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The efficacy of two cooling systems with a low-cost Fan-Fogger (FF) and the conventional Fan- Pad (FP) system was tested to reduce the effect of heat stress in broiler chicks. Four hundred eighty, day-old sexed commercial broiler chicks were randomly divided into twelve groups each having forty birds with similar body weight range and equal sex ratio. All the chicks were reared under similar brooding conditions for two weeks. The FF and FP systems were used for four groups of chicks each from third to six week of age. All chicks were reared under deep litter system of housing with similar managemental conditions except the cooling systems. The average body weight of chicks at the start of experiment was 280g. The temperature in control, FF & FP during the experimental period of 4 weeks was 32.18 ± 0.11, 30.22 ± 0.85 and 29.40 ± 0.09 °C with relative humidity of 39.21 ± 0.09, 44.65 ± 0.14 and 48.91± 0.10%, respectively. The body temperatures of birds in FF and FP were recorded to be 107.2 ± 0.18 and 106.9 ± 0.04ºF respectively, as compared to108.2 ± 0.13°F, in birds of control. The weight gain was 1101± 1.00, 1241± 1.50 and 1320 ± 1.49 g; the FCR was 2.23 ± 0.01, 2.08 ± 0.01 and 2.03 ± 0.02 while the PER was 2.37 ± 0.01, 2.55 ± 0.02and 2.61 ± 0.01 in control, FF & FP, respectively. The survivability rate was 95.04 ± 0.56% in control, 96.78 ± 0.62% in FF and 98.23± 0.42% in FP, respectively. It was concluded that both the cooling systems had significant (p < 0.05) effect on the comfort and production efficiency of broiler chicks during hot-dry season. The fan-pad system was found to be more efficient than fan-fogger system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six week feeding trial was conducted to study the carcass characteristics and economics of production on replacement of soybean meal with different levels of canola or mustard meal. A total of 196 day old commercial (Vencob) broiler chicks were subjected to 7 isocaloric and isonitrogenous dietary treatments in which maize soybean based ration was used as a control diet and in 6 test diets either canola or mustard meal replaced the soybean meal at 10, 15 and 20 % level on equal nitrogen basis. Results showed that neither canola nor mustard meal at any level had significant effect on evisceration rate. In comparison to control, on per unit live weight basis margin of receipt over feed cost was higher in canola and lower in mustard supplemented groups. The margin of receipt was higher in all levels of canola meal compared to mustard meal. It was concluded that for partial replacement of soybean meal the canola meal is more economical and better alternate to mustard meal due to its lower glucosinolate and erucic acid content and higher level of essential amino acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that examined the effect of sex ratio and light cycle during breeding on the subsequent reproductive performance in Swiss Albino mice. The experiment used 54 female and 18 male Swiss Albino mice and were divided into three groups according to their age and body weight. It highlights the body weight loss at parturition (BWLP) and the body weight per pup (BWPP) considering the male to female ratio of each group and in terms of light cycle during breeding.

The article discusses research on the effect of sex ratio and light cycle on the reproductive performance of Swiss Albino rats. It offers information on the selection of rats from Small Animal Colony in Ludhiana, India, the feed consumption recorded, and the random division performed to distinguish the reproductive effects of the said key factors. Observations on birth weight, conception rate and body weight of female rats have also been reported as per standard statistical methods.

The article examines the effects of iron and copper supplementation in advanced pregnant White Yorkshire sows on the haematology of their offsprings. Results show that average haemoglobin Hb concentration was higher in copper-supplemented piglets than control sow at 5th and 8th days. Also noted was the higher total erythrocyte count (TEC) of the piglets. It concludes that supplementation at the last week of gestation was beneficial for maintaining normal Hb levels and TEC in newborn piglets.

A case study on the effect of maternal age at first breeding on reproductive performance in mice is presented. Two groups of female Albino mice were used in the study, 60 to 63-day old mice belong to group 1 while 86 to 89-day-old belong to group 2. The males and females were put together for 10 days for breeding and then separated until farrowing and weaning. The study reveals that gestation period in group 1 is shorter than in group 2 and the mean weight is higher in group 1 than in group 2.