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A study was carried out to identify the prevalence of clinical lameness and associated claw affections in dairy cows using claw health indicators, claw dimensions and locomotion scoring. Hundred postpartum lactating dairy cattle reared under similar managemental conditions were subjected to body weight estimation, body condition scoring (BCS), evaluation of claw health indicators, claw dimension measurement and lameness scoring. Animals with higher score on claw health indicators and locomotion score were subjected to functional hoof trimming. A prevalence of 20 per cent clinical lameness was observed in the present study. Significantly increased claw length and reduced heel height were observed in dairy cows with higher locomotion score while body weight, body condition score and claw health indicators had no significant relationship with locomotion score on statistical analysis. Sole ulcers and white line lesion were identified as the major sole lesions causing clinical lameness in postpartum lactating dairy cattle.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate silage made from hybrid Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ensiled in the laboratory using various additives with regard to sensory as well as chemical characteristics. Four different silages were prepared viz., grass ensiled without additives (GS) as control, and grass silage with Lactobacillus plantarum at 1 x 105 CFU per gram of fresh forage (GSL), grass silage with propionic acid at the rate 0.45 kg per ton of fodder (GSA), and grass silage with combination of Lactobacillus plantarum (1 x 105 CFU per gram of fresh forage) and propionic acid (0.45 kg per ton of fodder) (GSLA) in triplicates. One from each triplicate was opened on 21, 30 and 45 days of ensiling and was evaluated for sensory (colour, aroma, presence or absence of extraneous matter) and chemical (pH, lactic acid, proximate analysis and fibre fractions) characteristics. From the overall results, it could be concluded that hybrid Napier grass, ensiled for 21 days using L. plantarum was effective in preserving its nutritive value.

A study was conducted to assess the effect of feeding low protein diets supplemented with selected amino acids on growth performance and gut health in early weaned Large White Yorkshire piglets. Thirty Large White Yorkshire female piglets belonging to Centre for Pig Production and Research, Mannuthy, weaned at 21 days of age were allotted to three dietary treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3) with five replicates for each treatment. Piglets were fed pre-starter ration till they gained a body weight of 5 kg and then on starter ration from 5 to 18 kg body weight. The dietary protein in treatments T2 and T3 were reduced by 15 and 25 per cent respectively than that of control treatment (T1). Five amino acids viz., lysine, methionine, threonine, valine and isoleucine were supplemented to all treatment groups to meet the requirements as per NRC (1998). Body weights of animals were taken at weekly intervals. There was no significant difference in average body weight among three treatment groups from first to third week. From fourth to eleventh week, the average weekly body weight of T1 was significantly higher than T3. The average daily gain was significantly different among three treatment groups with highest values observed for group T1, followed by T2 and T3. The feed conversion efficiency was statistically similar among treatment groups. Total viable count and coliform count were significantly lower in the faeces of piglets fed with low protein diets, indicating a reduction in microbial population in faeces of piglets in relation to reduction in dietary protein level. From the overall results, it could be concluded that reducing the dietary protein levels had resulted in reduced growth performance in early weaned piglets, in spite of being supplemented with selected essential amino acids

Postpartum diseases of uterus represent a foremost predicament in cattle farms affecting reproductive efficiency. Postpartum (PP) uterine diseases include metritis, endometritis and subclinical endometritis (SCE). Barring SCE, all other diseases project the clinical signs. Diagnosis of SCE at the early stage of PP has been a challenging task for many veterinarians. The present study aimed to validate and correlate the proficiency of transitional changes in uterus and cervix assessed by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and endometrial cytology (EC) in the diagnosis of SCE in PP cattle. The research was carried out in two phases i.e, 30th day postpartum (DPP) (n=74) and first exhibited oestrus after 45th DPP (n=24) (54.63 ± 1.13 d) to emphasise the proficiency of both the diagnostic modalities. Endometrial cytology could discriminate between cows positive and negative for SCE significantly at 30th DPP (20.54 ± 0.48 vs 5.55 ± 0.41). It was potent in diagnosing SCE after 45th DPP also, as a significant reduction in the per cent of PMN cells (20.54 ± 0.48 to 7.56 ± 0.32) was noticed. Uterine parameters assessed by TRUS like cervical and uterine diameter and endometrial thickness in both the phases of assessment did not correlate to the EC changes and also could not discriminate between SCE positive and negative animals. The results of the study signify that EC is efficacious in the diagnosis of SCE in cows, while TRUS is impractical as a sole diagnostic modality for SCE.

A study was carried out to find the influence of different dietary protein levels on serum biochemical parameters of dairy cows during the transition period. Twenty cross bred cows, three weeks prior to their expected date of calving were selected from University Livestock Farm and Fodder Research and Development Scheme (ULF&FRDS), College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy as experimental animals. The cows were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments – T1 (12 per cent CP (crude protein) TMR (Total Mixed Ration)) and T2 (14 per cent CP TMR). After calving, half of the animals in T1 were allotted to T3 (16 per cent CP TMR) and remaining half to T4 (18 per cent CP TMR). Similarly half of the animals in T2 were allotted to T3 and remaining half to T4. All these rations were iso-caloric. The feeding trial was carried out for a period of 3 weeks prepartum and 45 days postpartum. The serum biochemical parameters such as serum glucose levels were significantly higher (p

A feeding trial was conducfed with fourteen crossbred calves below one month of age for 945 days to study the effect of replacement of unsalted dried fish in the calf starter with a plant protein source supplemenfed wifh lysine and methionine on dry matter intake, digestibility of nutrients and haematological parameters. Calves were divided info two groups as uniformly as possible and allotfed randomly to two diefary treatments. The control group was fed with a calf starter containing unsalted dried frsh. The treatment group was fed a calf starter with only plant protein sources formulafed to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric with control calf starter and equated by supplementation with lysine and methionine plus cystine. Dry matter intake and haematological parameters such as haemoglobin, serum phosphorus, serum calcium, plasma glucose, serum total protein and blood urea nitrogen were similar in calves that received the two dietary treatments. The digestibility coefficienfs of nutrients observed were 66.37 and 65.84 for dry matter, 72.21 and 72.36 for crude profein, 64.28 and 69.85 for ether extract, 62.34 and 60.71 for neutral detergent fibre and 51.95 and 52.25 for acid detergent fibre for the control and treatment diets respectively. It could be inferred from the study that unsalted fish in a calf starter can be replaced by planf profein sources supplemented for exisfing deficiencies in lysine and methionine plus cysfine to give a similar digestion performance in cross bred pre-ruminant calves.

A growth trial was conducted with fourteen crossbred calves below one month of age for 945 days to study the effect of replacement of unsalted dry fish in the calf sfarfer with soyabean, supplemented with lysine and methionine. Calves were divided into two groups as uniformly as possible and allotted randomly to two dietary treatments. The control group was fed with a calf sfarfer containing unsalted dry fish. The treatment group was fed a calf starter with only vegetable protein sources formulafed to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric with control calf starter and equated by supplementation, with the same as regard to amino acids lysine and methionine plus cystine. Statisfical analysis of the data showed that there was no significant difference in any of the parameters recorded during the study. An average daily gain of 325 g and 348 g were obtained in calves fed with the control and treatment diets respectively. Feed to gain ratio for the control and treafinenf groups were 3.85 and 3.81 respectively. Identical performances were obtained in a1! fhe parameters recorded. Cost per kilogram body weight gain was Rs 71.40 for the control group and Rs. 69.63 in fhe treatment group. It could be inferred from the study that unsalfed fish in a calf sfarfer can be fully replaced by plant protein sources supplemented for existing deficiencies in lysine and mefhionine plus cystine to obtain similar growfh performance of cross bred pre-ruminant calves.