The present study was carried out to explore the seroprevalence of brucellosis in yaks of North-Eastern hilly yak tracts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Of 374 animals tested, 23.79, 21.11 and 18.98% were found positive for brucellosis using avidin-biotin ELISA (AB-ELISA), Rose-Bengal plate test (RBPT) and standard tube-agglutination test (STAT), respectively. The relative sensitivity and specificity for STAT were 79.77 and 100%, respectively and the same for RBPT were 88.76 and 100%, respectively in comparison to AB-ELISA. The alarming prevalence as recorded was highest among the yak cows (31.42%) followed by heifers (23.85%) and bulls (8.88%). The immune response in yaks following standard dose of calfhood vaccination with Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccine showed that protective antibody level persisted up to 210 days. This is the first report from India on prevalence of brucellosis and immunization with B abortus strain 19 vaccine in yaks. The present investigation would be a valuable guideline for future control measure and eradication programme of brucellosis in yaks.

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An attempt was made to induce estrus and ovulation in eight anestrus yaks by use of the Ovsynch protocol. Six out of eight yaks were successfully induced into estrus, and ovulation occurred in all the responding yaks 1-2 days after the second GnRH administration. Out of the six animals that responded to the treatment, two mated naturally with yak bulls, and calves were obtained from them. The other four animals were further administered a superovulatory regimen of Folltropin (FSH-P). Following Folltropin and Ilerin (a PGF(2alpha) analog) treatment, the animals were subjected to natural insemination. Only one animal in which natural mating occurred was flushed non-surgically for embryo recovery 7 days post-insemination. Thereafter, all the donor animals were administered with Ilerin. After 48-72 h, they came into heat and mated naturally with yak bulls, and calves were obtained from them after expiration of the normal gestation period. Following superovulation, the average numbers of palpable corpora lutea in the right and left ovaries were 2.25+/-0.6 and 1.75 +/-0.3, respectively. Three embryos were recovered by non-surgical flushing from a single animal. One embryo was transferred to a recipient yak, who produced one female calf after 258 days. This is the first report of production of a yak calf through embryo transfer-technology.

The hearts of a full-term fetus and an adult Indian one homed rhinoceros were studied. Although the gross anatomical features of the rhino heart generally resembled those of the hearts of the elephant, Asiatic buffalo, goat, and other domestic animals, there were differences in the biometrics.

to find out suitable pre-sowing treatment for drought tolerance and its effect on growth and yield of toria. Treatments consisted of 8 soaking medium viz. Water soaked (S 1), 0.1% KOH (S 2), Vermiwash (S 3), 1% KCl (S 4), 1% KH 2 PO 4 (S 5), 1% NaCl (S 6), Diathane M-45 (S 7) and Dry seed (S 8) as control in a randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications. Required quantities of seeds were soaked in respective chemical solutions for 10 hours followed by drying in shade to almost its original weight. From the pooled data of three years, it was found that growth and yield attributes showed significant differences due to various priming treatments. The highest grain yield of 9.10 q/ha was obtained with 1% KH 2 PO 4 treated seed which was 27.84% higher over dry sowing. This was closely followed by 8.72 q/ha with 0.1% KOH and 8.48 q/ha with 1% NaCl. It was also observed that the growth and yield attributes viz., plant population, plant height and number of siliqua/plant differed significantly highest being in 1% KH 2 PO 4. The pooled data recorded the highest test weight (2.92g) and rain water use efficiency (59.52 kg/ha/mm) under 1% KH 2 PO 4 treated seed. The highest net return and B:C ratio were also recorded in 1% KH 2 PO 4 with the values ` 8067/ha and 1.58, respectively.