Aim: The present study was conducted to find the effect of four herbal seeds on carcass traits of turkey poults. Materials and Methods:A biological study using Nandanam turkey poults (Meleagris gallapavo) for 8 weeks duration was carried out to evaluate the effect of phytobiotics-containing four herbal seeds influence on production performances like biweekly body weight and on carcass traits. 150 poults were randomly subjected to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with basal diet (T1), 0.5% (5 g/kg) level of each seeds thyme (Thymus vulgaris) (T2), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) (T3), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) (T4) and cumin (Cuminum cyminum) (T5). Carcass traits like blood loss, feather loss, dressed weight, New York dressed weight, ready to cook yield and cut-up parts yield were studied. Results:The body weight at 8 th week was higher (p<0.05) in poults fed with thyme; whereas at 6 th week, fennel and cumin fed birds had better (p<0.05) body weight. Inclusion of herbal seeds did not affect the blood loss, dressed weight and ready to cook yield but it significantly (p<0.05) affected the feathered loss, New York dressed weight and giblet percentages. Feeding of fenugreek has improved New York dressed weight of poults. Feeding of fennel had depressive (p<0.05) effect on liver and gizzard weights. All the four phytobiotic seeds in feed had significant (p<0.05) reduction in breast weight with a compensatory improvement in drumstick and neck weights. Conclusion:The present study revealed that supplementation of phytobiotic herbal seeds has resulted in numerical improvement of body weight of poults throughout the study period whereas these seeds had negative effect on the yield of breast, with increased proportion of drumstick and neck.

Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin was studied after intravenous and oral bolus administration at 10 mg/kg in healthy emus aged between 18 and 24 months. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein at predetermined time intervals after drug administration. Enrofloxacin and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin in plasma were determined by HPLC. Plasma concentrations versus time were analyzed by a non-compartmental analysis. For i.v. and oral bolus dose of administration, elimination half-life (t 1/2b ) was 4.364 ± 0.179 and 4.125 ± 0.361 h, respectively; AUC 0-? was 20.085 ± 3.493 and 16.056 ± 1.436 lg h/mL, respectively; mean residence time (MRT) was 5.105 ± 0.216 and 6.616 ± 0.475 h, respectively; volume of distribution was 3.921 ± 1.005 and 3.171 ± 0.296 L/kg, respectively and total body clearance was 0.629 ± 0.164 and 0.507 ± 0.003 L/h kg, respectively. Mean absolute bioavailability for enrofloxacin after oral administration was 79.941 ± 7.147 %. The metabolite ciprofloxacin could be detected from 15 min to 24 h following i.v. and oral administration of enrofloxacin. The ratio of AUC 0-t cipro/AUC 0-t enro was 7.764 and 9.031 %, respectively for i.v. and oral administration of enrofloxacin. The t 1/2b and MRT of the metabolite were longer than those of parent substance. From the PK/PD indices such as C max /MIC, AUC/MIC and C max /MPC, AUC/MPC study, the recommended doses of enrofloxacin in emu birds were 10 mg/kg body weight once daily for i.v. and oral routes against organisms susceptible to 0.25 and 0.125 lg/mL, respectively. Taking the PAE and active metabolite ciprofloxacin into consideration, it is recommended that enrofloxacin could be used at the dose rate of 10 mg/kg at every 24 h even against the organisms susceptible to 0.5 lg/mL. Abbreviations bElimination rate constant AUC 0-t Area under the concentration vs. time curve 0 to time AUC 0-? Area under the concentration-time curve 0 to infinity AUMC 0-t Area under the first moment curve from 0 to time AUMC 0-? Area under the first moment curve from 0 to infinity MRT Mean residence time MAT Mean residence time

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The research was aimed at studying the effect of a ‘Herbal combo therapy’ (HCT) on induction of oestrus and enhancement of fertility in postpartum anoestrus (PPA) in crossbred cows. Crossbred cows (n = 24) which were diagnosed for true anoestrus condition were utilized for the study. All the cows were dewormed and randomly divided into two groups (i) Control group (n = 10): No treatment schedule and (ii) Treatment group (n = 14): HCT involving a sequential administration of Raphanus sativus, Aloe vera, Moringa oleifera, Cissuss quadrangularisis and Murraya koenigii for a period of 20 days. The animals which expressed oestrus signs during the experimental period were inseminated and pregnancy was confirmed. Diameter of the largest follicle was documented on the initiation day of experiment and at the end of the experimental period or on the day of expression of induced oestrus. Perusal of the data revealed that 71.4 per cent of the PPA animals responded to the HCT by expressing oestrus signs within the experimental period as against 10.0 per cent in control group. The follicular diameter significantly increased in HCT group (11.8 + 2.4 mm) than the control group (9.6 + 0.8 mm). The overall conception rate among the PPA cows treated with HCT was much higher (57.1%) than the control group (10.0%). Steroidogenic activity, rich nutrient source and anti-inflammatory properties of HCT would have potentiated the follicular development and thereby induced oestrus and improved conception rate in anoestrus cows.

The study was conducted to formulate the enrofloxacin solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with sustained release profile and improved pharmacological activity and evaluate the pharmacokinetic behaviour of enrofloxacin SLNs after oral routes of administration in emus. The SLNs were prepared using tripalmitin as lipid carrier, Tween 80 and Span 80 as surfactants and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a stabilizer by a hot homogenization coupled with ultrasonication method. The prepared enrofloxacin SLNs formulations were characterized for further investigation in emu birds. The pharmacokinetics of native enrofloxacin was studied after i.v. and oral bolus administration at 10 mg/kg in emu birds and compared with the disposition kinetics of enrofloxacin SLNs. Enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin in plasma were estimated using HPLC and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by a noncompartmental analysis. The results demonstrated that the particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of the SLNs were 154.72 ± 6.11 nm, 0.42 ± 0.11, -28.83 ± 0.60 mV, 59.66 ± 3.22 and 6.13 ± 0.32 %, respectively. AFM and TEM images showed spherical to circular particles with well-defined periphery. In vitro drug release exhibited biphasic pattern with an initial burst release of 18 % within 2 h followed by sustained release over 96 h. Pharmacokinetic results showed that the t 1/2b , AUC 0-? , V darea /F, MRT and bioavailability were 3.107, 1.894, 1.594, 2.993 and 1.895 times enhanced (p \ 0.01), while CL B and b were significantly (p \ 0.01) decreased by 1.958 and 3.056 times compared to the values of native enrofloxacin administered orally. The ratio of AUC 0-t cipro/AUC 0-t enro after administration of native enrofloxacin and enrofloxacin SLNs was less than 10 %. The t 1/2b and MRT of the metabolite were longer than those of the parent substance. The PK/PD results confirmed that the SLNs extended the enrofloxacin concentration upto 48 h against pathogens susceptible to 0.125 lg/mL in emus. The results indicated that SLNs might be a promising delivery system to prolong and enhance the pharmacological activity of enrofloxacin.