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In India, the prevalence of iron deficiency is high due to both low iron intake and low availability from foods of plant origin. We investigated the effect of different wheat products on iron availability by testing haemoglobin regeneration efficiency using a rat model. Wheat grains processed into whole wheat flour, pearled wheat flour and broken wheat were used to prepare chapati, parantha and porridge. All samples were analysed for proximate principles, minerals, namely calcium, iron, zinc, sodium, potassium, fibre, phytin phosphorus and total phenols. Protein, fat, fibre, phytate and total phenols of pearled wheat flour were lower than whole wheat flour. All minerals except zinc were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in whole wheat flour while soluble iron was higher in pearled wheat flour. Cooking resulted in an increase in soluble iron and neutral detergent fibre (P < 0.001) and decrease in phytin phosphorus and total phenols. Haemoglobin regeneration efficiency (HRE) of pearled wheat flour was significantly higher than whole wheat flour. Cooking resulted in significant (P < 0.05) increase in HRE and HRE of chapati was higher than parantha. Soluble iron and HRE were significantly associated.

Avian diversity has often been studied in agricultural habitats, but ornithological aspect of cattle sheds has never been studied. This exploratory study was conducted with the objective of studying the potential of cattle sheds for sustaining avian abundance and diversity in rice dominated agricultural areas. The study was done in Rice Field Ecosystem (System I) and Cattle Shed Ecosystem (System II) during 2019 and 2020 monsoon crop season from selected villages, namely, Dangon, Pakhowal and Sarabha (district Ludhiana), Punjab. It was recorded that 26 avian species (mainly of grassland habitat) were present in cattle sheds from a total 34 avian species (wetland, grassland and open countryside inhabiting species) observed in rice fields, which reflected that cattle sheds support a wide proportion of avian fauna and complement rice fields in supporting and preserving avian abundance and diversity. There is immense need to explore and accordingly lay emphasis on boosting dairy as allied sector so that cattle sheds can be exploited in preservation of diverse avian populations and thereby reinforcing approach of sustainable agriculture. Keywords: Avian diversity, Avian feeding guilds, Cattle Shed, Grassland birds, Rice crop