Effects of genetic type, sex, health status, parity and litter size on pre-weaning piglet growth

Kouamo J., Lukong Weketia R.K. and Zoli A.P.

Page No: 1-8

This study, aiming to determine the effect of sex, parity, litter size, breed, sow weight and health status on weight gain of pre-weaning piglets, was made between May 2018 and February 2019. A total of 202 piglets from 23 parities were weighed with a 4 days interval from birth till farrowing. From this study, the sex ratio was 0.89; prolificacy was 10.49±3.78 piglets with Naima sows being the most prolific; mortality rate was 10.32% with smashing being the most common cause of death (69.23%); morbidity rate was 37.93% and the most common disease was neonatal diarrhea (34.12%). Weight variation (y) as a function of age (x) is represented by the second-degree polynomial equation y=-9E-05x2+0.0844x+1.7008.

Healthy piglets were found to be more than 2kg heavier at weaning age. Growth performances increased with parity number up to the third parity and then decreased. Litters of 11 and 12 piglets had the best performances (5.34±0.83kg à 24 days). Naima and Duroc hybrids were heavier than local hybrids and pure Naimas. Strong correlations were found between parity number with sow weight (r=0.691), genetic type (r=0.580) and litter size (r=0.538); litter size and health status (r=0.530) and finally breed and sow weight (r=0.677).

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Pedological activity of Ziziphus rugosa and its comparision

Prema G. and Chitra M.

Page No: 9-16

The main aim of this work is to know the soil profiles by using different kinds of substances. They include Ziziphus rugosa pericarp and seed, Waltheria indica, Tephrosia purpurea, Tephrosia villosa, Azadirachta fruit and seed, Ricinus communis seed, goat dung and Azospirillum. Prior to adding these substances, about 500 gm of soil was collected from each plot designed by 100 x 100 cm.

The soil parameters like macro, micronutrients, pH, Ec, CaCO3 and soil texture were analyzed. After burying 20gms of each substance in the respective plot, about 1-2 liters of water was sprinkled on the surface soil of each plot. After some days, the surface soil of each plot was again sprinkled manually with 7-8 liters of water. On 54th day about 500 gm of soil was collected from the respective plot and the parameters were analyzed as before. Z.rugosa seed increased N, K, Mn and Zn and soil texture was as such . On 117th day, again 500 gm of soil was collected from each plot and analyzed. Out of 10 plots, soil collected from the plots treated with Z.rugosa pericarp and seed only showed pH 7.0. Among the substances used, no one altered Ec and CaCO3 of soil.

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Effect of organic source of nutrients and weed management practices on growth and yield of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Marimuthu S. and Mohamed Amanullah M.

Page No: 17-21

A field experiment was conducted in the Department of Farm Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during kharif season 2015-16 to assess the effect of organic inputs and weed management practices on growth and yield of cotton. The results showed that application composted poultry manure with hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 DAS increased 35.7 % yield of cotton compared to other organic manures and weed management practices. Appreciable improvement in growth characters like plant height of 127 cm and dry matter production (4525 kg ha-1) and yield attributes viz. number of sympodial branches plant-1 (19.52), number of fruiting points (54.24), number of bolls plant-1 (20.65) and yield (1557 kg ha-1) of cotton were observed with application of composted poultry manure along with two hand weeding was comparable with composted poultry manure with power operated weeder.

Finally, it can be concluded that use of composted poultry manure with hand weeding or power operated weeder which effectively controls the weeds, economically viable as well as ecologically safe, is important to improve the productivity quality of cotton.

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Comparison of ex vivo and in vitro experimental analysis of succulent plants on the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity

Saranya K., Manju M., Ramya S., Snehamercy S., Vinodhini A., Manivasagan V. and Ramesh Babu N.G.

Page No: 22-30

The succulent plants are drought resistant plants that store water in their thick fleshy tissue. The thick tissues give them a unique ability to maintain photosynthesis and other metabolic processes during droughts. The prominent succulent plants include Aloe barbedensis and Opuntiaficus-indica possess greater medicinal value. The phytochemical compounds, anti-bacterial and antioxidant activity of different extracts of in vitro and ex vivo studies of succulent plants such as Aloe vera and cactus were performed. The phytochemical constituents were screened for fats and oils, alkaloids, flavonoids.

The distinct solvents such as acetone and aqueous were used to extract the bioactive compounds from leaves and gel of Aloevera and cactus and it was followed by the anti-bacterial and antioxidant activity. The anti-microbial activity was demonstrated against various fungal and microbial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Aspergillus niger and Tricoderma viridae by disc diffusion method. FTIR analysis was performed for the identification of bioactive compounds present in the sample. The in vitro had higher disease resistance and higher antioxidants than the ex vivo plants.

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Primary bone healing of radius and secondary bone healing of ulna in a Zebra dove: A case report

Piyabongkarn Damrongdej and Piyabongkarn Montakarn

Page No: 31-32

A zebra dove was referred to Linthong Veterinary Clinic. She could not fly that was a dominant clinical sign. Radiographic evaluation showed both radius and ulna transverse fractures of the left wing. The radius was repaired suddenly by intramedullary pin and primary bone healing was the outcome. The ulna fracture was repaired one month later by intramedullary pin but secondary bone healing was the outcome. Finally, she could fly again.

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Incidence of Aflatoxin M1 in infant formula milk powder in Egypt

Ahmed Salem Sebaei

Page No: 33-37

Aflatoxin M1 is one of the most abundant metabolites of the aflatoxin B1; its production is by different types of fungi. In this study, milk-containing foods were examined for the presence of aflatoxin M1 by using HPLC. The toxin was extracted by the immunoaffinity column followed by fluorescence detection. The method of detection is 5 ng/kg and other method validation parameters were validated according to EURACHEM guideline with excellent results.

A market survey was made on 47 samples of infant milk-containing food. As a result of the detection method, the collected samples were negative to the presence of AFM1.

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