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Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad
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ThesisItem Open Access ASSESSMENT OF UDDER SKIN SURFACE TEMPERATURE CHANGES IN RELATION TO MASTITIS AND MICRO-CLIMATIC VARIABLES IN CROSSBRED DAIRY COWS IN THREE CLIMATE ZONES IN KERALA(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2023-03-23) RAMESH S; Dr. Biju S.Early diagnosis of mastitis is most important to reduce the economic loss in dairy sector. The objective of the study was to assess the interrelationship of udder skin surface temperature determined by infrared thermography (IRT), with micro-climatic variables, body temperature and daily milk yield in three climate zones in Kerala. Forthis, lactating crossbred dairy cows (n=20 animals) were monitored for 21 days eachin four dairy farms. The body temperature (eye and rectal) and udder skin surface temperature (USST) of dairy cows were recorded during the study period at diurnaltime intervals. Similarly, dry and wet bulb thermometers were installed inside the animal sheds and recordings were made on ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH). Milk samples were collected at the time of afternoon milking from each quarter and tested for California Mastitis Test (CMT). Daily milk yield of the dairy cows was recorded from the milk production registers.It was observed that ambient temperature and relative humidity had significant correlation (positive and negative) with USST in University Livestock Farm (ULF)and Livestock Research Station (LRS). The mean eye and rectal temperature were higher than the mean USST and significantly differed from USST in all the farms throughout the study. There was significant correlation between rectal temperature and udder skin surface temperature in LRS and Cattle Breeding Farm (CBF) and moderate correlation between them in ULF and Base Farm. Higher USST was noticed in udders with clinical mastitis followed by non-mastitis and subclinical mastitis, and the skin surface temperature of non-mastitis and clinical mastitis udders were significantly higher than subclinical mastitis udders. Milk yield did not show any significant influence on theUSST. The results of this study indicated the limitations in the precise and uniform use of IRT of udders for early detection of mastitis across different climatic zones, as interplay of micro-climatic variables and other factors can reflect on USST. Keywords: body temperature, eye temperature, udder skin surface temperature (USST), infrared thermography (IRT)ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF FEEDING BLACK SOLDIER FLY (Hermetia illucens) LARVAE MEAL AS PROTEIN SOURCE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MEAT TYPE JAPANESE QUAIL(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2022-02-25) REKHA A.; Dr. Justin DavisThe experiment was conducted in Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy to evaluate the effect of feeding Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal as protein source in the performance of meat type Japanese quail. Black soldier fly larvae were produced through natural breeding and the larval yield were 493.17g and 244.35g larvae/month from 4kg food waste from modified bin and flower pot respectively. Seasonal variation was observed in the larval production and the yield was more during hotter months. Iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric diets were prepared using BSF larvae meal.A total of one hundred-and-eighty day-old meat type Japanese quail chicks were randomly allotted in to three dietary treatments with six replicates of ten birds each. Treatments were control, BSF25 and BSF50 and were fed with soyabean meal based diet, replaced 25 per cent soya bean meal with BSF larvae meal and replaced 50 per cent soya bean meal with BSF larvae meal respectively. Feed consumption and body weight gain were significantly higher for control group but BSF50 was superior in terms of feed conversion ratio and dressing per cent. No significant difference was observed in weight of abdominal fat, heart and gizzard with exception in the weight of the liver and was significantly higher in control group. Analysis of the margin of return revealed that both control and BSF25 ended in loss, the only group which ended in profit was BSF50. The study revealed that it is high time to find a cheap alternative for conventional protein source like soya bean meal and the findings in the present study pointed that black soldier fly larvae meal can very well be used, and replacing soya bean @ 50 per cent yielded the best results in margin of return.ThesisItem Open Access IMPACT OF ENRICHMENT OF GRAZING MEADOW WITH AUTOMATED WATER TROUGH ON THE WELFARE OF CROSSBRED CATTLE(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES, MANNUTHY, THRISSUR , KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2021-11-02) VISHNU DEV R. S; Dr. S. HarikumarGrazing practices of cattle in meadows enriched with automatic drinking water facility was evaluated. The improvement in animal welfare was studied. Lactating cows and heifers (18 each) were selected for the period of study during the summer months of February and March 2021 at Base Farm, Kolahalamedu, Idukki, Kerala. Animals were divided into three groups and each group comprised of six lactating cows and six heifers. In group T1 animals were allowed to a grazing meadow enriched with an automatic drinking water trough and in T2 animals were allowed to a meadow without provision for water. Animals in the T3 group were kept stallfed throughout the study period. Body temperature and respiration rates were higher in the grazing groups (T1 and T2) compared to the stallfed group. At the end of the study period, the lactating cows of T1 showed significantly reduced levels of serum cortisol. The total grazing activity of lactating cows provided with drinking water was significantly lower than lactating cows without the provision of water. Moreover, these animals showed significantly higher rumination activity than T2 at 12:00 noon. Lactating cows and heifers in the T1 group consumed 78.26± 3.86 and 26.98 ± 2.81 liters of water respectively and the frequency of visits to the water trough was 9.20 ± 0.67 and 8.46 ± 0.64 respectively. The blood parasites and endoparasites infestations among all the experimental animals at the end of the experiment showed no significant difference. In general, as the ambient temperature increased, grazing activities in animals of both T1 and T2 started to reduce by 11:00 a.m. The heat load index was more in the meadows than in the shed which necessitates the regulation of grazing duration and time. It could be concluded that grazing of animals in meadows enriched with automated water trough significantly reduced the serum cortisol level and animals exhibited relatively increased comfort level while grazing.ThesisItem Open Access BEHAVIOURAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF CAPTIVE MACAQUES TO STRESSORS(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCOIENCES UNIVERSITY, 2022-01-02) LIVIN RAJ V. L.; Dr. S. BijuAnimal behaviour was an important tool in assessing the welfare of animals, and a study on behaviour and the stress inducing factors in captivity was essential to ensure welfare and thus successful breeding and conservation. The present study was conducted to assess the behavioural and physiological response of captive macaques to stressors, and to identify areas where intervention was needed. The three macaque species namely Lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) and Bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata) housed in Kerala zoos were studied. The group size and composition, and the enclosure provisions for these species were documented. It was observed that visitor presence hadn’t significantly affected the within the group behavioural interaction in the macaque species. The appeasement behaviour was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in Bonnet macaques as compared to Lion-tailed macaques. Verbal teasing was the prominent interaction of visitors to macaques and the response of macaques to visitors were mostly neutral. The behavioural interaction of macaques to zookeepers and vermins were also neutral. On observing the general behaviour, maintenance behaviour was more prominent in all the macaque species and visitors had no effect on the manifestation of general behaviours. The composition and quantity of ration provided in captivity were documented, and found that Lion- tailed macaques and Rhesus macaques have more preference to fruits in their ration. Endoparasitic prevalence of Coccidia, Strongyle and Trichuris were identified in the macaques, with higher prevalence of endoparasitism in Bonnet macaques. Visitor’s presence had no effect on the faecal glucocorticoid metabolite level in the three macaque species. But faecal glucocorticoid metabolite level was found to be positively correlated with eggs per gram of Strongyle in Rhesus and Bonnet macaques, and oocysts per gram in all the macaque species. Better breeding performance was recorded in Bonnet macaques. Proper vaccination and deworming were practiced for the prevention and control of diseases in the zoos.ThesisItem Open Access ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT TO ABATE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR AND MORTALITY IN PIGLETS(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES POOKODE, WAYANAD, 2022-03-26) SHEHNAZ RAHMAN; N. GeethaThe effect of environmental enrichment on aggressive behaviour, skin injury, performance and microclimatic variation were studied in weaned Large White Yorkshire (LWY) piglet. Forty eight LWY weaned piglets of either sex were selected and divided into eight groups, each with six piglets. T1, T3, T5 and T7 piglets were weaned at 35 days old indicating control, area reduction, straw and balls enrichment treatments, respectively. T2, T4, T6 and T8 piglets were weaned at 45 days old representing control, area reduction, straw and balls enrichment treatments, respectively. It was found that the frequency and duration of all the aggressive behaviour viz. namely parallel pressing, inverse parallel pressing, head-to-head knock, biting and levering were found to be lowest in T5 and T6 (P<0.01), followed by T7 and T8 (P<0.01) respectively. However, the frequency and duration of the aggressive behaviour was found to be highest in T3 and T4 (P<0.01) respectively. The highest number of skin injury was found in T3 and T4 (P<0.01) respectively. Whereas, the skin injury lesions were lowest in T5 and T6 (P< 0.01) followed by T7 and T8 (P<0.01). The mean body weight of the T5 and T6 piglets (8.18 ± 0.21 and 10.00 ± 0.48) and T7 and T8 piglets (8.12 ± 0.09 and 9.90 ± 0.14) was higher than the piglets in T1 and T2 (7.30 ± 0.43 and9.59 ± 0.5) kg with significant difference between them (P<0.05) in case of the piglets weaned at 35 days and 45 days old respectively. However, piglets in T3 (7.18 ± 0.29) and T4 (8.87 ± 0.36) kg had significantly (P<0.05) lower mean body weight compared to all other treatments at the end of the study period. The overall mean temperatures, RH, wind speed and light intensity were 26.91 ± 1.19° C, 80.73 ± 3.84 per cent, 0.67 ± 0.14 m/s and 22.73 ± 2.65 (×10) lux, respectively. The aggressive behaviour was positively correlated with wind velocity, temperature and relative humidity whereas negatively correlated with light intensity. No post weaning mortality was seen in any of the treatment groups.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECTIVENESS OF ILLUMINATED FLY TRAPS FOR THE CONTROL OF DIPTERAN BITING FLY ANNOYANCE IN DAIRY FARMS(COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, 2021-10-10) PRAVEENKUMAR N. B; A. PrasadSmall dipteran biting flies of the genera Culex, Culicoides, Phlebotomus Simulium, Stomoxys and Haematobia cause annoyance to domestic animals and animal handlers. Besides, these they act also as vectors of infectious diseases. Effective fly control methods with reduced reliance on chemical control need to be developed to reduce fly population. So a study was conducted on various aspects of dipteran fly annoyance in cattle to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative illuminated fly trap for the control of dipteran biting flies in dairy farms. The study comprised of a preliminary survey among 100 livestock farmers of Thrissur district selected randomly by using a structured interview schedule regarding the fly annoyance. The survey revealed that dung pits (74 per cent) and biogas plants (26 per cent) were the predominant waste management practices adopted by dairy farmers. Majority of respondents (54 per cent) disposed the animal waste at a distance of less than 10 m from the shed. The flies were prevalent in all the farms (100 per cent) followed by ticks (87 per cent). All the respondents practised chemical methods to control flies in their farms, while only 7 per cent of the respondents resorted to mechanical methods. Six per cent of the respondents used light and colour for trapping the flies as a mechanical method. The major constraints faced by dairy farmers with regard to use of fly traps were the unavailability of traps (94%) and complexity in preparing the traps (94%) followed by lack of knowledge about illuminative traps (93%) and unawareness about modern trapping methods (93%). In the present study illuminated fly traps were prepared by using red, blue and yellow coloured plastic pots containing white LED bulbs of 3 W, 5 W and 7 W with castor oil spread on the surface of the pots. Effectiveness of colour and intensity combination was tested in six farms selected randomly (with more than ten cows) of Thrissur district of Kerala in a 3X3 factorial design. Black pot without light acted as control. Detailed study was also conducted at University Livestock Farm (ULF&FRDS) of College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy. Ten spots equidistant from each other were selected in the farm with one trap catering to three animals forming a treatment group. T5 (blue with 5 W; 405 - 411 lx) was found to be the most effective combination. The common dipteran flies of veterinary importance trapped belonged to the family Culicidae, Muscidae and Psychodidae. Besides this, small insects belonging to order Hymenoptera, Lipidoptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera were also identified. All the seven fly avoidance behaviours were significantly higher in control group when compared with treatment group and it was significantly so at 1 PM. Fly activity was predominantly higher during 6 PM - 10 PM. Expenditure for installing the traps in a cattle farm having ten cattle, was estimated to be only Rs. 1990 per year. Hence light traps can cost effectively replace the use of insecticide to a great extent. Illuminated fly trap is cheap, ecofriendly and effective method against small biting flies causing annoyance in cattle of tropical humid zoneThesisItem Open Access EFFICIENCY OF TWO STAGE RESTRICTED FLOW ANAEROBIC BAFFLED BIOGAS DIGESTER AND GAS PURIFICATION SYSTEMS(Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,Pookode, Wayanad, 2021-04-08) SHRADHA SHETTY; John AbrahamIn single stage biogas digester, all the stages of anaerobic digestion take place in a single reactor limiting the biogas production due to the difference in the environment between the acid producing and methane producing microorganisms. To overcome this problem a new two stage anaerobic baffled digester was designed based on the principle that VFAs produced by acidogenic bacteria, reduce the pH of the digester while the methanogenic bacteria operate in strictly defined alkaline pH range of 6.8-8.5. The newly designed digester was compared with a similar capacity single stage digester by co-digesting kitchen waste with cow dung in 1:1 proportion. The performance of the digesters during summer and winter season was studied. During monsoon season, the digester temperature was held constant by circulating hot water produced by solar water heater through the water jacket around the digester. The biogas produced from the two different digesters was upgraded with two different purification systems T 1 and T 2 . The biogas production was significantly (P <0.01) higher in two stage digester (1.96 ± 0.57m 3 /d) than the single stage digester (1.66 ± 0.51m 3 /d). The hydraulic retention time (HRT) could be significantly reduced by 6.67 days by the restricted flow baffle which is the design peculiarity of two stage digester. The organic loading rate (OLR) of two stage digester (20.01 ± 0.36 kg VS d -1 m -3 ) was significantly (P <0.01) higher than the single stage digester (12.07 ± 0.32 kg VS d -1 m -3 ), due to the increased efficiency of digestion by the phase separation. During summer season the biogas production was significantly (P <0.01) higher than winter season, in both the digesters. The biogas production in single stage and two stage digesters was highest (2.51 ± 0.04 and 2.95 ± 0.09 m 3 /d) when the digester temperature was maintained at 37.76 ± 0.36 and 36.25 ± 0.31 oC, by circulating hot water through the water jacket. The T 2 purification system could remove 99.28% of water, 95.80% of H 2 S and 78.70% of CO 2 , and upgraded the CH 4 concentration to 92.45% which was 7.42 per cent more than T 1 . Thus it was conclusively proved that the new purification system (T 2 ) was very efficient.
