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The research was conducted at University Livestock Farm and Fodder Research and Development Scheme, Mannuthy using portable floating drum biogas plants of 0.5 m3 capacity, to study the biogas production potential of paneer whey alone and also in co-digestion with cow dung or poultry litter during monsoon season (25.95±0.160°C). In treatment I, five kg of paneer whey was used for biogas production. In treatment II, 2.5 kg whey was used along with 2.5 kg cow dung. In treatment III 2.5 kg whey was loaded along with 2.5 kg poultry litter. In all cases, biogas plants were loaded daily for 30 days. An adaptation period of ten days was provided before measuring the biogas volume. Composition of whey was analysed using different analytical methods. The various parameters of substrates and digesta along with the total methane content of biogas were determined. Biogas production potential of whey was compared with whey-cow dung and wheypoultry litter combinations. pH value of substrates were 3.89 ± 0.066, 5.90 ± 0.054 and 6.39 ± 0.061 while corresponding pH values of digesta were 6.44 ± 0.26, 5.074 ± 0.076 and 6.22 ± 0.067 for treatment I, II and III, respectively. The whey alone substrate showed highest biogas emission (0.2905±0.0099 m3). Methane content of biogas were 57 per cent, 35 per cent and 15 per cent for treatment I, II and III, respectively. Suitable pretreatment of farm waste can improve methane content from co-digestion of whey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is considered as food-grade microorganism with generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status. Both hetero-fermentative and homo-fermentative LAB have the ability to produce mannitol as metabolic end product in normal fermentation. Methods: Ten LAB isolates selected were detected for its mannitol production potential using colorimetric assay in preliminary study. Later selected four isolates of LAB with better mannitol production were further optimized at different culture conditions. A total of 540 mannitol combinations were obtained after optimization. All the observations were statistically analyzed using response surface methodology. Biochemical and molecular assays were carried out to identify the isolates. Result: The isolate L8 produced mean mannitol content of 1.635 g/L, 0.345967 cell densities, at pH 7.0 and temperature 42℃ with agitation of 100 rpm was selected with optimum response surface optimization because of its higher mannitol production. Biochemical and molecular assays identified higher mannitol producers, L4 as Enterococcus faecium strain Gr17, L6 as Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain 6870, L8 as Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides culture IMAU: 11666 and L9 as Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum strain NMB8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the research was to isolate and characterize lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from natural sources like samples dosha batter, fermented milk, fermented fruits and fermented vegetables were screened for the study. Collecting samples from natural environments, isolating lactic acid bacteria using specialized media, analyzing the isolated strains for their ability to produce lactic acid, tolerate acidity, and exhibit other favorable qualities, and exploring fermentation and preservation techniques: The isolated bacteria can be evaluated for their capacity to ferment milk and create desirable characteristics for commercialization. Based on morphological and biochemical tests eight isolates were identified to be lactic acid bacteria (LAB). All the isolates were screened for their starter culture properties of lactic acid production, flavour, exopolysaccharide production and probiotic activity. The isolate Lactobacillus bulgaricus produced acid at highest level (0.63 ± 0.005%LA) on 3.5 h incubation. Pediococcus pentosaceous and Lactobacillus bulgaricus showed flavor production prospective. Out of the eight isolates Pediococcus pentosaceous and Streptococcus thermophilus showed exopolysaccharide (EPS) production. Pediococcus pentosaceous were able to survive under low pH (pH 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0) and 0.3 per cent bile salt concentration and considered as a potential probiotic candidate. Fermented milk was prepared using these selected LABs and chemical, microbiological and sensory qualities were analyzed by standard methods. Overall sensory value was highest for sample made using the isolate Streptococcus thermophilus, EPS producing strain. Use of exopolysaccharide producing culture in preparation of fermented milk reduced the level of syneresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of six months duration was conducted to assess the effect of paddy straw based complete rations containing different levels of NDF on digestibility coefficients of nutrients in lactating dairy cows, in two phases, viz., early and mid lactation. Three isonitrogenous and isocaloric complete rations, T1, T2 and T3 with 25, 30 and 35 per cent NDF, respectively were formulated as per ICAR (1998). Paddy straw was the sole source of roughage NDF, with the rest of NDF being met from non-forage sources, in all the three rations. Eighteen dairy cows yielding approximately 10 kg of milk per day were divided into three groups of six each, and allotted to the three experimental rations. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in digestibility coefficients of nutrients such as dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, nitrogen free extract, NDF and energy, among the dietary treatments, in both phases I and II. However, the digestibility coefficient of acid detergent fibre was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T2 and T3 than T1, with T2 and T3 being similar (P>0.05), in both the phases. A thorough evaluation of the results obtained in the present study, reveal that the animals in all the three dietary treatments performed well, with the complete rations T3 with 35 per cent NDF and T2 with 30 per cent NDF showing better performance than T1 with 25 per cent NDF. Between T2 and T3 which were more or less comparable, the cows fed on the diet T3 had a higher digestibility for NDF, ADF and crude fibre, indicating that T3 was better than T2. These results suggest that complete rations with 25 to 35 per cent NDF, containing paddy straw as the sole source of roughage NDF, with the rest of NDF being met from non-forage sources, can be recommended for use among early and mid lactation dairy cows, with 35 per cent being the ideal NDF level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of six months duration was conducted to assess the body weight and reproductive parameters of lactating dairy cows fed on paddy straw based complete rations containing different levels of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), in two phases. Three isonitrogenous and isocaloric complete rations, T1, T2 and T3 with 25, 30 and 35 per cent NDF, respectively were formulated as per ICAR (1998) with paddy straw as the sole source of roughage NDF. Eighteen dairy cows yielding approximately 10 kg of milk per day were divided into three groups of six each, and allotted to the three experimental rations. Their performance were recorded in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India ranks first in milk production in the world. Government of India plans to increase the milk production at the rate of 23% per year. The various cost effective and practically feasible strategies which can be implemented for increasing milk production in India especially Kerala, are reviewed in this paper with emphasis on technologies such as unconventional and complete feed. The problems and solutions in Iced and fodder sector in India are reviewed separately. Several general recommendations, which can be practically implemented in the field for the betterment of the sector in India especially Kerala, arc also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]