Comparative nutrient utilization,growth, and rumen enzyme profile of mithun (Bos frontalis) and Tho-tho cattle (Bos indicus) fed on tree-leaves-based ration

A study was conducted to compare the nutrient utilization, growth, and rumen enzyme profile of mithun (Bos frontalis) and Tho-tho cattle (Bos indicus) reared in the same feeding and managemental conditions. For the purpose, male mithun (n = 8) and male Tho-tho cattle (n = 8) of 1.5 years age, selected from the farm of National Research Centre on Mithun, Nagaland, India, were fed on mixed-tree-leaves-based ration as per the requirement of NRC (2001) for cattle for 12 months. Average daily gain (ADG), average dry matter intake (DMI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) for all animals were recorded. A metabolic trial was conducted at 6 months of the experiment to assess the digestibility coefficient of different nutrients and nutritive value of ration. At 12 months of the experiment, rumen liquor was collected from all animals and analyzed for rumen enzyme profiles, viz., carboxymethylcellulase, xylanase, α-amylase, β-glucosidase, α-glucosidase, urease, and protease. It was found that ADG (507.8 g vs 392.8 g), DM intake (6.59 vs 5.85 kg/day) and DMI/W^0.75 (98.75 g vs 91.00 g/day), crude protein intake (780 vs 700 g/day), and total digestible nutrient intake (3.65 vs 3.32 kg/day) were higher (p < 0.05) in mithun than cattle. The nitrogen balance was higher and FCR was better (p < 0.05) in mithun compared with cattle. The digestibility coefficient of different nutrients was similar (p > 0.05) between the species. The microbial enzyme profiles of mithun and cattle were not different (p > 0.05). The better growth performance of mithun than cattle as found in the present study clearly indicates that the mithun has higher genetic potential for growth than Tho-tho cattle of north-eastern hilly region of India.     

Renal and biochemical changes produced in broilers by high-protein, high-calcium, urea-containing, and vitamin-A-deficient diets

Three hundred 18-day-old male chicks (Arbor Acre) were divided into five groups of 60 each and given high-protein (42.28%), high-calcium (3.37%), urea-containing (5%), vitamin-A-deficient, or control diets to study the effect of nutritional imbalances on the development of nephritis and related biochemical changes over 15 weeks. The first four diets increased the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, uric acid, and nonprotein nitrogen in serum. Blood urea was increased by only the urea diet. Hypoglycemia and a decrease in hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase were also observed in chicks fed the first four diets. The vitamin-A-deficient diet resulted in a depletion of vitamin A in the liver and kidneys. These changes were directly correlated with the prolonged feeding of experimental diets and also with the severity of nephritis and degenerative changes in various organs. It was concluded that increasing the intake of nitrogen or calcium in order to increase production may in fact have the opposite effect, leading to degenerative changes in various tissues and to nephritis.     

Synergistic effect of inoculating plant growth-promoting Pseudomonas spp. and Rhizobium leguminosarum-FB1 on growth and nutrient uptake of rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) Pseudomonas lurida-NPRp15 and Pseudomonas putida-PGRs4 possessing multiple plant growth-promoting traits were isolated from rhizoplane of pea and rhizosphere of garlic, respectively. The effects of individuals and combinations of Pseudomonas spp. with effective root nodulating symbiotic nitrogen fixing Rhizobium leguminosarum-FB1 on plant growth, nutrient uptake and yield of the rajmash plant were studied under greenhouse conditions. Bacterial inoculation resulted in significantly higher values for plant dry biomass, N, P, K, Zn and Fe contents as compared to the uninoculated control. Furthermore, dual inoculation of P. lurida-NPRp15 with R. leguminosarum-FB1 significantly increased root and shoot dry weight, nodulation, nutrient uptake, pod yield, and nutrient content of pods of rajmash VL63 compared to controls, single and triple inoculation. The results of the study indicate the potential of harnessing the benefit of plant growth-promoting and nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to improve the growth and yield of rajmash.     

Nursery rearing of kalbasu, Labeo calbasu (Hamilton), at different stocking densities in outdoor concrete tanks

The growth and survival of kalbasu, Labeo calbasu, was evaluated at stocking densities of 5, 10 and 15 million spawn ha⁻¹ in nursery rearing in concrete tanks of 50 m², each for a period of 25 days. Survival of fry was density dependent and significantly higher (54.5%) at 5 million ha⁻¹ than those at 10 million ha⁻¹ (50.1%) and 15 million ha⁻¹ (46.9%). Similarly, growth and specific growth rate were inversely related to the stocking density and varied significantly among the three densities.     

Hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) in India: A preliminary study on the causative agent and control of the disease by inactivated autogenous vaccine

Summary Hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) in broiler birds of 3 to 6 weeks of age was recorded for the first time in the Haldwani area of Nainital district (UP) in India in November, 1994. The overall mortality in 6 poultry farms was 61·62 per cent. The disease was experimentally transmitted by bacteria free infected liver homogenate extract passed through membrane filters of 0·22 and 0·1 μ APD. The aetiological agent was inactivated by heat treatment at 56°C for one hour and 80°C for 10 min. A precipitin band was demonstrated in agar gel immunodiffusion and counter immunoelectrophoresis using infected liver homogenate extract as antigen and homologous antisera raised in the laboratory. The disease was effectively controlled by formalinised and heat inactivated autogenous vaccine prepared from the infected livers of birds which died of natural infection.

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Sindrome De Hidropericardio (HPS) En La India: Estudio Preliminar Acerca Del Agente Etiologico Y Del Control De La Enfermedad Mediante Vacunas Inactivadas Autogenas

Resumen Se describe por primera vez el síndrome de hidropericardio en pollos broiler de 3 a 6 semanas de edad en el area de Haldwani, en el distrito de Nainital (U. P.), en la India, en noviembre de 1994. La mortalidad global en seis granjas avícolas fue del 61·62%. La enfermedad fue transmitida de forma experimental mediante muestras homogeneizadas de hígado libres de bacterias y filtradas a través de filtros de membrana de 0·22 y 0·1 u APD. El agente etiológico fue inactivado por calor a 56°C durante 1 hora y 80°C durante 10 minutos. Se demonstró una banda de precipitina en inmunodifusión en agar gel y contrainmunoelectroforesis utilizando como antígeno extracto homogeneizado de hígado procedente de animales infectados y antisuero homólogo obrenido en el laboratorio. La enfermedad se controló de forma efectiva utilizando una vacuna autógena inactivada por calor y formol; la vacuna fue obtenida a partir del hígado de aves que murieron de infección natural.

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Syndrome D’Hydropericardie En Inde: Etude Preliminaire Sur L’Agent Responsable Et Controle De La Maladie Par Un Vaccin Autogene Inactive

Résumé Le syndrome d’hydropéricardie (SHP) fut observé pour la premiere fois en Novembre 1994 chez des poulets de 3 á 6 semaines dans la région de Haldivani du district de Nainital en Inde. Parmi 6 élevages la mortalité fut de 61.62%. La maladie fut transmise expérimentalement en utilisant des extraits de foie infecté sans bactéries, homogénéisés et filtrés sur des membranes de 0,22 et 0,1 μm. L’agent pathogéne fut inactivés par traitement thermique à 56°C pendant une heure et à 80°C pendant 10 minutes. Une bande de précipité fut observée dans les gels d’agarose d’immunoprécipitation par immunoélectrophorèse utilisant des extraits de foie homogénéises en tant qu’antigène et des antisera homologues produits dans le laboratoire. La maladie fut restrainte de fa?on effective en utilisant un vaccin autogène, inactivé par la chaleur et traité par la formaline issude foies d’oiseaux infectés qui moururent d’infection naturelle.

     

Sustainable productivity and profitability of diversified rice-based cropping systems in an irrigated ecosystem

An experiment was conducted at ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Research Farm, Sabajpura, Patna (longitude 85°13′N and 1atitude 25°37′E), Bihar, India for four consecutive years 2004–05 to 2007–08 to develop a diversified cropping system for an irrigated ecosystem in Bihar by introducing pulse/oilseed/vegetables as a second or third crop in 10 rice-based cropping systems. Four crop cycles have been completed for all the cropping systems. During all years of the experiment there were significant variations among the cropping systems. Maximum paddy yield equivalent was recorded in rice–tomato–bottle gourd (40.44 t ha^?1) followed by rice–potato–onion (28.47 t ha^?1), rice–coriander–lady's fingers (26.79 t ha^?1), rice–carrot–cowpea (24.59 t ha^?1) and rice–mustard–tomato (24.44 t ha^?1). A higher value for the diversification index (DI) represents a higher level of crop diversification. It is evident from the results, that DI varies from 0.299 on a medium-sized farm to 0.903 on a small farm, with an average DI value of 0.643 among all farm categories. A survey revealed that the average DI value for small-scale farmers was highest (0.741) compared with the medium- (0.591) and large-scale (0.626) categories, and the differences were negligible. This seems reinforce the view that the smaller the farm, the higher the level of crop diversification.     

Agro-morphological diversity scenario in upland rice germplasm of Jeypore tract

The Jeypore tract of Orissa is one of the secondary centers of origin of cultivated rice. Recent exploration to that tract has resulted in a collection of 120 accessions of upland rice germplasm. They have been conserved in both National active collection and base collection centres for further utilisation as and when it will be required. Also a historical perspective on the genetical diversity of rice germplasm of the region has been highlighted. The characterization data revealed enormous morphological as well as agronomical variability among the landraces.     

Riley encased methodology: principles and processes of mangrove habitat creation and restoration

Riley encased methodology (REM) was developed for the purpose of establishing mangroves along highenergy shorelines, revetments, and bulkheads where natural recruitment no longer occurs and where conventional planting methods are ineffective. The principles of REM include the processes of individual seedling isolation within tubular encasements and adaptation of the juvenile plant to the external environment of the restoration site. The success of REM results from specifications for encasement preparation, propagule or seedling selection, and positioning of both encasements and seedlings according to elevation and tidal regimes.