International Journal of

Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine

International Journal of
Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine

Vol. 3(1) February 2015

FARMERS’ PERCEPTION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE INDICATORS IN MOROGORO

Phillip Daniel Daninga, Tiberius Mlowosa and Sijian Zhao

Page No: 1-13

The objective of this study was to delineate perceptions of rural people about climate indicators affecting agricultural production and analyze their adaptation strategies. A cross-section survey with a randomly selected sample size of 240 respondents was conducted in three districts of Morogoro region. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the qualitative data on climate change indicator perceptions and adaptation options while Chi-square statistics was employed to define the respective associations. Majority of farmers were aware about climate variations. Temperature, drought spell, rainfall intensity and sunshine intensity were mentioned by most farmers as being among the major change indicators having great impact on their production. Fewer farmers understood the major agents of climate change were humans through their activities. Majority associated the climate change causes to supernatural factors. Early land preparations, timing of the rains and waiting for the rains from supernatural powers were adaptation strategies mostly employed. Farmers should be assisted to understand the key agents of climate change and to have access to weather forecast information which will increase their preparedness on climate change shocks.

IMPACT OF NEW CHEMISTRY ON BIOCONTROL AGENTS OF MAJOR CROP PESTS

Subash Singh

Page No: 14-33

In agro-ecosystems, biocontrol agents (BCA’s) viz., parasitoids and predators, are the best alternatives to the broad-spectrum pesticides, several of which have been replaced by new chemistry. The new chemistry is eco-friendly, economical, more selective, highly safe and compatible with several BCA’s. In newer insecticides, among various insecticidal classes viz., diamides (flubendiamide/chlorantraniliprole/cyazypyr), bacterial products (emamectin benzoate/avermectins/milbemectin except, spinosad which is toxic), IGR’s (buprofezin/ novaluron/lufenuron/pyriproxyfen/other IGRs), dichloropropenyl (pyridalyl), pyridine azomethines (pymetrozine) and phenyl pyrazole (fipronil) have shown directly or indirectly their safe impact either to the insect predators and or parasitoids. Similarly, insecticide classes viz., neonicotenoids (imidacloprid/thiamethoxam/acetamiprid except thiacloprid, which is toxic) and oxadiazines (indoxacarb) were slightly toxic; pyridine carboxamid (flonicamid) as moderately toxic whereas, in classes-pyrrole and triazapentadiene, chlorfenapyr and amitraz, respectively were toxic. However, there is still a great need to shift laboratory evaluation of newer insecticides to the real world of field.

CORRELATION OF EPIDEMIOLOGY OF RHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEUS AND CANINE EHRLICHIOSIS IN NINE DIFFERENT LOCALITIES OF MIDDLE GUJARAT

Chirag M Bhadesiya and Dhaval V Modi

Page No: 34-39

Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks are the most important group of arthropod vectors responsible for transmission of Ehrlichia canis and causing canine ehrlichiosis in dogs. In the present study, 104 ticks were collected from 74 dogs of nine different localities under middle zone of Gujarat state, India. Permanent mounting and species identification under stereoscopic microscope was performed. Forty three (58.11%) of 74 dogs harbored clinical tick infestation. Among dogs with clinical tick infestation, overall prevalence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus was recorded as 76.74%. Dot-ELISA based Immunocomb® rapid diagnostic kit was used for diagnostic confirmation of canine ehrlichiosis in dogs with Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick infestation. Out of 33 dogs with Ripicephalus sanguineus ticks, 18 (54.55%) dogs were positive for canine ehrlichiosis. Correlation of prevalence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and occurrence of canine ehrlichiosis in dogs with breed, age and sex of dogs and housing pattern for dogs is reported. Findings provide new insights for further studies on ecology of Rhipicephalus sanguineus in correlation with canine ehrlichiosis in dogs.

INTER-RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REFERENCE EVAPOTRANSPIRATION AND METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS AT TARAI REGION OF UTTARAKHAND, INDIA

Arvind Singh Tomar

Page No: 40-43

In this study, impact of different meteorological parameters and their inter-relationship with reference evapotranspiration (ETo) calculated by FAO-Penman Monteith (FAO-PM) equation for Udham Singh Nagar district situated in Tarairegion of Uttarakhand wereanalyzed on the basis of 22 years (1991-2012) of daily meteorological data recorded at GB. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. For conducting analysis, daily values of observed meteorological parameterswere considered as independent variables, whereas, FAO-PM ETo values were taken as dependent variable.Dailyvalues of observed meteorological parameters and EToweregrouped together to get their respective values for all 52 SMWs and 12 months in accordance with CWS-1 format suggested by IMD, Pune with aim to identify climatic variables which can predict ETofairly accurately on weekly and monthly basis and it was found that best performance indicators for predicting ETo are pan evaporation followed by sunshine duration and maximum air temperature. It was also found that on both weekly and monthly basis, ETocan be fairly accurately predicted by developed equationsat Tarairegion of Uttarakhand, India.

ETHNOVETERINARY MEDICINE: IN PRESENT PERSPECTIVE

Arpana Raikwar and Prabhakar Maurya

Page No: 44-49

In India, ethno-veterinary practices were in vogue since time immemorial. Ethnoveterinary medicine deals with people’s knowledge, skills, methods, practices and beliefs about the care of their animals. In recent years, interests in ethno-veterinary investigations have been increased enormously on national and international level. Ancient ethnoveterinary literature suggests that the tribal, non-tribal and rural population has been using wild ethnoflora since long ago for curing various diseases and disorders in the pet/domesticated animals. All these plants should be screened scientifically in order to investigate newer sources of ethno-veterinary drugs and medicines. The ethnomedicinal plants need further intensive investigation for their pharmacological activity and proper documentation of the same for the betterment of animal health in the future.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RAINFALL AMOUNT, MEAN DAILY RAINFALL INTENSITY AND RAINY DAYS AT UDHAM SINGH NAGAR DISTRICT, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA

Arvind Singh Tomar

Page No: 50-57

In the present study, long-term daily rainfall data (1962-2012) of Udham Singh Nagardistrict was analysed to understand relationships between Rainfall Amount (RA), Mean Daily Rainfall Intensity (MDRI) and Rain Days (RD) on monthly, seasonal and annual basis. The study revealed erratic distribution of rainfall occurrence as MDRI with highly correlated values (0.83-0.90) was observed for different months, seasons and annual data series. The value of X* (percent rain amount cumulated in first 50% of rain days) was found highest (11.89%) for March, whereas, among seasons, its highest value (10.45%) was observed for season S2 (March-May). In the same way, value of first 50% rainfall cumulated (Y*) was found highest for October month and among seasons with season S4 (October-December). It was also found that 29.59% rain days per annum accounted for 78.98% rainsreceived at Udham Singh Nagar district.

DIAGNOSIS OF MASTITIS IN DAIRY GOATS

Arpana Raikwar and P C Shukla

Page No: 58-63

Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland (udder) that causes a chemical and physical reaction in milk produced by goats. Diagnosis of mastitis is based on signs and history of the herd. A microbiologic milk culture, a Somatic Cell Count (SCC), or an Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) test are used to diagnose infection. The SCC and the California Mastitis Test (CMT) are the most common tests used to diagnose mastitis in dairy goats. The Modified California Mastitis Test (MCMT) was found to be most convenient and easy for diagnosis of mastitis. The sometic cell count was found to be confirmatory test for clinical and subclinical mastitis in goats. The somatic cell count value in mastitis ranged from 37.64-79.60 x 105 cells per ml of milk. On bacteriological examination, overall 78 samples were cultured out of which 69 (88.46%) samples of which were found to be positive for mastitis. The bacterial load, i.e., aerobic plate count was found to be 9.0-30.8 x 10-3 CFU/ml of milk which get reduced to 3.1-17.5 x 10-3 CFU/ml of milk after treatment. Coliform count were found to be 2.1-8.7 x 10-3 CFU/ml of milk which get reduced to 0.3-3.8 x 10-3 CFU/ml of milk after treatment.

AGRICULTURAL DROUGHT ASSESSMENT FOR CROP PLANNING AT NAINITAL (UTTARAKHAND), INDIA

Arvind Singh Tomar

Page No: 64-68

In this study, daily rainfall dataset of Nainital district of Uttarakhand for a period of 21 years (1992-2012) was analysed to study the occurrence of weekly and monthly drought spells by IMD and revised IMD methods. From analysis, it was found that during rabi season, study area experienced good number of drought SMWs and months, therefore, crops having lesser water requirement and/or of short-duration should be grown/advocated. This study also confirms that there is great possibility to collect and utilize huge surplus surface runoff in water storage structures during kharif season and recycling the same for qualitative and quantitative production of various rabi crops at Nainital district of Uttarakhand.

EFFECT OF INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON GROWTH AND FLOWERING OF GERBERA (GERBERA JAMASONII L.) VAR. ROSALIN UNDER NATURALLY VENTILATED POLYHOUSE CONDITION

S B Bellubbi, B S Kulkarni and C P Patil

Page No: 69-74

An investigation was carried at Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Gokak taluk and Belgaum district, to study the effect of INM practices in improving the growth and yield of gerbera (Gerbera jamasonii L.) Var. Rosalin. The experiment was conducted with six kinds of organic substrates along with inorganic fertilizers. The treatment combination of T1 (RDF + FYM) viz., plant height (92.6), number of leaves per plant (171.30) and leaf area per plant (1062.06 cm2) were found to be maximum at 90 DAP. 75% RDF+ Glomus fasciculatum + Trichoderma harzianum + Panchagavya +Amrut pani + Dry mulch + Agnihothra ash favorably influenced flower parameters like minimum number of days taken for 50 per cent flowering (139.87 days), maximum stalk length (75.45 cm), flower diameter (7.15 cm), number of flowers per plant (19.03) and flower yield per m2 (634.27) were found to be highest. The results proved that 75% RDF+ Glomus fasciculatum + Trichoderma harzianum + Panchagavya +Amrut pani + Dry mulch + Agnihothra ash improved the growth and flowering attributes in gerbera.

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF HUMAN CAPITAL OF THE LIVESTOCK EXTENSION AGENT IN MEXICO

Venancio Cuevas-Reyes, Anastacio Espejel-García, César A Rosales Nieto, Alfredo Loaiza Meza, Ariadna Barrera Rodríguez and Mauricio Sosa Montes

Page No: 75-84

Studies on human capital have confirmed the importance of this resource in the income and productivity of the enterprises. The objective of this study was to determine the main factors influencing the improvement of human capital of livestock extension agent in Sinaloa. By no stochastic selection of 192 farms that participated in a program of agricultural extension in Sinaloa between 2010 and 2011. The data was obtained and analyzed using a Probit model which identifies the factors that influence the improvement of human capital in livestock extension agents. Increase the level of human capital in the livestock extension agent was influenced by the age of the agents. The chances to obtain a postgraduate degree diploma by the extension agent increases with his/her age by 5.8% and decreases by 4.7% by increasing his/her experience in the extension job. The extension agents with more experience are less likely to undertake formal training studies.

STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF GROWTH RETARDANTS ON GROWTH AND FLOWERING IN POTTED FUCHSIA

Jasbir Singh Wazir

Page No: 85-89

A pot experiment was conducted at experimental farms of Regional Horticultural Research and Training Station, Mashobra, situated at 2286 m above mean sea level at 31.10N latitude and 77.20E longitude north-west of Himalayas in a completely randomized block design with three replications. The response of two cultivars of Fuchsia to Cycocel (500, 1000 and 1500 ppm) and Ethrel (350, 600 and 1000 ppm) was studied with respect to growth and flowering parameters. CCC-1000 ppm spray reduced the height of Fuchsia by 14.8% and increased the plant spread by 30.8%. CCC-1500 ppm again advanced flowering by 16 days where as Ethrel sprays significantly delayed flowering. Ethrel 1000 ppm spray increased the number of flowers per plant by 21.4%. Cycocel treated plants remained in flowering over a longer duration and were having better presentability.

STUDIES ON SUCKLING BEHAVIOUR PATTERN OF CALVES IN GIR BREED OF COW

N S Rawat, A K Mishra, A K Gaur and K K S Baghel

Page No: 90-94

The suckling behavior of every individual calf is different. In order to determine patterns of various suckling traits and their effect on growth rate of the new born calves from 0 to 15 days of age, the study was conducted on suckling behavior of 13 new born Gir calves of Gir herd, maintained at Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust, Dairy Farm Kasturbagram Khandwa Road, Indore MP. The number of attempt to teat seeking was analyzed it was found to be 8.94 ± 0.57 times. On the basis of sex, the studies reveals that the male calves required lesser attempt to teat seeking (6.11 ± 0.86) as compared to female calves (11.77 ± 0.82.). Further the season wise studies showed that the summer born calves searched the udder in lesser attempts (7.33 ± 0.33) then those born in winter (10.54 ± 0.78). The sex wise effect on duration from placing the calf nearby cow to holding of teat by calf shows that male calves took longer duration (216.75 ± 2.18 minutes) to hold the udder for first time than that of female calves (121.00 ± 2.08). Sex wise studies showed that male calves required lesser stroke for letting down of milk (1.86 ± 0.35) than female ones (2.81 ± 0.33times). The effect of suckling traits on growth rate up to 45 days of their life showed that it had significant effect on growth rate at 30th days of age and there is no significant effect had exert at 15th and 45th days of age of Gir calves.

DEVELOPMENT OF BOVINE SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER CLONES CONSTRUCTED WITH MATERNAL (AUTOLOGOUS) OOCYTE CYTOPLASM (OOPLASTS)

Rebecca R Payton, F Neal Schrick, Thomas J Wilson, Robert L Donnell and J Lannett Edwards

Page No: 95-103

The objective of this study was to examine consequences of somatic cell nuclear transfer after fusion of somatic cell with maternal (autologous) or non-autologous ooplasts. To this end, granulosa cells from Jersey cows were fused with enucleated oocytes from the same Jersey cows (autologous ooplasts) or from Holstein, Hereford, and Angus cows (non-autologous ooplasts). The ability of cloned embryos to cleave and develop to morula or blastocyst was assessed on days 4 and 7 post-activation, respectively. Compact morulae and blastocysts were transferred to synchronized recipients and pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound 30-32 days post-estrus. Data were analyzed using Fisher’s Exact Test. Development to the 8 to16-cell stage was greater for clones constructed with non-autologous ooplasts. However, morula and blastocyst development did not differ. Four pregnancies progressed beyond 200 days but fetal death occurred in three due to placental insufficiency. The one clone that progressed to term was constructed with a non-autologous ooplast, highlighting that the use of autologous ooplasm does not always improve somatic cell nuclear transfer outcomes.

DETECTION OF ADULTERANTS IN RETAIL MILK SAMPLES PROCURED IN PRODDATUR TOWN, YSR KADAPA (DT), ANDHRA PRADESH

Ramya P, Swetha C S, Venkateswara Rao L, Tirupathi Reddy E and Jagadeeshbabu A

Page No: 104-109

The recent emerging and burning issue of milk is its adulteration. Adulteration is practiced either to substitute the cheaper ingredients or to impress the buyer to think the product is more valuable or of better quality. Keeping in view of this issue a small work was planned to detect the adulteration in milk. A total of 50 samples were collected from retail outlets, nearby chilling centres and different localities in and around Proddatur of YSR Kadapa District, Andhrapradesh, India and tested for the determination of and extent of adulteration. Qualitative analyses were carried out on 50 milk samples with the help of a standard milk adulteration kit manufactured by HiMedia Laboratories, Mumbai, India. The results indicates that out of 50 samples 54% and 40% of the samples were adulterated with Sodium chloride and Sugar respectively. The presence of Urea and Hydrogen peroxide was nearly same (24% and 26% respectively). To little extent the milk was also adulterated with Formalin (12%), Glucose/ Dextrose and Detergents (10%), Starch (8%), Neutralizers (6%) and Skim milk powder (2%). All percentage values are indicative of presence of these adulterants. The findings of this study prooved that the milk procured did not confirm to the legal standards and it was adulterated with toxic chemicals which are injurious to health in a long run. People should be educated about the toxic effects of different adulterants on their health.

PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT FOR FRESH - CUT PINEAPPLE

Amith P K1, Mini C, Manju R V and Geetha Lekshmy P R

Page No: 110-117

Fresh cut pineapple can be prepared by surface sanitization using 90ppm sodium hypochlorite for 15 minutes followed by treating 2±0.5 cm cube pieces with 1% calcium chloride for 10 minutes and refrigerated storage after packaging in aluminium tray covered with cling film. Samples were acceptable to the sensory panel even at the end of 5th day.