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Farming system approach has been widely recognized and advocated as one of the tools for harmonious use of inputs and their compounded response to make the production system sustainable. The present study was conducted to examine linkages among various components of farming systems in Mizoram state by using Leontief input-output model. The study identified 10 dairy based farming systems based on the major contribution to income of farm enterprise. The inter-component linkages from livestock to crop were stronger as compared to crop to livestock for all the farming systems. The degree of integration of different components of the various farming systems in terms of linkages is found to be strongest under D + C + P + Po farming systems. The interdependence observed among various components of farming system suggests the need to adopt total systems approach for development of sustainable farming systems.

Dairy sector experienced supply setback as well as demand uncertainties owing to restrictive measures imposed for the control of COVID-19 pandemic. The present paper attempts to assess the multi-dimensional impact of pandemic on dairying by reviewing the emerging literature. The assessment shows that availability of feed and fodder declined by 11% during the initial months of lockdown making it the most affected supply chain. The dairy farmers incurred dual losses due to increase in cost of milk production (+6%) and simultaneous fall in milk prices (–5.6%). Major challenge for the dairy processors was posed by the fall in demand which declined steeply particularly for the ice-creams and milk based beverages. The estimated loss incurred by the dairy farmers is `4,000 per milch animal in the initial 40 days of lockdown which can further rise if losses due to missed artificial insemination and change in animal prices are also taken into account. Assessment of impact on the unorganized dairy sector is still unavailable without which the loss estimation from the perspective of milk buyers stands incomplete. Huge inventories of the Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP) are the immediate challenge which requires proper policy intervention for arresting further losses in the dairy sector.

Background: The term “transition” comprises the various important physiological, metabolic and nutritional changes in the productive cycle of the cattle. It influences lactation, nutritional status, postpartum diseases and reproductive performance of the animal. It is, therefore, important to elaborate various nutritional strategies in this phase for optimizing productivity and minimizing health problems. A preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the influence of fat and protein along with indigenous traditional knowledge-based polyherbal preparation supplementation on reproductive and immune parameters of periparturient crossbred cows. Methods: Twenty-seven pregnant Karan Fries cows, in their last trimester were selected and divided into 3 treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3) consisting of nine animals each, based on most probable production ability (MPPA; 3002 kg) and body weight (423 kg). Cows of groups T1 (control), T2 and T3 were given TMRs having 13.1, 13.1, 16.1% crude protein (CP) and 9.82, 9.82, 10.8 MJ/kg metabolizable energy (ME) respectively, during pre-partum period. Whereas, during post-partum period, cows were offered TMRs containing 14.0, 16.8, 16.8% CP and 10.2, 11.0, 11.0 (MJ/kg) ME, respectively. T2 and T3 groups were also supplemented with polyherbal preparation post-partum. Result: The results revealed that cows in T2 and T3 group had lower incidence of retained placenta, cervicitis, metritis and better conception rate than cows of control group. Also, dietary treatments facilitated early involution of pre gravid uterine horn (P less than 0.05). Plasma total immunoglobulins (mg/ml) concentration was found to be significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in T3 group followed by T2 group. Hence, it was concluded that increasing energy and protein levels along with polyherbal mixture supplementation during transition period reduced periparturient stress and improved reproductive performance of dairy cows.

The present study deals with the usefulness of Principal Component Analysis and Factor Analysis for determining the relative contribution of morphological characters responsible in increasing the apple productivity. The three different apple producing locations of Himachal Pradesh, viz., Shimla, Kotkhai, and Theog were considered for the study. Four of the thirteen principal components explained around 75.40, 86.58 and 89.40% of the total variation at Shimla, Kotkhai and Theog locations, respectively. The first principal component may be interpreted as Plant Vigour and Yield Component. The second component may be termed as Volume and Spurs of Plant and Yield component, while Fruitfulness and Size of Tree may be regarded as the third principal component. Factor analysis grouped the thirteen morphological characters into three main factors. At Shimla location, the first factor (Plant vigour and yield), the second factor (Fruitfulness) and the third factor (Size of Tree and Fruit) explained 37.55%, 21.43% and 9.33% of the total variation, respectively. At Kotkhai location, 55.01%, 17.37% and 7.92 % of total variation was explained by the Plant Vigour and Plant Growth (first factor), Fruitfulness (second factor) and Yield and Plant Vigour (third factor) characters, respectively. Factor analysis of Theog location showed that the first factor i.e. Plant Vigour, second factor i.e. Fruitfulness and the third factor i.e. Yield and Plant Growth explained 60.00%, 13.14% and 9.44% of the total variation, respectively. Total variance explained collectively by three factors was observed to be 68.31%, 80.29%, and 82.58% at Shimla, Kotkhai and Theog locations respectively.Apple, factor analysis, principal component analysis Abstract Article History