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ThesisItem Open Access ROLE PERFORMANCE AND CAPACITY NEED ASSESSMENT OF FIELD EXTENSION FUNCTIONARIES OF DAIRY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, KERALA(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-02-20) BADDAM AKHILA; Dr. Subin K. MohanThe present study was undertaken to analyse the role performance, capacity needs and constraints perceived by the Field Extension Functionaries (FEFs) of Dairy Development Department, Kerala. An exploratory research design was adopted. Nonproportionate stratified random sampling was adopted to select a sample of 120 respondents comprising of 60 Dairy Extension Officers and 60 Dairy Farm Instructors.Primary data were collected through multiple sources of evidence like personal interviews, google forms, telephonic interviews and secondary data were collected from annual reports and government official websites. Role performance was assessed concerning the frequency of performance, level of importance, performance difficulty and perception of effectiveness. Under frequency of performance and perception of effectiveness, office management was ranked first, under the level of importance, implementation of schemes was ranked first and under performance difficulty, quality control was ranked first. Majority (75 per cent) of the FEFs had a medium level of role performance. 37.50 per cent of the respondents had medium level of job stress and 36.70 per cent of the FEFs’ had medium level of job satisfaction. 41.70 per cent of the respondents had favourable attitude towards the organisation. 40 per cent of the FEFs’perceived the organisational climate has favourable.Capacity need analysis revealed that professional management was the most preferred subject matter area for knowledge based capacity needs, followed by information technology, dairy cattle production and management, fodder production and management, dairy extension and milk and milk products. As for the skill based capacity needs, the most preferred subject matter area by the respondents was professional management, followed by information technology, fodder production and management, dairy cattle production and management, milk and milk products and dairy extension.The study found that inadequate infrastructure facilities and lack of transport facilities were the major physical constraints perceived by the respondents. Under organisational constraints, inadequate staff strength and heavy administrative work were the major constraints. The most significant technological constraints perceived were inadequate knowledge about dairy innovations among the farmers and lack of technical support for implementing schemes. Inadequate budget allocation for programme execution and lack of monitoring and evaluation of schemes were the major managerial constraints.Under communication constraints, weak research-extension-farmer linkage and lack of feedback from farmers were perceived as the major ones. From the findings of the study, it was concluded that there was a lot of scope to enhance the role performance of FEFs through organisational initiatives.ThesisItem Open Access ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE PROFILING OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM CORNEAL ULCERS IN DOGS(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-01-28) ASHTAMY M. G.; Dr. Binu K. ManiCorneal ulcers are one of the most frequent and painful ophthalmic conditions in dogs. Companion animals act as a source for transfer of AMR genes among bacteria between animals and humans. Antimicrobial resistance is a significant public health threat, which is mainly due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics for a prolonged period of time. The present study deals with the isolation and identification of bacteria from corneal ulcers in dogs and their assessment of antibiotic resistance pattern by phenotypic and genotypic methods.The conjunctival swab samples collected from 15 dogs tested positive for corneal ulcers, were inoculated on to brain heart infusion agar and blood agar and incubated aerobically at 37 °C for 24 h. Out of the 15 samples, 18 isolates could be obtained with 12 as pure culture and three as mixed cultures, each with two types of colonies. The isolates were identified by their cultural characteristics on selective media, morphology, staining reactions and biochemical tests. The predominant isolates were Gram positive bacteria of the genera Staphylococcus (five), Corynebacterium (five) and Streptococcus (two). The rest of the six solates were Gram negative bacteria, viz. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (two), Klebsiella pneumoniae (two), Escherichia coli (one) and Neisseria spp. (one). Antibiotic susceptibility testing by disc diffusion method revealed that most of the isolates were resistant to quinolone group while only three of them were resistant to chloramphenicol. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the genes,mecA, ermC, aac(6’)-aph(2”) and cat for resistance against methicillin, erythromycin, aminoglycoside and chloramphenicol, respectively and mutation in gyrA for resistance against quinolones, among the bacterial isolates. The mecAcould be detected in four, ermC in three and aac(6’)-aph(2”) in seven isolates.Out of seven isolates which amplified gyrA, the representative sample which was sequenced, revealed single point mutation. The mutation detected was silent, since it did not change any amino acid pattern. The cat gene could not be detected in any of the isolates.ThesisItem Open Access DIETARY INCLUSION OF INDUKANTHAM KASHAYAM RESIDUES ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS OF BROILER RABBITS(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-03-13) RESHMA R. CHANDRAN; Dr. Shyama K.A study was carried out for a period of four months using eighteen weaned New Zealand White broiler rabbits of four to six weeks age to find out the effect of dietary inclusion of Indukantham kashayam residues on growth performance and carcass characteristics. The rabbits were divided into three groups of six animals each. The animals were randomly alloted to three dietary treatments, T1 (control diet as per ICAR, 2013), T2 (Diet containing 5 per cent Indukantham kashayam residues) and T3 (Diet containing10 per cent Indukantham kashayam residues). The data on weekly body weight, average daily dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conversion efficiency, serum biochemical parameters (total protein, serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine), carcass characteristics (slaughter weight, meat yield, weight of internal organs (as per cent of live weight) and chemical composition of meat were used for evaluation of the work. The cost of production per kg body weight gain was also calculated. The results of the study indicate that all animals maintained on the three dietary treatments were similar (p>0.05) in weekly body weight, average daily gain (17.52 ± 0.37, 18.62 ± 0.75 and 17.88 ± 0.89 g for T1, T2 and T3 respectively), average daily DM intake and feed conversion efficiency (4.63 ± 0.11, 4.18 ± 0.23 and 4.46 ± 0.18 for T1, T2 and T3 respectively). Digestibility of nutrients was similar between treatment groups. Serum biochemical parameters were within the normal range and similar between rabbits belonging to three groups. Carcass traits and feed cost per kg body weight gain were also similar between rabbits maintained on three dietary treatments. From the overall findings, it can be inferred that up to 10 per cent Indukantham kashayam residues can be included in broiler rabbit diets.ThesisItem Open Access EVALUATION OF MILK REPLACERS CONTAINING ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCES IN CROSSBRED CALVES(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-01-28) ABHIJITH M; Dr. Sajith PurushothamanA study was conducted for a period of 90 days for the evaluation of effect of milk replacers containing soy protein isolate and wheat protein isolate in preruminant crossbred calves on growth and performance. Eighteen crossbred calves of four-day-old were selected from University Livestock Farm and Fodder Research and Development Scheme (ULF & FRDS), Mannuthy. The dietary treatments were T1 (Control) fed with whole milk, T2- fed with soy protein isolate based milk replacer (CP-22 per cent) and milk in the ratio 3:1, and T3- fed with wheat protein isolate based milk replacer (CP-22 per cent) and milk in the ratio 3:1. To all the experimental animals, calf starter (CP-23 per cent) and green grass were offered and were fed according to ICAR (2013). The average initial and final body weights and total weight gain and weresimilar across the treatments and no significant difference was observed through statistical analysis. Average daily gain of calves in three experimental rations T1, T2 and T3 were 328.37 ± 9.51, 325.03 ± 11.39 and 330.56 ± 8.34 g respectively, and no significant difference were observed among the treatment.The fortnightly average daily DMI of the experimental calves ranged from 386.33 ± 20.84 to 911.02 ± 32.42 g for T1, 370.42 ± 15.30 to 1139.82 ± 21.40 gfor T2 and 375.86 ± 19.68 to 1150.50 ± 48.28 g for T3. On statistical analysis no significant difference was observed except in the fifth and sixth fortnights, in which a significantly lower (p<0.01) average daily dry matter intake was observed in T1 compared with T2 and T3. The average feed conversion ratio of the calves under the three experimental diets were 2.10 ± 0.37, 2.49 ± 0.19, and 2.46 ± 0.13 respectively, for T1, T2 and T3, and no significant difference was observed. The digestibility coefficient values of nutrients were similar across the treatments except for ADF, in which T3 (56.38 ± 2.09) was found to be significantly higher (p<0.01) from T1 (51.80 ± 1.28) and T2 (48.72 ± 0.92).Hematobiochemical parameters were similar across the treatments and no difference could be observed. Cost per kilogram of body weight in calves were obtained as 445.79 ± 20.98, 320.08 ± 8.27 and 315.61 ± 13.07 Rs. /Kg respectively, for T1, T2 and T3 and on statistical analysis it was observed that T1 differed significantly at one per cent level with T2 and T3. Evaluation of the data revealed that the calves maintained on milk replacerobtained similar growth performance, digestibility coefficient values andhaematological values in comparison to whole milk fed calves at a lower cost.Hence it was concluded that milk replacers containing alternative protein sourceslike soy protein isolate and wheat protein isolate can be successfully used foreconomical calf rearing than the whole milk feedingThesisItem Open Access MOLECULAR DETECTION AND CHARACTERISATION OF CHICKEN ANAEMIA VIRUS FROM KERALA(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-01-28) VIDYA P.; Dr. Surya SankarChicken anaemia virus (CAV) is the aetiological agent of chicken infectious anaemia (CIA), an immunosuppressive disease which brings huge economic burden to poultry industry globally. Epidemiology of the disease and virulence of the circulating strains is to be known, while formulating prevention strategies to any infectious disease. So far, there are no reports regarding the presence of CAV among the poultry flocks in Kerala. In this scenario, the present is envisaged for the detection of CAV, employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers targeting the VP1, VP2 and VP3 genes of the virus, and its characterisation by nucleotide sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis. Out of 100 pooled tissue samples collected from suspected cases, 29 were found to be positive for CAV by PCR. Isolation of virus from tissue homogenate of PCR-positive samples in embryonated chicken eggs through yolk ac route inoculation was carried out. Embryos were harvested 14 days post inoculation and PCR using same primers was carried out to confirm the presence of virus, but none of the samples turned positive. All the 29 samples were positive PCR targeting VP1 and VP3 gene. The representative amplicons from direct PCR targeting VP1, VP2 and VP3 genes were sequenced, analysed and compared with sequences in GenBank. The isolates from Kerala exhibited variations of about one per cent among each other and about two per cent variations were noted with other Indian isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on VP1 gene revealed that samples clustered each other and also with isolates from different parts of India and with the vaccine strains, Del Ros, 26P4 and Cux-1. On amino acid analysis of the three genes, the profile of VP2 and VP3 is conserved in nature, while VP1 exhibited similarities with rapidly spreading and highly pathogenic strains of CAV. Histopathologic examination of thymus, bursa of Fabricius and bone marrow of PCR positive samples, lesions indicating apoptosis of thymic cortex, lymphocytic depletion in bursa of Fabricius and atrophy and aplasia involving all haematopoietic lineages of bone marrow were observed.ThesisItem Open Access NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF FEEDING PRACTICES OF WILD UNGULATES AT ZOOLOGICAL PARK IN THRISSUR DISTRICT(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-01-23) FEBINA K. P; Dr. Ajith K S.A study was undertaken to develop a simple method for nutritive evaluation of feeds and fodder given to wild ungulates. Initially a data on type of feed and fodder given wild ungulates like sambar deer, hog deer, black buck and spotted deer kept at State museum and zoo, Thrissur was collected. The in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) yield of wild ungulates were assessed by using their dung as inoculum source for in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT) and compared it with faecal inoculum of control animal (cattle). The survey on the feed and fodder offered to wild ungulates revealed that green gram, bengal gram, cotton seed and cattle pellet feed were the major concentrate source and green grass and jack leaves were the major roughage sources offered to them. The IVOMD of feeds and fodders ranged from 33.22±0.19 to 66.54±0.25, 34.32±0.17 to 67.28±0.16, 37.78±0.30 to 65.25±0.71 and 32.14±0.09 to 66.16±0.34 per cent in sambar deer, hog deer, black buck and spotted deer, respectively. The metabolizable energy yield calculated by the gas production in control animal, sambar deer, black buck, spotted deer and hog deer ranged from 8.35 to 10.28 MJ/kg DM for green gram; 8.69 to 10.34 MJ/kg DM for bengal gram; 4.52 to 4.91 MJ/kg DM for cotton seed; 6.05 to 6.24 MJ/kg DM for pellet feed; 5.61 to 5.88 MJ/kg DM for green grass and 6.18 to 6.28 MJ/kg DM for jack leaves. Higher IVOMD and ME yield was obtained for green gram and bengal gram in all wild ungulates than control animal. Whereas, the sambar deer faecal inoculum showed higher IVOMD and ME for cotton seed substrates than control animal and spotted deer faecal inoculum but was lower than that of hog deer faecal inoculum. For green grass, control animal produced higher ME yield and IVOMD than black buck and sambar deer. Whereas the IVOMD and ME yield of jackfruit leaves were similar between species. On assessment of nutritional status of wild ungulates under study, it was revealed that the CP requirements of sambar deer, black buck and spotted deer were satisfied, while the TDN requirement of spotted deer and sambar deer has not been met. From the research study, it can be concluded that nutritional evaluation of wild ungulates can be predicted by IVGPT employing dung as substitute source of rumen fluid inoculum. The difference in in vitro fermentation parameters between different species may be due to the different faecal microbiota composition between the species.ThesisItem Open Access GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF MALABARI KIDS FED COMPLETE DIETS CONTAINING SPENT CUMIN (Cuminum cyminum) SEEDS(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-01-23) SALUR SRIHITHA; Dr. Dildeep VA feeding trial of 3 months was conducted to study the growth performance of Malabari kids fed complete diets containing spent cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seeds. Eighteen Malabari kids of three to four months of age were procured from University Goat and Sheep Farm, Mannuthy and divided into three groups and randomly allotted with three complete rations. T1 (Control)- Complete feed containing CP- 16 per cent, TDN- 60 per cent, T2- Complete feed incorporating 10 per cent spent cumin seeds and T3 – Complete feed incorporating 20 per cent spent cumin seeds. All the dietary treatments were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Average daily gain and total weight gain were 33.13 g and 2.78 kg, 40.67 g and 3.41 kg and 46.23 g and 3.88 kg, respectively for kids fed T1, T2 and T3 and the values were significantly higher in T3 compared to control but kids fed with T2 has similar growth rate as that of control and T3 group. Total dry matter intake of kids was 20.01, 21.65 and 24.75 kg, respectively for T1, T2 and T3 and they were similar. Feed conversion efficiency for kids fed T1, T2 and T3 was 7.23, 6.47 and 6.50, respectively and the values were similar. A digestibility trial of five days was conducted at the end of the feeding trial. Digestibility coefficient of nutrients in the experimental rations 68.17, 72.87 and 72.99 per cent for DM, 66.86, 74.12 and 73.88 per cent for CP, 56.99, 63.44 and 65.84 per cent for CF, 77.17, 77.84 and 81 per cent for EE, 75.78, 79.88 and 77.7 per cent for NFE, 49.29, 55.05 and 59.15 per cent for NDF and 36.94, 46.85 and 48.33 per cent for ADF for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. There was a significantly higher (p<0.05) DM and ADF digestibility in T2 and T3 compared with T1. Digestibility of CP and CF was significantly less (p<0.01) in T1 when compared to T2 and T3. There was no significant difference was observed among the groups in the digestibility of EE, NFE, OM and NDF studied. The haematological and serum biochemical parameters such as haemoglobin, serum total protein, calcium, phosphorus, Albumin, ALT, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine did not show any significant difference between the treatments and the values were within the normal range reported for the species. But the AST concentration was significantly higher in T3 compared to T1 and T2. However, the values were within the normal range reported for the species. The feed cost per kg body weight gain for the kids fed T1, T2 and T3 were Rs. 164.87, Rs. 136.09 and Rs.133.12, respectively and there was no difference in cost/kg gain between the groups. Critical evaluation of the results obtained in the present study revealed that kids fed with diet containing 20 per cent spent cumin seeds (T3) had significantly higher ADG and total body weight gain compared to control but kids fed with complete feed containing 10 per cent spent cumin seeds has similar growth rate as that of control and T3 group. Feed cost per kg gain for kids fed T3 was numerically better than control and similar to that T2 though not significant. Therefore, it could be concluded that spent cumin seeds at 20 per cent level can be included cost effectively in complete feed ration without compromising growth performance.ThesisItem Open Access EVALUATION OF BIOFILM FORMATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE PROFILING OF COAGULASE NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI ISOLATED FROM BOVINE SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-01-23) ANAINA S; Dr. K. VijayakumarSubclinical mastitis (SCM) is a major concern of the present day as its prevalence has increased, compared to clinical mastitis. Among the causative organisms, coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) are of great interest because of their ability to cause persistent infection. Moreover, they tend to be more resistant to antimicrobials than Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and are associated with biofilm formation. Hence detection of SCM and a better understanding on CNS with respect to their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and biofilm formation are essential for development of livestock sector. Hundred apparently healthy milch animals from university farm and a private farm near Thrissur district were selected for the study. Milk from all the four hundred quarters excluding seven blind quarters were separately screened using California mastitis test (CMT), electrical conductivity (EC) and somatic cell count (SCC). A high occurrence of SCM with 48.34 per cent on quarter basis and 91 per cent on animal basis was noted in the study. The SCC estimation by direct microscopic count (DMC) and DeLavel cell count (DCC) methods were statistically significant. No association was found between the occurrence of SCM and risk factors viz., age, parity, stage of lactation and quarter affected. All the milk samples from 393 quarter samples were subjected to bacterial isolation and identification. Among which 109 samples yielded pure bacterial growth with 86 Gram positive cocci and 23 Gram negative bacilli. Based on the cultural and biochemical characterisation, the organisms isolated were CNS (44.95 per cent), S. aureus (9.17 per cent), Micrococci spp. (22 per cent), Streptococci spp. (2.8 per cent), Klebsiella spp. (12.8 per cent) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) (8.3 per cent). Various CNS organisms isolated included Staphylococcus epidermidis (S, epidermidis), Staphylococcus scuiri (S. scuiri), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (S. haemolyticus), Staphylococcus chromogenes (S. chromogenes), Staphylococcus schleiferi (S. schleiferi) and Staphylococcus xylosus (S. xylosus). On antimicrobial susceptibility testing, 42.85 per cent of the CNS isolates were found to be resistant to gentamicin followed by methicillin (32.6 per cent), ceftriaxone tazobactam (24.48 per cent), enrofloxacin (20.4 per cent), tetracycline (16.32 per cent) and cotrimoxazole (4 per cent). Biofilm formation of CNS isolates were phenotypically identified using Congo red agar method (CRA), tube adherence method (TA) and tissue culture plate method (TCP). Significant difference was noted between CRA and TCP and also between TA and TCP. No significant difference was noted between CRA and TA. Genotypic confirmation of the CNS was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 16SrRNA and cns gene. All the 49 identified CNS isolates were subjected to PCR targeting genes for AMR (mecA, aacA-aphD and norA) and biofilm formation (bap, icaA and icaD). The percentage of CNS isolates with mecA, aacA-aphD and norA were 14.28, 44.89 and 32.65 respectively. The biofilm associated protein (bap) and intracellular adhesion genes (icaA and icaD) were found in 26.53 per cent, 91.83 per cent and 55.1 per cent of the CNS isolates. There was significant difference between the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance of the CNS isolates against methicillin. Significant difference was also noted for both CRA and TA with the presence of biofilm formation genes. From the study it was clear that CNS was the major pathogen causing subclinical mastitis and its occurrence had increased at an alarming rate. Majority of the CNS were resistant to commonly used antibiotics with a higher proportion being resistant towards gentamicin. All the isolates were capable of biofilm formation.ThesisItem Open Access Untitled(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-01-23) ANAINA S; Dr. K. VijayakumarSubclinical mastitis (SCM) is a major concern of the present day as its prevalence has increased, compared to clinical mastitis. Among the causative organisms, coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) are of great interest because of their ability to cause persistent infection. Moreover, they tend to be more resistant to antimicrobials than Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and are associated with biofilm formation. Hence detection of SCM and a better understanding on CNS with respect to their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and biofilm formation are essential for development of livestock sector. Hundred apparently healthy milch animals from university farm and a private farm near Thrissur district were selected for the study. Milk from all the four hundred quarters excluding seven blind quarters were separately screened using California mastitis test (CMT), electrical conductivity (EC) and somatic cell count (SCC). A high occurrence of SCM with 48.34 per cent on quarter basis and 91 per cent on animal basis was noted in the study. The SCC estimation by direct microscopic count (DMC) and DeLavel cell count (DCC) methods were statistically significant. No association was found between the occurrence of SCM and risk factors viz., age, parity, stage of lactation and quarter affected. All the milk samples from 393 quarter samples were subjected to bacterial isolation and identification. Among which 109 samples yielded pure bacterial growth with 86 Gram positive cocci and 23 Gram negative bacilli. Based on the cultural and biochemical characterisation, the organisms isolated were CNS (44.95 per cent), S. aureus (9.17 per cent), Micrococci spp. (22 per cent), Streptococci spp. (2.8 per cent), Klebsiella spp. (12.8 per cent) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) (8.3 per cent). Various CNS organisms isolated included Staphylococcus epidermidis (S, epidermidis), Staphylococcus scuiri (S. scuiri), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (S. haemolyticus), Staphylococcus chromogenes (S. chromogenes), Staphylococcus schleiferi (S. schleiferi) and Staphylococcus xylosus (S. xylosus). On antimicrobial susceptibility testing, 42.85 per cent of the CNS isolates were found to be resistant to gentamicin followed by methicillin (32.6 per cent), ceftriaxone tazobactam (24.48 per cent), enrofloxacin (20.4 per cent), tetracycline (16.32 per cent) and cotrimoxazole (4 per cent). Biofilm formation of CNS isolates were phenotypically identified using Congo red agar method (CRA), tube adherence method (TA) and tissue culture plate method (TCP). Significant difference was noted between CRA and TCP and also between TA and TCP. No significant difference was noted between CRA and TA. Genotypic confirmation of the CNS was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 16SrRNA and cns gene. All the 49 identified CNS isolates were subjected to PCR targeting genes for AMR (mecA, aacA-aphD and norA) and biofilm formation (bap, icaA and icaD). The percentage of CNS isolates with mecA, aacA-aphD and norA were 14.28, 44.89 and 32.65 respectively. The biofilm associated protein (bap) and intracellular adhesion genes (icaA and icaD) were found in 26.53 per cent, 91.83 per cent and 55.1 per cent of the CNS isolates. There was significant difference between the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance of the CNS isolates against methicillin. Significant difference was also noted for both CRA and TA with the presence of biofilm formation genes. From the study it was clear that CNS was the major pathogen causing subclinical mastitis and its occurrence had increased at an alarming rate. Majority of the CNS were resistant to commonly used antibiotics with a higher proportion being resistant towards gentamicin. All the isolates were capable of biofilm formation.
