Irrigation and Zn fertilizer management improves Zn phyto‐availability in various rice production systems

Zinc (Zn) is an important micronutrient for rice (Oryza sativa L.) production and its deficiency has been observed in various production systems. High grain Zn concentration is equally important for high rice yield and human health. In this work, the effects of Zn fertilization on seedling growth, grain yield, grain Zn concentration, and their association with root traits were studied under alternate wetting and drying (AWD), aerobic rice (AR), system of rice intensification (SRI), and continuous flooding (CF). Zinc fertilization (15 kg ha^?1) improved nursery seedlings chlorophyll and Zn concentrations, root length, and number of roots with highest values observed in CF. At harvesting, maximum plant height, panicle length, total and panicle bearing tillers, and kernel yield were found with Zn addition in AWD and CF rice systems. Mid season drainage provided at maximum tillering and Zn fertilization increased its concentration in leaves, culms, panicles, and grains under CF and AR at physiological maturity. Most of Zn applied was allocated into culms and panicles, nevertheless, a significant increase in grain Zn concentration was also observed in all production systems. Association of leaf Zn with grain Zn concentration was stronger than with culm and panicle Zn. The results indicate that Zn application after rice nursery transplanting is more important for grain Zn enrichment in all rice systems than for increase in grain yield in all systems except AWD where grain yield was also increased. More grain yield in CF and AWD as compared to SRI and AR can also be attributed to decreased spikelet sterility and to better Zn phyto‐availability in these rice systems at physiological maturity.     

Production analysis of broiler farming in central Punjab,Pakistan

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study examined the analysis of personal and production performance of broiler farming in 10 cities of central Punjab (Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara,...     

Livestock feed resources availability,feeding practices,and nutrient balances in high Himalaya (Gurez) valley of Kashmir

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Assessment of the ruminant livestock feed sources availability, existing feeding practices, and nutrient balances was embarked at different zones of Gurez...     

Rinderpest in the landhi dairy colony

Earlier diagnostic reports of rinderpest in buffaloes in the Landhi Dairy Colony were discounted by most veterinarians in Pakistan. Four recent investigations have shown beyond doubt that the affliction was indeed rinderpest.     

A preliminary passive surveillance of clinical diseases of cart pulling camels in Faisalabad metropolis (Pakistan)

We identified clinical disorders of all 200 city-dwelling cart pulling male camels attending the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during a 7-year period (1993–1999). Data were collected prospectively on a predesigned form and collated. Diagnoses of different diseases/disorders were based on clinical examination supplemented with relevant laboratory tests. A total of 463 entries of 34 different clinical diseases/disorders were recorded. Sarcoptic mange (35% of 200 camels) followed by anhidrosis (23%) and trypanosomosis (19%) were the three most frequently encountered disorders. The body system most often involved was the integument (31%) followed by gastrointestinal (21%), locomotory (12%), thermoregulatory (6%), blood (6%), urogenital (6%), lymphatic (3%), nervous (3%), respiratory (3%) and ocular (3%).     

A rare case of globosus amorphus in a goat

We present a case of globosus amorphus delivered from a goat and subjected to radiography and histological examination. Radiography revealed a lack of development of any organ system; histological sections showed evidence of lymphoid aggregations, mononuclear infiltrations, blood capillaries, and dense fibroblasts.     

Kinetics study on a novel natural inhibitor of alpha-chymotrypsin

The mechanism of inhibition of alpha-chymotrypsin by benzoylsalireposide (1), a phenolic glycoside isolated from Symplocos racemosa, was investigated. Lineweaver-Burk and Dixon plots and their secondary replots showed that 1 was a non-competitive inhibitor of this enzyme with the Ki value of 29.60 microM.     

不同降雨下旱地油菜节水节肥技术对土壤养分及酶活性的调控效应

为探讨沟垄集雨、秸秆覆盖和减量缓释肥节水节肥技术对油菜生产土壤养分及酶活性的调控效应,在大田定位试验条件下,设置农民习惯栽培(平作+常规肥)、节水栽培Ⅰ(秸秆覆盖+常规肥)、节水栽培Ⅱ(沟垄集雨+常规肥)、节肥栽培(平作+减量缓释肥)、双节栽培Ⅰ(秸秆覆盖+减量缓释肥)和双节栽培Ⅱ(沟垄集雨+减量缓释肥)6种水肥措施,比较分析2016-2017 年(多雨年份)和2017-2018 年(季节性干旱年份)2种不同降水年型下油菜节水节肥技术对土壤养分及酶活性的影响。结果表明:降水异常偏多对油菜生长的影响大于季节性干旱;双节技术在多雨年型下较习惯栽培增产效应显著,在季节性干旱年型下亦能稳产;在不同降水年型下,双节技术较习惯栽培能提高土壤pH和有机质含量,减少了土壤氮素淋溶损失,保持速效养分稳定释放,同时,能延迟脲酶释放,增加土壤碱性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、纤维素酶活性,提高作物肥料利用效率及保持土壤肥力,更利于环境保护。综上,单一的节水或节肥技术无法满足西南旱地油菜生产需要。通过秸秆覆盖和沟垄集雨与缓释肥集成的双节技术,能适应不同降水年型下的油菜生产并兼顾环境效应,实现增产与环保的双赢目标。     

Investigation of equine influenza virus in two geographical regions of Pakistan

Purpose

The present study was an attempt to elucidate the seroprevalence of equine influenza virus (H3N8) in two geographically distinct regions of Pakistan where vaccination is not routinely practiced.

Methods

A total number of 315 animals of family Equidae were included in the survey. Blood samples and nasal swabs were collected from the same animal and analyzed through ELISA and Hemagglutination Inhibition.

Results

The seroprevalence for EIV was 10 and 8.39 in districts under study. Out of 29 ELISA positive sera, 7 (24.1 %) showed antibodies against H1 and 22 (75.9 %) showed against H3 of influenza strains. Specie-wise antibody titer against H1 was 7.5 and 9.0 for horses and donkeys, respectively, while mules were negative. Similarly, antibody titer against H3 was 7.12, 6.9, and 6.0 for horses, donkeys, and mules, respectively. No strain was isolated from the nasal swabs despite very high antibody titers of H1 and H3 in the sera of the same animals.

Conclusions

Influenza viruses are circulating in equine species and continuous surveillance is needed to keep check on any future outbreak.     

Influence of pre‐press solvent‐extracted cottonseed meal supplemented with exogenous enzyme and digestible lysine on performance,digestibility, carcass and immunity responses of broiler chickens

The response of broiler chickens to two levels of endo‐1,4‐β xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) and endo‐1,3‐β glucanase (EC 3.2.1.6) combination (with and without), three levels of digestible lysine (0.8%, 0.9% and 1.0% with the applicability of ideal protein concept) and two levels of cottonseed meal (CSM; 20% and 30%) were evaluated in 2 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. A total of 2448 male Hubbard broiler chicks were fed on practical vegetable‐based mash diets having 2750 kcal metabolizable energy (ME) per kg and 18.5% crude protein (CP) from the age of day 1 to 42. The supplemental enzyme had minimum 1100 units of endo‐1,4‐β xylanase and 100 units of endo‐1,3‐β glucanase/kg of finished diet. The addition of CSM at 30% resulted in increasing arginine to lysine ratio. A decrease in dressing and breast percentages were observed by the addition of 30% CSM. The digestible lysine at 1.0% decreased the body weight (BW) gain and lowered the mortality during day 1 to 21 whereas the BW gain and feed:gain ratio were unaffected among the three digestible lysine levels during day 1 to 42. The antibody titres against Newcastle and infectious bursal disease viruses were improved with the increasing levels of digestible lysine. The enzyme supplementation improved the apparent ME and digestibility coefficient of nitrogen when it was used with 30% CSM. No effect of enzyme, lysine, CSM or their interactions was observed on serum iron, gizzard and liver weights or abdominal fat percentage. The results showed that increasing digestible lysine improved the antibody titre but did not improve the growth performance and carcass characteristics; supplemental enzyme failed to show any improvement in performance of birds fed on CSM‐based diets.