Response of Mustard to Ethrel Spray and Basal and Foliar Application of Nitrogen

In a field trial conducted during 1992–93 and 1993–94, the effect of basal (B) nitrogen (N) (45 and 60 kg N ha⁻¹) and foliar application (F) of water (W) or 10 kg N ha⁻¹ and 400 or 600 ppm ethrel (E) (2-Chloro ethyl phosphonic acid) at 70 days after sowing was studied on leaf area index and dry mass at 90 days and pod number per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, oil content and oil vield at harvest of mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) cv. T-59. Recommended basal (B) application of 90 kg N ha (BN₉₀) was used as control. On the basis of 2 year data it was found that basal application of 60 kg N and foliar spray of 10 kg N ha ⁻¹ and 600 ppm ethrel gave higher values for growth and yield characteristics and enhanced seed yield and oil yield by 12.5 and 14.8%, respectively over control BN_90.     

Regulation of DNA synthesis in Leydig cells obtained from neonatal pig testes.

Three distinct waves of Leydig cell development are found in the pig testes, which occur during fetal, perinatal, and prepubertal periods. Proliferation of Leydig cells is primarily regulated by luteinizing hormone (LH); however, effects of LH on proliferation of immature rat Leydig cells are mediated by specific growth factors and cytokines such as transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), steroidogenesis-inducing protein (SIP), and TGFbeta. The objective of the present study was to identify growth factors that could possibly be involved in the proliferation of Leydig cells in the neonatal pig testis. Leydig cells were isolated from 3- to 5-d-old pig testes, cultured for 48 hr in serum-free media, washed, and treated with hCG and/or IGF-1, epidermal growth factor (EGF), IL-1beta, SIP, and TGFbeta for 18 hr. Tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA was assessed over a subsequent 4-hr period. Incorporation of [3H]-thymidine was stimulated by hCG treatment with a 2.3-fold increase over control cultures. SIP also induced a significant increase (P < 0.0001) in the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into Leydig cell DNA. Similarly, EGF and IGF-1 also increased DNA synthesis in neonatal porcine Leydig cells, whereas IL-1beta had no effect. TGFbeta had very little, if any, effect on DNA synthesis when added alone, but inhibited the stimulatory effects of other mitogens (SIP, hCG, EGF/TGFalpha, and IGF-1). Our results indicate that these growth factors may play a role in the LH/hCG-dependent proliferation of Leydig cells during the perinatal period of development.     

Influence of varying dietary electrolyte balance on broiler performance under tropical summer conditions

A 6‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of varying dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) on growth performance and physiological responses in broiler chicks reared during hot summer months (26.1–37.5 °C). The average minimum and maximum room temperatures recorded from 14 to 42 days of age were 26.1 and 37.5 °C, respectively, with relative humidity ranging from 51% to 55%. Five DEB treatments supplying 0, 50, 150, 250 and 350 (Na⁺+K⁺–Cl^?) mEq/kg of diet were prepared by adding NaHCO₃ and/or NH₄Cl to basal diet that contained 185 mEq/kg from 1 to 28 days and 172 mEq/kg from 29 to 42 days. These DEB diets were randomly offered to six experimental units of 20 chicks each. Improved 42‐day body weight gain (BWG), feed:gain (F:G) and reduced mortality was noted with DEB 50, 150 and 250 mEq/kg compared to DEB 0 and 350 mEq/kg. A quadratic effect of increasing DEB level was observed on BWG and F:G, whereas the effect was linear for feed intake, water intake and litter moisture. The DEB 50, 150 and 250 maintained better blood pH, pCO₂ and HCO₃ concentrations during acute heat stress periods than that of 0 and 350. The blood heterophil and lymphocyte percent as well as heterophil:lymphocyte were remained unaffected. The lowest DEB (0 mEq/kg) diet reduced the feed intake and promoted metabolic acidosis. At 350 mEq/kg DEB, water intake and metabolic alkalosis were promoted probably due to high levels of dietary NaHCO₃. The study concluded that overall better performance was recorded with DEB 50, 150 and 250 mEq/kg. These results indicated that single optimal DEB value could not be recommended to combat heat stress in broilers.     

Transboundary animal diseases in pakistan

Transboundary animal diseases (TADs) are highly contagious and have the potential to spread very rapidly irrespective of the national borders, causing serious economic losses. These diseases cause high morbidity and mortality in susceptible animal populations. Furthermore, the extent of their consequences may significantly affect the food security and national economics. In Pakistan, the main TADs include rinderpest, peste des petits ruminants, foot and mouth disease and avian influenza. In the present paper the status of these diseases in Pakistan is discussed.     

Systemic control of cattle grubs (Hypoderma spp.) in steers treated with Warbex and weight gains associated with grub control.

When applied to yearling steers on November 30, pour-on applications of famphur at 40 or 50 mg/kg were unsatisfactory for systemic grub control as they only reduced the number of warble grubs by 52.2 and 68.4%, respectively. The treatments, which had no adverse effects on the health of steers or cellular constituents of their blood, reduced the whole-blood cholinesterase, with the maximum reduction occurring 15 days after treatment. Low ambient temperatures prevailing at the time of treatment and during the two following weeks might have impeded the absorption of famphur through the skin and reduced its effectiveness for grub control. With the grub damage kept to the minimum by weekly manual removal of warble grubs, the groups treated with famphur at 40 or 50 mg/kg outgained (P less than 0.05) the untreated group by 29.9 and 13.4 kg/steer, respectively, during the posttreatment period of 181 days. These results indicate the economic benefits of grub control.     

Integrated approach for improving small scale market oriented dairy systems in Pakistan: participatory rural appraisal and economic opportunity survey

Livestock production is an integral part of the rain-fed and irrigated agriculture system in Pakistan. Animal production is closely interlinked with the cropping systems and play a crucial role in the rural economy. Participatory rural appraisals and economic opportunity surveys were conducted in two ecological zones (irrigated and rain-fed) and two dairy production systems (peri-urban and mixed livestock). Major constraints in animal health, nutrition and reproduction were identified and interventions were suggested to overcome these difficulties. The economic opportunity survey revealed that maximum opportunity to enhance farmers’ income is to increase milk production per day per animal, which can be accomplished through coordinated improvements in nutrition, reproduction and genetics.     

Follicular dynamics and changes in oestradiol‐17β, progesterone and LH profiles following PGF2α induced oestrus in early and late ovulating Beetal goats

This study compares the factors associated with variable interval to oestrus and ovulation between early versus late ovulating goats following PGF_2α administration. The time of ovulation in Beetal goats (n = 38) was monitored through transrectal ultrasound at every 6 hr following a single dose of PGF_2α (experiment 1). Variations in oestrus and ovulation times were further explored through the changes in follicular dynamics, endocrine profiles and behaviour in another set of goats (n = 13) following single PGF_2α given randomly during the luteal phase (experiment 2). The ovulation time varied between 60 and 96 hr, and 57% of ovulations occurred by 72 hr following PGF_2α (experiment 1). Accordingly, the goats (n = 13) in the second experiment were retrospectively divided either into early and/or late ovulating, that is, ≤72 and/or ≥84 hr following PGF_2α. The onset of oestrus, peak estradiol‐17β concentration and LH surge after PGF_2α was first observed in early than late ovulating goats (p < 0.05). The goats ovulating early had larger follicle and smaller CL in diameter at the time of PGF_2α administration than those ovulating late (5.4 ± 0.2 vs. 4.3 ± 0.2 mm and 10 ± 0.6 vs. 11.8 ± 0.3 mm, respectively; p < 0.05). Likewise, plasma progesterone concentration tended to be lower (p = 0.087) in early than late ovulating goats. In conclusion, the size of dominant follicle and CL at the time of PGF_2a determines the interval to ovulation following a single dose of PGF_2a during the luteal phase.     

On the Current Situation of Glanders in Various Districts of the Pakistani Punjab

Glanders is a highly infectious and zoonotic disease of solipeds caused by Burkholderia mallei. Progressive loss of efficiency and fatal outcome resulted in massive economic losses, which forced veterinary authorities throughout the world to implement disease control measures; these measures included mass testing using the complement fixation test and/or malleinization, and the culling of positives. This led to the eradication of glanders from Western Europe and North America in the 1950s. However, in the last decade, the number of outbreaks in Asia and South America increased steadily, and glanders regained the status of a re-emerging transboundary disease. Pakistan has been an endemic country for the past 120 years, but concise data on the presence of disease are not available. A total of 533 serum samples were collected from draught equines, a suspected risk group for glanders, from various districts of Punjab in Pakistan. The complement fixation test and the highly sensitive Western blot technique were used for serodiagnosis. No animal (horse, mule, and donkey) was found to be positive for infection. Glanders seems to be restricted to remote, sporadic pockets of endemicity and may cause outbreaks after being introduced into naive populations by (asymptomatic) shedders.     

Milk progesterone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a tool to investigate ovarian cyclicity of water buffaloes in relation to body condition score and milk production

Background

Application of assisted reproductive technologies in buffaloes is limited to some extent by farmers’ inability to detect oestrus because of its poor expression. The present study aimed at investigating reliability of a milk progesterone enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assess the ovarian cyclicity during post partum, oestrus and post-breeding periods in water buffaloes.

Methods

Progesterone concentrations were measured by an ELISA in milk of 23 postpartum buffaloes in relation to oestrus, pregnancy, body condition score (BCS) and milk production. Two milk samples were taken at 10 days intervals, every month starting from day 30 and continued to day 150 post partum. BCS and milk production were recorded during sample collection. Milk samples from bred buffaloes were collected at Day 0 (day of breeding), Days 10–12 and Days 22–24. Defatted milk was preserved at −80°C until analysis. Pregnancy was confirmed by palpation per rectum on Days 70–90.

Results

Seventeen buffaloes had 47 ovulatory cycles, one to four in each, 13 were detected in oestrus once (28 % oestrus detection rate). Progesterone concentration ≥1 ng/ml in one of the two 10-day-interval milk samples reflected ovulation and corpus luteum formation. The intervals between calving to first luteal activity and to first detected oestrus varied from 41 to 123 days (n = 17) and 83 to 135 (n = 13) days, respectively. Eight buffaloes were bred in the course of the study and seven were found pregnant. These buffaloes had a progesterone profile of low (<1 ng/ml), high (≥ 1 ng/ml) and high (≥ 1 ng/ml) on Day 0, Days 10–12 and Days 22–24, respectively. Buffaloes cycling later in the postpartum period had fewer missed oestruses (P < 0.05). Buffaloes with a superior BCS had a shorter calving to oestrus interval and produced more milk (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Milk progesterone ELISA is a reliable tool for monitoring ovarian cyclicity and good BCS may be an indicator of resuming cyclicity in water buffalo.