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The experiment was conducted with an intent to know the effect of different farming systems on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility coefficients, reproductive traits, disease incidence, heat stress indices, and cost economics of Nellore sheep. The study includes two parallel trials to prevent the influence of age on heat stress indices (panting score and erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF)). One hundred and twenty lambs (60 ram-lambs and 60 ewe-lambs) were allotted in a randomized block design under extensive, semi-intensive, and intensive systems for trial I, whereas trial II include eighteen rams assigned to the three respective farming systems in a completely randomised design. Both, season (summer) and grazing practice increased the panting score and EOF. The heat stress indices were positively correlated (P<0.01) with dry-bulb temperature and temperature-humidity index (THI) and inversely correlated (P<0.01) to relative humidity. Allotting the sheep to intensive system increased (P<0.001) weight gain and average daily gain with higher effect in males compared to females. The parameters of asymptotic weight (A), integration constant (B), and maturation rate were higher for intensive males. The male Nellore lambs had higher asymptotic weight and lower maturity rate than females, irrespective of the rearing system. Intensive sheep revealed a higher dry matter intake, digestibility coefficients, feed conversion ratio. The instantaneous bite mass (IBM) was higher for Commelina benghalensis , while instantaneous bite frequency (IBF), instantaneous intake rate (IIR) were higher for Cyanodon dactylon and amaranthus viridis , respectively. The proportion of intakes were highest for Stylo hemata followed by Cynodon dactylon and Tridax procumbens species. No differences were observed for the weight at puberty, oestrus cycle length, oestrus duration, conception percent, gestation period, and lambing percent in three rearing systems; however, the age at puberty was lower (P<0.001) and the birth weight was higher (P<0.001) for sheep reared under intensive farming system. Highest disease incidence was observed in rainy and winter seasons, particularly in sheep reared under extensive system. The capital expenditure was same for the three rearing systems, while the recurring expenditure was higher for Intensive farming system. The gross income and net income were higher for intensive system on account of higher weight gains. However, the higher returns per rupee of expenditure project the extensive farming as an ideal rearing system for small farmers and entrepreneurs with a low initial capital.

The contemporary environmental-stewardship programmes primarily aimed at curbing the global warming potential by adopting a multidisciplinary approach. Manipulating the feeding strategies has great potential in reducing the environmental footprints of livestock production. This study intends to assess the effect of soybean meal (SBM) replacement with varying levels of coated urea (SRU) on both zoo-technical (nutrient digestibility, heat increment, and physio-biochemical parameters) and environmental attributes. The coated urea was used to replace the SBM at 0, 25, 50, and 75 percent levels. Eight adult rams (43.02 ± 0.76) maintained in a conventional shed were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design. Not all the physiological parameters viz. rectal temperature, pulse rate, and respiratory rate were affected (P>0.05)f by varying levels of SRU incorporation. The SRU fed animals had higher (P<0.05) crude protein digestibility compared to SBM fed animals; however, the replacements did not affect the nutrient digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, NFC, NDFap, ADF, and hemicellulose components. The SRU did not affect various biochemical parameters such as serum glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, ALT, AST, Ca, P and T3, and T4 levels; however, post-prandial serum urea N (SUN) values showed a diurnal quadratic pattern (P<0.05) with a dose-dependent relationship. Further, the SBM replacements had no effect on the calcium excretion, while the SRU incorporation decreased the faecal phosphorous content, thereby abating the eutrophication phenomenon. Although the SBM replacements did not affect in vivo water variables and faecal solid fractions, they managed to decrease the land and virtual water requirement along with global warming potential (GWP) of the entire trial. The GWP-perceptual map unveils the fact that replacement of conventional feed ingredients with NPN compounds aids in eco-friendly livestock production. Further, the conjectural analysis of the carbon footprint methodology revealed that agricultural by-products consideration could cause a huge increase in the GWP share of feed consumed, thus compelling the importance of research pertaining to feed production perspective as equal as ruminal methane amelioration.

Feeding management in dairy animals is crucial for ensuring optimal production apart from making the farming as a whole, a more sustainable activity. In our study we evaluated the production and environmental effects of two different feeding regimens i.e., one dominated by traditional cottonseed meal (CSM) and other with coated urea (slow release urea - SRU) as a replacement for CSM on dairy buffalo production. The SRU at 2% level was evaluated by conducting two different trials using twelve lactating Murrah buffaloes and four adult Murrah buffalo bulls. Neither diet nor dry period management showed any substantial effect on milk components, intakes, nutrients’ digestibility coefficients, and nutritive values. The SRU diet revealed increased (P < 0.01) rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen, volatile fatty acids, and microbial nitrogen yield, which were interacted with time of post-prandial sampling. The dynamics of nitrogen metabolism revealed unaltered N-based parameters, except for degradable-N intake and serum urea-N at 3 hr post-feeding. The CSM replacements did not influence (P > 0.05) the residual feed intake, but led to an enhanced milk retention efficiency of nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus contents, thus reducing their impact on soil pollution and eutrophication of water bodies. Despite an unaltered (P > 0.05) enteric methane emission, SRU diets achieved in decreasing manure methane and nitrous oxide emission. Furthermore, the virtual water flow and lifecycle assessment revealed a water sparing effect and low carbon foot print per unit milk production. In summary, the CSM replacements with SRU could achieve an economical and eco-friendly production system from animal nutrition perspective.

The rapid expansion of nanotechnology has been transforming the food industry by increasing market share and expenditure. Although nanotechnology offers promising benefits as feed additives, their usage in equines is primarily geared toward immunotherapy, hyper-immunization techniques, drug delivery systems, grooming activities, and therapeutic purposes. Nanoparticles could be engaged as alternatives for antibiotic feed additives to prevent foal diarrhea. Gold nanoparticles are proved to provide beneficial effects for racehorses by healing joint and tendon injuries. Because of the poor bioavailability of micro-sized mineral salts, the usage of nano-minerals is highly encourageable to improve the performance of racehorses. Nano-Vitamin E and enzyme CoQ10 for equines are no longer a simple research topic because of the increased commercial availability. Employing nanotechnology-based preservatives may offer a promising alternative to other conventional preservatives in preserving the quality of equine feed items, even during an extended storage period. While nanoparticles as feed additives may provide multitudinous benefits on equines, they could elicit allergic or toxic responses in case of improper synthesis aids or inappropriate dosages. The safety of nano-feed additives remains uninvestigated and necessitates the additional risk assessment, especially during their usage for a prolonged period. To adopt nano-feed additives in horses, there is an extreme paucity of information regarding the validity of various levels or forms of nanoparticles. Further, the currently available toxicological database on the topic of nano-feed additives is not at all related to equines and even inadequate for other livestock species. This review aims to provide new insights into possible future research pertaining to the usage of nano-feed additives in equines.

Several concerns exist on the performance and health attributes of sheep fed on complete replacements of the traditional feed ingredients with dried distillers’ grain solubles (DDGS). The study intended to know the effect of DDGS on replacing the peanut cake (PNC) at 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% in sheep fed Jowar stover-based diet. Replacing PNC with DDGS increased (P < 0.05) the final body weight and concentrate intake. The weight gain and average daily gain tended to increase (P = 0.086), whereas the feed conversion ratio tended to decrease (P = 0.092) with increased DDGS inclusion levels. The CP intake increased linearly (P < 0.01) with an increase in DDGS levels. However, the intakes of DM, OM, NDF, and ADF increased quadratically (P < 0.01) and showed a quadratic maximum at 75% replacements group. The in vitro dry matter digestibility and 24 h-gas (ml) production linearly increased (P < 0.05) with increased DDGS inclusion levels, while the CH4 (% total gas) and CH4 (ml) showed a quadratic increase (P < 0.05). The metabolisable energy, ammonia nitrogen, and volatile fatty acid concentrations were higher for DDGS diets. Further, the Gompertz curve fitting of the gas production data revealed higher asymptotic volume with lower constant of integration (b) and rate of production (k) of the DDGS incubations. No significant differences were observed for any of the carcass characteristics, except for leg weight, which showed a linear increase (P < 0.05). Increased tendency was observed for EBW, loin eye area at 12th rib, and edible portion of the sheep fed DDGS groups. Further, the visceral organs and carcass composition did not show any significant differences, except for kidney weight (linear, P < 0.05). The income over feed cost (IOFC) was higher for 100% DDGS group with lower feed cost and higher income per Kg mutton. Replacing the traditional peanut cake with DDGS in the crop residue-based diets of growing lambs contributes to higher yields for producers.

Abstract The current study evaluated the clinical, ruminal, haemato-biochemical, and ultrasonographic findings of abomasal disorders’ affected buffaloes grouped as abomasal impaction (n = 18) and abomasal ulcers (n = 15). The abomasal disorders’ screening was based on clinical examination and confirmed by ultrasonography. The most common clinical findings of the buffaloes affected with abomasal disorders include depressed demeanour (96.97%), absence of rumination (87.88%), abdominal guarding (87.88%), sunken eye balls (81.82%), tachycardia (78.79%), tachypnea (72.73%), and kyphosis (63.64%). The average rumen motility, respiratory rate, and pulse rate for abomasal impaction and abomasal ulcers were 0.28, 33.37, and 83.44, and 0.33, 35.87, and 92.60, respectively. The faecal occult blood test (benzidine test) revealed the presence of melena in all the buffaloes diagnosed with abomasal ulcers (100%). The ultrasonographic examination of the abomasal impaction group revealed increased abomasal size with no movement of the abomasal contents. The ultrasonographic imaging of abomasal ulcer-affected buffaloes showed irregularity in the abomasal wall-outline with moderately echogenic abomasal contents and a layer of fibrin at the affected area. Nine buffaloes had ultrasonographic evidence of peritonitis. The abomasal contents of buffaloes with positive benzidine test (n = 15) were screened for Clostridium perfringens by a polymerase chain reaction and were found positive for cpa toxin yielding 900-bp length. The rumen protozoal count was higher in healthy buffaloes, while the sedimentation test, (time) methylene blue reduction test, (time) and chloride levels were higher (P < 0.01) in the buffaloes affected with abomasal disorders. Haematological findings revealed a higher haematocrit, total leucocyte count, neutrophils, and eosinophil proportion and lower haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, and lymphocyte proportion without affecting the fractions of monocytes and basophils. Furthermore, the buffaloes affected with abomasal disorders showed lower albumin, phosphorus, and potassium and higher aspartate transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine kinase, creatinine, and chloride concentrations. The present study projects clinical signs, ruminal parameters, and haemato-biochemical parameters as better indicators of abomasal disorders; however, ultrasonography is the sole diagnostic aid for the confirmation of abomasal disorders in buffaloes.

The current study aimed at identifying the risk factors and initial diagnostic aids for abomasal ulcers. The risk factor analysis confirmed a significant association (P < 0.05) of abomasal ulcers with concentrate-rich diets (OR, 4.795; CI, 1.212–15.974) and concurrent disorders (OR, 2.978; CI, 0.987–8.980), while the buffaloes in early lactation (OR, 2.777; CI, 0.703–10.972) showed a higher tendency (P = 0.078) for the disorder. The depressed demeanour, dark or black manure (melena), anemia, tachycardia, decreased milk production, anorexia, tachypnea, absence of rumination, abdominal guarding, kyphosis, and tachypnea were the most frequent clinical signs. Subjecting the abomasal fluid for cultural isolation, gram staining, and stormy clot fermentation test identified the presence of clostridium perfringes, while screening through uniplex PCR detected cpa toxin. The buffaloes affected with type-3 and 4 abomasal ulcers exhibited a higher peritoneal fluid to serum ratio of total protein, albumin, and glucose with a low (P < 0.01) serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) concentration compared to reference values of healthy buffaloes. The first two principal components of PCA explained 54.50% of the total variances with lymphocytes, creatine kinase, and rumen chloride levels as the top contributors to dimension I, and albumin, total protein, sodium, and methylene blue reduction time (MBRT) for rumen liquor as the major contributors to dimension II. The vector plot revealed lymphocytopenia, decreased hemoglobin, hypoalbuminemia, hypokalemia, decreased rumen pH, neutrophilia, eosinophilia, leucocytosis, greater MBRT, and higher rumen chloride, serum creatine kinase, and blood urea nitrogen as the major indicators for abomasal ulcers. Histopathological studies revealed infiltration of inflammatory cells in the mucosa along with multifocal areas of necrosis, degeneration, and eroded muscle structure. The study projected a few high-scored clinical signs and extremely variable clinical indicators as initial diagnostic aids of abomasal ulcers, which can be confirmed by ultrasonography and peritoneal fluid examination.

The present study aims to identify potential risk factors and most possible clinical indicators of abomasal impaction in buffaloes. Among the screened buffaloes (n = 636), the logistic model was fitted for 491 buffaloes because of the non-availability of parity-related data for 145 buffaloes. Third-trimester pregnancy, feeding paddy straw alone, and concurrent disorders were identified as the potential risk factors using multivariate regression analysis. The buffaloes reared by farmers devoid of land tended to have a higher incidence of abomasal impaction. Depressed demeanour, absence of rumination, abdominal guarding, scleral congestion, sunken eyeballs, anorexia, reduced dung output, abacus beads-like faeces, colic signs (straining to defecate, frequent lying down, and kicking at abdomen), tachypnea, and tachycardia were the most repeatedly noticed clinical signs in buffaloes diagnosed with abomasal impaction. Further, the principal component analysis revealed increased rumen fluid sedimentation time and chloride content, serum creatine phosphokinase, and blood neutrophil and eosinophil content along with decreased blood lymphocytes proportion, potassium, and chloride as the greatest indicators for abomasal impaction. Next to them, a higher rumen fluid methylene blue reduction time, serum urea nitrogen, and blood total leucocyte count, along with a lower serum albumin and blood haemoglobin were the best possible indicators for diagnosis. The necropsy findings of the buffaloes that died with abomasal disorders revealed an abomasum with increased dimensions and constant pitting on pressure. Furthermore, the histopathological studies showed degeneration and necrosis of the abomasal wall with infiltrated mononuclear cells. The results of the study help in designing a comprehensive evaluation mechanism for diagnosing abomasal impaction in buffaloes.

BackgroundDespite extensive clinical documentation, few studies have explored the genetic basis of congenital pouch colon (CPC) which is crucial for early detection, personalized treatment, and genetic counselling.ObjectiveTo compile the information on the genetic basis of CPC and the functional enrichment of underlying molecular pathways.Materials and methodsThe review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The implicated genes were investigated for underlying molecular pathways. A network was subsequently created on String-database followed by gene-ontology analysis.ResultsThe study included 20 CPC cases and 52 controls (across 4 studies). Numerous variants, including 24 missense SNPs, 63 frameshift variants, and stop-gain/stop-loss mutations in 11 genes were identified. Notable genetic markers included MUC5B, FRG1, and TAF1B, with potential roles in mucosal barrier functions, colonic muscular development, and ribosomal RNA transcription, respectively. Copy number variants and lnc-EPB41-1-1 were also implicated. Genetic hotspots were identified on chromosomes 11, 17 and 16. RGPD2 and RGPD4, contributing to GTPase activator activity and known to be associated with bowel/colon, were differentially expressed. Pathway analysis highlighted Wnt and HOX pathways, with JAG1 and MLL relevant to CPC pathogenesis.ConclusionThe study integrates genetic evidence and pathway analysis, shedding light on the complex genetic architecture of CPC. While the importance of genetic markers in the etiopathogenesis of CPC is underscored, the need for validating the findings on larger cohorts, diverse populations and through functional studies is suggested.

Background: Plantago commonly called as Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forssk.) is a perennial herb that belongs to the family Plantaginaceae. A range of biological activities has been found from plant extracts, including wound healing activity, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, weak antibiotic, immunomodulating and anti-ulcerogenic activity. Periodontal disease is a complex condition as a result of interaction between microorganisms and host inflammatory mediators. Hence, the extract of Isabgol is tested for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties against periodontal disease. Aim: The aim of this in vitro study is to evaluate the antibacterial property of Isabgol leaves and seeds against periodontal pathogens, namely Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum and anti-inflammatory property against matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, aqueous extract of Isabgol is tested for its antibacterial property against the stock cultures of specified periodontal pathogens using the tube dilution method and anti-inflammatory property against MMP-2 and MMP-9 using zymogen gel electrography. Results: Minimum concentration at which the sensitivity of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, and F. nucleatum for the extract observed was 50 μl/ml, 0.8 μl/ml, 0.4 μl/ml and 12.5 μl/ml, respectively, concentrations below these showed no effect on the microorganisms. Zymogen electrographic test for anti-inflammatory activity showed percentage inhibition of 30% and 40% against MMP-2 and MMP-9, respectively. Conclusion: Isabgol is effective against the periodontal pathogens and inflammatory mediators which are responsible for periodontal disease.