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Background: A study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and immunological profile of methanolic extract of Adhatoda vasica leaves (AVE) in naturally infected sheep with gastrointestinal nematodes and compared with commonly used anthelmintic albendazole in sheep. Methods: Fifty four sheep found positive for gastrointestinal nematodes were divided into 3 equal groups, GI (infected-untreated: control), GII (infected- AVE treated) and GIII (infected- albendazole treated). Blood samples were drawn on 5th and 14th day after treatment for analysis of oxidative stress markers such as TBARS, TAC, SOD and catalase and immunological parameters such as total immunoglobulin, IgG and IL-10. Result: Helminthiasis in sheep cause a considerable oxidative stress. The anthelmintic activity of Adhatoda vasica surpassed the conventional synthetic drug albendazole in sheep in terms of oxidative and immunological changes in blood.

This paper outlines the effect of farming systems with reference to season on the body condition score (BCS) and adaptive profile (physiological, hemato-biochemical, hormonal, enzymatic and reproductive parameters) of Nellore sheep. In trial 1, sixty ewe-lambs were allotted to extensive, semi-intensive, and intensive rearing systems (n = 20) and evaluated for BCS at puberty, mating, 2 weeks pre-lambing and 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-lambing. In trial 2, eighteen rams were distributed evenly to three farming systems (n = 6) and evaluated for physiological, hemato-biochemical, hormonal, enzymatic, and reproductive parameters concerning three seasons. Although the scores did not differ among the groups, the Kruskal-Wallis ranks of BCS revealed a higher energy status of intensive ewes at different physiological conditions. The sheep reared under extensive and semi-intensive systems displayed higher temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate with predominant effects in summer season. Similarly, both systems exhibited higher WBC and lower haemoglobin, PCV, and RBC contents without affecting MVC, MCH, MCHC, and differential leucocyte count. The percent haemoglobin and RBC count were higher in winter compared to summer months, whereas WBC count followed an exactly opposite pattern. The sheep reared in intensive system showed higher glucose, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, T3, T4, calcium, and phosphorus; however, the globulin, creatinine, uric acid, aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase, and catalase levels were elevated in extensive and semi-intensive systems. The dartos muscle extension (DME) and scrotum sweating rate (SSR) were higher for the sheep reared under extensive system, especially during summer season; while the seminal parameters viz., total sperm count, progressive sperm motility, and plasma membrane integrity were lower for extensive and semi-intensive sheep. No interactions were noticed for any of the parameters, except for cortisol, DME, and SSR, which showed significant interactions for rearing system vs. season. Our results showed dynamic adaptive mechanisms of the Nellore sheep in relation to different stressors like grazing for long distances, inadequate nutrition, and heat stress, revealing the heat resilient ability in harsh environmental conditions. Further, the analyzed vector plot showed that the AST, GPx, Cortisol, SOD, Catalase, WBC, PR, T4, total abnormalities, and major abnormalities were the major contributors for adapting during combined stressors., Adaptive profile; Farming system; Season; Sheep; Physiological parameters; Hematological parameters; Biochemical parameters; Oxidative enzymatic activity; Reproductive parameters.

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 (PCommelina 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

Data on growth traits of Nellore sheep were extracted from the records maintained at Livestock Research Station, Palamaner, Andhra Pradesh, India for a period of five years. The genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated for growth traits i.e., average daily gain (ADG) from birth to 3 months (ADGa), 3 months to 6 months (ADGb), 6 to 12 months (ADGc) and the corresponding Kleiber ratio (KR) at respective stages of growth. The non genetic factors included in the model were having significance on most of the traits studied. The heritability estimates for ADG and corresponding KR ranged from 0.17 to 0.25. The estimates of genetic correlations among the traits ranged between -0.28 (Ka-Kb) and 0.99 (ADGb-Kb). The moderate estimates of heritability, high and positive genetic correlations among the traits in the study were suggestive of moderate genetic progress in the Nellore breed of sheep through selection.

The growth performance of Nellore Jodipi sheep maintained at Livestock Research Station Palamaner, Andhra Pradesh for three years viz., 2013–14, 2014–2015 and 2015–16 were studied with year and sex as fixed effects. The overall least squares means of body weights at birth, three, six, nine and 12 months of age were 3.10±0.01, 14.20±0.10, 19.33±0.18, 23.16±0.36 and 27.41±0.18 kg, respectively. Year of birth and sex of animal had significant effect (P

Data on 1533 Nellore lambs maintained at Livestock Research Station, Palamaner, (Andhra Pradesh) from 2011–12 to 2015–16 were used to study the effectsofyear of birth and sexon growth and reproductive performance. Traits under study were weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age, average daily gains during 0–3, 3–6, 6–9 and 9–12 months of age, tupping, lambing and replacement rate. Overall least-squares means of body weights at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were 3.10±0.01, 13.65±0.08, 18.68±0.12, 23.44±0.50 and 27.43±0.15 kg, respectively and overall least-squares means of average daily gains at 0–3, 3–6, 6–9 and 9–12 months of age were 116.82±0.85, 52.83±0.90, 40.75±3.14 and 29.20±1.23 g, respectively. Year of birth had significant (P

A study was conducted on the outbreak of blue tongue (BT) disease in sheep flock maintained in farm (Livestock Research Station, Palamaner, Andhra Pradesh) and under field conditions (around Palamner). The morbidity, mortality and case fatality rates due to BT disease were 5.45, 1.09 and 20.00%, respectively in farm flock and 27.14, 9.71 and 35.79%, respectively in farmers ’flocks. Among the pregnant animals, abortion rate was 42.86 and 46.67%, in farm and farmers ’flocks respectively.

For the first time, we report the degradative ability of CdS QDs on extracellular polysaccharides of E.coli cells. The optimal concentration at which EPS peak enhancement is observed and beyond which concentration the degradative activity of CdS QDs become significant has been demonstrated. 20 μL L−1 of CdS QDs lead to enhancement of EPS peaks upto incubation time of 3h. Concentration above 50 μL L−1 CdS showed significant EPS degradation. The EPS degradation by the CdS QDs has been quantified and the significance has been statistically analyzed using Tukey-Kramer Multiple comparison test. We have also defined the enrichment and degradation rate and calculated these rates based on the increasing or decreasing of EPS peaks detected from the MALDI-MS spectra.