Aim: The study was undertaken to find out the changes in biochemical and hormonal profile during transition period in single- and twin-bearing Beetal goats. Materials and Methods: Beetal goats are reared in North India for milk and meat purposes, popularly called poor man's cow, serving as a source of livelihood. The present study was conducted on Beetal goats, maintained at a goat farm, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, for characterization of plasma biochemical and hormonal changes during transitional phase in pregnant goats carrying single and twin fetus. The animals selected were expected to have parturition at the same time, to avoid environmental variation effects, and divided into two groups: Group 1 (carrying single fetus, n=14) and Group 2 (twin fetus, n=6). Blood samples were collected from goats prepartum (–30 days and –15 days), 0 day, and postpartum +15 days and +30 days, and plasma was separated for the analysis of biochemical metabolites and hormones by commercially available kits. Results: Analysis of data revealed a significant decrease in triglyceride and cholesterol concentration during postpartum days. A significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentration was observed at the day of parturition. Furthermore, there was a significant (p≤0.05) decrease in ALT and aspartate aminotransferase concentration in goats at the 15th day and 30th day after parturition in both groups. A significant (p≤0.05) lower concentration of total protein and globulins was observed during late pregnancy and on the day of parturition, with a subsequent elevation during postpartum period (15 days and 30 days). Progesterone concentration was highest at –30 days prepartum and decreased sharply at parturition and thereafter postpartum, both in single- and twin-bearing goats. Progesterone level was lower in twin-bearing goats as compared to single-bearing goats at 0 day and postpartum days. No significant changes were observed in sodium, potassium, and chloride concentration during transitional period in goats. Conclusion: Transition period blood metabolite profile changes due to physiological need of mother and fetus were more prominent in metabolites regulating energy requirements and in goats bearing twin fetus.

Thyroid hormones are the key regulators of mammalian physiological functions. These hormones have been shown to be crucial for growth, development, energy metabolism and reproduction (Eiler, 2005). These hormones are known to be important modulators of developmental processes and general metabolism in mammals (Kaneko et al., 2008). They also play an important role in defense against infection through the modulation of innate immune cell function (Spek et al., 2017). Changes in the concentrations of serum thyroxine (T 4) and tri-iodothyronine (T 3) of sheep in seasonal heat and cold stress have already been investigated (Dhanda et al., 2001). Circadian variation in thyroid hormones levels have also been reported in domestic animals (Nazifi et al., 2008).

Eighty, day-old broiler chicks were primed with live ND and IBD vaccines at 7 and 9 days of age and boosted at the age of 21 and 28 days, respectively. At 3 weeks of age, chicks were divided into 5 equal groups A, B, C, D and E. Groups A, B and C were fed on aflatoxin contaminated feed and 1, 2 and 3 g of Hydrated Sodium Calcium Alumino Silicate (HSCAS)/kg of feed respectively. Group D was raised on contaminated feed without binder (positive control) and group E on normal feed without binder (negative control) for a period of four weeks. Maximum body weight gain was observed in group E and minimum in group D. There was a dose related increase in the weight gains of groups A, B and C. The minimum HI titres against NDV were found in group D and maximum in group E. The gradually increasing dosage of the binder in the feed of groups A, B and C manifested a dose related increase in HI antibody titres. Maximum IHA titres against IBD were found in group E and minimum in group D. Groups A, B and C also manifested a dose related increase in IHA titres against IBD. The mortality recorded in groups A, B, C, D and E was 31.25, 18.75, 18.75, 43.75 and 0.0 percent, respectively. Mycotoxinbinder at the rate of 3 g/kg of feed gave better results in terms of body weight gain, humoral immune response and better protection against aflatoxicosis compared to the dose rates of 1 and 2 g/kg of feed.

One of the important restrictions in wireless sensor network is energy constraint. Many protocols have been suggested for cluster head selection such as LEACH, HEED, and PEGASIS. In some clustering schemes, the communication between a cluster member and its cluster head (CH) is supposed to be single-hop. However, multihop communication is often required as communication range of the sensor nodes is limited or when the number of sensor nodes is very large in a network. In this paper we present a study of protocols which are used in increasing energy efficiency of the Wireless Sensor Network such as Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH), Hybrid Energy Efficient Distributed Clustering (HEED), and Power Efficient Gathering in Sensor Information Systems (PEGASIS). Finally we conclude this paper.

Economical, eco-friendly, future ready and sustainable livestock production to meet ever growing human population is a daunting task for the animal farming community including scientist. Additionally making a sustainable effort to develop strategies or chain of strategies to combact global warming through manipulating ruminants farming is another growing challenge in the era of alarming global warming situation. Among the causes of global warming, animals particularly ruminants are one of the major contributor of methane. Strategies needed to be developed and implemented in order to rescue earth and its inhabitant from monstrous effect of global warming. Ruminant methane emission is one of the prime factor and steps needed to develop and invention of tools for reducing methane emission from enteric methane production which serves necessary evil of ruminants. Present review aims to explore the advancement achieved in rumen methanogen mitigation methods including its challenges and future prospective in order to make strategy implemented from present bench top to ultimate success in field condition.