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ThesisItem Open Access Studies on Capon Production(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary Science, Mannuthy, 1986) Jyotirmoy, Chakraborty; KAU; Sabarinathan Nair, RThe thesis incorporates the results of a feasibility study on economic utilization of Austra-White and White Leghorn surplus cockerels for capon production in the existing Indian conditions. Production performances of surgically caponized Austra-White and White Leghorn males were compared with their respective intacts at three stages, namely, 20th 24th and 28th week of age. A total number of 192 cockerels were involved in the study. Each treatment group comprised 12 birds and replicated four times. Caponization was carried out at 8 weeks of age. The production straits evaluated were body weight gain, feed efficiency, processing losses and yield, percentage ‘slips’, taste panel evaluation, proximate composition of meat and economics of production. Recordings of thermal data, weekly body weight and weekly feed consumption were made. At the 20th 24th and 28th weeks 16 birds randomly selected from each group were subjected to slaughter studies. The results indicated significantly (p<0.05) higher body weight gain for the capons over intact controls at 20 weeks. Austra-White capons were significantly (p<0.05) higher gain at the 24th week but White Leghorn capons did not differ significantly from their intacts at this stage. Capons and intacts did not differ significantly at 28 weeks of age. Feed efficiency was significantly (p<0.05) better for capons during all the periods under tests. The capon registered significantly (p<0.05) higher dressing loss than intacts whereas intacts registered significantly (p<0.05) higher loss due to head and shanks. Ready to cook yield did not differ significantly between treatments. Capons registered increased percentages of moisture, protein and other extract. Five per cent of capons were registered as ‘slips’. Austra-White capon meat top scored in tenderness, juiciness, and personal preference. Economic evaluation registered profitable returns for capons at 20th week, based on culled/spent hen meat value at university farm rates. Significantly higher returns were indicated when economic evaluations were made on market rates. From the results of the study it was concluded that Austra-White surplus cockerels can be effectively utilized for capon production and White Leghorn cockerels form small sized capons. Capons production can be an economic practical feasibility in Indian conditions and also capon meat is preferred over roaster meat. Surgical caponization can be effectively employed as a routine managemental procedure for economic utilization of surplus cockerels. It was also indicated that the optimum economic stage for marketing capons is 20 weeks of age.ThesisItem Open Access Influence of glyceryl guaiacol ether on anaesthesia in goats(Department of Surgery, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Balagopalan, T P; KAU; Muraleedharan Nayar, K NThe present study was undertaken with the object of finding out the influence of GGE and its combinations on anaesthesia in goats. Eighteen apparently healthy cross – bred male kids, aged 5 – 9 months, weighing 11 – 16 kg were used for the study in three groups of six animals each. GGE, five per cent solution alone at the rate of 100 mg/kg was administered intravenously in group A. Triflupromazine hydrochloride at the rate of 0.2 mg/kg and GGE solution at the rate of 100 mg/kg were administered in group B. Triflupromazine hydrochloride, GGE and five per cent Thiopentone sodium solutions were administered in group C. An average of 28.00 + 0.10 ml GGE solution was administered in group A, 0.12 + 0.003 ml Triflupromazine hydrochloride followed by 24.33 + 0.67 ml GGE solution in group B and 0.12 + 0.003 ml Triflupromazine hydrochloride, 28.83 + 0.54 ml GGE and 2.97 + 0.19 ml Thiopentone sodium solutions were administered in group C. There were no untoward symptoms at the time of administration of the drugs. The induction time was 3.42 + 0.20 min. in group A, 2.08 + 0.08 min. in group B and 2.40 + 0.24 min. in group C. The induction was smooth in all the groups. On induction pedal, corneal, cutaneous and palpebral reflexes disappeared in all the groups, while palpebral reflex alone persisted in group A. Dilation of pupil with complete relaxation of jaws, anus, penis and abdomen was noticed in all the animals as the anaesthetic effect deepened. Flaccidity of tail was pronounced in group C. All the animals were found to be weak and dull and did not take feed and water upto 12 hours in group A and upto 24 hours in group B and C. They were apparently normal by 24, 36 and 60 hours in group A, B and C respectively. Reduction in rectal temperature was noted in all the groups. Initial reduction followed by an increase in heart rate was seen in group B and C. In group A there was increase in heart rate from the beginning. Tachycardia was observed at the time of recovery in all the groups. The variations in respiration rate were within the normal limits. The duration of anaesthesia was 28.83 + 2.27 min., 44.83 + 1.74 min. and 52.60 + 3.57 min. in group A, B and C respectively. The period of recovery was 18.00 + 0.89 min., 17.33 + 1.05 min. and 34.40 + 1.69 min. in group A, B and C respectively. Recovery was smooth and uneventful. There was a significant fall in the blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure) in all the groups, but pulse pressure showed marginal variation. Variations in central venous pressure was not significant. The electrocardiogram revealed a depression of S – T segment in all the groups and depression of P wave in group B and C. Tachycardia was seen at recovery. There was reduction in total erythrocyte count while the leukocyte count showed an initial decrease followed by an increase at 24 hours. The lymphocyte count decreased and the neutrophil count increased. Variation in the eosinophil and monocyte count was not significant. A reduction in the haemoglobin content and packed cell volume was observed in all the groups. The erythrocyte sedimentation was observed in all the groups. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate showed an increase during anaesthesia. Significant increase in blood glucose was noticed in all the groups during anaesthesia and the serum protein values decreased. The serum sodium values showed marginal variations but the serum potassium values showed decrease upto 120 min. There was an increase in the serum chloride values followed by a decrease in all the groups. In all the three groups of animals, variation in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase level was within normal limits. Gross lesions were not seen in any of the animals sacrificed on 4th or 10th day. But microscopic examination, early degenerative changes were noticed in the liver and kidney of all the animals sacrificed on the 4th day. Evidence of regeneration could be observed by the 10th day.ThesisItem Open Access Pathology of the reproductive system in ducks(Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Jayakumar, P M; KAU; Valsala, K VA study was conducted on the pathology of the reproductive system in ducks. A survey conducted on the prevalence of diseases based on the data for a period of 11 years at the Government Duck Farm, Niranam revealed the incidence of hepatosis (64.58%), hepatitis (9.07%), enteritis (8.58%), tuberculosis (2.61%) and miscellaneous disorders (15.13%). The latter category included pulmonary edema, omphalitis and transport stress. In a separate study, the reproductive organs of 194 female ducks and 26 male ducks were examined systematically and gross and histopathological lesions encountered were studied. The diseases encountered in females were hypoplasia of left ovary and oviduct (20%), impaction of oviduct (5.45%), haemorrhagic cyst in the ovary (7.27%), salpingoperitonitis (10.9%), oophoritis (49.09%), cystic right oviduct (1.82%), mycotic salpingitis (1.82%) and tuberculous salpingitis (3.63%). In males atrophic testis (66.3%) and seminoma (33.3%) were the diseases recorded. Experimentally, pure aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A were administered to six ducks each, at the rate of 25 µg per duck daily for a period of three months. Clinically all the experimental ducks showed unthriftiness. But it was more pronounced in aflatoxin group. In both aflatoxin and ochratoxin group, the birds showed reduced weight gain and decreased feed intake. There was reduction in the weight of the testis in both aflatoxin and ochratoxin groups. Histologically, in the aflatoxin group, marked disruption in the organisation of germinal epithelium, absence of sperm bundles and edema of the interstitial tissue were the lesions observed. In the ochratoxin group, the basement membrane was found to be unaffected. Both aflatoxin and ochratoxin were found to cause degenerative changes in the testicular tissue. However, aflatoxin was found to cause more pronounced changes than ochratoxin. From the studies made, it was concluded that both aflatoxin and ochratoxin can induce degenerative changes in the testis and it was surmised that this would lead to subfertility and infertility. The need for feeding a diet free of mycotoxins to ensure profitable duck farming was stressed.ThesisItem Open Access Characterization of staphylococci isolated from cases of mastitis and study of their R plasmids(Department of microbiology, College of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Mathew, E S; KAU; Punnoose, K TThe emergence of drug resistant staphylococci causing mastitis deserve serious investigation. The work was intended to characterize staphylococci isolated from cases of bovine mastitis and to study their R plasmid transfer in vitro. The characterization was done using glucose and mannitol fermentation, catalase production, coagulase production, Iysostaphin sensitivity and bacteriophage typing. The antibiogram of the isolates was done by agar diffusion method using 14 chemotherapeutic agents (amoxicillin, ampicillin, bacitracin, chloramphenicol, cloxacillin, erythromycin, gentamicin, methicillin, neomycin, nitrofurantoin, penicillin, streptomycin, sulphamethoxazole and tetracycline) and by agar dilution method using eight antibiotics (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, rifampicin, streptomycin, tetracycline , gentamicin, erythromycin and penicillin) The in vitro transfer of R plasmids was tried using selected S.aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates as donors and S.aureus RN 450RF and S.epifermidis 131S as recipients. From 360 milk samples collected from cases of bovine mastitis 17 strains of S.aureus and 35 strains of coagulase negative staphylococci were isolated. Lysostaphin sensitivity test was positive for 90.38% of the isolates, but this could not be used to differentiate between coagulase positive and negative staphylococci. The results of phage typing revealed a predominance of group III phages over the other groups and the possible role of human strains of staphylococci in producing mastitis in animals. None of the strains were resistant to mercuric chloride. From the antibiogram rifampicin , bacitracin, neomycin , methicillin, gentamicin, cloxacillin, nitrofurantoin and chloramphenicol were found to be the drugs of choice in the treatment of bovine mastitis caused by staphylococci. When S. aureus Rn 450RF was used as recipient six of the ten selected S.aureus isolates could transfer either one or more drug resistance markers and the mode of transfer was suspected to be by conjugation. All the four selected streptomycin resistant coagulase –negative staphylococcal donors were found to transfer the R plasmid DNA to the recipient., S.aureus RN 450RF, which was established to be through conjugation. The drug resistant S. aureus as well as coagulase negative staphylococcal strains failed t transfer their resistance to S.epidermidis 131S.ThesisItem Open Access Forecasting of rice yield using climatological variables(Department of Statistics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Ajitha, T K; KAU; Prabhakaran, P VSystematic crop and weather observations on autumn and winter paddy at Pattambi Rice Research Station, during 1949-50 to 1973-74 have been analysed in order to evaluate the effect of different climatic factors on rice yield and to develop suitable prediction models for the preharvest forecasting of rice yield with sufficient degree of precision. The varieties under observation were PTB 1 and PTB 5 in the autumn season and PTB 12 and PTB 20 in the winter season. The crop was raised as rainfed through out the entire period of investigation. The moteorological variables included in the study were total rainfall (mm), number of rainy days, maximum temperature (°C), minimum temperature (°C), maximum humidity (%), minimum humidity (%), total hours of sunshine and wind velocity (km/h).ThesisItem Open Access Immunopathological response of kids in pneumonia(Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Anilkumar, T V; KAU; Rajan, AThesisItem Open Access Uniformity trials on colocasia (Colocasia esculenta L.)(Department of Statistics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Lizy, M J; KAU; George, K GA uniformity trial on colocasia was conducted at the experimental field of the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period April – September 1984, to study the nature and magnitude of soil heterogeneity and to estimate the optimum size and shape of plots in conducting field trials on colocasia. The various techniques adopted for achieving these objectives were, productivity contour map, mean squares among strips, serial correlation, heterogeneity index method and maximum curvature method. The biometrical observations such as height, girth, yield number of leaves and leaf area were taken from all plants. Productivity contour map revealed that the field was heterogeneous with regard to soil fertility. The mean squares for the horizontal and vertical arrangements indicated that the fertility was more clear along the length than along the width of the field. The low serial correlation coefficients for both rows and columns established that fertile areas occur in patches. The coefficient of variation increased in plot size. For a given size of the plot, the long and narrow plots yield lower coefficient of variation than square plots. The Smith’s variance law in the form Y = ax-b gave a satisfactory fit to the data. But among all the fitted models the equation Y = a + b/ x1/2 + c/x was found to be the best. Generalisation of Smith’s law in the form Y = ar-g 1c-g 2 also gave a good fit to the data and heterogeneity of rows was found to be significantly more than that of columns. The optimum plot size found out by using Smith’s equation was 12 units (3.34m2). But the optimum plot size computed by using the optimum equation Y = a + b/x1/2 + c/x was 10.87 units (2.93m2). A study of the optimum plot size while considering the cost of experimentation using the Smith’s equation was 1.636m2. In general, it can be recommended that a plot of 2.93m2 as optimum for conducting field trials on colocasia.ThesisItem Open Access Immunopathological response of pigs In aflatoxicosis(Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Gopalakrishnan Nair, M; KAU; Maryamma, K IThe immune response of pigs fed aflatoxin at two different dose levels. 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg body weight was studied. The reduction in weight gain observed in the aflatoxin fed pigs was associated with decreased feed consumption and total serum protein concentration. There was increase in ESR and decease in PCV, haemoglobin and total erythrocyte count in the toxin fed groups. The neutrophilic and lymphocytic count did not show any significant variation except when the animals contracted mange infection. Following infection there was slight neutrophilia. The cell-mediated immune response was assessed employing ANAE, PHA and DNCB as markers. A decrease in the immune response was documented in the aflatoxin fed pigs. The humoral immune response was found to be suppressed as evidenced by a decrease in the concentration of total serum protein and gammaglobulin in the toxin fed groups. The phagocytic activity of neutrophils and macrophages was assessed using Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test. The data revealed a decreased phagocytic activity. Haemorrhages were seen in almost all the visceral organs.The liver of aflatoxin fed animals was enlarged and icteric. The gall bladder was distended and oedematous. Fetty change centrilobular necrosis, haemorrhage, bilary hyperplasia, fibrous tissue proliferation, reticular collapse and focal lymphocytic infilteration were the characteristic histological features. Haemorrhage and haemosiderosis evident in the spleen. Tubular degeneration and focal haemorrhages were seen in the kidney. The thymus and the lymphnodes revealed depletion of lymphoid cells and focal areas of haemorrhage. Some of the lymphnodes revealed reactive proliferative response. Regular screening of feed for aflatoxin was advocated as a routine farm operation to prevent the deleterious effect of aflatoxin on the health and productivity of pigs.ThesisItem Open Access Incidence and pathological features of hypothyroidism in cattle(Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Mammen J Abraham; KAU; Valsala, K VA survey study conducted indicated that hypothyroidism was one of the major etiological factors responsible for non – infectious reproductive disorders in cattle. The reason for repeat breeding cases in certain instances could be traced to hypofunction of the thyroid gland. Besides, this, hypothyroidism was experimentally induced in six male calves using thiourea as the goitrogen at a single dosage schedule of 150 mg/kg body weight with a view to delineate the sequence of clinicopathological changes in the sub – clinical hypothyroid state. The haemogram, plasma protein level, serum cholesterol level and serum protein bound iodine level of these animals were estimated at fortnightly intervals. Clinically, the experimental animals manifested progressive weakness, dullness, reduction in feed intake, irregular shedding of hair, subcutaneous edema and above all a marked stunting in growth. Gelatinization of subcutaneous and other depot fat and cardiac dilatation were the chief lesions encountered at autopsy. The calves became progressively anaemic and registered high serum cholesterol and plasma protein levels but significantly low PBI level as compared with control claves. There was significant increase in the relative weights of the thyroid, adrenal and pituitary glands but reduction in the relative weight of the testis. Histologically the thyroid follicular epithelial cells exhibited hyperplastic changes and varying degrees of degeneration along with significant depletion of colloid. Microscopically pituitary gland revealed vacuolation and hyperplasia of the basophil cells in focal areas. Adrenal glands showed slight proliferation of cells of zona faciculata and depletion of fat. Microscopic picture of the testis showed slight obliteration of the seminiferous tubules with no evidence of mitotic activity in the tubular cells. A few degenerated and desquamated cells were seen along with giant cells. The varying degrees of degenerative changes observed in the testis accounted for the reproductive disorders in hypothyroidism.
