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ThesisItem Open Access Reliability of united score card for crossbred dairy cows of Kerala(Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2010) Dhanya, K; KAU; Anil, K SThe research work was conducted to assess the reliability of Unified score card for cross bred cows of Kerala. One hundred and ninety six animals of University cattle farms of Mannuthy, Thumbunnuzhi and Thiruvazhamkunnu were selected for the study. As per the Unified score card by Purebred Dairy Cattle Association, the animals were judged for frame, dairy character, body capacity, feet• and legs and udder. The type components were again subdivided as described in the scorecard to improve the accuracy of judging score. The body measurements of individual animals like height at withers, body length, chest girth, height at withers, height at pins, length of quarter, width between angles of hook and slope of rump were taken. The animals were categorized into four age groups, four parities and three stages of lactation. The emphasis of each of the components of unified score card to milk production was compared and statistical analysis was carried out as per methods suggested by Snedcor and Cochran (1994). Effects of age, stage of lactation and parity on judging using Unified Score Card were worked out. The body measurements were also correlated with the score and milk yield. Age, parity and stage of lactation were found to be nonsignificant for final score. The scores of frame, dairy character and udder for different age groups showed no significant difference, whereas, scores of body capacity and feet and legs differed significantly. The scores of dairy character and body capacity differed significantly with parity. No significant difference was shown for scores of frame, feet and legs and udder. Frame was found to be positively correlated with other components, the least being with udder (r=0.127) and highest with feet and legs (r =0.254) which was highly significant (p<0.01). Dairy character was significantly correlated with body capacity (r=0.169) and feet and legs(r=0.2S4) in addition to frame. Feet and legs was the only component to which udder showed positive significant correlation (pAge was found to be not significant for lactation yield (P~O.OS). The means of lactation yield differed significantly for different parities. All the type components were found to be positively correlated with lactation yield, all being significant. The standardized partial regression coefficients were highly significant for dairy character, udder. and body capacity whereas non significant regression coefficients were obtained for frame and feet and legs. Udder depth was having the highest regression coefficient (~=0.312) which was highly significant (p<0.01). Regression coefficients were significant and positive for skin (0.229), withers (0.188), ribs (0.174) and thighs (0.162). Both age and parity had significant positive correlation on body weight. Body weight was significantly (p<0.0 1) correlated with lactation yield with r=0.244. Height at withers, length, hip width girth and height at hook showed significant difference with age (p:SO.OS).The height at pins and slope were found to be not affected significantly by age. All the measurements except slope were significant and positive in correlation with body capacity. All height measurements, length and girth was found to be positively correlated with frame (p<0.0 1). Final score was having significant positive correlation with all height measurements (p:SO.OS). It was concluded that although the score card was found to be reliable on the production of crossbred cows of Kerala, the emphasis placed on type components was not in full agreement with what was prescribed by the purebred Dairy Cattle Association Dairy Cow Unified Score Card. Hence it was suggested that more weightage could be given to body capacity and dairy character compromising weightage on frame and feet & legs which necessitated further studies in this regard.ThesisItem Open Access Efficay of probiotic and ascorbic acid in alleviating summer stress in growing broiler rabbits(Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2010) Smitha, S; KAU; Kannan, AThe research work was conducted to study the efficacy of probiotic (Lactobacillus casei) and ascorbic acid in alleviating summer stress in growing broiler rabbits. The study was done in the summer season from March to May. The growth performance of rabbits in summer, their physiological response to stress and the cost effectiveness of supplementing probiotic, Lactobacillus casei and ascorbic acid were studied. Twenty four weaned New Zealand White rabbits were randomly selected from Rabbit unit at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara were utilized for the study. They were divided into four groups of six animals each. The treatments were as follows: Treatment I (T1) - Ascorbic acid (Merck) at the rate of 200 mg per kg feed was given along with the basal diet, Treatment - 2 (T2) - Probiotic, Lactobacillus casei (Unique Biotech) containing 106 colony forming units per gram of feed was given along with the basal diet, Treatment - 3(T3) - Probiotic and Ascorbic acid at the same rate as in T2 and T3 were given along with the basal diet and Treatment - 4 (T4) - Rabbits fed with basal diet alone. The various climatic parameters studied were maximum and minimum temperature and relative humidity (morning and afternoon) in macro climate and maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity (morning and afternoon), dry bulb temperature (morning and afternoon) and relative humidity (morning and afternoon) in micro climate. The production parameters recorded were weekly body weight, daily feed intake, average daily weight gain and feed efficiency. The physiological parameters studied were weekly respiration rate, weekly rectal temperature and monthly cortisol (faecal and serum) values (twice a month for three months). Disease incidence and mortality during the period was recorded. Cost effectiveness of supplementing probiotic and ascorbic acid was determined. The mean monthly temperature humidity index values suggested that animals were under moderate heat stress in the first (28.45±0.16) and the second month (28.50±0.22), while no stress prevailed in the third month (26.83±0.21). By one way Analysis of variance it was found that supplementation of probiotic, Lactobacillus casei and ascorbic acid had a significant effect in alleviating summer stress in rabbits. The animals in the T1 group showed significantly (P<0.05) higher overall mean daily body weight gain, overall mean feed efficiency and significantly (P<0.05) lower overall mean respiration rate and faecal cortisol level compared to T4 animals. The rabbits in T2 treatment showed significantly higher (P<0.05) final body weight, overall mean daily body weight gain, overall mean feed efficiency and significantly (P<0.05) lower overall mean respiration rate compared to T4. The rabbits in the T3 group showed significantly higher (P<0.05) final body weight, overall mean daily body weight gain, overall mean feed efficiency and significantly (P<0.05) lower overall mean faecal cortisol level compared to T4. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the treatments in mean feed intake, rectal temperature and serum cortisol. No disease incidence or mortality was observed during the experimental period. Supplementation of probiotic and ascorbic acid was found to be efficient in reducing the production economics. Hence it was concluded that supplementation of probiotic, Lactobacillus casei at the rate of 106 cfu per g of feed and ascorbic acid at the rate of 200 mg per kg feed in combination was found to be most effective and economic in alleviating summer stress in growing broiler rabbits.ThesisItem Open Access Androgen mediated behavior of sambar deer stags (Cervus unicolor) during rut season(Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2010) Vishnu Savanth, V; KAU; Saseendran, P CThe study was carried out at the State Museum and Zoo, Thrissur, Kerala, India for a period of four months from 11th June to 11th October, 2009. There were a total of 70 sambar deer in the enclosure, during the commencement of the study, of which 22 were males including 16 adult stags. A total of 318 hours of observation was involved in the study spanning over four months and each animal received about 53 hours of observation. Top three stags in the rut stage, on a chronological order of dominance namely H1, H2 and H3 were selected. Three more superior stags in late stages of velvet growth were selected and were named V1, V2 and V3 as per descending order of dominance. Hence, a total of six animals were selected for the study. Behavioral scores were allotted on the basis of the observations recorded on the ethogram and with the help of a standard score chart. Stag H1 maintained a behavioral score of 42±11.73 during the hard antler phase whereas during the velvet phase it slipped to 9.66±2.25. The behavioral score of stag H2 was 42.85±12.58 during the hard antler stage and it reduced to 12.6±2.3 during the velvet period. Stag H3 had a behavioral score of 44±14 during the rut season; it became 12.6±3.13 during the velvet stage. The behavioral score of stag V1 was 23.16±12.84 during the velvet stage, but as it entered the rut season, its score shot up to 51.81±5.54. Stag V2 had a behavioral score of 24.85±13.83 during the velvet phase, as it shifted to hard antler stage, the score increased to 51.9±5.38. The behavioral score of V3 was 30.33±14.76 during the velvet antler stage, the shift to the rut took up the score to 53.75±4.83. Fecal testosterone level was measured by RIA on a weekly basis from all six stags. The stag H1 possessed the largest harem followed by H2 and H3 with a membership of 17, 13 and 07 individuals respectively till they retained the hard antlers. As V1, V2 and V3 entered the rut season, V1 collected the largest harem with 19, followed by V3 with 14, and V2 not lagging far behind with 13 members. The stag H1 maintained a testosterone level of 14.66±2.30 ng g-1 of dry feces when it was in rut stage. The testosterone level after the antler casting in the seventh week maintained a low profile of 7.85± 2.32 ng g-1 of dry. The testosterone level of stag H2 was 14.07±0.54 ng g-1 of dry feces during the hard antler phase and its decline by the eight week led to the antler casting. The testosterone level then was at a level of 9.12± 2.40 ng g-1 of dry feces. Stag H3 had testosterone levels of 14.85±1.17 ng g-1 of dry feces before casting the antler. The casting was followed by testosterone levels of 9.56±1.94 ng g-1 of dry feces. Stag V1 had testosterone levels of 13.52±1.82 ng g-1 of dry feces in the velvet stage. After velvet shedding, the stag had hormone levels of 18.65±1.20 ng g-1 of dry feces. V2 maintained testosterone levels of 12.45±0.91 ng g-1 of dry feces during the velvet stage. Velvet shedding was accompanied by an increase in testosterone level to 18.77±1.03 ng g-1 of dry feces. The stag V3 had the hormone levels at 12.32±1.18 ng g-1 of dry feces before casting the velvet. The testosterone level after the velvet casting was 18.72±0.79 ng g-1 of dry feces. The stags in the rut season were found to have a significantly higher testosterone concentration in comparison with the velvet growth stage stags. The study also reveals that, it is the sudden dip in the testosterone concentration which causes the antler casting. Velvet shedding was preceded by an increase in the testosterone levels emphasizing its role. The increasing behavioral scores were also accompanied by higher levels of testosterone. Statistical analysis to correlate the testosterone levels of all the stags during both hard antler and velvet stage to the behavioral scores showed a significant and positive correlation ( ρ = 0.875, p < 0.01 ). Statistical analysis of the testosterone level and behavioral score during the hard antler stage alone also showed positive and significant correlation ( ρ = 0.791, p < 0.01 ). The correlation between the testosterone level and the behavioral score was significant and positive during the velvet stage as well ( ρ = 0.805, p < 0.01 ).