This study was conducted to find out the relationship among different aspects of cattle fattening and use of anabolic steroids and feed additives. The data were collected through an interview schedule from 150 respondents of 6 upazila of 3 districts who were involved in small scale cattle fattening. Parameters were studied in relation to socio-economic conditions of farmers and use of anabolic steroids and feed additives and their effects on animals and environment. In this study 72% farmers' were involved in agriculture, followed by 23.3% in livestock business. About 46% farmers had primary education, 10.7% had higher secondary school certificates, 5% obtained above higher secondary education and the rest of them were illiterate. Irrespective of literacy only 9.3% of the farmer had training. About 89.3% respondents used their own labors, 7.3% dependent on hired labor and the rest 3.3% get labour from both sources. Results showed that about 58% respondents used anabolic steroids for the duration of 3 to 6 months long cattle fattening (P<0.001) program. The chi-square (14.09) value of annual income indicates that with increase of annual income, use of anabolic steroids have decreased. The significant (P<0.01) association was observed in case of anabolic steroids and source of money, annual income, number of cattle fattening, breeds, fattening period, starting and finishing age. The r s value of annual income, source of money, starting and finishing age were positively correlated with feed additives. About 78% respondents used feed additives for cattle fattening from own resources (P<0.001) and most of cattle fattened for 3 to 6 months (P<0.01). The result demonstrated that respondents of low annual income used more anabolic steroid and feed additives as a growth promoter for cattle fattening and they prefer in powder form.

The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of artificial insemination (AI) on different production parameter in Hubbard Classic Broiler breeder parent stock. A total number of 300 female and 30 male Hubbard Classic broiler breeder parent stock birds were used as experimental animals and parameter recorded are: Health condition and body weight of birds, % of Production, % Hatchability,% Uniformity, grade A chicks, mortality % , hatching egg % & effect of diluents use, birth weight of day old chick (DOC). Significant variation (p<0.01) was observed in number of hatched birds, % of hatchability, production of total no of Grade A chicks, total number of damaged chicks and average chick weight. In the study, hatchability (%), production (%), growth and puberty weight (g) were significantly higher during post insemination compared to pre insemination stage, where as mortality (%) and uniformity (%) were significantly lower in case of post insemination stage. Body weight and uniformity (%) of birds either both sexes were significantly (p<0.01) different in birds at pre insemination stage compared to the birds at insemination. To be mentioned that body weight of birds was negatively correlated to the uniformity. Finally it could be concluded that AI may be better in all the parameters observed in this study than natural mating. So, AI can be practiced in Hubbard Classic broiler breeder parent stock.

Jute is a natural fiber also known as golden fiber in Bangladesh. Jute fiber is commonly extracted from the plant after immersion in water bodies. The traditional jute retting process harms the quality of jute fiber as well as water where jute plants were immersed as it decomposes bio-mass and hampers different water quality indicating parameters. In this study water samples were collected from different ponds and ditches at Muktagacha Upazilla, Mymensingh, Bangladesh in July 2020. Samples were collected from jute pre- and post-retting water bodies. The study was conducted to monitor the effect of jute retting on various physicochemical and microbiological parameters like- pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and dissolved oxygen (DO). All parameters were measured at the central laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University using a Multiparameter waterproof meter with a probe. To examine water quality, water samples were collected three times from five particular water bodies of stagnant waters, and the freshwater of the canal and pond. Water quality parameters of pre and post-retting jute water were found as pH 6.42~7.02 and 6.10~5.59, TDS 18~81 mgL-1and 103~183 mgL-1, DO 2.3~2.4 mgL-1and 0.8~0.9 mgL-1, and EC 36~163 µScm-1and 222~396 µScm-1, respectively. A comparison was made with the standard values of water quality parameters and found notable differences with the Department of Environment standards of Bangladesh. Another observation was also made to determine whether the retting water can influence fiber quality or not. Observed results indicated that a low level of pH and DO in jute retted water in a pond may not be suitable for fish cultivation. On the other hand, higher content of TDS and EC in post jute retting water was found responsible for the poor quality of jute fiber. Progressive Agriculture 32 (2): 151-161, 2021

Pregnancy is the main event in the life of a female mammal to reproduce the progeny and maintain the descents of the species. Progesterone level in the plasma is one of the indications of stages of pregnancy of an individual and the present study was undertaken to determine the progesterone level in different stages of pregnant Black Bengal does and to correlate blood progesterone level with stages of pregnancy in Black Bengal does. For this experiment the blood samples were collected from different stages of pregnant and non-pregnant Black Bengal does, kids and bucks, and subjected to use for further study.The progesterone level was measured at 3 different stages of pregnancy (25-30 days, 60-70 days, and 90-92 days) using the test kit (EIA TEST KIT Progesterone, Biocheck, Inc. Foster city, CA 94404 USA).Progesterone was also assayed in different ages of non-pregnant does, kids and bucks blood as the control. The logarithmic graph paper was used to calculate the progesterone level. The progesterone levels were found 1.5 ng/ml, 6.6-9.3 ng/ml and 14-15.5 ng/ml in 25-30 days, 60-70 days and 90-92 days of pregnancy, respectively. In case of non-pregnant does the progesterone level varied from 0.19-6.6 ng/ml in different ages. Whereas the progesterone level was found between <0.1 ng/ml and 4.4 ng/ml in kids blood samples and in case of bucks the progesterone level was <0.1 ng/ml. So, it is clear that the progesterone level simultaneously increased as the stages of pregnancy advanced in the blood of pregnant Black Bengal does.

This experiment was carried out to determine the overall prevalence of pigeon diseases and especially emphasized on prevalence of parasitic diseases in study areas. During this study 45 farms were selected which have &gt;20 pair of pigeon for commercial and &gt;10 pair pigeon for traditional farm in the three study area namely Rajshahi, Natore and Pabna district of Bangladesh. The data were collected from different farm within the study area through a questionnaire and interview schedule with the farm owners. During one year of study period a total Out of 3677 pigeon, positive case in cage of external parasites were 722 and internal parasite positives 114 from 263 fecal sample. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal and external parasites in pigeon at northern Bangladesh is obtained. The infestation of lice Columbaecula columbae and fly Pseudolynchia canariensis were observed 18.08% and 1.55% respectively. The present study found two species of ectoparasites lice and fly. Diversity of ectoparasite in birds infestation may be depend on many factors, which may include home range, behavior, size and roosting habit of the host. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in pigeon are founded that 43.34% in research area. Specific incidence was 22.81% in Ascariasis, 18.63% in Capilariasis and 1.90% in Raillietina parasite in pigeon. Ascaridia colombae is one of the most common (22.81%) helminth species in pigeons in this study. The effect of breed of pigeon observed in present studies the highest in indigenous (63.47%) and lowest exotic (36%) prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite was observed. The specific percentages of Ascariasis, Capilariasis and Raillatina gastrointestinal parasites of pigeon were found 20% &amp; 31.74%; 14% &amp; 30.15% and 2% &amp; 1.58% in exotic &amp; indigenous breed, respectively. In the present study, there is a relation between the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections with the age of the pigeons which showed that high prevalence in adults (50%) and compare to young (22.22%). but it was statistically significant (P&gt;0.05). In relation with farming system the gastrointestinal parasitic incidence of pigeon was observed in modern and tradition farming system, the highest incidence was 71.16% in traditional &amp; lowest 31.14% in modern farming. When observed specifically in Ascariasis, Capillariasis &amp; Raillietina were 16.39% &amp; 37.41%; 13.11% &amp; 31.25% and 1.63% &amp; 2.5% in modern &amp; traditional, respectively. The effect of regions on the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in pigeon was observed in Pabna (68.32%), Natore (57.84%) and Rajshahi (33.33%). The specific percentages of Ascariasis, Capilariasis and Raillatina gastrointestinal parasites of pigeon were 18.18%, 33.33% &amp; 26.31%; 14.54%, 33.33% &amp; 23.38% and 0.606%, 1.66% &amp; 7.89% in Rajshahi, Pabna and Natore, respectively.