The aim of the study was to compare oestrus characteristics and evaluate the conception rate of postpartum dairy cows by inducing ovulation using 3000 IU hCG in 5-day and 7-day CIDRbased oestrus synchronisation protocols. Twenty-four apparently healthy, cyclic cows, which had completely involuted uterus as assessed by clinico-gynaecological examination and without any history of peripartum and postpartum complications were selected and randomly allotted into two treatment and one control group (n=8 each). On day 40 postpartum (Day 0), animals of Group I (5d CIDR group) were inserted with CIDR followed by administration of GnRH on the same day. The CIDR insert was removed on day 5 and and PGF2a administered. After 36 h of CIDR removal, 3000 IU of hCG was given followed by TAI at 50 - 56 h after CIDR removal. In Group II (7d CIDR group), similar protocol was followed as in group I, with the difference that CIDR was kept for 7 days. Animals in Group III (Control) were observed for occurrence of natural postpartum oestrus from day 40 till day 90 postpartum and inseminated at detected oestrus. The oestrus response, time taken for onset of oestrus, intensity of oestrus and duration of oestrus after CIDR removal were recorded. Pregnancy diagnosis was done on day 25 post AI through ultrasonography and on day 60 through transrectal palpation. The results demonstrated no significant difference in oestrus characteristics between group I and II but the 5-day CIDR-based protocol had higher overall conception rate and was superior to 7-day CIDR-based protocol when 3000 IU of hCG was used to induce ovulation in oestrus synchronisation protocols.

Haematological evaluation of pyometra-affected dogs, treated under different medical protocols revealed, decreased TEC (4.34±0.31 to 4.92±0.19×106/mm3), leucocytosis (26.68±1.38 to 39.30±4.49×103/mm3),neutrophilia(82.50±0.63to 83.38±0.46%), lymphopenia(10.25±0.41 to 11.88±0.61%), reduced VPRC (26.38±1.21 to 29.85±1.17 %) and decreased Hb (8.11±0.14to 9.04±0.45g/dL) on the day of admission. Other differentials and thrombocyte counts were within normal limits. All parameters returned to normal after medical treatment within 15 days of initiation of treatment, except TEC and Hb, which also showed improvement on different days of observation during and after treatment. Haematological changes were parallel to clinical recovery.

Postpartum infertility due to negative energy balance is a major problem among the high producing cows, incurring a huge economic loss. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation of bypass fat on the reproduction and production parameters of high yielding crossbred cows with or without postpartum hormonal induction of oestrus. The trial was conducted with four experimental groups of six cows each (GI – control, GII- 200 g bypass fat, GIII – 200 g bypass fat daily + Ovsynch protocol, GIV – Ovsynch protocol alone). The animals in GII and GIII were observed to be superior in milk production parameters viz. peak yield (P<0.05), and day of attaining peak yield (P<0.01).There was a significant increase in conception rate in GII and GIII (animals fed with bypass fat) compared to GI and GIV (p<0.05). The calving to conception interval was significantly reduced in those animals fed with bypass fat. The relative economic benefit in animals fed with bypass fat (GII and GIII) was higher compared to others. It was observed that bypass fat feeding is an economically viable and environment-friendly recommendation for improving the productive and reproductive performance of dairy animals.

Haptoglobin is an acute phase protein that is of diagnostic significance in dairy cattle. In the present study, haptoglobin level was assessed during the periparturient period in 15 clinically healthy pregnant cows. The mean concentration of haptoglobin during transition was found to be 5.60 ± 0.54 mg/dL, whereas the concentration during the period immediately before and after transition was 4.80 ± 0.59 mg/ dL. The concentration obtained was greater than the reported concentration of 2mg/dL or less, in healthy ruminants. The higher concentrations observed were also associated with a higher concentration of serum non-esterified fatty acids of 0.576 ± 0.10 mmoles/L during transition and 0.328 ± 0.03 mmoles/L immediately outside the transition period. Increased haptoglobin might indicate the transient inflammation and a response to negative energy balance during transition in dairy cows.

A total of 80 snails collected from three habitats viz., uncultivated paddy fields, permanent water bodies and catchment area of dams in Palakkad district of Kerala were screened for presence of echinostome infection. The collected snails were identified morphologically as Indoplanorbis exustus and Lymnaea luteola. Indoplanorbis exustus was found to be the most predominant snail species followed by L. luteola with a prevalence rate of 57.5 and 42.5 per cent, respectively. The prevalence rate of snails was higher in uncultivated paddy fields followed by permanent water bodies and catchment area of dams. Overall prevalence of echinostome infection in snails was found to be 11.2 per cent. Prevalence of infection in I. exustus constituted 13 per cent while that in L. luteola was nine per cent. Dissection of positive snails revealed intra molluscan stages like sporocyst.

Antibiotic residues in milk pose a potential risk to the health of consumers and are of public health significance due to the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. The present study was conducted to assess oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin residues in pooled raw milk samples in Palakkad district. A total of 120 pooled raw milk samples collected from five co-operative societies in Palakkad district were screened by Microbial Inhibition Assay (MIA). The positive samples were subjected to charm assay to determine whether the level of antibiotic residues viz., oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin were within or above Maximum Residual Limit (MRL). Of the 120 samples screened using MIA, 14 samples (11.67 per cent) were found to be positive for antibiotic residues. The occurrence of tetracyclines and enrofloxacin residues in pooled raw milk samples was found to be respectively 3.33 and 4.16 per cent using charm assay. Statistical analysis using chi-square test for multiple proportions revealed that the occurrence of antibiotic residues between the cooperative societies did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). The occurrence of antibiotic residues in milk necessitates prudent use of antibiotics, observance of the withdrawal period and monitoring system for antibiotic residues in foods of animal origin.

Six brachycephalic breeds of dogs irrespective of age and sex presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy, and University Veterinary Hospital, Kokkalai, were selected for treatment of dry eye condition. All the selected dogs were Chinese Pugs (100%) and they were in good general condition. Clinical, physiological and biochemical parameters were in normal physiological range pre-operatively. On ophthalmologic examination, mean Schirmer Tear Test (STT) value was recorded as 10.00±0.93 mm/min and Tear Film Breakup Time (TBUT) was 4.66±0.33 sec and the other parameters like intra ocular pressure and results of visual function tests were normal. The dogs were thoroughly investigated by detailed clinical, haematological, biochemical and wet film examination prior to surgical procedure and underwent minor labial salivary gland auto-transplantation and evaluated at biweekly interval up to 60th post-operative day. The tear production and tear film breakup time had shown significant increase compared to pre-operative values. All the animals had recovered without any complications and the grafting procedure did not alter the vision and normal habits.

Rotaviral enteritis is a common condition observed in farm animals especially piglets and calves. Though the presence of porcine rotaviruses (PRV) have been reported in pigs in Kerala, no study has been conducted to characterize them. This paper reports the finding of a study conducted to detect and characterize PRV based on VP6 gene. A total of 87 samples collected from cases of piglet diarrhoea were subjected to VP6 gene based reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and five (5.74 per cent) was found to be positive. All the positive samples were from Palakkad district. On analysis of the nucleotide sequence it was observed that the viruses belonged to inner capsid type I5 and I14 indicating diversity in the PRV prevalent in Kerala.

Lactoferrin, a minor whey protein present mainly in milk as well as in small quantities in most of the secretions of the body, has a wide range of biological activities to its credit including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer and immunomodulatory properties. A low molecular weight peptideisolated from the pepsin hydrolysate of lactoferrin called aslactoferricin B, has been found to be more functionally active than its parent compound. The present work focussed on the isolation of lactoferrin from the colostrumof Malabari goats by cation exchange chromatography, followed by the assessment of its molecular weight by SDS-PAGE andits characterization by dot blot assay and western blotting.The concentration of lactoferrin as estimated by Lowry’s method was found to be 15.103 mg/L of colostrum. Lactoferrin was hydrolysed by treatment with three per cent porcine pepsin under acidic conditions to form lactoferrin pepsin hydrolysate. The results of this study point to a single one step method to obtain pure lactoferrin from goats and further preparation of its pepsin hydrolysate.

The present study was conducted in anaemic cats presented to the University Veterinary Hospital, Kokkalai and Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy. They were subjected to a detailed physical examination, blood smear and faecal sample examination and haematology to reach an etiological diagnosis and to assess the severity of anaemia. Xenotransfusion with dog blood was carried out in 10 severely anaemic cats. Clinical outcome and variation in haematological parameters before and 24 hours after the transfusion was evaluated.