Socio-personal and economic characteristics of buffalo owners in Maharashtra

For the present study total 240 respondents were randomly selected from purposively selected four districts of two divisions in Maharashtra State to explore the sociopersonal and economic characteristics of buffalo owners. The study revealed that about 37.10 per cent of the farmers belonged to middle age followed by old (36.30%) and young age (26.70%) categories. Majority of the respondents were male, educated, Hindu (97.10%) and belonged to nuclear families (74.60%). About social category 37.9 per cent belonged to OBCs followed by General (36.70%), Scheduled Caste (12.10%) and Scheduled Tribes (13.30%). Mean family size was 6.65±0.17 members. The agriculture was main occupation for majority (58.80%) of the respondents while, 41.2 per cent were dependent on animal husbandry farming for main occupation. Landholding ranged from zero to 12 ha with mean land holding of 1.98±0.14 ha. About 28.80 per cent respondents belonged to semi-medium farmer category, followed by landless (20.40%), marginal (18.30%), small (16.70%), medium (14.60%) and large (1.30%). Majority of the respondents had medium livestock rearing experience (12-29 years), small herd size (7.28-22.81 SAUs), low milk production (13-52 liters) and low annual income (Rs. 1,00,000- Rs. 3,20,000).

Animal husbandry as the driver of progress in India and Kerala

The dairy sector, which contributes to 21 per cent of the value of the agriculture and allied sectors in India, is the growth propeller of the rural economy of the country. However, extraneous factors beyond the farmer’s control, for instance climatic variations such as low rainfall and heavy drought; fluctuating and many a times low prices for produce and exploitation by middlemen have cast a gloomy spell over the sector, indicating that the prospects of the agricultural sector are gloomy, as evinced by the fact that in the year 2014-15, the sector showed a negative growth (-0.20 %), from where it is struggling hard to pick up, indicating that its prospects are more or less saturated. This augurs well for the dairy sector, which grew annually at the rate of around five per cent, every year, since 2014-15 and has started asserting great and added significance, as a livelihood ensurer to the poor farmers of the country. The state of Kerala is a demographically and socially well advanced state located in the South Western region of India, having 3.34 crores of people with a population density of 859 persons per square kilometre, the third among the states in India. The present scenario, via-a-vis, both India and Kerala, with respect to feed, the costliest component, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of any animal husbandry enterprise, fodder, management practices, reproduction, disease incidence and market of dairy and meat products are discussed thread bare, by analysing the present situation, pointing out lacunas, if any and suggesting feasible, scientific and practical solutions. These recommendations for the upliftment of the sector, if implemented at the grass root level, would definitely help animal husbandry and dairying in becoming the driver of progress in India and Kerala and will speed up our onward march towards the ultimate goal of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharath’.

A study of bacterial qualities of raw milk of cow and goat

A comparative study of chemical qualities of raw milk of cow and goat was conducted at Livestock production and management (unit), Department of NRM, faculty of agriculture, MGCGV Chitrakoot – Satna (M.P.) during January, 2020. The objective was to find out the comparative chemical qualities of raw milk of cow and goat for three animal each viz., cow and goat for ten days as replication different parameter were subject to statistical analysis applying the technique of analysis of variance (f-test) the most widely used method for determining protein content by kjeldahi method for nitrogen determination since nitrogen is a characteristic can be finding. In view of the finding and results presented above, it may be concluded that the chemical quality of milk of cow was superior than goat milk, due to higher protein, specific gravity, fat content, lactose, total solid and solid not fat and lower ash and water content in cow milk.

Effect of feed supplementation through turmeric and Tulsi leaves on growth of broiler chicks in deep litter system

The experiment was conducted at the livestock production and management unit, faculty of agriculture. MGCGV Chitrakoot – Satna ( M.P.). To complete the research work following steps were followed. Day old 75 broiler chicks (DOC) of same hatch were produced and reared in of Deep litter system. The chicks were weighed, leg banded and distributed randomly into five groups of 15 chicks each as treatment. Chicks of each treatment were further divided into three sub groups of five chicks in each in Randomized Block Design (RBD). Chicks of each sub group were accommodated comfortably in deep letter system providing 1 sq. ft./ chick. Chicks were fed standard starter ration upto 3 weeks age (1 to 21 days) and then broiler finisher ration upto 3-4 weeks (22-28 days). An experiment was conducted with DOC to 75 broilers chicks divided into five groups T0, T1,T2 and T4 which were supplemented with turmeric and Tulsi leaves powder @ 1.0g, 2.0g, 3.0g and 4.0g/kg of broiler ration, respectively. Weekly observations were recorded for live body weight, weekly gain in weight, weekly feed consumption and feed conversion of broiler for four weeks. Based on the results of the experiment, it may be concluded that feed supplementation with turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder influenced the body weight, gain in body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency of broiler chicks. Based on the result of the experiment, it may be concluded that feed supplementation with turmeric + Tulsi leaves powder influenced body weight, gain in body weight, feed intake and feed efficiency of broiler chicks. Based on feed intake and feed efficiency, the best performance of broilers was obtained with feed supplementation of 3g turmeric + 3g Tulsi powder per kg of standard ration (T3), followed by 4g turmeric + 4g Tulsi leaf powder (T4). Treatment T3 was economically superior over all other treatments and control.

Effect of wheatgrass biscuits on hematology of wistar albino rats

The exploitation of herbal -based inhibitor compounds in food stuffs and medicine are gaining a good deal of interest due to potential health advantages. Recent researchers have attempted the exploration of traditional and plant-based therapeutical and medicinal preparations using bio-chemical analyses and in-vitro experimentation. The effect of wheatgrass biscuits on hematological parameters were studied in Wistar albino female rats for 21 days. The wheatgrass powder 20, 30 and 40 g per 100g incorporated biscuits prepared into pellet form labelled as V2, V3 and V4 formula supplemented to 3 sample groups normal laboratory diet to 1 control group under laboratory conditions. The average mean food efficiency during 21 days of supplementation recorded that control group has the highest efficiency food intake than sample groups. Group 3 has the lowest efficiency intake fed with V4, than group 1 and group 2 fed with V2 and V3. The results showed significant increase in RBC, WBC, Hematocrit, MCV and decreased levels of MCH in all groups. At the end of the study microflora contamination was estimated by using fecal collection of rats. Lactobacilli colonies were 6 to 7cfu/g were identified as creamy white and small colonies on lactobacilli as Gram positive on MRS agar plates, which are under permissible limits. Less bacteria indicates that rats are not affected by any food poising during 21 days. E. coli colonies exhibited a metallic sheen on Sabouraud’s agar medium and counted 2 to 3 cfu/g appeared as shiny white colonies as gram negative. Yeast appears as gram-positive globules. It was found that the wheatgrass biscuits effectively improved normal haematological and physical body parameters without signs of 1any abnormalities.

Influence of mineral mixture feeding in indigenous cattle

The field assessment of mineral mixture conducted in Dhule district of Maharashtra State, to perceive the influence of mineral mixture feeding on milk yield and fat content in indigenous cattle.Cow animals were selected randomly from two villages of Dhule district, one is from Dhule Tahsil (Mohadi) and second one is from Sindkheda Tahasil (Tavkheda), respectively. 26 cows were selected third stage of lactation and divided into two groups of 13 animals in each village. First group treatment T1 not fed additional mineral mixture, which is farmers practice in that particular area. Second group treatment T2 fed with 80 g mineral mixture daily until 90 days of lactation.This assessment conducted during year 2019- 20 and 2020-21, respectively. In result it was observed from the result, the yield of milk is more in treatment T2 (20.27 %) over treatment T1. In respect to fat percentage, treatment T2 had shown slightly more fat content (3.77 %) over rest of the farmers practices T1. In conclusion mineral mixture supplementation resulted in increased milk yield. However, no significant effect observed on milk components particular to fat during this feeding trial.