a culture supplemented with three inorganic zinc salts, i.e. zinc sulphate, zinc chloride and zinc nitrate. The cultivation was performed on a yeast extract peptone dextrose (YEPD) broth medium. The growth of yeast was carried out at different concentrations of zinc, i.e. 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg 100 ml-1. It was found that the addition of different zinc sources at 30 mg 100 ml-1 concentration produced higher biomass yield ranging 1.00-1.03 g from 100 ml-1 of cultivation medium, while higher zinc concentration in the medium caused significantly lower yields of yeast biomass. The amount of zinc in yeast cells was determined by an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). The highest amount of zinc in yeast cells was achieved when added in the form of zinc sulphate at a concentration of 120 mg 100 ml-1. The increment of intracellular zinc was up to 9889.67 mg kg-1 of biomass.

Background and Aim: Poor palatability, low bulk density, and low nutritive value restrict the utilization of the crop residues as animal feeds. Altering the physical characteristics of feed by blending the roughage and concentrates in the form of complete feed improves the nutrient use efficiency and reduces the feed wastage, feed cost, and labor cost. The study aims to determine suitable processing methods (mash, pellet, or block forms) for efficient utilization of sorghum stover-based complete rations vis-a-vis conventional feeding methods in sheep. Materials and Methods: The sorghum stover was incorporated in complete rations with roughage to concentrate ratio of 50:50 proportion in a growth trial of 120 days. The feed ingredients were chaffed, ground in a hammer mill, passed through expander-extruder, and compressed by feed block machine to prepare chop, mash, pellet, and block form of rations, respectively. Twenty-four male intact growing Nellore×Deccani cross lambs (3.5±0.5 months age, 14.50±0.41 kg (mean ± SD) at the start of the experiment) were divided into four experimental groups of six animals each in a complete randomized design. The experimental rations were randomly allotted to each group and evaluated for their intake, nutrient utilization, and growth performance. Results: The sheep fed on pellet-based ration consumed a higher (p

Background: Roughages with an appropriate particle size are required to maintain the optimum rumen health, fermentation and nutrient digestibility. In this regard, the present study was conducted in sheep to determine the optimum particle size for preparation of complete feed blocks. Methods: Twenty-one adult Deccani rams (19.45±0.80 kg) of 2-3 yrs age were used in a complete randomized design to assess the effect of particle size (PS) of sorghum stover (SS) on rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial nitrogen supply. Rams were divided into 3 groups consisting of 7 animals each and fed complete feed blocks containing 8 mm (SSCFB-8), 12 mm (SSCFB-12) and 16 mm (SSCFB-16) particle sizes of the stover. Rumen liquor was collected using stomach tube from each animal at 0, 2, 4 and 6 h after feeding to assess rumen fermentation pattern. Result: Mean rumen pH was increased (P less than 0.001) with increased PS of the SS in the CFBs and the rams fed SSCFB-12 and SSCFB-16 diets were shown highest (P less than 0.001) pH values. Average ammonia nitrogen concentrations were lower (P less than 0.01) in rams fed SSCFB-16 diet compared to those fed SSCFB-12 or SSCFB-8 diets. The average total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration was decreased with increase in PS of SS in the feed blocks. The rams fed SSCFB-8 diet had shown higher (P less than 0.05) TVFA mean values than those fed SSCFB-12 or SSCFB-16 diets. Microbialnitrogen (g/day, g/kg W0.75) and protein supply (g/day, g/kg W0.75 and g/kg DOMI) was not affected by the PS of sorghum stover in complete feed blocks.Based on the results of the current study the SS ground to 8 mm can be considered as optimum for sheep fed SS based diets.

Guar meal (GM) can be considered as an alternative protein source for the livestock and has a potential value as a feed to animals with a high protein content ranging between 45–55%. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of groundnut cake (GNC) with guar meal (GM) on reproductive efficiency, hormone profile, antioxidant status in Deccani ewes fed sorghum stover based complete feed blocks (SSCFB). Twenty-one non-pregnant Deccani ewes (b. wt. 23.34 ±0.40 kg; 2–4 years old and body condition score 2.51±0.56) were randomly divided into three groups to contain 7 animals each in a completely randomized design. Three dietary treatments viz. S1: conventional feeding (sorghum stover and concentrate mixture fed separately in 50:50 ratios to meet the requirement), S2: SSCFB with GNC as protein supplement in concentrate mixture and S3: SSCFB with GM replacing GNC nitrogen of S2 at 50% level. The ewes were synchronised for estrus with progesterone impregnated intravaginal sponges and naturally mated. The ewes were fed at the rate of 3.1 and 3.7% of their body weight from 1stday of experiment—to 108thday of gestation and from 108thday of gestation to till lambing, respectively. The replacement of 50% of GNC nitrogen with GM and densification of diet had no effect (P>0.05) on average DMI (g), antioxidant status, progesterone concentration, conception rate, non return rate, no of matings per service, lambing rate, body weights of lambs at birth, 15 and 30 days of age. GNC can be partially replaced by GM in the ewes diet without any adverse effect on reproductive parameters, antioxidant status, progesterone concentration and weight of lambs.

Zinc incorporation and the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were investigated in a culture supplemented with three inorganic zinc salts, i.e. zinc sulphate, zinc chloride and zinc nitrate. The cultivation was performed on a yeast extract peptone dextrose (YEPD) broth medium. The growth of yeast was carried out at different concentrations of zinc, i.e. 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg 100 ml

Aim: A study was undertaken to evaluate the optimum roughage to concentrate ratio in maize stover (MS) based complete diets for efficient microbial biomass production (EMBP) using in vitro gas production technique. Materials and Methods: MS based complete diets with roughage to concentrate ratio of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, and 30:70 were formulated, and 200 mg of oven-dried sample was incubated in water bath at 39°C along with media (rumen liquor [RL] - buffer) in in vitro gas syringes to evaluate the gas production. The gas produced was recorded at 8 and 24 h of inc ubation. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), metabolizable energy (ME), truly digestible organic matter (TDOM), partitioning factor (PF), and EMBP were calculated using appropriate formulae. Ammonia nitrogen and total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) production were analyzed in RL fluid-media mixture after 24 h of incubation. Results: In vitro gas production (ml) at 24 h incubation, IVOMD, ME, TDOM, TVFA concentration, and ammonia nitrogen production were increased (p

To investigate the preservability of Deccani ram semen in three different extenders - SC (Sodium Citrate), T (Tris), C (Coconut milk) egg yolk extenders after dilution and chilling (5ºC) at 1, 24 and 48 hr. of storage. Eight Deccani adult rams (aged 2-4 years) were selected and ejaculate from each ram was divided into 3 aliquots and diluted with SC, T and C extenders (final concentration - 400 million spermatozoa/0.2 ml semen) and stored at 5ºC. Semen evaluation was done by computer assisted semen analyser (CASA). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the significance difference between extenders. S: Sodium citrate (SC) and Tris (T) - Egg yolk extender was significantly (P less than 0.05) better as compared to Coconut milk extender (C). No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed between SC and T. Sperm kinematics assessment by CASA revealed Sodium citrate-based egg-yolk extender (SC) as better extender for preservation of Deccani Ram semen upto 48 hr. of storage as compared to T and C.

The present study was carried out to assess the effect of different farming systems on productive performance, body condition score and carcass characteristics of Deccani lambs. Thirty-six weaned lambs having 3 months of age were divided into three groups with twelve lambs in each group in under intensive (T1), semi-intensive (T2) and extensive (T3) farming systems. The comparative mean dry matter intake (kg/day) and (kg/100kg BW) was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in T1 group when compared to other groups. T2 group had significantly (p less than 0.05) higher DM intake (kg/day) than T3 group. The mean values of Average daily gains in Deccani lambs were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in T1 group compared to T2 and T3 groups. The feed efficiency was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in T1 compared to T2, T3 groups. Statistically significant difference was found in BCS at six months of age (p less than 0.05) between T1 and T3 groups. BCS at 9, 12 months and overall BCS, there was a significant (p less than 0.05) difference between T1 and T3 groups. T1 group had higher pre-slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, meat %, fat% and meat: bone ratio thanT2 and T3. The dressing yields were comparable. The weights of other offals (heart, kidney, spleen, testicles, blood, head and lung and trachea) were comparable. The findings of this study indicated that the intensive and semi-intensive system of rearing could be useful for mutton production. In extensive system, which is predominant in India should change its facet by enriching the grazing land resources as well by the supplementation of required plane of nutrition during growth and special life stages viz., gestation, puberty, post lambing and finisher stages for achieving optimum productivity.

The result from revealed that T3 group have significantly (P

A 120 d growth study was conducted in Deccani sheep to evaluate the effect of feeding hydroponically grown barley fodder (HBF) on growth performance, nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics. Eighteen Deccani ram lambs of 3 months age (13.0±0.42 kg) were divided into three groups of six in each in a completely randomized design. Three iso-nitrogenous rations were formulated, in which the control ration (CON) was prepared by using roughage (chopped sorghum stover) and concentrate at 60:40 ratio; the other two experimental rations were formulated by replacing 50 (L-HBF) and 75 (H-HBF), per cent of CP of concentrate mixture with HBF at low and high levels, respectively. The replacement of concentrate mixture at 50% in L-HBF significantly (P

APBN1, a variety of hybrid napier was analysed at five stages of harvest (30, 40, 45, 50 and 60 days) for yield, leaf to stem ratio, chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility, in sacco dry matter and protein degradation to find out optimum stage of harvesting. The yield of green fodder, dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) (MT/ ha/year) of forage harvested at 30, 40, 45, 50 and 60 days of growth ranged from 274.68 to 387.95, 47.35 to 98.81, 7.44 to 11.45, respectively. Highest (P less than 0.05) CP yield (11.45 MT/ha) and nitrogen free extract content (46.12%) was observed at 45 d of growth. Crude protein (15.72 to 11.34%), ether extract (3.65 to 2.26%) decreased, whereas total ash (10.88 to 13.86%), crude fibre (23.81 to 29.88%) and acid insoluble ash (3.92 to 5.14%) levels increased when forage was allowed to grow from 30 to 60 d. Similarly, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin and silica levels also increased gradually as plant matures. The in vitro dry matter digestibility was maximum (57.87%) at 30 d and minimum (51.40%) at 60 d of growth. Effective dry matter and protein degradability decreased from 55.80 to 43.78 and from 38.30 to 33.17 per cent, respectively as plant matured from 30 to 60 days. The insoluble but degradable protein fraction ‘b’ was highest (77.07%) at 45 d of growth. Based on the biomass yield, leaf to stem ratio, chemical, in vitro and in sacco evaluation, the optimum stage of harvesting for APBN1 forage was found to be at 45 d of growth.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation of concentrate at different levels to sweet sorghum bagasse leaf residue (SSBLR) silage on nutrient utilization in growing lambs in a metabolism trial conducted after 120days of feeding. Sixteen growing Nellore ram lambs (18.3±0.8) were randomly allotted to 4 dietary groups (4 in each group) and were inducted into metabolic cages five days prior to collection for acclimatization followed by a seven day collection period. The four dietary groups were SSBLR silage fed ad libitum and supplemented with concentrate mixture (CP 17% and ME 2.53 Mcal/kg DM) at 0.0 (R-I), 0.75 (R-II), 1.0 (R-III) and 1.25 (R-IV) per cent of their live Weight. Significantly (P0.0) with increase in level of concentrate in the diet. Negative and lower (P

An in vitro study was conducted to evaluate the optimum roughage to concentrate ratio in complete rations using sorghum stover (SS) as a roughage source since it is a main feed resource for urban and peri-urban dairies. Eight complete rations were prepared with roughage (R) to concentrate (C) ratio of 100R:0C to 30R:70C. In vitro gas production (ml) at 24 h incubation, in vitro organic matter digestibility and metabolizable energy, truly digestible organic matter and ammonia nitrogen production were increased linearly (P