The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of inorganic chromium (Cr) on heat stress, immune response, and hormonal variation in Murrah buffalo calves during the summer season. Twenty-four growing Murrah buffalo calves were randomly allocated into four treatments for a period of 120 days. Feeding regimen was same in all the groups, except the buffalo calves in treatment groups were additionally supplemented with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg of inorganic Cr/kg dry matter. Buffalo calves were monitored daily for physiological variables and dry matter intake (DMI) and fortnightly for body weight change. Blood samples were collected at day 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 and analyzed for heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70), lymphocyte proliferation, neutrophil phagocytic activity, immunoglobulin, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, insulin, cortisol and thyroid hormones, and Cr levels. Dietary Cr supplementation did not have any effect on DMI, growth performance, and physiological variables. However, lymphocyte proliferation, neutrophil phagocytic activity, plasma immunoglobulin, FRAP value, and plasma Cr concentration increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increase in levels of Cr. Adding Cr to the diet of summer-exposed buffalo calves did not show any effect on plasma levels of thyroid hormone, while concentration of insulin, cortisol, and Hsp 70 decreased (P < 0.05). Supplementation of inorganic Cr to the diet of buffalo calves reared under high ambient temperature improved heat tolerance, immune status without affecting nutrient intake, and growth performance.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of vitamin E and zinc supplementation on energy metabolites, lipid peroxidation, and milk production in peripartum Sahiwal cows. For this, thirty-two pregnant dry Sahiwal cows were selected at sixty days prepartum and divided into four groups viz control, T1, T2, and T3 of eight each. Group T1 were supplemented with zinc at 60 ppm/d/cow, group T2 were supplemented with vitamin E at 1,000 IU/d/cow and group T3 were supplemented with combination of vitamin E at 1,000 IU/d/cow and zinc at 60 ppm/d/cow during d 60 prepartum to d 90 postpartum. Blood samples were collected on d −60, −45, −30, −15, −7, −3, 0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 with respect to day of parturition and analysed for glucose, non esterified fatty acid, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. Body condition score was maintained significantly better (p<0.05) in T3 than in the control, T1 and T2 groups. Overall glucose level was higher (p<0.05) in T3 than control, T1, and T2 groups. Levels of nonesterified fatty acid, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance were lower (p<0.05) in T3 than control, T1, and T2 groups. Milk yield was higher (p<0.05) in T3 than control, T1, and T2 groups. In conclusion, the present study indicated that the supplementation of vitamin E and zinc in peripartum Sahiwal cows enhanced milk production by reducing negative energy balance.

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Skim milk served as the base for the production of low‐calorie synbiotic yoghurt (LCSY) and four randomly selected indigenous LAB probiotic strains namely, Lactobacillus acidophilus (NCDC 13), Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei (NCDC 627), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (NCDC 610), and Lactobacillus plantarum (NCDC 344) were evaluated for their growth characteristics in skim milk. Lactobacillus rhamnosus with S. thermophilus 74 (LR_74) exhibited desirable pH (4.60 ± 0.01), acidity, significantly highest acidification rate (4.23 ± 0.03 × 10−3 pH units min‐), probiotic count (9.10 ± 0.10 log cfu/ml), and specific growth rate (0.47 ± 0.08 hr−1). Also, Power law model fitted best for skim milk inoculated with LR_74. Further, evaluation of prebiotics namely, inulin and oligofructose at different levels revealed that the combination of inulin and oligofructose at 2% significantly improved the viscosity (13.75 ± 0.33 Pa s), sensory, textural properties, and probiotic count (9.67 ± 0.02 log cfu/ml) of LCSY. Practical applications The results of our study reveal a suitable and compatible combination of yoghurt culture and probiotic culture which could further be exploited for the development of inulin/oligofructose or combination thereof, based synbiotic beverages and other fermented dairy products.

Aim: The present study was conducted to see the effect of feeding different levels of Azolla meal on blood biochemicals, hematology and immunocompetence traits of Chabro chicken. Materials and Methods:The study was conducted on 160 Chabro chicks, which were randomly divided into four treatment groups each with four replicates of 10 birds. The first treatment (T 1 ) served as a control in which basal diets was offered without Azolla supplementation while in T 2 , T 3 , and T 4 groups, basal diet was replaced with Azolla meal at 5%, 7.5%, and 10% levels, respectively. A feeding trial was conducted upto 8 weeks. At the last week of trial, blood samples were collected randomly from one bird of each replicate and plasma was separated to estimate certain biochemical parameters, some blood metabolites, minerals and enzymes like alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Hematological parameters such as hemoglobin, packed cell volume, total leukocytes count and differential leukocytes count were estimated in fresh blood just after collection. The humoral immune response was measured against sheep red blood cells,and cellmediated immune response was measured against phyto hemagglutinin lectin from Phaseolus vulgaris (PHA-P). Results:The study showed that hematological profile of the Chabro bird was not affected by any treatment except heterophil and lymphocyte which was found higher in T 2 and T 3 groups and eosinophil was found higher in a T 3 group than control. Blood glucose, creatinine, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, uric acid, and triglycerides were found similar in all the groups and within the normal values for broiler chicken. Liver enzymes and macro mineral content in blood were found similar in all the treatment groups and within normal physiological range. Although AST was found higher in 10% replacement group than control, the value was within normal range for broiler chicken. Although antibody titer was found similar in all the experimental groups in the present study, cell-mediate immune response (response to PHA-P) was found higher in 5%, 7.5%, and 10% replacement groups than control(p<0.05). Conclusion:Similar blood biochemical parameters and higher cell-mediated immune response in Azolla replacement group indicated immune-modulatory effect of Azolla meal without any toxicity.