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Objective: To measure seasonal effects on semen quality profiles, seminal biochemical and oxidative stress attributes in fresh and liquid stored semen in monsoon and dry seasons. Methods: A total of 10 Teressa bucks (3-4 years) were selected from breeding farm, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Semen samples (n=25 per season) were collected through artificial vagina method and preserved at refrigerated temperature (5°C) for 48 h using Tris citrate glucose based extender. We detected semen quality parameters [volume, mass activity, pH, sperm concentration, total motility, viability, total sperm abnormality, and plasma membrane, acrosomal and nuclear integrities], biochemical profiles [aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and total cholesterol], and oxidative stress markers [total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA)] during monsoon and dry seasons. Results: Semen quality parameters significantly differed between seasons (P

Humpsore is a chronic parasitic dermatitis in bovine species; induces severe economic losses to the dairy farmers. Various therapeutic methodologies were tried to treat humpsore in the past; however, they were partially effective against humpsore. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the effect of tri-model therapy [macrocyclic lactone; Ivermectin, a piperazine derivative; diethylcarbamazine citrate (DECC) and an herbal ointment; Himax™] on treatment of humpsore in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Thirty‐six cattle (n=36 affected) were selected and divided into Gr 1: control (infected without treatment; n=18) and Gr 2: treatment group (infected with treatment; ivermectin, DECC and Himax, n=18) in South Andaman district. In Gr 2, treatment to the ailing animals was given for 45 days. Physiological profiles, hematological profiles, biochemical profiles [total protein, TP; albumin, AL; globulin, GL; creatinine, CR; glucose, GLU; total cholesterol, CHO and urea, URE], liver functional enzymes [aspartate aminotransferase, AST; alanine aminotransferase, ALT and alkaline phosphatase, ALP], mineral profiles, oxidative stress profiles [total antioxidant capacity, TAC; superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT and malondialdehyde, MDA] and cortisol were estimated on day 30 of post treatment. Lesion was significantly reduced in day 15 of post‐treatment and completely healed on day 45 of post‐treatment in Gr 2. Physiological profiles, liver functional enzymes, urea, total white blood cell count, differential cell counts, MDA and cortisol were reduced significantly and blood profiles, biochemical profiles, mineral profiles and antioxidant profiles were increased significantly in tri-model therapy treated animals. Therefore, it can be concluded that tri‐model therapy is suitable to treat humpsore in dairy animals.

This communication reports an outbreak of immature paramphistomiosis in Andaman local goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) along with report of mortality and gross as well as histopathological changes. During the month of September, 2021 there was report of 38.57% mortality in goats which was investigated in depth. Outbreak occurred at South Andaman district where goats were reared under semi intensive managerial system and allowed to graze in the morning in surrounding marshy land. The affected animals showed the symptoms of immature amphistomiasis; it was further confirmed on necropsy and identification of causative organism as Paramphistomum cervi based on its typical morphological features. Histopathological examination showed damaged structure of rumen with typical degenerative changes and initiation of necrotic changes of cells with infiltration of inflammatory cells. We report the outbreak of immature amphistomiasis for the first time from Andaman and Nicobar archipelago along with the causative agent.

In this study, the effects of integrated farming system on residue recycling and soil quality in rice-based integrated farming systems have been examined. The effective nutrient budget for nitrogen was found higher with rice-fishpoultry- cowpea and the negative values were obtained for rice-chili and rice-baby corn systems. However, the effective budgets for phosphorus and potassium were negative in all these cropping systems. The results indicated that, about ten tonnes of organic matter was recycled, and the major share was from the dairy unit (~52%) in the form of dung and cow urine. Total internal nutrient supply due to recycling was estimated at 55 kg of nitrogen, 17 kg phosphorus and 76 kg of potassium, which is equivalent to 118 kg urea, 106 kg single super phosphate and 126 kg muriate of potash, thus reduction in cost of inputs. In the rice+fish+poultry-cowpea system, the indices of soil quality showed higher values, which indicated the improvement in soil fertility due to availability of poultry manure, plankton production, and the continuous fish activity. The current study confirmed that available N, DHA, Zn, B and Fe as the key indicators of soil quality under humid tropics of west coast India, which greatly influence the soil functions and soil productivity. The study conclusively reveals that integration of dairy, fishery, poultry components with diversified cropping systems in coastal lowland ecosystem is essential to improve the nutrient use efficiency and for enrichment of soil fertility.

Hydroponics cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) (NB-4) sprouts were produced daily for 15 days in a hydroponics chamber (greenhouse) equipped with automatic sprayer irrigation of tap water. Cowpea (NB-4) with seed rate of 2.54 kg/m2 with replicates of 15 was soaked in tap water individually for 4 h.The seeds were strained and spread in the greenhouse trays. Inside the greenhouse, each replicate was allowed to grow for 9 d, after which it was harvested. The fresh yield (kg/kg seed) of the hydroponically sprouted cowpea (NB-4) increased with the advancement of growing period and remained similar and highest from day 6 (6.34) to 9 (6.63) growing period. Simultaneously, with the growth of the hydroponics cowpea sprouts, the DM content (%) decreased and remained similar and lowest from day 8 (6.91) to day 9 (6.49) growing period. The CP(%) of the hydroponics cowpea fodder was lowest on the day 1 (22.30), then increased and remained similar during seventh (30.10) to ninth (31.23) day sprouting period. The EE content increased and remained similar during day 5 (2.31%) to 8 (2.47%) of sprouting, however, it was highest on day 9 (3.22) of growth. During the growth period of the hydroponics cowpea sprouts, the CF(%) and NFE(%) had an increasing and decreasing trend and was highest and lowest, respectively, on day 9 (21.59 and 38.59). There was an increasing trend in the TA and AIA content of the hydroponics cowpea sprouts with the advancement of the growth period, which was lowest on day 1 (3.99) and highest (5.38) on day 9. It can be concluded that based on the yield and different nutrient contents, cowpea (NB-4) can be sprouted hydroponically for 6–9 days to use as feed supplement for dairy animals.

A study was conducted to find out the digestibility of nutrients in heifers fed hydroponically sprouted maize grains. Hydroponically sprouted maize grains were produced in a hydroponics chamber (greenhouse) measuring about 25 ft × 10 ft × 10 ft equipped with automatic sprayer irrigation of tap water. Three crossbred heifers (avg. BW 271.22 kg) were fed individually 2 kg standard conventional concentrate mixture along with 10 kg hydroponically sprouted maize grains and ad lib. jowar straw daily to meet their nutrient requirements for a period of 30 days followed by a 6 days digestion trial. The hydroponically sprouted maize grains (7 days) looked like a mat of 20–30 cm height consisting of germinated seeds roots and leaves. The increase in the fresh weight of the hydroponically sprouted maize grains than the seed weight was 5–6 folds. The DM content of the hydroponically sprouted maize grains was 18.30% and the CP, EE, CF, NFE, TA and AIA content (on % DM basis) was 13.30, 3.27, 6.37, 75.32, 1.75 and 0.57, respectively. The DM intake per 100 kg BW of the heifers was 2.03 and the roughage:concentrate ratio was maintained at 66:34. The digestibility (%) of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF and NFE of the ration was 61.35, 65.08, 67.74, 72.81, 51.73 and 68.23, respectively. The total ration had 12.02% CP, 8.17% DCP and 63.20% TDN. It can be concluded that hydroponically sprouted maize grains can be supplemented in the ration of heifers in situations, where conventional fodder is not available or cannot be grown due to any adverse conditions.