Search

This study evaluated the adoption of scientific animal feeding practices among women dairy farmers in regions with good access to veterinary institutions. Access to these services is crucial for gender equality, economic empowerment, and sustainable agriculture. But, such studies are lacking in India. This research involved 150 women farmers in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, with easy access to veterinary institutions. High adoption levels were observed for most scientific dairy feeding practices. Colostrum feeding for new-born calves was the most adopted, while home preparation of animal feed was the least. The study revealed significant correlations between adoption levels and factors like landholding size, dairy experience, and market orientation. In summary, multiple veterinary institutions’ support positively influences the adoption of scientific dairy feeding practices among women dairy farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic stress affects various physiological functions in the body and has a negative effect on livestock growth, health and production. Heat stress of high intensity and duration, causes metabolic disruptions, oxidative stress, decrease nutrient intake and immuno-suppression resulting in infections and death. Animals are found to cope up with the adverse effects of stress when the nutritional requirements are not compromised. Challenged by physiological reactions to heat stress, dietary requirements of macro minerals may differ from requirements in thermoneutral environment. Dietary minerals are an integral part of all biological functions in the animal body The thermal stress imposes some unique metabolic conditions that require elevated dietary cation anion difference, specifically dietary sodium and potassium. Under such circumstances, in order to sustain productivity, suitable nutritional interventions such as dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) should be adopted, with the objective of increasing the dry matter intake (DMI), improve blood buffering, stabilizing ruminal pH and thereby bring about beneficial influence on growth and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lead exists extensively in the environment and it is a heavy metal, which is neurotoxic in nature which is harmful to children. In contrast to trace elements such as iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), lead has no recognized beneficial effects in human body. With the economic development in India in recent years, the concentration of lead has increased in the environment and henceforth, lead pollution has become a severe problem in the country. Lead poisoning can create an immense damage and irreversible harm to foetal growth, the growth of teenagers and psychological, behavioural and cognitive development. Aim and Objectives: To estimate the lead content in the sample of toys. Material and Methods: 97 different toys were collected and coded as TS, these toys were kept in plastic lock cover which were lead proof. At first the toys were arranged in order according to the serial number of the code (TS1 - TS97). The FP X-ray fiuorescence (Innov-X ray analyzer) instrument was placed with the window of the analyzer on the surface of the toy vertically in such a way that there was no gap between the toy surface and the sampling window. The parts per million (ppm) values of all toys were recorded. Results: Out of 97 samples tested, 22 samples were above permissible limits. The different materials demonstrate significant correlation with the lead content in ppm. Lead is used as a stabilizer in some toys as well as children's items made from PVC plastic. Baby toys made up of plastic have higher concentration of lead. Lead can leach out of products when children handle and swallow them involuntarily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lead poisoning is classically defined as exposure to high levels of lead typically associated with severe health effects, but being a heavy metal which is potentially toxic, if present at even minor concentrations, it is of great concern to environmentalists and medical professionals alike. Activated charcoal has been known to adsorb heavy metals and thus, was used in this study as well. Aim: The main aim of this study was to decrease the lead content of agricultural soil which is attributed to the use of pesticides containing lead by using activated charcoal. Material and Methods: The lead contamination in agricultural soil and plant dry mass samples which increases due to the effect of pesticides was detected by using Field Portable X-Ray Fluroscence (FP-XRF) spectrophotometer. Soil was taken in plastic trays and the plants were grown and watered daily. The collected ground water was also tested. For the estimation of lead in water samples, Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS) was employed. Results: This study suggested the remediation of soil lead content by using activated charcoal. The study also revealed that activated charcoal not only adsorbs lead but also inhibits the accumulation of lead in ground water. Conclusion: This study promotes a cost effective process to treat agricultural lands polluted with leaded pesticides. Water purifiers, refrigerator etc. contain varying amounts of activated charcoal, after usage of these appliances it can be recycled and used as a source of activated charcoal. This can be applied in pesticide contaminated fields either in the form of slurry or by spraying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]