<div style="text-align: justify;">Mixture Experiments are very common in real life experiments. Designing a mixture experiment involves selection of the proportion of the mixture components in a fashion such that a mathematical model can be fitted adequately and the parameters could be estimated. In agricultural experiments, the mixture components may be several sources of the input applied or input may be applied at different crop growth stages in splits such that total quantity applied to the crop is constant. Efficient designs for mixture experiments are useful when the response is assumed to depend on the relative proportions of the ingredients present in the mixture. A number of algorithms and heuristics are available in literature; however, a limited work has been done in the use of algorithms for mixture experiments. There is a need to develop designs for mixture experiments in smaller number of runs for a specific model for varying proportions using algorithmic approach. In this study we have developed algorithms to construct saturated designs fort mixture experiments. The algorithm provides a greater flexibility in design construction in comparison to the traditional approach in terms of models to be fitted; number of runs to be requited etc. These designs are very well suited in real life experiments. The use of algorithms in construction of designs for mixture experiments not only reduces the computational cost but also results in a more efficient search of the design in a continuous design space.</div>

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Construction of Saturated Designs for Mixture Experiments

<div>Background: Mixture experiments belong to the response surface design category, involving the combination of multiple components to create a product. These products are commonly encountered in daily life. In some cases, mixture experiments yield qualitative responses, such as taste in a fruit punch. Qualitative variables often deviate from a normal distribution.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: To address non-normal responses, a generalized linear model, specifically the logistic model, is employed. This study utilizes logistic models and develops suitable search algorithms to obtain saturated D-optimal designs for mixture experiments. The validation of D-optimality criteria is based on the General Equivalence Theorem.&nbsp; 
 
Result: For generating locally D-optimal designs, the logistic model is utilized considering non-normally distributed errors. While the procedure remains the same for other nonlinear models, the assumptions regarding error distribution impact the Fisher information matrix (FIM).</div>

Construction of Saturated D-optimal Designs for Mixture Experiments with a Non Normal Response using an Algorithmic Search

<div>Background: Micronutrient formulation is a liquid mixture of micronutrients which can be used as a fertilizer. It is a mixture of two solutions viz., solution A and solution B. Solution A is a mixture of zinc sulphate (50 gL-1), boric acid (10 gL-1), copper sulphate (20 gL-1), manganous sulphate (0.5 gL-1), ferrous sulphate (10 gL-1) and ammonium molybdate (0.5 gL-1) whereas solution B is an organic acid which act as a chelate. The mixture can be diluted to specific concentrations for application. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of micronutrient formulation as seed treatment and foliar nutrition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was conducted at College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kerala Agricultural University and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode during 2018&ndash;19. The investigation was carried out in three parts: (i) standardization of micronutrient formulation for cowpea (ii) seed treatment study (iii) field experiment. The proportion of mixing micronutrient formulation and the duration for seed treatment was standardized in experiment I. In experiment II, a seed treatment study was carried out in a completely randomised design with seven treatments and three replications which included seed treatment with micronutrient formulation @ 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 percent as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 respectively. T7 (seed treatment with water) was the control. Three, a field experiment was carried out in randomized block design (factorial) with twelve treatments and three replications. The treatment consisting of combination of four levels of seed treatment - factor A [no seed treatment (S1), seed treatment with rhizobium (S2), seed treatment with best concentration from experiment 1 (S3) and second best seed treatment from experiment 1 (S4)]&nbsp;and three levels of foliar application of micronutrient - factor B [no foliar application (F1), one foliar application at 15 DAS (F2) and two foliar applications at 15 and 30 DAS (F3)]. 
 
Result: Through lab experiments, solution B was standardized and the formulation was developed by mixing solution A and solution B in the ratio 1:2. Duration for seed treatment was also standardized as 6 hours. Thus micronutrient formulation was standardized. In seed treatment study, seeds treated with 2% micronutrient formulation (T6) showed highest plant height at three leaf stage (24.23 cm) and seedling vigour index (2423). In the field experiment seed treatment with 2% micronutrient formulation (S3), foliar spray at 15 and 30 days after sowing (F3) and their interaction (S3F3) was found to be highly effective to the crop in terms of plant height, stem diameter, number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant, grain yield and nutrient content in grain. These results clearly indicate the role of micronutrient formulation in enhancing the growth, yield and nutrient content of cowpea.</div>

Evaluation of Micronutrient Mixture as Seed Treatment and Foliar Nutrition in Grain Cowpea

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of mixture rates of hairy vetch with oat, barley and wheat on dry matter yield and its quality and to determine the suitable mixture when grown as catch crop at Uludag University, Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Research and Application Center, Bursa Turkey during 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 growing seasons. The experimental plant entries were Menemen-79 variety of hairy vetch, Faikbey cultivar of oat, Akhisar-98 cultivar of barley and Flamura cultivar of wheat. Nine mixtures (25 % oat:75 % hairy vetch, 50 % oat:50 % hairy vetch, 75 % oat:25 % hairy vetch, 25 % barley:75 % hairy vetch, 50 % barley:50 % hairy vetch, 75 % barley:25 % hairy vetch, 25 % wheat:75 % hairy vetch, 50 % wheat:50 % hairy vetch, 75 % wheat:25 % hairy vetch) &nbsp;were used. Several parameters such as dry matter yield, leaf area index, light interception, crude protein content and yield; ADF (acid detergent fiber) and NDF (neutral detergent fiber) contents and relative feed value have been examined in the experiment. The highest dry matter yield was obtained from the mixtures of 50 % oat:50 % hairy vetch (12 040 kg ha-1) and 75 % oat:25 % hairy vetch (11 748 kg ha-1). According to the two-year results, the higher and quality hay yield (low in ADF and NDF values, high in relative feed value) was produced at 50 % oat:50 % hairy vetch mixture, and this mixture have been proposed to the experimental conditions due to its suitability. 
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Determination of forage yield and quality of mixtures of hairy vetch with some cereals (oat, barley and wheat) grown as catch crop

<div style="text-align: justify;">The research was carried out to determine the effects of different mixture ratios and cutting times on dry-matter yield and silage quality of mixtures of bersem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) &nbsp;in Adana province, Turkey. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications during the years of 2011-2013. The mixture-ratios ( 80% &nbsp;BC + 20% IR, &nbsp;60% BC + % 40 IR, &nbsp;40% BC+ % 60 IR, 20% BC + 80 % IR, pure berseem clover (BC) and Italian ryegrass (IR) ) were main plots, and harvest times (beginning of the flowering, mid flowering and full flowering of BC) were sub-plots. From the result of the study, it was concluded that the mixture of 60 % BC &nbsp;+40 % IR harvested at full flowering of BC was superior in terms of dry matter yield and silage quality.</div>

Effects of mixture ratio and cutting time on forage yield and silage quality of intercropped berseem clover and italian ryegrass

<div>Background: Parasitic infestation is a major constraint in sheep husbandry and this condition results in over usage of antihelminths leads to drug resistance and presence of residues in meat. To counteract this problem use of tanniferous leaves is promising approach both in terms of health of animals and in decreasing the economic burden on farmer. 
 
Methods: A total of 30 Nellore brown lambs aged 3-4 months with a mean live weight of 12.10&plusmn;0.31 kg, tested positive for parasitic infestation were selected and randomly divided into five groups (NC, C, T1, T2 and T3) of 6 animals each in a completely randomized design.Treatment groups were fed with complete diet incorporated with Tanniferous Leaf Meal Mixture at different levels and both control groups were fed with complete diet without Leaf Meal Mixture.Body weights, ADG, FCR and faecal egg count were observed at fortnight intervals. 
 
Result: The mean final body weights were significantly (P&lt;0.05) lower in C group compared to treatment and NC groups. Among the treatment and NC groups, the mean final body weights were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in T2 group, while the difference was not significant among other groups. The mean faecal egg counts (Egg per gram) on day 120 of the experiment were reduced by 66.67%, 85.85% and 71.63% in T1, T2 and T3 groups, respectively, when compared with the day one of the experiment.</div>

Effect of Inclusion of Tanniferous Leaf Meal Mixture on Growth Performance and Helminth Control in Nellore Brown Lambs

<div>Background: livestock is mainly reared under a crop livestock integrated farming system and mineral supplementation is not common practice. Out of all nutrients, minerals and vitamins play a crucial role in metabolism, lactation, reproduction and even for microbial fermentation in rumen. Considering the mineral deficiencies in particular zones, the area specific mineral mixtures (ASMM) were formulated for various zones and also found various limiting nutrients in different zones of MP. The current study was planned to find out the effect of mineral mixture supplementation on body weight, body condition score and haemato-biochemical profile of non-descript anoestrus cows. 
 
Methods: A total-forty-eight animal were selected out of the surveyed animals and divided into four groups (n=12) viz. T1 (Normal cyclic animals), T2 (Anoestrus Control), T3 (True anoestrus) and T4 (Sub-oestrus). The experiments were carried out in two seasons (summer and winter). All physiological and hemato-biochemical parameters were recorded and analyzed as per standard mentioned protocol. 
 
Result: According to the findings of this experiment weight gain the animals of the true anoestrus and sub-oestrus group&rsquo;s recorded highly significant increases in the winter and summer seasons. The haemoglobin concentration was within the normal range and it was non-significant in all groups except normal cyclic animal (T1) in winter and true anoestrous (T3) in summer after the mineral supplementation. There was no significant difference in the WBC count of all groups except in sub-oestrous control (T2S) and T1 in the winter season. RBC concentration was non-significant in almost all groups. Erythrocytic indices were the normal limits and did not differ significantly in the majority of groups except significant difference showed are MCHC in T3, MCH in T2S, MCV in T1 of winter seasons and were within normal range in all supplemented groups in both. The serum cholesterol concentration showed significantly higher value in the winter and summer season of T3 group. However, in sub-estrous (T4 group) animals, the values in the winter season were significantly higher. We observed significantly higher values of triglycerides in T3 and T4 groups in winter and T3, T4 and T1 groups in summer seasons. The above results indicate the beneficial effects of mineral mixtures in supplement groups. Studies conclude that the supplementation of mineral mixtures can improve reproductive efficiency in non-descript anoestrus cows.&nbsp;</div>

Effect of Mineral Mixture Supplementation on Haemato-biochemical Parameters of Anoestrus Cows in Winter and Summer Season

<div>The study was conducted on 20 Brahman crossbred bulls (217&plusmn;22.6 kg) to investigate the effect of supplemented chromium, sodium nitrate and mineral mixture on rumen microbes, growth performance and blood biochemical profiles. It was found that the addition of mineral mixture increased the number of total bacteria (10.81x1010/mL) and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. Sodium nitrate supplementation also increased the number of Ruminococcus albus at the beginning of the trial but sodium nitrate supplementation did not lead to a change of bacterial quantity at the end of the experiment. In addition, better performance in weight gain (62.0 kg) and average daily gain (688 g/day) was indicated in cattle fed mineral mixture supplementation. Irrespective of supplementation sources, the blood biochemical profiles of cattle remained unchanged. However, it was observed that mineral mixture supplementation enhanced rumen bacteria and improved cattle growth during the growing stage.</div>

<div>Impact of dietary supplementation of chromium, sodium nitrate or mineral mixture on growth performance and rumen microbes of Brahman crossbred cattle</div>

<div>Background: The prohibition of the use of antibiotics in lamb feeding requires the search for natural alternatives that can improve productive performance and ruminal fermentation parameters. Herbal mixtures can function as cost-effective substitutes for growth promoters since an extraction or purification process is not required. 
 
Methods: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Chebulic myrobalan, Terminalia bellirica and Azadirachta indica on the productive performance of finishing lambs. Thirty-six Hampshire x Suffolk male lambs (initial body weight (BW) 23.52&plusmn;3.67 kg), in individual crates, were used for 45 days of evaluation after 15 days adaptation and were randomly assigned to treatments which consisted of dietary inclusion of the feed plant additive at 0.000, 0.250, 0.375 and 0.500% of dry matter (DM). Rations were sampled for DM, ash and crude protein (<a href="#association_2005">AOAC, 2005</a>), neutral and acid detergent fibre (according to van Soest, 1991) analysis and metabolizable energy was estimated. The animals were weighed on days 1, 15 and 45 before feeding and the average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rate were calculated by daily recording of the dry matter intake. Contrasts no orthogonal were used to test linear or quadratic effects of the herbal mixture with initial body weight (BW) as a covariate for ADG and final BW. 
 
Result: There was no effect (P&gt;0.05) of herbal mixtures on ADG, final BW, feed efficiency, DM intake and feed conversion by phytobiotic dietary inclusion. Ruminal pH (P=0.07) increased quadratically in response to the herbal mixture dietary concentration. The acetate increased and propionate reduced, both quadratically (P&lt;0.05). The evaluated doses of the polyherbal additive did not influence growth and feed efficiency of lambs.&nbsp;</div>

Herbal Mixtures based on Indian Medicinal Plants in Growing Lambs and Ruminal Environments

Background: Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a valuable forage legume due to its adaptability and nutritional quality. However, optimizing its yield and quality often requires mixed planting with compatible cereals. This study aimed to identify the best mixture ratio of grass pea with awnless barley (Hordeum vulgare), triticale (Triticosecale wittmack) and oat (Avena sativa) to achieve high-yield, high-quality forage. The goal was to balance grass pea&rsquo;s high protein content with the structural and yield-enhancing benefits of cereals, improving digestibility while reducing fiber content. 
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Methods: The experiment was conducted over two winter seasons using a randomized block design with three replications. Grass pea was intercropped with awnless barley, triticale and oat at different ratios. Parameters such as forage yields, crude protein content, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), digestibility and relative feed value (RFV) were measured. The data were collected annually and two-year averages were used. Statistical analysis assessed the effects of mixture ratios on yield and forage quality. 
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Result: The study showed that increasing cereal ratios enhanced green forage and dry matter yields and crude protein content but also raised ADF and NDF levels, reducing digestibility. In contrast, higher grass pea ratios improved crude protein content and forage quality. Across both years, pure grass pea and the 60% grass pea + 40% awnless barley mixture had the highest crude protein contents, while pure cereals and the 20% grass pea + 80% barley mixture produced more dry matter. Overall, the 60% grass pea + 40% awnless barley mixture provided the best balance of yield and nutritional value for ruminant feed.