ABSTRACT...... The prostaglandin and its synthetic analogue are considered as drug of choice in reproductive management. A total of twenty Jaffrabadi buffaloes with reproductive disorders were selected from cattle breeding farm, Junagadh. All twenty buffaloes (Group I) were treated with single dose of Prostaglandin (synthetic analogue, clostrinol, 2 ml) while the animals which did not respond (Group II) to first injection of Prostaglandin were subjected to second injection of Prostaglandin 11 days after first treatment. A total of six animals (30%) responded to first dose of PGF 2 , while eight animals (57%) responded to second dose of PGF 2 . The mean time required for induction of heat in first and second group was 70.24 ± 1.44 hrs and 56.86 ±1.96. The mean duration of estrus proper in first group was 19.18 ± 0.69 hrs, while in second group the mean duration was 16.13±0.42 hr. The conception rate in the present study was 43.05 per cent for the first group of animals and 49 per cent for the animal that were treated with second dose of PGF 2 . In conclusion, administration of PGF 2  at eleven days interval causes faster heat induction and better conception rate.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of exposure at different doses of acephate on hematology, blood biochemistry, oxidative stress and immune system of Wistar rats. The experiment was carried out on 40 Wistar rats, which were divided in four groups. Animals of the three treatment groups were given with different sublethal doses (1/40th, 1/20th, 1/10th of lethal dose 50 value) of acephate by oral gavage. The hematology, blood biochemistry, oxidative stress marker, humoral immune response and cell-mediated immunity were evaluated following acephate exposure. Significant alteration in hematological parameters was not observed following different doses of acephate; however, significant alteration in alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, acetyl cholinesterase, lipid peroxidase and superoxide dismutase was observed in medium- and high-dose group animals. Nonsignificant decrease in antibody titer in animals exposed to high dose has been observed compared with animals of control group. However, significant alteration in cell-mediated immunity was not observed in animals treated with acephate at different doses.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Hunger Index, the incidence of malnutrition and Vitamin-A deficiency in preschool-age children is higher in South-East Asian countries. Therefore, this study was envisaged to formulate value-added flavoured buffalo milk and to carry out the sensory evaluation, nutritional analysis, storage characteristics and total carotene content of the developed product. Flavoured buffalo milk was prepared by incorporation of Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) pulp and ground sugar at a concentration of 15% and 10%, respectively. The formulation was found preeminent by panellists and then subjected to nutritional analysis and storage studies at room temperature following “in bottle heat treatment”. Nutritional analysis revealed that the protein, fat, total carbohydrates, total ash and moisture content of pumpkin flavoured buffalo milk were 3.07%, 5.21%, 12.63%, 0.61% and 78.48%, respectively. The storage study of flavoured buffalo milk showed a significantly (p < 0.05) declined score in colour and appearance as well as flavour only after day 90. The overall acceptability score also declined significantly (p < 0.05) after day 60 of storage. Though the sensory score declined gradually during the storage period, the product was liked by the panellist even till day 180. The carotene content of pumpkin flavoured buffalo milk was 1.2 mg/100 g at day 0 and it decreased significantly as storage prolongs. The nutritional components were not affected significantly during the 180 days storage period. Standard plate counts, coliform counts as well as yeast and mould counts were not detected during storage of pumpkin flavoured buffalo milk.

No abstract

No abstract