In a cross-sectional study, prevalence of ovine herpesvirus 2 (family: Herpesviridae, subfamily: Gammaherpesvirinae, genus Macavirus and species: Ovine herpesvirus 2) infection was estimated in sheep population of Karnataka state in India. Based on the three stage cluster sampling method, whole blood samples (356) of sheep were collected from 11 sheep-dense districts of the state. The samples were tested for presence of OvHV-2 genome by recommended hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The true prevalence of OvHV-2 infection in sheep population of Karnataka was 24.44 %. Of the 11 district surveyed, highest true prevalence of 42.42 % (CI 25.56-59.29) was found in Raichur followed by Tumkur (39.02 %, CI 24.09-53.96). Inverse distance weighted interpolation of prevalence indicated that OvHV-2 prevalence within a given district is not uniform and there are areas of varied prevalence. The nucleotide sequence of the 422 bp DNA fragment, amplified in PCR, matched 99 % with OvHV-2 reference sequence and other sequences reported from India. Grouping of OvHV-2 sequences obtained from Karnataka with those from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir in the neighbour joining tree indicated a close relationship among the OvHV-2s circulating in India. This is the first study in the country where systematic screening of sheep population of a state for the presence of OvHV-2 infection has been carried out, which indicated a widespread prevalence calling for an urgent need for policy measures to prevent economic losses due to the disease in susceptible cattle and buffalo species.

: Growth is of great economic importance and requires particular attention for increasing total productivity in goat. The birth weight and early growth rate of animals are determined not only by genetic potential and also by maternal and environmental factors. Hence, an attempt has been made to know the effects of various non-genetic factors on the body weight at birth and different stages of growth. Data were collected from 180 goats belongs three genetic groups viz., Mablabari, Attappaddy and crossbred Malabari maintained at Goat and Sheep farm, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Mannuthy for the period from 2010 to 2013. The traits recorded were birth weight (BW), body weight at three (BW3), six (BW6) and nine months (BW9) of age. Birth weight (BW), body weight at three (BW3), six (BW6) and nine months (BW9) were analyzed to find out the effects non-genetic factors viz., breed, sex, season and type of birth using least square fixed model analysis of variance as described by Harvey (1990) for non-orthogonal data. Crossbred had significantly higher body weights at birth, three, six and nine months of age than Malabari and Attappady goat breed. However, the two native breeds of Kerala (Malabari and Attappady) did not differ significantly with respect to body weight at different stages of age. Season had significant influence on birth weight. Kids born as single had significant growth rate compared to twins and triplets upto nine months of age. KEY WORDS :Non-genetic factors, Malabari goat, Attappdy goat HOW TO CITE THIS PAPER : Venkatachalapathy, R. Thirupathy, Rojan, P.M. and Premkrishnan, G.N. (2015). Influence of non-genetic factors on body weight traits of goats reared in hot humid climate.