EFFECT OF FEEDING GERMINATED SORGHUM AND METHIONINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

Jasinta Mamur Bako, Charles Karuku Gachuiri and Paul Njenga Mbugua

Page No: 1-11

The study investigated the effects of germination on chemical composition and tannin content of Gadam and Serena sorghum varieties. In the second experiment, germinated and ungerminated Serena sorghum based diets were fed to broiler chickens for a period of six weeks. Grains from the 2 varieties were soaked in water for 12 h and then germinated for 48 h. Broiler chickens were allocated to four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets containing : ungerminated sorghum (var serena) + 0.46% Methionine (Met) (UG46), germinated sorghum + 0.46% Met (G46), ungerminated sorghum + 0.69% Met (UG69) and ungerminated sorghum + 0.92% methionine (UG92). Germination slightly increased the crude protein content of both Gadam (10 to 11.6%) and Serena sorghum (9.9 to 10.3%). Germination increased (p>0.05) tannin content of Gadam sorghum (0.11 to 0.23% TA) and reduced (p>0.05) for the Serena variety from 0.47 to 0.32% TA. Birds fed the G46 diet had lower (P<0.05) feed intake (1264 g) during starter phase. Germination had no effect on weight gain, but improved (P<0.05) Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) for the entire growth phase (2.16). The birds fed UG69 diet had the highest (P<0.05) weight gain. Increased methionine in the diet UG92 decreased feed intake in finisher and whole growth phases (2854, 4156). Birds fed the diets UG69 and UG92 had lower (p<0.05) FCR. Germination of the Serena sorghum had no effect on performance of broiler chickens. Supplementation of Serena sorghum based diets with 50% methionine above the recommended improved the performance of broilers with no beneficial effect beyond level.

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HEPATITIS E VIRUS: A REVIEW

Sujata S Bhave

Page No: 12-17

Hepatitis E virus is the last of the five hepatotropic viruses to be discovered. Originally, it was considered that the disease is an acute, travel-associated self-limiting illness limited to humans, but new studies prove that there are animal reservoirs and zoonotic transmission is possible. In addition, HEV is currently considered as a major public health burden all over the world, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the issue of hepatitis E infection is of re-emerging importance because the questions such as the transmission of HEV especially in developed countries, treatment and vaccination options are yet to be discovered. This review presents a literature review of hepatitis E and highlights the importance of identifying new diagnostic methods and drugs for HEV.

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COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF OVSYNCH AND CIDR PROTOCOL ON ESTRUS RESPONSE AND CONCEPTION RATE IN ANESTRUS BUFFALOES

Kumar Rohit, Sinha M P and Prasad Raju

Page No: 18-24

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of two estrus synchronization treatments, i.e., Ovsynch alone and Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR), on the occurrence of estrus and conception rate in local anestrusmurrahbuffalo during non breeding season in Ranchi Veterinary College. Eighteen buffaloes were randomly selected and were divided into three groups; The buffaloes of Group I (n = 6; CIDR) received 2 mL GnRH on day 0 along with implantation of CIDR. On day 7, the CIDR was removed, and 5 mL PGF2 analogue was injected through i/m route. Group II (n = 6; Ovsynch) received 2 mL GnRH intramuscularly (i/m) on day 0 and 9. On day 7, 5 mL prostaglandin F2 (PGF2 analogue) was administered through i/m route. Group III (n=6; control) received 5 mL normal saline through i/m route on day 0 and 9. The buffaloes of all three groups were artificially inseminated twice using frozen-thawed semen. Estrus response differed significantly (P<0.05) among the groups. The animals of Group I (83.33%) showed superior estrus response as compared to others. Higher conception rate (50.00%) was observed in the animals of Group I; however, the difference was not significant. In conclusion, CIDR causes to occur better estrus response and conception rate as compared to Ovsynch alone in buffaloes.

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LEPTOSPIROSIS IN HUMANS: AN OVERVIEW

Sujata S Bhave

Page No: 25-31

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection that has a global distribution. The disease is caused by the Leptospira, a spirochete. Human leptospirosis is caused due to exposure to contaminated fresh water. Majority of the infections are asymptomatic but when symptoms develop they range from a mild, self-limiting, non-specific febrile illness to fulminant respiratory and renal failure with high case fatality rate. The most characteristic form of the disease is termed as Weil’s disease which is associated with jaundice, renal failure and hemorrhage. Diagnosis of leptospirosis is most commonly done by serological methods and microscopic agglutination test is called as the “gold standard”. Oral doxycycline is the drug of choice for mild cases. In this review etiology, transmission, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and prevention aspects of leptospirosis are discussed in detail.

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