Loading...
Anand Agricultural University, Anand
Anand Agricultural University (AAU) was established in 2004 at Anand with the support of the Government of Gujarat, Act No.(Guj 5 of 2004) dated April 29, 2004. Caved out of the erstwhile Gujarat Agricultural University (GAU), the dream institution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. K. M. Munshi, the AAU was set up to provide support to the farming community in three facets namely education, research and extension activities in Agriculture, Horticulture Engineering, product Processing and Home Science. At present there seven Colleges, seventeen Research Centers and six Extension Education Institute working in nine districts of Gujarat namely Ahmedabad, Anand, Dahod, Kheda, Panchmahal, Vadodara, Mahisagar, Botad and Chhotaudepur
AAU's activities have expanded to span newer commodity sectors such as soil health card, bio-diesel, medicinal plants apart from the mandatory ones like rice, maize, tobacco, vegetable crops, fruit crops, forage crops, animal breeding, nutrition and dairy products etc. the core of AAU's operating philosophy however, continues to create the partnership between the rural people and committed academic as the basic for sustainable rural development. In pursuing its various programmes AAU's overall mission is to promote sustainable growth and economic independence in rural society. AAU aims to do this through education, research and extension education. Thus, AAU works towards the empowerment of the farmers.
Browse
36 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Open Access DEVELOPMENT OF DIGESTIVE ENZYMES IN PANCREATIC JUICE AND DUODENAL FLUID OF COW CALVES AND BUFFALO CALVES FROM BERTH TO EARLY RUMINANT STAGE(AAU, Anand, 1996) Christi, K. S.; VADODARIA, V. P.Healthy 22 calves (10 cow calves; 12 buffalo calves) maintained at Veterinary college, Anand, with an objective of establishing physico-biochemical profile of pancreatic juice and duodenal fluid from birth to fifteen week of age were studied in relation to different physiological factors like age, feeding and diurnal variations. There is no report of research work carried out simultaneously both in cow calves and buffalo calves as well as on panoreatic juice and duodenal fluid at same age, feeding schedule and for diurnal variations in various parameters. The research data were classified and tested with the help of standard statistical procedures. Work on buffalo calves has not been found reported fluid, therefore the present work provides the basic informations for future research endeavor.ThesisItem Open Access COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GROSS, HISTOLOGICAL, HISTOCHEMICAL AND BIOMECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCOMOTORY APPARATUS OF THE BUFFALO AND THE OX(AAU, Anand, 1996) DUBAL, SUBHASH C.; Vyas, K. N.The present study was carried out to investigate and compare the anatomical and the biomechanical characteristics of bones and muscles of forelimbs and hindlimbs of male of Surti buffalo and Kankrej ox (5 to 10 months old calves and 5 years or more old adults, six in number, in each age group of each species). Study on walking gait characteristics were made from the videographs of six live adult animals of each species. The forelimbs of the buffalo were found to bear significantly (P < 0.05) more body weight (57.89 ± 0.82 %) than those of the ox (55.96 ± 1.05 % ). The cortical thickness, bone density and elastic modulus of the bones of the forelimbs, did not differ significantly (P < 0.05) from those of the hindlimbs of the animals of both the species within the same age groups. The pooled mean values of the cortical thickness,the bone density and the elastic modulus of the bones of the calves, were significantly (P < 0.05) lower (0.18 ± 0.001 cm; 2281.27 ± 14.21 - 2 kg/cm and 118.37 ± 0.11 kg/cm2, respectively) than those of the adult animals (0.54 ± 0.002 cm, 2510.54 ± 9.28 kg/cm2 and 166.33 ± 0.17 kg/cm2 , respectively). The ultimate compressive and tensile stresses, and ttie strength and stiffness economics, increased significantly with the advancement of the age. Most of the gross anatomical and the biomechanical characteristics of the bones and the muscles studied, increased significantly (P < 0.05) from the calfhood to the adulthood in both the species.ThesisItem Open Access SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY, ISOLATION AND PATHOGENICITY OF BLUETONGUE VIRUS(AAU, Anand, 1996) Chandel, Bharat Singh; Kher, H. N.Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, non contagious disease of domestic and wild ruminants. Bluetongue virus ( BTV ) causes severe disease in sheep, which i s transmitted by insect vectors (Culicoides spp.) . The ability of BTVs to inflict pathological changes in susceptible sheep depends on the virulence of a particular viral isolate , susceptibility of the host and a number of environmental factors related to climatic conditions. The present study was aimed at the seroepidemiology, prevalence of BTV serotypes in sheep, isolation, propagation and identification of local isolates and pathogenicity of BTV in natural and experimental cases of sheep. This study also covered the seroprevalence of epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in cattle and buffaloes as it is related to orbivirus group. A seroepidentiological survey of BTV precipitating antibodies was carried out by agar gel immunodiffusicm ( AGID ) test in different species of livestock in Gujarat. Out of 1623 sera tested, 407 (25.07%) were found to be positive for BTV antibodies.ThesisItem Open Access Bioecological studies on Geocoris ochropterus Fieber (Hemiptera : Lygaeidae) , an important predator in cotton ecosystem(AAU, Anand, 1996) SHARMA, URMILA; Yadav, D. N.Bioecological studies on the big eyed bug, Geocoris ochropterus Fieber, an drnportant predator in the cotton ecosystem, were made during 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons at the Anand Campus of Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand. Biological observations revealed that the predator laid yellowish white eggs singly on the plant parts which took 8.33 ± 0.27 days at varying temperature of 29.62 ± 0.38 to 30.36 ± 0.12°C, RH 84.26 + 1.25 % and L : D, 12:12 to hatch. Maximum hatching (82 %) was observed when the temperature tanged between 21.61 ± 0.23 to 23.5 + 0.76°C and RH 71.03 + 2.38 %. The predator passed through five nyraphal instars. The duration of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth instar was 5.5 + ©.22, 5.6 ± 0 . 20 , 5.6 + 0.20, 5.9 + 0.33 and 9.25 ± 0.23 days respectively. Total nymphal duration was 29.7 + 1.43 days. Nymphal mortality was high in the fifth instar (39.21 % ). Sexes can be differentiated from their size. Males are usually smaller. The sex ratio in the laboratory population and field population was 1:1.10 (male : female) and 1.29 :1 (male : female) respectively. Mating accomplished easily and lasted for 15m to 4h in the laboratory. The preoviposition, oviposition and postoviposition periods averaged 3.4 ± 0.47, 19.2 ± 2.84 and 3.6 ± 0.69 days respectively of the mated female. Fecundity, when reared on A. gossypii averaged 42.4 + 5.09 eggs. The daily rate of oviposition of laboratory reared female was 1.21 eggs/day and that of field collected female was 0.91 eggs/day. Daily rate of oviposition was greatly affected (6.2 eggs/day) when the females were fed on eggs of Earias vitirella + cotton leaf. Longevity of male and female was 19.9 ±3.68 and 29.5 ± 3.55 days respectively. The female lived longer when fed on eggs of Spodoptera litura + fresh cotton leaves and A. gossypii nymphs + fresh cotton leaves studies on predatory potential showed that maximum consumption was observed during fifth instar. The nymphs consumed an average 1 05 + 4.33 aphid nymphs before reaching maturity. The male and female consumed on an average 530.28 ± 61.74 and 634.14 ± 71.02 nymphs of A. gossypii respectively in their life span. Further, female of G. ochropterus consumed on an average 32.60 and 19.80 eggs of H. armigera and E. vitiella respectively per day. The predator was found to prey on twenty one species of pests occurring on thirteen crops and two weeds but there were about eight species of plants with which it was not found associated. Cannibalism, phytophagy and necrophagy was also observed. G. ochropterus was found fairly well distributed in cotton growing areas of Gujarat. The predator was found relatively free from natural enemies. Only in one case, egg parasitisation by an unidentified eulophid was recorded. The adult was predated upon by an unidentified reduviid bug and a spider. Insecticides such as Methyl-o-demeton, endosulfan, quinalphos, monocrotophos, fenvalerate and cypermethrin, normally used in cotton were found to have detrimental affect on the natural population of the bug. A large population of G. ochropterus survived and flourished on relay crops like maize and sunnhemp and was able to shift to cotton crop which was sown early. The predator appeared to exhibit habitat preference. In nature the predator occurred in the first fortnight of September during 1994-95 and in the second fortnight of August during 1995-96. The predator population reached its peak during the first fortnight of December. The activity of G. ochropterus was found negatively correlated with relative humidity. They remained active until the crop was removed. Off season survival of the predator was recorded on crops ajid weeds like ratoon cotton, maize, sunnhemp, mungbean, okra, brinjal, potato, summer groundnut, cowpea, Chenopodium album and Gyanandropsis spp. Greater population was observed on ratoon cotton, maize, sunnhemp, okra, brinjal, cowpea and lucerne. Developing effective mass rearing techniques and efficient relay cropping system and other methods to conserve the predator in nature are suggested.ThesisItem Open Access DYNAMIC MODELING OF DAILY WATER USE BY SUMMER PEARL MILLET ' (Pennisetum americanum L.)(AAU, Anand, 1995) Bodapati, Papuji Rao; Savani, M. B.Crop water use is a complex function of the climatic conditions, stage of the crop development and the soil water content. Models have been developed earlier using various approaches and levels of details to improve the prediction of evapotranspiration. Functional models with some empiricism can be used for routine applications than the mechanistic models. Transpiration from the pearl millet was found to be strongly influenced by leaf area than by stomatal conductance. Field experiments during the summer season of the years 1994 and 1995 were conducted with pearl millet cv. GHB-30. The experiments were laid out in split-plot design, with three dates of sowing as the main plot and four irrigation levels as the sub-plot treatments which were replicated four times. The results obtained in this investigation revealed that, air temperature had a profound influence on the growth and development of summer pearl millet. The optimum date of sowing was found to be February 15th , which would provide optimum environmental conditions for the growth and development of the crop. Different dates of sowing did not show any significant effect on the grain yield. Irrigating the crop at 25% depletion of available soil moisture gave the highest grain and biomass yields but its WUE was lower than that for the other irrigation levels. Pearl millet required about 310 GDD in summer season to build considerable GLAI and about 800 GDD to attain the maximum GLAI. A second-order polynomial was developed for estimating GLAI using the accumulated GDD. The FAO Kc, values had over-estimated ET rates and a second-order polynomial was developed to estimate daily Kc values from the accumulated GDD for non-stressed pearl millet. The rate of ET in pearl millet was found to decrease with an increase in soil moisture deficit and approached zero at a soil moisture depletion of 65% of the available soil moisture. PLANTGRO and MCD models when evaluated against the field data collected through this experiment, predicted ET reasonably better for nonstressed treatments than for stressed treatments. Of the two models, the MCD model predicted better for stressed condition than the PLANTGRO model. The functional relations for the PET estimation and root water uptake in the MCD model needed substantial modification. The separation of the PET in the PLANTGRO model did not suit the summer pearl millet. A one-day time step model BAJRAWAT had been developed in the 'C' language during the course of the present study, and was made User-friendly. Irrigation amount and the PET being its main driving forces, the partitioning of PET into soil evaporation and transpiration had been accomplished in BAJRAWAT by GLAI. The actual evaporation and transpiration depended on the availability of water in the surface soil and in the root zone and also on the depth of root penetration. The evaporation was assumed to take place from the surface soil only and the soil was further divided into four layers, from which water was assumed to have been removed by transpiration and drainage. Infiltration was assumed to have been taking place depending on the amount and the location of water already in the soil layers. The transpiration was computed as a function of GLAI and the available moisture in the root zone. The development of GLAI was considered to be controlled by thermal time and a moisture stress factor. The BAJRAWAT model when validated along with PLANTGRO and MCD models predicted ET better than the latter two models. The relative transpiration of summer pearl millet was found to be more closely associated with relative dry matter yield than with the relative grain yieldThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF POOR QUALITY IRRIGATION WATER THROUGH DRIP SYSTEM ALONGWITH FARM YARD MANURE AND PLASTIC MULCH ON CHANGES IN VERTISOL AND PERFORMANCE OF TOMATO CROP(AAU, Anand, 1995) DESAI, RAMESHCHANDRA MAGANLAL; PATEL, J. C.A field experiment was conducted at Narmada Irrigation Research Project, Khandha (Karjan) on Vertisols (heavy black) to study the effect of poor quality irrigation water (EC 2.1 dSm-1 SAR 10.8 and Mg/Ca ratio 2.1) using flood and drip system with or without FYM and black plastic mulch (PM) on changes in properties of soil and performance of tomato crop during Rabi season of 1993-94. The effect of monsoon rain on changes in properties of soil was also studied. Ten treatment combinations viz., 50 mm flood (0.8 PE) and three levels of drip viz. D1(0.45), D2(0.60) and D3(0.75 PE) with or without FYM as well as black PM(50) at 0.45 PE with or without FYM were tried in randomised block design with four replications. The use of black polyethylene mulch alongwith drip irrigation at 0.45 PE showed maximum plant height, number of branches per plant and leaf area index. The use of drip irrigation was better with respect to above parameters over flood system. The levels of irrigation and application of FYM did not show significant response. The development of roots (dry weight, length and volume) was significantly higher under PM alongwith drip irrigation at 0.45 PE. Application of FYM was effective at higher level (0.75 PE) of drip irrigation only. The number of fruits per plant and mean weight of fruits were maximum under PM' treatments. The performance of drip system in respect of number of fruits per plant was better over flood. The fruit yields were significantly highest under PM treatment! during both the periods. The fruit yields under D1 + PM (75.29 Mg ha-1), D1 + PM + FYM, D3 + FYM and D3 treatments were 96.6, 67.8, 65.1 and 63.0 (period I), as well as 82.8, 62.5, 46.4 and 44.7 (overall) per cent higher, respectively over flood irrigation (41.19 Mg ha-1 ). The effect of application of FYM was not significant. The stalk yield was maximum under PM along with lower level of drip irrigation (0.45 PE) followed by treatment D3 (0.75 PE). The water use efficiency (kg ha-1 m-1 ) was maximum in D1 + PM (173.36) followed by D1 + PM + FYM (154.4) while increasing levels of drip irrigation reduced. the WUE irrespective of FYM application.ThesisItem Open Access EMBRYO TRANSFER TECHNOLOGY DURING PEAK AND LOW BREEDING SEASON IN KANKREJ COWS AND MEHSANA BUFFALOES(AAU, Anand, 1995) Sahatpure, Sunil K.; Mehta, V. M.To apply the embryo transfer technology in field level Kankrej cows and Mehsana buffaloes this research programme was planned. The major objectives of this research work were to study the efficacy of FSH and PMSG as superovulatory hormones in field level Kankrej cows and Mehsana buffaloes placed in peak (winter) and low (summer) breeding seasons. During the course of these experiments the embryo recovered were transferred to estrus synchronized recipients maintained under same season and management. An attempt was made to study the endocrine interrelationships with SOV responses of donors and pregnancy responses in recipient cows and buffaloes. The present work was conducted in villages of Mehsana district of Gujarat state where the kankrej cows and Mehsana buffaloes are thickly populated. The August to December months were included in peak breeding season and April to June months were included as low breeding season in present studies. The climatological parameters such as ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded during these months. To study the interactions between gonadothrophin response with seasons and species of animals total four experiments were planned. In experiment-I four each of Mehsana buffaloes were superovulated in low breeding season either with PMSG (2500 lU) or folltropin-V(500 mg NIK). In experiment-II keeping other items constant the Mehsana buffaloes were superovulated with folltropin-V or PMSG in peak breeding season. In experiment-Ill four each of kankrej cows were superovualted with PMSG (2000 lU) or folltropin-V (400 mg NIH) during low breeding season. In experiment IV keeping other things constant Kankrej cows were superovualted with folltropin-V or PMSG in peak breeding season. All the donor cows and buffaloes were synchronized for induced estrus with the help of PGF2a treatment injection at interval of 11 days. The PMSG treatment wua given as a single dose on day 10 of the cycle where as folltropin was injected in small divided and tapering doses between day 10 to day 13. The superovulated estrus was induced with prostaglandin injection two days after initiation of gonadotropin treatment. Employing non-surgical flushing technique of embryo recovery, the embryos were recovered from all the donor cows and buffaloes respectively on day 7 and day 6 after SOV estrus. The embryo recovered were evaluated and graded. The blood serum samples collected at definite interval and stages were analyzed for levels of estradiol-l 7{3 progesterone total cholesterol and total protein. Wherever possible, the attempts were made to transfer embryos in estrus synchronized recipients. In experiment-V the estrus synchronized recipients were transferred with fresh embryos recovered in above four experiments and wherever fresh embryos were not available, the frozen embryos were transferred. The recipient cows and buffaloes were estrus synchronized with prostaglandin F2a analogue (Lutalyse 25 mg). The embryos were transferred on day 7 and day 6 after synchronized estrus respectively in cattle and buffaloes. The blood serum samples collected at different interval were analyzed for the levels of progesterone, estradiol-1713, total cholesterol and protein. The pregnancy rate in recipient was calculated. The Kankrej cows selected randomly exhibited induced estrus between 48 to 60 h and 36 to 48 h respectively in low and peak breeding season. The seasonal differences were significant. The Mehsana buffaloes had taken 36 to 48 h time for induction of estrus in both seasons. All cows and buffaloes responded to PGF2a treatment. The SOV estrus was induced in all the Kankrej cows between 32 to 42 h and 38 to 90 h in peak and low breeding season respectively. The SOV estrus duration was longer in low breeding season. The Mehsana buffaloes had taken 36 to 48 h time for induction of SOV estrus after last PG injection. No seasonal influence was noted in time taken for induction of estrus but duration of estrus especially in PMSG treated low breeding season buffaloes was largest (90 to 120 h). All the Kankrej cows and Mehsana buffaloes had developed corpus luteum present on day of initiating folltropin or PMSG treatment. The right ovary was observed to be more functional in both species as compared to left ovary. The SOV response recorded . on day of embryo recovery was significantly higher with"^ folltropin treatment in both the species when compared with PMSG treatment. The average number of follicles and corpora lutea developed on both ovaries in kankrej cows with folltropin treatments were 15.5±3.45 and 13.0±3.62, 12.5+4.63 and 10.75±0.72 respectively in peak breeding and low breeding season. The difference were significant (P< 0.05) The Kankrej cows treated with PMSG had developed average follicles and corpora lutea 4.5±1.73 and 2.5±10; 3.0±0.47 and 1.5+0.33 respectively in peak and low breeding seasons. The SOV response to PMSG was significantly lower (P< 0.01) than folltropin treatment. The SOV response of Mehsana buffaloes remained significantly inferior than Kankrej cows. The total number of follicles and corpora lutea developed were 6.75±0.55 and 4.75±0.25, 5.25+1.59 and 4.25±1.59 respectively, when folltropin was used in peak and low breeding season respectively. In this comparison the ovarian response to PMSG in both seasons was very poor. The 3.7±0.72, and 3.2±0.7 follicles were activated respectively in peak and low breeding season developing 2.0±0.47 and 1.75+0.55 corpora lutea respectively. The unovulated follicles of low breeding (summer) group of cows and buffaloes had tendency to turn into cystic follicles. The flushing behavior of both Kankrej cows and Mehsana buffaloes was optimal, only two kankrej cows out of 16 and three Mehsana buffaloes out of 16 had non-negotiable cervix, so flushing could not be attempted. The embryo recovery rate of Kankrej cows was optimal (28/4 cows) after folltropin treatment in peak breeding season. Comparatively less number of embryos (17/4) were recovered in low breeding season folltropin treated cows. The difference observed due to season were significant. In this comparison the Mehsana buffaloes had only four embryos under folltropin treatment in peak and low breeding seasons. With PMSG treatment in donor buffaloes no embryo was recovered. The studies revealed a significant effect of season and gonadotrophin both on the embryo recovery rate. The fertilization rate in the ova recovered from cows was most satisfactory in present studies. The season and gonadotrophin treatment had no significant effect on fertilization rate. However, the fertilization rate in buffaloes of low breeding season is comparatively lesser than peak breeding season. Since the number of observations are too less for buffaloes the differences due to season may not be significant. The embryo evaluation studies in kankrej cows revealed that more than fifty percent of embryos both under folltropin (25/44) and PMSG (3/6) treatment group were morula stage. Ten embryos in folltropin treatment group were in blastocyst stage. About 10%, 16% and 50% embryos were found to be degenerated in folltropin treated peak breeding season, folltropin treated low breeding season and PMSG treated peak breeding season cows. The difference were significant. In this comparison Mehsana buffaloes had 50% (4/8) embryos either in morula stage or in degenerated and unfertilized stage. The overall progesterone profiles of SOV kankrej cows and Mehsana buffaloes' were following same trend as reported in literature. All the Kankrej cows maintained above 2.0 ng/ml progesterone levels on day (DIO) and buffaloes maintaining above 1.0 ng/ml progesterone level on day 10 (DIO) had responded to SOV treatment. Lowest levels of progesterone were maintained by Kankrej cows and Mehsana buffaloes on day 0 (DO) (Induced estrus) and day 14 (D14 day of SOV estrus) had not responded properly to SOV treatment. The blood progesterone levels recorded steep heights on day of embryo recovery both in SOV responded cows and buffaloes. However, the levels were positively correlated with the number of ovulations and corpora lutea developed. In folltropin treatment of cows seven out of eight had shown progesterone level between 8.58 to 22.50 ng/ml on day of embryo recovery. Since buffaloes exhibited significant variation in SOV treatment of folltropin and PMSG the progesterone levels recorded on day of embryo recovery (D21) are highly variable. Seven buffaloes out of eight in peak breeding season and two buffaloes out of eight in low breeding season maintained progesterone level above 2.5 ng/ml on day of embryo recovery. The blood progesterone levels were found to be significantly dropped to low level on day 35 (D35) in 50% of Kankrej cows superovulated, whereas 80% of Mehsana buffaloes still maintained level above 1.0 ng/ml on day 35 (D35). The species difference \n luteolytic effect of PGF2a analogue (lutalyse) is evident in present studies. The elevated estradiol - 17(3 was recorded in Kankrej cows on • days of induced estrua. The levels recorded on day of SOV-; estrus were significantly higher than all other stages studied. The peak estradiol levels were not positively correlated with embryp; recovery response» The levels were not influenced by peak or low breeding season or type of gonadotrophin used. The estradiol 1713 levels tended to decline on day 10 (DIO). Significantly higher levels recorded on day of embryo recovery declined significantly in folltropin treated Kankrej cows whereas the levels were maintained significantly higher on day of embryo recovery in PMSG treated Kankrej cows. The maintenance of high estradiol - 170 upto day of embryo recovery was detrimental to embryo recovery and embryo quality in present studies. The superovulated Mehsana buffaloes tended to maintain general trend of blood level estradiol 17B similar to Kankrej cows. However, the levels in PMSG treatment group were retained higher upto day 35. The embryo recovery rate in buffaloes was inversely proportional to estradiol 170 levels maintained on day of embryo recovery. The higher blood serum cholesterol levels were recorded in Kankrej cows on day of induced estrus (DO), SOV estrus (D14), and estrus following (D35). The levels tended to decline significantly on day 10 and day 21 (i.e. luteal phase). A positive correlation between blood cholesterol levels and follicle size recorded had no significant relationship with embryo recovery rate. The Mehsana buffaloes also maintained the same trend in maintaining blood serum total cholesterol levels. The blood serum total protein levels in SOV Kankrej cows and Mehsana buffaloes were not significantly changed in different stages of superovulation. The 15 recipient cows responded to estrus synchronization treatments of prostaglandin F2a analogue. The shorter time interval (6-28 h) was recorded between estrus of donors and recipients in peak breeding season. However, this time interval was between 18 to 28 h in low breeding season. The differences were significant. Two recipient cows transferred with good quality embryos become pregnant, when embryos collected from folltropin treated peak breeding group of cows were transferred to them. This gave a pregnancy rate of 50 percent in peak breeding season. However, none of the embryos collected from cows in folltropin treated low breeding group, PMSG treated peak breeding and low breeding group when transferred to estrus synchronized recipients could be implanted in estrus synchronized recipient cows because of estrus synchrony between donor and recipient cows was more than six hours. A very close estrus synchrony (<6h) was essential in establishing pregnancy in recipient cows even though all of them developed corpus luteura on the ovaries. All the sixteen buffaloes, estrus synchronized with prostaglandin F2a anologue had responded with close estrus synchrony (0 to 18h) in present studies. The Mehsana buffaloes reacted better to PGF20. treatment as compared to cows. Since the embryos recovered from SOV buffaloes donor were less, only 10 recipients were transferred with embryos. In buffaloes recipients also the pregnancy get established in peak breeding season giving pregnancy rate 50% in folltropin peak breeding season group (2/4) and overall 25% pregnancy in 8 recipients transferred with embryos from folltropin group donors. The overall pregnancy rate in buffaloes was 20 percent (2/10). The recipient buffaloes also required close estrus synchrony (<6h) for establishing pregnancy. The overall trend followed by estrus synchronized buffaloes and cows in maintaining blood estradiol-17β and progesterone were similar. The peak estradiol-17β and extremely low progesterone profiles were maintained by cows and buffaloes on days of synchronized estrus. The progesterone profiles above 2.0 ng/ml on day of embryo transfer were maintained on 5 recipient cows out of sixteen. Among these five cows, the pregnancy was established in two in peak breeding season crossbred cows. Similarly the recipient Mehsana buffaloes on day of embryo transfer which maintained above 1.5 ng/ml progesterone level had established pregnancy in peak breeding season. The luteal deficiency was recorded in low breeding group of cows and buffaloes. The pregnant recipient cows and buffaloes had maintained above 3.0 ng/ml progesterone level in blood on day 21 whereas cows and buffaloes maintaining progesterone levels than 2.0 ng/ml on day 21 (D21) were non pregnant and had elevated levels of estradiol- 1713. The blood total cholesterol and protein levels maintained by recipient cows and buffaloes. Similar trend as superovulated buffaloes and none of these parameters were related with establishment of pregnancy in recipient.ThesisItem Open Access ISOLATION OF INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE VIRUS (IBDV), ITS COMPARISON WITH VACCINE STRAINS AND EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT VACCINATION REGIMENS IN PASSIVELY IMMUNE CHICKS(AAU, Anand, 1995) Hirpurkar, Sadananda D.; Kher, H. N.Infectious bursal disease (IBD) which was characterised by relatively less mortality but more immunosuppression was earlier prevalent in India. During a past couple of years, there is country-wide change in pattern of disease with high mortality rates. Some of the farms investigated in the present study have also experienced high mortality among both, layers (six to 14 weeks) and broilers (four to six weeks). Present study was undertaken on isolation of IBDV from field samples, study their pathogenicity and antigenicity in comparison with existing vaccine strains; and formulation of vaccination regimen effective enough to give protection to chicks in presence of maternal antibody. Before taking up virus isolation, tissue homogenates from clinical cases were examined by agar gel diffusion test (AGDT) against reference antiserum and their identity as IBDV was confirmed. Overall AGDT positive samples ranged between 40.0 and 70.5 per cent. Positive field samples were grouped under five groups (UNO, KAM, AND, HAL and NAV), according to different geographical regions. An attempt was made for isolation of IBDV from all the five representative samples in different indicator systems. Among experimentally inoculated chicks, the clinical disease was reproduced in case of UND, KAM and AND isolate infected group. No clinical symptoms were observed in NAL and NAV isolates infected groups. The birds inoculated with each samples and sacrified 48 hours PI, had gross and histopathologic changes suggestive of IBD. Specific precipitation lines were demonstrated in bursal homogenates. Out of five field isolates, three isolates (UND, KAM and AND) were adapted to growth in chick embryos by chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) route. Predominant changes were observed in the embryos which included slow and stunted growth, cutaneous edema and hemorrhages in subcutis. UND isolate was serially passed onto chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cell culture for its adaptation to growth. Characteristic cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed earliest, at 30 hours PI, and maximum CPE showing degeneration of about 80 per cent cell monolayer, at 48 hours PI. Syncytia formation due to aggregation of large number of nuclei of dead cells was observed in later stages. Other field samples failed to induce CPE in cell culture upto five serial passages. Comparative pathogenicity studies on five field isolates, one reference isolate (BAN) and vaccine strain of intermediate (Vac-I) and mild (Vac-M) virulence each, were carried in chicks, chick enbryos and CEF cell culture. Birds infected with UHD and BAM isolates showed severe clinical synptons and also hemorrhagic lesions in the bursa of Fabricius (BF), skeletal muscles and proventriculus-gizzard junction. Concurrent histopathologic lesions in the BF, at 48 hours PI, includes marked edema, hyperemia, necrosis of lymphoid cells, and formation of vacuoles or cystic follicles. In case of birds inoculated with Vac-I strain, the enlargement and edema was more marked which persisted longer. Vaccine strain induced histopathological lesions in BF which were of mild degree and comparable to those found in birds infected with NAL and NAV isolates. As regard to the pathogenicity of field isolates in chick embryos inoculated by CAM route, UND and BAN isolates caused almost 80 per cent mortality. Among other isolates, AND and KAM showed relatively low mortality rates followed by HAL and NAV. Unlike any of the recent field isolates tested in the present study, the UND isolate grew well in CEF cells exhibiting CPE in infected monolayers. Thus, only the UND and BAN isolates, were able to maintain consistent pathogenic potential in every laboratory system tested. Slight variation as regard to period required for initiation of CPE was observed in UND and BAN isolates when compared with that of vaccine strains. Highest virus infectivity titre was recorded in Vac-I strain, while in Vac-M strain the titre was lowest. The virus titres in both field isolates (UND and BAN) were sane. Neutralization and cross neutralization tests were carried out to assess the antigenic relatedness of a field isolate, reference isolate and vaccine strains using homologus and heterologus innune sera. The results indicated close antigenic relationship of the isolates with vaccine strains. In the present study, efficacy of three vaccination regiuens was evaluated in the progeny obtained from breeder hens having high levels of maternal antibody (MA). The levels of precipitating antibodies of progeny chicks at hatch indicated, on an average, 50 to 55 per cent passive transfer of MA to progeny. After hatch, higher levels of MA sustained for one week and afterwards declined steadily at the half-life of approximately six to eight days. MA attained low levels between 21 and 28 days of age. While after 28 days of age, precipitating antibodies were undetected by quantitative AGDT (QAGDT), still these antibodies were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Live vaccine (mild) was used at day-old age for 'priming' of all the birds and subsequently, combination of live (intermediate) and/or inactivated vaccines was tested in three groups. One group served as control. The response of birds, vaccinated once or twice with live intermediate vaccine was not satisfactory as indicated by low levels of antibodies even after vaccination. On challenge, some birds showed clinical symptoms and bursal damage. The group in which birds received inactivated vaccine, at seven days of age and live vaccine at 14 and 28 days of age, showed significantly (P <0.05) higher levels of antibody. On challenge, the birds did not show clinical symptons and mortality, but still these birds were not prevented from infection because the bursal danage was apparent indicating inadequate response against virulent IBDV. Overall studies indicated the presence of highly virulent IBDV in sone pockets of Gujarat State. Therefore, it is important to locate such pockets at an earliest to prevent possible spread of highly virulent IBDV and carry out effective vaccination coupled with strict biosecurity measures, where immunization has failed probably because of increased virulence of IBDV. Serological monitoring of progeny flock is necessary to determine when MA in chicks decline to levels that the vaccine can overcome. Without this information, it is very difficult to control highly virulent IBDV.ThesisItem Open Access PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT OF MAMMARY GLANDS IN SURTI BUFFALO (Bubalus bubalis)(AAU, Anand, 1995) Panchal, K. M.; Vyas, K. N.The prenatal gross, biometrlc, histologic and histochemical studies on development of the mammary glands of 77 foetuses (55 female and 22 male), were carried out at different phases of their development ranging from 38 to 305 days (2.1 to 102.5 cm CVR). The female foetuses were divided into four different groups viz., 38 to 73 days (2.1 to 10.0 cm CVR, group-I), 78 to 93 days (10.9 to 14.3 cm CVR, group-Il), 102 to 191 days (16.3 to 52.1 cm CVR, group-Ill) and 210 t o 305 days (60.5 t o 102.'5 cm CVR, group-IV). The two mammary lines developed in the inguinal region at the age of 38 days (2.1 cm CVR) and maamary buds were observed on them between 41 to 48 days. The arrangement of the teats in the female mammary glands was in a square pattern while that in the male, was a curved arc.