A study was conducted to analyse the effect of various factors on cumulative monthly milk yields in Frieswal cows at Military Dairy Farm, Meerut, over a period of eight years (2006-2013). A total of 441 part lactation records of cows born to 30 Frieswal sires were analyzed using the SAS (2002) software. The least squares&rsquo; model developed for the cumulative 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270 and 300 days yields accounted for 13.5, 13.5, 12.8, 12.0, 11.5, 11.6, 11.3, 10.3, 13.7 and 13.7 per cent of the total variation, respectively. The overall least squares&rsquo; averages for the cumulative 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270 and 300 days of first lactation yields were estimated as 313.29, 660.83, 998.19, 1321.58, 1627.06, 1916.78, 2201.26, 2445.01, 2741.04 and 2972.64 kg, respectively. &nbsp;The effects of sire, season and period of calving were found to be statistically non-significant on any of the cumulative monthly part lactation yields while the regression of monthly part yields on AFC was found to be highly significant (P&lt;0.01). Based on the results it was concluded that the AFC was the most significant factor which alters the cumulative part lactation yields in Frieswal cattle while the other factors like sire of cows, season and period of calving did not alter the part yields significantly. The cows calved during rainy season produce comparatively higher yield followed by summer and winter calvers. It may also be concluded that the genetic selection programme implemented in the Frieswal project resulted in increasing the milk production over the years of study. &nbsp;

Factors affecting first lactation cumulative monthly&nbsp;milk yields in Frieswal cattle

<div>Background: Black gram is one of the important pulse crops of the world and India is the major producer and consumer of pulses in the world. One of the main reason for low productivity of pulses is that they are cultivated mostly in areas with low soil moisture and poor soil fertility. In order to overcome such adverse conditions, low-cost techniques like seed hardening/pelleting are preferred. Seed pelleting provides package of nutrients that influences seed or soil at the seed-soil interface. Since the cost involved is very less, an attempt has been made to study the effect of botanical seed pelleting and foliar spary on growth and yield parameters in black gram cv. CO 6. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the cumulative effect of botanical seed pelleting with pungam leaf powder @ 150g kg-1 and foliar spray of prosopis and moringa leaf powders with different concentrations (2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) on morpho physiological, leaf chlorophyll, gas exchange and yield parameters in black gram cv. CO 6 in the study. The observations on morpho physiological, leaf chlorophyll, gas exchange and yield parameters were recorded, statistically analysed and discussed here. 
 
Result: From the results, it was found that among the treatments, seed pelleting with pungam leaf powder @ 150 g kg-1 + foliar spray of prosopis leaf powder @ 6% recorded higher morpho physiological parameters viz., plant height (48.73 cm), number of branches plant-1 (8.78), dry matter production (14.83 g plant-1), chlorophyll &lsquo;a&rsquo; (1.03 mg g-1), chlorophyll &lsquo;b&rsquo; (1.11 mg g-1) and total chlorophyll content (2.14 mg g-1), photosynthesis and transpiration rates (27.33 mg CO2 m-2 s-1 and 10.60 mg H2O m-2 s-1), intercellular CO2 concentration and stomatal conductance (274.30 &micro; mol mol-1 and 0.82 mol-2 s-1). This treatment also recorded lower number of days to first flowering (23.23 days), earliness in 50 per cent flowering (30.12 days) and also recorded higher yield parameters such as lengthier pods, more number of pods plant-1, pod yield plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, seed yield &nbsp;plant-1, seed yield ha-1 and hundred seed weight of 5.60 cm, 26.30, 8.20 g, 7.30, 5.30 g, 795.12 kg ha-1 and 5.83 g, respectively as compared to other treatments. To conclude, seed pelleting with pungam leaf powder @ 150 g kg-1 + foliar spray of prosopis leaf powder @ 6% proved to be the best in enhancing morpho physiological, growth and yield parameters.</div>

<div>Cumulative Effect of Botanical Seed Pelleting and Foliar Spray on Morpho Physiological, Leaf Chlorophyll, Gas Exchange and Yield Parameters in Black gram</div>

<div>Background: A laboratory bioassay study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro pathogenicity of different isolates of B. bassiana, M. anisopliae and L. lecanii, against the adults of black bean aphid.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The PCR-based method was used to identify the different isolates molecularly using sequence information from the ITS region. The total genomic DNA of the 19 fungal isolates was recovered from aphid cadavers using CTAB. The amplified DNA using QRT-PCR showed no significant differences in the ANOVA that tested mean cycle threshold (CT) values from the control. Post-molecular identification of the isolated entomopathogen was approved. The single discriminative concentration bioassay was carried out to determine LT50 values for each of twelve isolates to determine the most virulent for further studies.&nbsp; 
 
Result: LT50 values for B. bassiana, M. anisopliae and V. lecanii isolates varied from 110-113, 71-75 and 64-77 h, respectively. B. bassiana isolate BBK2, M. anisopliae isolate MAA2 and V. lecanii isolates VLJ2 were selected for further experiments based on their discriminating concentration values. LC50 of BBA post-exposure to isolates of V. lecanii, M. anisopliae and B. bassiana was 46, 269 and 251 ppm, respectively. A significant difference in cumulative mortality was recorded between the three EPF. M. anisopliae showed a higher significant cumulative mortality during the first and second days post-application. Then V. lecanii recorded higher significant cumulative mortality from the third until the seventh-day post-application. V. lecanii showed higher virulence among the other entomopathogenic isolates.</div>

Efficacy of Three Entomopathogenic Fungi Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Lecanicillium lecanii Isolates against Black Bean Aphid, Aphis fabae (Scop.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

<div>Background: The Naemi sheep, Ovis aries awassi, is an important local meat source in Saudi Arabia. The current study investigated the impact of natural infection with Dicrocoelium dendriticum flukes on local sheep. Parasitic burden, egg output and gross external and internal appearances of the liver were investigated. 
 
Methods:&nbsp;Fifteen naturally infected sheep were targeted in this study based on positive D. dendriticum hepatic infection and fecal egg counts, in addition to five healthy (control) ones for comparison. Adult flukes were also characterized in terms of morphometric and diagnostic morphological characters.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Data showed significant differences in parasite burden between low, median and highly infected sheep as well as many morphological parameters within worms. Livers were compared based on the level of injury, histological alterations and the number of D. dendriticum adult worms. Macroscopically, livers were enlarged and darkened in color, with thicker bile ducts and fibrosis. Furthermore, leucocyte infiltration, bile duct fibrosis and hyperplasia were investigated. Hepatic lesions were scored at different degrees of severity and numbers. In infected levels, a positive correlation was observed between the number of adult flukes, external macroscopic lesions, bile duct hyperplasia and fibrosis. On the other hand, a negative correlation between these symptoms and the level of leukocyte infiltration was observed.</div>

Parasitic Characterization and Histopathological Alterations in the Local Naemi Sheep, Ovis aries awassi, Naturally Infected with Dicrocoelium dendriticum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Marek&rsquo;s disease (MD) has re-emerged as a significant threat to Indian poultry despite widespread vaccination, causing annual losses of 40 million Indian rupees with 10-40% mortality in vaccinated flocks across Punjab, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. The emergence of virulent (vMDV) and very virulent (vvMDV) pathotypes challenges disease management. Indian field isolates are categorized into mild, virulent, very virulent and very virulent plus pathotypes based on serotype 1-specific gene sequencing, with virulence correlating to fewer PPPP (four prolines) repeat sequences in the Meq gene. 
 
Methods: This study investigated 46 MD suspected eye cases from 25 commercial layer farms in Namakkal and Thalaivasal districts, Tamil Nadu. Ocular manifestations predominantly affected birds aged 36-64 weeks, presenting with swollen closed eyes, conjunctivitis and greyish-white iris discoloration. Histopathological (HP) examination revealed 18 positive cases (39.13%), confirmed by PCR. 
 
Result: A modified scoring system (0-5) assessed pleomorphic lymphoid cell infiltration severity: Score 1 showed multifocal mild perivascular infiltration in choroid; Score 2 demonstrated focal moderate choroidal/iris infiltration; Score 3 revealed severe choroidal infiltration with lens fibre vacuolation; Score 4 showed diffuse moderate iris infiltration with mixed inflammatory cells; Score 5 exhibited diffuse severe iris and choroidal infiltration.Enhanced surveillance, improved biosecurity and more effective vaccines against virulent strains are essential for controlling this re-emerging disease in Indian poultry. 
&nbsp;

Pathological, Molecular and Lesion Scoring Studies of Ocular Marek&rsquo;s Disease in Commercial Layer Chickens

<div>In the present study, an experimental infection with Streptococcus iniae was conducted with tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The bacterial agent was injected to the fish by intraperitoneal inoculation at a dose of 1 &times; 103 cfu / mL. Grossly, haemorrhages on tail and pectoral fins, hyperaemic and prolapsed anus, darkening and bleeding in the gills and exophthalmos in the eyes were identified in fish. Multifocal whitish foci in the liver, spleen and kidneys was observed with ascites. Histopathological changes of tissues of tilapia were studied and evaluated. Gill tissues of infected fish showed intense lymphocyte and macrophage infiltrations. In addition, epithelial cell separation and lamellar fusion with edema, lamellar curling and aneurysms were detected in gill tissue. Sinusoidal dilatation, lymphocyte infiltrations, congestion and degeneration in liver hepatocyte cells have been identified. In kidney degeneration of glomerulus and tubule cells and dense lymphocyte infiltrations were observed. Dense bacterial clusters were observed in the sinusoids of the spleen, while lymphocytes and macrophage infiltrations were found in the heart and intestinal tissues.</div>

<div>Pathomorphology of experimental Streptococcus iniae infection in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)</div>

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of concentrate and urea molasses mineral block (UMMB) supplementation on sheep under intensive system of rearing. Eight weaned Mecheri ram lambs were reared under concentrate (T1) and UMMB (T2) supplementation for 150 days. There was no significant difference between the groups in final body weight at the end of growth trial. Cumulative DMI was significantly higher (P &lt; 0.01) in T1 group than T2 but, the supplementation of UMMB increased the intake of other fodders. Cumulative body weight gain was significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) in T1 group in 5 months of the feeding experiment. Cumulative FCR was significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) in T1 group in 0 to 60 and 0 to 90 days period and there after the difference was not significant. Cumulative per cent feed efficiency was better in T1 group at 0 to 90 days and 0 to 150 days of the experiment. It was concluded that UMMB could be used as a versatile non protein nitrogenous supplement to replace concentrate feed for intensively reared Mecheri sheep.

Effect of concentrate and urea molasses mineral block (UMMB) supplementation on the growth and feed consumption of Mecheri lambs under intensive rearing

Background: Coffee plants in Sumbermanjing Wetan are commonly cultivated on dry lands that rely solely on rainfall as the source of water input that eventually makes them susceptible to climate change. The deficiency of organic material and water availability for these plants poses a significant challenge for coffee farmers in Sumbermanjing Wetan. Therefore, a research was conducted to investigate the addition of various organic matter through biopore infiltration holes in coffee plantations with the following objectives: i) to analyze the impact of applying organic matter on the distribution of soil pores and ii) to examine the effect of organic matter application on soil moisture content. 
 
Methods: The research was carried out in the Smallholder Coffee Plantation of Argotirto Village, Sumbermanjing Wetan District, Malang Regency. A randomized block design was implemented with five treatment groups, which included the control (P1), two biopore holes + manure (P2), two biopore holes + compost (P3), two biopore holes + green manure (P4) and surface-applied manure (P5), each repeated three times. The observed variables included the percentage of soil organic matter, pore distribution, available water capacity and soil moisture content. 
 
Result: The findings indicated that addition of organic matter in biopore infiltration holes enhanced soil organic material content, where treatment P4 (two biopore holes + green manure) exhibiting the highest soil organic material values in the first and third months after the application. The application of organic matter increased soil porosity in all treatments, where treatment P4 (two biopore holes + green manure) showing the highest available water capacity. This suggests that the utilization of organic matter can improve soil aggregation, thus increasing porosity and available water capacity. Consistently, soil water content at a depth of 40-60 cm tended to increase in the third month following biopore infiltration holes application, indicating that the addition of organic matter through biopore infiltration holes can enhance soil moisture at subsoil.

Improvement of Soil Pore Distribution and Soil Moisture Content using Organic Matter Addition Technology

<div>Background: Organ meats are rich in cholesterol and saturated fats. The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of cow brain consumption on blood cholesterol level and possible histomorphological changes of liver, heart and kidney in Swiss albino mice.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Total twenty (20) Swiss albino mice (aged 3 weeks; average weight 20-25gm) were taken and randomly divided into group A and group B. Each group consisted of ten (10) mice. The group A was fed with normal mice pellet and water. On the other hand, cow brain (2gm/kg body weight orally once daily for 28 days) was supplied to group B. After the experimental tenure, the mice of both groups were sacrificed ethically and the samples (Blood, liver, heart and kidney) were collected for investigation. 
 
Result: Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride level (TG) and low density lipoprotein level (LDL) significantly (**p&lt;0.01) increased as well as high density lipoprotein level (HDL) significantly (**p&lt;0.01) decreased in group B. In the gross observation, pale with hemorrhagic liver, fat accumulation at the base of the heart and peri renal fat deposition were found in group B of mice. Congestion and dilation in both central and portal vein, marked lymphocytic infiltration and fatty infiltration in liver, wide separation of cardiac muscle fiber in ventricular myocardium, glomerular and tubular fatty infiltration of kidney were also found in histomorphological study. Therefore, the present findings presage that cow brain consumption might have baleful effects on health.</div>

<div>Cow Brain Consumption Causes Hypercholesterolemia: An in Vivo Study</div>

<div>Brucellosis is one of the major reproductive tract diseases of swine and causes a huge economic loss to pig farmers. In this study, serological, gross pathological, histopathological, immunohistochemical and Polymerase Chain Reaction technique(s) have been applied for diagnosis of brucellosis in pig. Seroprevalence studies showed prevalence of brucellosis to be 16.7% by Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and 12.5% by competitive ELISA(c-ELISA). In this study, comparison was done between RBPT and c-ELISA for serological diagnosis of brucellosis which revealed substantial degree of agreement (Kappa= 0.676, 95% CI= 0.372-0.826) between two tests. Histopathological examination revealed focal to diffuse mixed infiltration of neutrophils or lymphocytesin the fetal organs like lung especially in bronchi and interstitial septa. Lesions in the placenta were characterized by diffuse lympho-mononuclear cell infiltration. Histopathological changes in female reproductive tracts were characterized by cellular infiltration of the endometrial stroma, endometrial glands and hyperplasia of periglandular connective tissue. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining revealed intracytoplasmic immunostaining of Brucella in bronchial epithelial cells of lung, endothelial cells in spleen, hepatocytes of liver, cells within the lymph node, kidney of fetus and placenta. In addition, positive immunostaining to Brucella was also seen in lamina propria cells of uterus. By PCR, eight out of 34 samples (2 from stomach contents, 2 from placental cotyledons and 4 from pooled tissue(s) produced 193 bpsized ampliconspecific for Brucella genus. In the present study, PCR and IHC provide a reliable test for the diagnosis of brucellosis in abortion cases on aborted fetal tissue and placental cotyledons. However, serology is important for detection of Brucella positive animal in a farm.</div>

Factors affecting first lactation cumulative monthly milk yields in Frieswal cattle

Cumulative Effect of Botanical Seed Pelleting and Foliar Spray on Morpho Physiological, Leaf Chlorophyll, Gas Exchange and Yield Parameters in Black gram

Efficacy of Three Entomopathogenic Fungi Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Lecanicillium lecanii Isolates against Black Bean Aphid, Aphis fabae (Scop.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

Parasitic Characterization and Histopathological Alterations in the Local Naemi Sheep, Ovis aries awassi, Naturally Infected with Dicrocoelium dendriticum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Pathological, Molecular and Lesion Scoring Studies of Ocular Marek’s Disease in Commercial Layer Chickens

Pathomorphology of experimental Streptococcus iniae infection in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Effect of concentrate and urea molasses mineral block (UMMB) supplementation on the growth and feed consumption of Mecheri lambs under intensive rearing

Improvement of Soil Pore Distribution and Soil Moisture Content using Organic Matter Addition Technology

Cow Brain Consumption Causes Hypercholesterolemia: An in Vivo Study

Patho-epidemiological and molecular diagnosis of swine brucellosis in Punjab