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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.
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ThesisItem Open Access LABORATORY STUDIES ON BIOLOGY AND FEEDING POTENTIAL OF MEXICAN BEETLE, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister ON PARTHENIUM, Parthenium hysterophorous L. AND EVALUATION OF HERBICIDES FOR THEIR SAFETY TO THE BIOAGENT(AAU, Anand, 2013) PAWAR, SATISH RAMCHANDRA; Korat, D. M.Investigations on biology, morphometries and feeding potential of Mexican beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) and toxicity of weedicides as well as effect of temperature on biological attributes of the bioagent were carried out in Biological Control Research Laboratory, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat) during theyear 2011 to 2012. Studies on biology of Z. bicolorata on Parthenium hysterophoms L. revea:ied that the female laid their eggs either singly or in cluster on under surface of leaves. Eggs were oblong in shape, slightly elongated, smooth and the surface was finely reticulated. There were four distinct larval instars. Newly hatched larvae were yellowish in colour and gradually turned in creamy white with the advancement of age. Adults of Z. bicolorata were elongate and oblong in shape. Dorsal surface was strongly convex and glabrous. In general, females found relatively larger in size than males. Average egg, larval, pupal and adult period was 3.93+0.80, 13.87 ± 1.36, 7.40 ± 1 . 1 8 and 32.40 ± 8.05 (males) to 44.53 + 7.33 (females) days, respectively. Entire life-span of female and male completed in 59.13 ± 7.75 and 71.33 ± 8.78 days, respectively. Fecundity, hatching percentage, adult emergence percentage and male to female sex ratio was 669.73 ± 141.34 eggs, 55.75 ± 12.27%, 76.67 ± 14.82% and 1 : 1.26, respectively.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of foliar application of plant growth regulators and micronutrients on growth, yield and quality of acid lime cv. Kagzi (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle)(AAU, Anand, 2012) MADHUKAR, JAGTAP VAIBHAV; Patel, H. C.The present investigation on "Effect of foliar application of plant growth regulators and micronutrients on growth, yield and quality of acid lime cv. Kagzi (Citrus aurantifoUa Swingle)" was carried out during spring season of the year 2011 at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The results revealed that treatment ZnS04 0.5 % + FeS04 0.5 % produced significantly the maximum tree height (3.45, 3.73 and 3.98 m at 4, 6 and 8 month after first spray). East West canopy spread (3.44, 3.76 and 4.04 m at 4, 6 and 8 month after first spray), South North canopy spread (3.40, 3.70 and 3.97 m at 4, 6 and 8 month after first spray). Treatment GA3 50 mg/1 took significantly minimum number of days for fruit set after first spray (23.67 days) while significantly minimum number of days for fruit maturity after first spray (135.67 days) were recorded with NAA 200 mg/1. Simultaneously, GAs 50 mg/1 also showed significant increased in tree height, East West canopy spread, South North canopy spread as well as also minimized number of days for fruit set. Yield attributing characters like fruit volume (47.90 cc), fruit diameter (4.54 cm), fruit weight (47.40 g) and fruit yield per tree (46.38 kg) significantly increased under treatment GA3 50 mg/1. In case of number of fruits per tree treatment NAA 200 mg/1 significantly increased the number of fruits per tree (1020.33) and it was statistically at par with treatments 2,4-D 20 mg/1, ZnS04 0.5 % + FeS04 0.5 %, NAA 100 mg/1, GA3 50 mg/1, ZnS04 0.5 % and FeSO4 0.5%. Quality attribiiting characters like total soluble solid (9.58 Brix.) and ascorbic acid content (30.41 mg/lOOg pulp) were significantly increased while number of seeds per fruit (6.13) and acidity (7.05 %) were significantly decreased under treatment GA3 50 mg/1. However, in case of total soluble solid and number of seeds per fruit, it was statistically at par with treatments GAs 50 mg/1, NAA 200 mg/1 and 2, 4-D 20 mg/1, ascorbic acid content was at par with treatment ZnS04 0.5 % + FeS04 0.5 %, NAA 200 mg/1, ZnS04 0.5 %, FeS04 0.5 %, 2, 4-D 20 mg/1 and GA3 25 mg/1 and acidity % was statistically at par with treatment NAA 200 mg/1, ZnS04 0.5 % + FeS04 0.5 %, 2, 4-D 20 mg/1, ZnS04 0.5 % and FeS04 0.5%. From economical point of view, the maximum net realization of ? 89,664 ha with BCR of 1:2.41 was obtained in treatment NAA 200 mg/1 due to increased in fruit retention of plant followed by treatment GA3 50 mg/1 with net realization of ? 87,379 ha and BCR of 1:2.30 due to increased in fruit weight and size. It can be concluded that for securing higher fruit yield (46.00 kg), net return (Rs 89,664) and cost benefit ratio (1:2.41) with quality fruits the treatment NAA 200 mg/1 perform best and next best treatment was found GA3 50 mg/1.ThesisItem Open Access EXPRESSION PROFILING, SNP DETECTION AND VALIDATION IN SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF HORN IN KANKREJ CATTLE (Bos indicus) USING NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING(AAU, Anand, 2014) KORINGA, PRAKASHKUMAR G.; Joshi, Chaitanya G.Horn cancer is a widely prevalent cancer amongst Kankrej cattle (Bos indicus) seen sporadically, especially in case of working class of castrated male animals i.e. bullocks. A transcriptome envisaged characterization as well as correlation to known genomic changes such as structural and copy number alterations, focused ins/dels and single nucleotide mutations. Here, we employed high throughput RNA-seq using GS-FLX Titanium for characterization and comparison of normal and cancerous horn transcriptome in Bos indicus. A total of 909,362 reads with average read length of 405bp for horn cancer (HC) and 583,491 reads with average read length of 411bp for horn normal (HN) were obtained by sequencing gene transcripts derived from HC and HN tissues. Assembled data were analyzed for identifying novel as well as differentially expressed transcripts using CLC Genome Workbench. RNA-seq analysis using different bioinformatics pipelines and software identified differentially expressed genes i.e. upregulation of KRT6A, KRT6B, KRT6C, KRT14, SFN, KRT84, PI3, CAl, C0L17A1, ANLN, SERPINB5 etc., as well as down-regulation of NR4A1, FOSB, LRIGl, BOLA, SCGBIAI, CXCL17, KRT19, BPIFBl, NR4A1 and TFF3 etc., in HC tissues. The signaling pathway investigation in this study revealed many of the cancer related pathways which mainly include cell cycle regulation pathways, p53 tumor suppressor pathways, NFKB and MAPKs pathways, LPS signaling pathway and PI3K-Akt pathways. The resuh of transcriptome expression profiling was validated using RT-qPCR in nine randomly selected genes. It revealed concordance of gene expression profile with RNA-seq analysis. We also used transcriptome data to elucidate complexity of the alternative splicing in HC transcriptome. We identified potential candidate splice variants that might be helpful in development of relevant biomarkers for early diagnosis of HC. The fiiture studies targeted at in depth characterization of these potential candidate splice variants might change the currently used clinical approaches. Herein we characterized global landscape of alternative splicing events exhibited by pair of HC and HN tissue and confirmed selected alternative splicing events with significant association to HC by RT-qPCR. Ine analysis of the same RNA-seq data using SeqMan Pro Version 10.0.0 resulted in to a 9532 and 7065 SNPs as well as 1171 and 1172 Indels in HC and HN, respectively. Out of total, 7889 SNPs and 1736 Indels uniquely present in HC, 5886 SNPs and 1146 Indels uniquely present in HN are novel and reported first time in Bos indicus, whereas rest are already reported in Bos taurus dbSNP database at NCBI. The gene-associated SNPs and Indels were high in upregulated genes of HC as compared to HN tissues. SNPs identified in RNA-seq analysis were validated in fiirther studies in two groups consisting of 50 animals each of HC and HN bullocks. DNA from HC tissue and blood of HN individual was extracted and 96 pairs of primers were used to generate amplicons of an average 300bp to get sequenced using Ion Torrent PGM. The resulting reads were assembled using SeqMan N Gen of DNASTAR and data were analyzed using Arraystarll. Case control analysis was carried out to find SNP significantly associated with HC. SNP at position 63251805 (dBSNP ID rsl36870681) identified in BPIFAl can serve as a potential candidate genetic marker in HC. The SNPs and Indels identified in this study will be useful resource for future studies to understand genetic basis for phenotypic variation between Bos taurus and Bos indicus as well as cancers in animals. A very large number of SNPs are essential for the designing and construction of arrays. SNPs identified in this study will enrich the dbSNP database of NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/projects/SNP/) and will be useful resource for array designing. This study is the first attempt to reveal novel transcripts, differentially expressed genes as well as identification and validation of SNPs using digital expression analysis in Bos indicus and provides novel insights into bovine transcriptome. Our study will serve as a step further in detailed characterization of HC transcriptome and provide firm base to explore and mitigate HC at finer resolution. The present findings would provide basis for further screening of genes and identification of markers for early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of HC.ThesisItem Open Access HAEMATOLOGICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND ENDOCRINE PARAMETERS AT DIFFERENT AGES AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STAGES IN GIR CATTLE AND JAFFARABADI BUFFALOES(AAU, Anand, 2012) JACOB, NINAN; ARYA, J. S.The study titled "Haematological, Biochemical and Endocrine parameters at different Ages and Physiological stages in Gir cattle and Jaffarabadi buffaloes" was imdertaken in different age groups and physiological stages in Gir cattle and Jaffarabadi buffaloes with the objective to determine and compare the species differences for (i) haematological parameters viz. TEC, Hb, PCV, TLC, DLC (ii) biochemical parameters viz. plasma glucose, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium (iii) enzymes viz. aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase (iv) hormonal levels of triiodothyronine, thyroxine, insulin, growth hormone, Cortisol, estradiol - 17 β, progesterone and testosterone and (v) to observe the milk components viz. percentage of fat, protein and lactose in lactating Gir cows and Jaffarabadi buffaloes and their relationship with the stage of lactation under study. The blood samples were collected from Gir and Jaffarabadi females (n=8 for each sampling stage) at 1 wk, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months age, at 1, 2 and 3 month of lactation and in non-lactating pregnant and non-pregnant animals. In Gir and Jaffarabadi males (n=6 for each sampling' stage) blood samples were collected at 1 wk, 1, 3, 6 and 12 month of age and in bulls. Castrated males were also used for blood sampling in Gir males. A total of 270 blood samples were collected and the analysis was conducted by standard techniques.ThesisItem Open Access MONITORING POSTPARTUM REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN KANKREJ COWS THROUGH CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS, BLOOD PROFILE AND HORMONAL THERAPY(AAU, Anand, 2012) NAIKOO, MEHRAJUDDIN; Dhami, A. J.The present study was carried out at Livestock Research Station of the University on 42 Kankrej cows of 2nd to 4th parity. The chief objectives were: to monitor the early postpartum period (0-90 days) clinically and through plasma profile of progesterone, metabolites and macro-micro minerals at 10 days intervals; to evaluate the efficacy of a sustained release mineral supplement (Mega bolus PO) on the day of calving and five oestrus induction and synchronization protocols (Ovsynch, CIDR, Ovsynch + CIDR, Cosynch and PGF2α) on day 90-95 postpartum towards augmenting reproductive efficiency of anestrous and subestrous cows (6 animals in each group), keeping 6 normal cyclic animals as control, and its effect on above profile till day 40 post-treatment/post- AI, and to compare plasma profiles of conceived and non-conceived cows at first Al. The time required for expulsion of fetal membranes, weight of expelled fetal membranes and the birth weight of calf (pure and crossbred) were 5.04 ± 2.0 hrs, 2.84 ± 0.76 kg and 24.29 ± 1.54 kg, respectively. The Kankrej cows showed complete uterine involution by mean interval of 36.80 ±1.21 (range 32-45) days postpartum. The interval for occurrence of first oestrus postpartum clinically and through plasma P4 profile was 105.49 ± 1.66 (range 86-106) and 56.42 ± 3.88 (range 30-80) days, respectively (P<0.05). The first service and overall conception rates obtained at spontaneous/ induced oestrus, within 150 days postpartum were 30.95 (13/42) and 40.47 (17/42) per cent. The comparative evaluation of the efficacy of five oestrus induction/ synchronization protocols tested, on 6 cows each, viz. Ovsynch, CIDR, Ovsynch + CIDR, Cosynch and PGF2α revealed oestrus induction response of 66.66, 83.33, 50.00, 66.66 and 66.66 per cent, respectively, with behavioural signs at FTAI as confirmed by palpation per rectum. The first service conception rates obtained were 16.66, 33.33, 16.66, 50.00 and 50.00 per cent, respectively, as compared to 33.33 per cent in normal cyclic control cows. The corresponding second service conception rates were nil, 25.00, 20.00, nil, nil and nil per cent, as compared to 25.00 per cent in untreated control animals. The overall conception rates of three cycles over the 45 days period were 33.33, 50.00, 33.33, 50.00 and 50.00 per cent, respectively, as against 50.00 per cent in normal cyclic group. The results of CIDR, Cosynch and PGF2α protocols were better than the Ovsynch and normal control groups.ThesisItem Open Access B-Mode Ocular Ultrasonography in Dogs and Horses(AAU, Anand, 2012) Kumar, Dharmendra; PARIKH, P. V.The present clinical study entitled "B-Mode Ocular Ultrasonography in Dogs and Horses" was undertaken in 135 dogs (4 months -15 years) and 50 horses (1-15 years) of either sex from 01st April, 2011 to 31st March, 2012 at university clinic, Anand. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the normal and affected eyes was done using linear transducer (7.5-18 MHz) by transcomeal (129 dogs) and transpalpebral (six dogs) approaches. In 50 horses ocular ultrasonography (US) was performed by transpalpebral approach. In all animals corneal anesthesia was achieved with proparacaine HCl 0.5% instilled directly on cornea. Age wise distribution of canine cases revealed maximum incidence of ophthalmic affections in the age group of 5-10 years (39.26%, 53) followed by 10-15 years (28.89%, 39), 1-5 years (22.22%, 30) and 0-1 years (9.63%, 13). Breed wise ophthalmic affections were maximum in Pomeranian (59.26%, 80) followed by Labrador retriever (13.33%, 18), German shepherd (11.11%, 15), Beagle (5.18%, 7), Dalmatian, Golden retriever (2.96%, 4 in each), Doberman (2.22%, 3), Lhasa apso (1.48%, 2), Boxer and Pug (0.74%, 1 each). Sex wise distribution showed more affections in male (57.03%, 77) than females (42.97%, 58). Age wise distribution of equine cases revealed maximum ophthalmic affections in 5-10 years (36%, 18) followed by 10-15 years (30%, 15), 1-5 years (24%, 12) and 0-1 years (10%), 05). Breed wise incidence of ophthalmic affections was maximum in Kathiawadi and Marwari horses (40%, 20 each) followed by Sindhi (20%, 10). Sex wise distribution showed more affections in females (54%, 27) than males (46%, 23). In dogs and horses different ophthalmic parameters like anterior chamber depth, anterio-posterior depth of the lens, latero-medial diameter of the lens, vitreous depth and axial length were studied according to age, sex, breed, left and right eyes and normal and abnormal eyes. Different parameters of eye increased in dogs of age group greater than five years than 0-1 year. Parameters of eye like anterior chamber depth, vitreous depth and axial length were significantly longer in male dogs than female. Whereas anterioposterior depth and latero-medial diameter of the lens differed non significantly. According to breed, anterior chamber depth and latero-medial diameter of lens differed nonsignificantly, but anterio-posterior depth of the lens in Dalmatian and German shepherd differed significantly. Axial length in Dalmatian differed significantly than German shepherd and Labrador retriever. An insignificant difference was observed for different parameters between left and right eyes. In normal and abnormal eyes, anterior chamber depth differed nonsignificantly, but all other parameters like anterio-posterior depth of the lens, latero-medial diameter of the lens, vitreous depth and axial length differed significantly. Among types of canine cataracts, different ophthalmic parameters differed non significantly in 5-10 years age group, but all the eye parameters in morgagnian cataract differed significantly fi-om immature, mature and hypermature cataracts in 10-15 years of age group. Out of 50 horses, five were of 0-1 year age group, 12 of 1-5 years, 18 of 5-10 years and 15 of 10-15 years. Anterior chamber depth, anterio-posterior depth of the lens, latero-medial diameter of the lens, vitreous depth and axial length increased with age. Different parameters of eyes in male and female, breed, left and right eye and normal and affected eyes varied non significantly. In dogs ophthalmic affections like cataract, luxation of lens, vitreous degeneration and (RD) were diagnosed. Secondary luxation of lens was seen in five cases of which two had anterior luxation and rest posterior luxation. Detached vitreous revealed multicurved lines with different varying reflectors in 18 dogs; of which, four dogs had bilateral vitreous degeneration and in the rest (14) unilateral. Vitreal syneresis was observed in one dog. Vitreous degeneration was more in males than females. Fourteen cases of RD were diagnosed on US, of which five cases were in Pomeranian, with bilateral involvement in one case; four cases in Labrador retriever with bilateral involvement in two cases, one case each in Pug, Beagle, Golden retriever and German shepherd. In four cases close- close type of RD was found and in nine cases open-close type. In horse, five cases of RD were diagnosed, of which four were Kathiawadi and one Marwari. All cases revealed open-close type of RD. Eight horses diagnosed with Setaria eye worm in anterior chamber (6 cases) and vitreous body (2 cases). Thus ultrasonography is a safe and non-invasive method which can be used m diagnosis of ocular disorders as complementary to routine ophthalmic examinations in dogs and horses. Further this study established ocular echobiometry dimensions for certain breeds of dogs and horses bred in India.ThesisItem Open Access REPRODUCTION IN MARES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ENDOMETRIAL BIOPSY(AAU, Anand, 2012) KUMAR, NISHANT; Patel, D. M.The present study on "Reproduction in Mares with Special Reference to Endometrial Biopsy" was carried out on mares of different police head quarters like Anand and Kheda districts. The mare visiting Teaching Veterinary Clinical Service Complex, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Anand, were also included in the study. The research work included study of normal and abnormal estrous cycle of mare. In this study special emphasis was given on collection of endometrial biopsy for histopathology and blood for different hemato-biochemical parameters. A detailed histopathological study was carried out on endometrial biopsies to know the reproductive status of mares. The research work was carried out on 18 police mares and privately owned mares of Anand and near by Anand area. Each of the three groups had 6 animals and were divided on the basis of reproductive status, viz.. Group 1- Mares with normal estrous cycle, Group 2- Mares with abnormal estrous cycle. Group 3- Mares with infertility. These mares were studied for normal and abnormal estrous cycle, histopathology of endometrial biopsy and hemato-biochemical studies. On the basis of study in 172 mares it was found that mare is a seasonal polyestrous animal with breeding seasons in the months of spring and summer. As day length increases in spring mares show signs of heat and as day length decreases in winter mare were found to be going into deep anestrous condition. The mean estrous cycle length of mares during breeding seasons were found to be 21 ±0.58 days with estrus period of 5-7 (6.07 ± 0.87) days. The signs of estrus include frequent urination, deviating tail away from the perineum, standing still with the hind limbs spread apart, clitoral winking (rhythmic eversion of the clitoris), squealing, kicking and sensitivity over the flanks, hindquarter, and abdomen. The recently parturited mares were showing foal heat between 7-13 (9.38 ± 2.57) days of parturition. The mean estrous cycle lengths of abnormal cyclic mares was 10 ± 2.32 days (Short) and 32 ± 3.6 days (Long) during breeding season of spring and summer months. The abnormal cyclic mare were also shown wide range of estrus period of 3- 10 (5.6 ±2.8) days. Endometrial biopsy and histopathology studies indicated normal endometrium exhibiting mild to moderate neutrophil infiltration, specially in case of estrus period. In estrus the epithelial cells were tall cuboidal to low columnar and progressing to high columnar during diestrus. Acute endometritis was characterized by accumulation of inflammatory cells (neutrophils), mild to moderates stromal fibrosis, stromal oedema, congestion of blood vessels and accumulation of inflammatory exudates which may be temporary in nature. Chronic endometritis was characterized by moderate to severe endometrial gland atrophy, extensive fibrosis (i.e., more than five layers of fibrocytes around endometrial glands) and mononuclear cell (specially lymphocytes) infiltration. In some cases diffiisely less density of endometrial glands were found The serum calcium levels of normal cyclic, abnormal cyclic and infertile mares were 12.09 ± 0.14, 11.04 ± 0.15 and 10.62 ± 0.10 mg/dl, respectively and was found to differ significantly to each other. The serum magnesium levels of normal cyclic, abnormal cyclic and infertile mares were 2.13 ± 0.06, 1.96 ± 0.03 and 1.85 ± 0.03 mg/dl. The serum phosphorus levels of normal cyclic, abnormal cyclic and infertile mares were 3.86 ± 0.07, 3.22 ± 0.10 and 2.63 ± 0.11 mg/dl. Both serum magnesium and serum phosphorus levels were significantly lower in infertile than normal and abnormal cyclic animals.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF PROGESTERONE AND HEAT STRESS ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF DAIRY COWS AND VALIDATION OF CONTINUOUS BODY TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT IN IDENTIFYING ESTRUS(AAU, Anand, 2012) SUTHAR, VISHAL S.; Dhami, A. J.The present study with four experiments and manifold objectives were conducted on German (HF) dairy cows at or affiliated farm facilities of Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany, during January 2010 to June 2012. The overall objectives of this study were to evaluate: 1) performance of temperature data logger in in vitro and in vivo conditions, 2) validity of BT to identify induced estrus, 3) effect of exogenous and endogenous P4 on BT of dairy cows and 4) and to study effect of heat stress on BT and postpartum performance of dairy cows. In first study to evaluate performance of temperature data logger (Minilog 8, Vemco Ltd., Halifax, Canada), three sub-experiments were conducted. The study began with an in vitro validation of 24 temperature loggers comparing them to a calibrated liquid-in-glass thermometer as a reference method (sub-experiment 1). The association and agreement between the 24 temperature loggers with the reference method was r = 0.996 (P < 0.001) and a negligible coefficient of variance (0.005) between the loggers. In vivo temperature loggers were tested in 11 healthy postpartum cows (sub-experiment 2) and 12 early postpartum cows with greater BT (sub-experiment 3). Temperature loggers were set to record VT and RT at 1 min intervals. To prevent rectal and vaginal straining and potential expulsion of temperature logger an epidural injection of 2.5 ml of 2% Procain was administered. Association between RT and VT was r = 0.92 (P < 0.001) in sub-experiment 2 and r = 0.94 (P < 0.001) in sub-experiment 3 with a negligible difference of -0.1 and 0.01°C, respectively. Bland-Altman plots demonstrated an agreement between RT and VT for healthy and early postpartum cows with greater BT in sub-experiment 2 and 3, respectively. Therefore, continuous VT monitoring with temperature loggers can be used as a measure for BT in dairy cows.ThesisItem Open Access GENETIC STUDY OF PARTIAL AND FULL RECORD OF TWO STRAINS OF WHITE LEGHORN CHICKEN(AAU, Anand, 2013) Meshram, Anushree Yuwraj; Joshi, R. S.The present study was undertaken to investigate inheritance and association of various economic traits in IWN and IWP strains of White Leghorn which has completed nine generations of Osborne Index selection for improvement of egg production. A total of 849 and 862 pullets of IWN and IWP strains, were generated by mating of 50 sires and 300 dams of each of the two strains and were maintained under All India Coordinated Research Project on Poultry Breeding at the Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary Science and Animal husbandry, Anand Agricultural University Anand. Various traits like body weight (BW) in g at 16, 20, 40, 56, 64 and 72 weeks of age, age at first egg (AFE) in days, total egg number produced up to 40, 56, 64 and 72 weeks of age (TEN), egg weight (EW) in g at 28, 40, 56, 64 and 72 week of age, total egg mass produced up to 40, 56, 64 and 72 weeks (TEM) in kg, feed consumption per dozen of egg (FCDE) produced (kg) and feed consumption per kilo of eggs (FCKE) produced (kg) upto various stages were measured for estimation of Least Squares Means (LSMs), heritability (h2), genetic and phenotypic correlations and genetic gain in the egg production . [The least squares means for body weight (g) at 16, 20, 40, 56, 64 and 72 weeks of age were 978.21 ± 7.00, 1250.47 ± 4.55, 1412.59 ± 7.93, 1462.98 ± 9.41, 1477.26 ± 6.81 and 1526.05 ± 9.60g for IWN strain and 1000.84 ± 5.61, 1280.41 ± 6.14, 1483.76 ± 8.48, 1543.62 ± 9.94, 1534.44 ± 10.97 and 1616.10 ± 12.82g for IWP strain, respectively. The body weight at all stages were significantly (P<0.05) higher in IWP strain as compared to IWN strain. Least squares means for AFE (days) were found to be 134.50 ± 0.78 and 138.13 ± 0.59 days in IWN and IWP strains, respectively. Age at first egg was significantly earlier (P<0.05) in IWN than IWP strain.) The LSMs for total egg number produced up to 40, 56, 64 and 72 weeks of age were 119.26 ± 1.03, 210.51 ± 1.03, 251.75 ± 1.56 and 286.39 ± 1.42 eggs in IWN and 115.55 ± 0.79, 205.69 ± 1.33, 243.59 ± 1.35 and 277.70 ± 1.53 eggs in IWP strain, respectively. IWN strain has produced significantly (P<0.05) more eggs number than IWP strain during all stages. The least squares means for egg weight (g) at 28, 40, 56, 64 and 72 weeks of age were 44.84 ± 0.15, 50.36 ± 0.13, 51.68 ± 0.15, 51.62 ± 0.13 and 52.01 ± 0.12g for IWN strain and 46.26 ± 0.12, 52.52 ± 0.12, 53.48 ± 0.15, 53.57 ± 0.15 and 54.51 ± 0.14g for IWP strain, respectively. The mean egg weight recorded at all ages were significantly (P<0.05) higher in IWP strain as compared to IWN strain. The least squares means for egg mass (kg) upto 40, 56, 64 and 72 weeks of age were 6.002 ± 0.048, 10.909 ± 0.062, 12.997 ± 0.082 and 14.893 ± 0.072 kg in IWN strain while 6.061 ± 0.038, 10.986 ± 0.695, 13.040 ± 0.076 and 14.638 ± 0.083 kg in IWP stain, respectively. The LSMs for feed consumed to produce a dozen of eggs (kg) were 1.718 ± 0.016 , 1.782 ± 0.011, 1.804 ± 0.012 and 1.864 ± 0.011 kg in IWN strain whereas 1.735 ± 0.140, 1.784 ± 0.012, 1.842 ± 0.012 and 1.895 ± 0.012 kg in IWP strain during the period of 21- 40, 21-56, 21-64 and 21-72 weeks of age, respectively. The LSMs for feed consumption per kilo of egg up to 40, 56 ,64 and 72 week of age were 2.850 ± 0.026, 2.874 ± 0.221, 2.921 ± 0.020 and 2.995 ± 0.017 kg in IWN and 2.758 ± 0.020, 2.785 ± 0.018, 2.873 ± 0.019 and 3.011 ± 0.019 kg in IWP strain, respectively. No significance difference have been observed between two strains for egg mass and feed consumption either per dozen or kilo of egg produced. Heritability estimates for BW at different ages varies in magnitude from low to high in IWN strain and IWP strain. The estimate of heritability for AFE was high in IWN strain while of moderate magnitude in IWP strain. Heritability estimates were high in IWN strain and lower to moderate magnitude in IWP strains for egg number. Heritability estimates of egg weight at all stages were low to moderate in both the strains. Whereas, the h2 estimates of egg mass shown higher to lower magnitude as the age advanced. Inheritance of feed efficiency trait (FC/DE and FC/KE) has shown erratic trend from higher to lower in IWN strain while it was moderate in IWP strain. Genetic and phenotypic associations of AFE with TEN were found negative and high in magnitude. The genetic correlation of AFE with TEN in IWN strain was beyond parametric range which might be due to sampling error. Association of TEN and BW at various stages were positive and high in magnitude suggesting unfavourable trend in IWN strain while they were negative and varied in magnitude suggesting favourable trend in IWP strain. The genetic association of TEN with EW at various stages was in general negative and moderate to high in magnitude in both the strain. Genetic and phenotypic correlations of TEN with TEM were all positive at each stage and high in magnitude and many were found beyond the parametric range. Correlation between the TEN and FCDE and FCKE were negative which is favourable in direction and high in magnitude at all stages. Genetic correlations between age at first egg and egg weights at different ages were, in general, positive and showed increasing trend from low to high with advancement in age in IWN strain, where as they were positive and high in IWP strain. Genetic association of AFE with BW was negative in both strains indicates low body weight at time of housing increases the age at sexual maturity. Phenotypic correlations shown erratic trend of weakly positive or negative association found in both strain. Genetic association of AFE with other traits such as egg mass, feed consumption per dozen of egg and per kilo of egg in general were negative and high in magnitude Expected genetic gain was highest at 64 weeks age in IWN strain and at 56 weeks age in IWP strain. High relative efficiency to get maximum genetic gain for egg numbers produced was found at 40 weeks of age in both the strain, therefore selection on the basis of 40 weeks egg production seems to be most efficient in improving annual production than direct selection for annual records.