The present study was designed to determine the effect of different levels of egg-yolk on freezability of Jakhrana buck semen. Six healthy Jakhrana bucks (BW=30 &plusmn; 2kg, age=12 &plusmn; 0.5 month) were used for semen collection. These bucks were maintained under semi-intensive system at Jakhrana Unit of C.I.R.G. Makhdoom, Mathura. A total of 48 ejaculates (6 bucks &times; 8 replicates) were collected twice a week using artificial vagina. Each ejaculate was divided into 4 groups (G1, G2, G3 and G4). The G1, G2, G3 and G4 were extended with Tris-egg yolk-citric acid- fructose-glycerol (TEYCFG) extenders containing 5, 10, 15 and 20% egg yolk level, respectively. Each ejaculate was evaluated for sperm motility, viability, abnormality, and hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) response and acrosome integrity before and after freezing. At pre-freeze stage no significant (P&gt;0.05) difference in sperm motility and viability was found among all groups. Sperm abnormality was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in G4 as compared to other groups (G1, G2, G3). The HOS response and acrosomal integrity was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in G1, G2 and G3 as compared to G4. However, no significant (P&gt;0.05) difference was observed in HOS response and acrosomal integrity among G1, G2 and G3. At post thaw stage, sperm motility, viability and HOS response was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in G1 and G2 as compared to G3 and G4. Sperm abnormality was significantly (P&lt;0.05) lower in G2 as compared to other groups. The acrosomal integrity was significantly (P&lt;0.01) higher in G1 and G2 as compared to G3 and G4. It is concluded that 10% egg yolk in Tris based extender may be the best for successful cryopreservation of Jakhrana buck semen.&nbsp;

Effect of different levels of egg-yolk on freezability of Jakhrana buck semen 
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<div>Background:&nbsp;High mortality of goat kids due to infectious and non-infectious diseases negatively impacts goat husbandry.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: To study the influence of genetic and nongenetic factors on preweaning mortality of goat kids, three years&rsquo; data (July, 2015 to June, 2018) of breeds maintained at Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Research on Goats (ICAR-CIRG) viz. Barbari, Jamunapari and Jakhrana was analyzed to find effect of breed, parity, birth weight, litter size, season of birth, sex and kid&rsquo;s age on mortality. Postmortem findings as entered in the record have been considered to arrive at the cause of mortality.&nbsp; 
 
Result: A preweaning mortality rate of 2.59% was recorded in kids of all the three breeds studied. Mortality rate of Barbari, Jamunapari and Jakhrana kids was found to be 2.15%, 3.39% and 2.13% respectively. Kids birth weight, sex or age had no effect on mortality. Highest mortality was observed in kids born as triplet/quadruplet (4.49%) followed by that in twins (2.88%) and singlets (2.01%). Highest mortality was observed in kids born to primiparous dams (3.95%) followed by kids born to dams having =/&gt; 5th parity (3.01%) and least in 2nd to 4th parity (1.82%). Most of the kids died due to enteritis (38.3%) followed by pneumonia (28.3%), debility and anemia (11.7%) septicemia (10%) and others in remaining 11.7% cases.</div>

​Risk Factors Associated with Preweaning Mortality of Barbari, Jamunapari and Jakhrana Goat Kids

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most abundant form of DNA polymorphismwhich can be used as simple genetic markers for many breeding applications as well as for population studies. SNPs in fecundity (Fec) genes viz. BMPR1B, GDF9 and BMP15 were genotyped in Indian goat breeds to assess their basic population parameters and genetic structuring, using simple and economical methods of PCR-RFLP and Tetra-primer ARMS PCR. Three hundred and ninety one animals of seven different goat breeds differing in prolificacy, utility and geographic distribution were employed for diversity assessment at six loci in these Fec genes. Four loci were polymorphic in all the breeds with varied allelic frequencies. Statistical analysis revealed that breeds differed with respect to genetic variability as observed heterozygosity varied from 0.163 (Ganjam) to 0.359 (Jakhrana). Sangamneri and Osmanabadi were least differentiated (0.003) whereas Jakhrana and Black Bengal were most differentiated (0.048) on the basis of genetic distance. The genetic distance as well as PCA analysis indicated that breeds are grouped according to their geographical distribution. The genetic diversity based on fecundity genes presented here is an essential step towards the future exploitation of the available goat genetic resources in research and breeding programs.

Effect of different levels of egg-yolk on freezability of Jakhrana buck semen

​Risk Factors Associated with Preweaning Mortality of Barbari, Jamunapari and Jakhrana Goat Kids

Fecundity gene SNPS as informative markers for assessment of Indian goat genetic architecture

Risk Factors Associated with Preweaning Mortality of Barbari, Jamunapari and Jakhrana Goat Kids