Primary cell culture is the ex vivo culture of cells freshly obtained from a multicellular organism, as opposed to the culture of immortalized cell lines. Primary cell cultures derived from testicular tissue serve as vital in vitro model for studying viral isolation and dynamics in wide range of viruses. Establishing stable primary testicular cell lines from lambs is often challenging due to variability in growth conditions, contamination risks, and lack of optimized culture media protocols. Selection of appropriate basal media and supplementation strategies plays a critical role in improving cell viability, proliferation, and maintenance of cellular morphology. However, there is limited comparative data on the efficiency of different media formulations for lamb testicular cell culture. LT cells are suitable for most of pox viruses, especially Lumpy Skin Disease virus. It may be noted that adapting a virus to primary cells yields more physiologically relevant results and more accurate model of in vivo infection for sequencing but researchers and vaccinologists are more conveniently dependent on the continuous cell lines for baseline studies and vaccine development. Hence, this study was designed to identify an optimized culture protocol for lamb testicular primary cell line preparation in two of the common cell culture media in varying serum concentration. Two commonly used laboratory media, DMEM and MEM with Earle’s salt were used for the study. It was observed that DMEM supplemented with 10 % FBS could be an efficient and suitable medium for the propagation of the LT primary culture. The standardized protocol may help in the establishment of LT primary culture in the laboratory, understanding viral dynamics in the host, and evolutionary studies.
The current investigation was designed to analyze the impact of Farmer FIRST Programme implemented by GADVASU Ludhiana on sustainable organic waste (agricultural, household and livestock) management practices. Two districts of Punjab namely, Barnala and Ludhiana were selected for the study. A total of 120 farmers were selected randomly, 60 from each district and categorized as beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries from adopted villages of Barnala and non-adopted villages of Ludhiana, respectively. An ex-post facto research design was used with control-experimental research methodology. The results being eloquent revealed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the practices of the respondents related to management of paddy straw, paddy stubbles, wheat straw, livestock dung, livestock urine, and animal bedding and feed leftovers. The adoption index was calculated to be 0.69 for the beneficiaries and 0.48 for the non-beneficiaries which inferred that the level of adoption of sustainable organic waste management practices among beneficiaries was significantly higher than the non-beneficiaries, which highlighted the positive impact of the Farmer FIRST Project. Vermicomposting helped the farmers to cut expenses on chemical fertilizers and optimized their farming returns. The annual returns from one rhino bed were calculated to be INR 9933.28. The study concluded with the impression that the Farmer FIRST Programme has been instrumental in bringing a desirable change in the behavioural aspects of the beneficiaries regarding waste management, therefore, such programmes need to be bolstered and endorsed by the government time to time.
PROP1 (Prophet of Pit-1) gene is a key transcription factor involved in pituitary development and regulation of growth-related hormones in livestock. This study investigated polymorphisms in the PROP1 gene and their association with growth traits in Assam Hill goats. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from 147 unrelated Assam Hill goats. Primers targeting intron 1 and exon 1 of the PROP1 gene were designed using Primer3Plus, and genotyping was performed by PCR–RFLP. Population genetic parameters were estimated using PopGene version 1.32. A missense SNP, g.748G>A, was identified and genotyped using the restriction enzyme DrdI, which revealed three genotypes (GG, GA, and AA). The frequencies of alleles A and G were 0.53 and 0.47, respectively. The locus exhibited moderate polymorphism (PIC = 0.37) and moderate genetic diversity, with an effective number of alleles of 1.99 and an expected heterozygosity of 0.50. Association analysis revealed that animals carrying AA genotype tended to exhibit superior growth performance, with significantly greater body length and wither height at 6 months of age than those carrying the GG and GA genotypes (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the PROP1 g.748G>A polymorphism might serve as a potential molecular marker for marker-assisted selection aimed at improving growth traits in Assam Hill goats. However, further validation in larger, independent, and genetically diverse goat populations is required before its practical application in breeding programmes.
To investigate impact of manuka honey (MH) on chilled spermatozoa characteristics, sperm-free enzymatic activity and lipid peroxidation, stallion semen samples (n=48) were diluted with Kenney (Skim milk-based, Ken) and Dimitropoulos (Egg yolk-based, Dimitri) extenders supplemented with MH at 0, 1, 2, and 4 %, and maintained at 4 °C for 72 hours. Progressive motility, livability, and morphology of sperm along with, acid phosphatase (ACP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), acrosin, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde (MDA) of semen were assessed at 12-hour intervals. Results showed that MH (2%) in Ken improved livability at 24-72 hrs and in Dimitri extenders enhanced motility at 72 hrs. ACP decreased with MH 2% in Ken at 0 (P= 0.007) and 12 hrs (P= 0.03), and in Dimitri at 12 (P= 0.001), 36, 48 (P= 0.001), 60 and 72 hours (P= 0.002). MH (1-4%) in both extenders markedly (P< 0.001) reduced AST and increased CAT up to 72 hrs, with 2% MH showing a profound effect. The acrosin enzyme markedly (P< 0.05) decreased in 2% MH-Ken group during the storage period. MH 2%-Ken at 0 and 12 hrs (P= 0.007 and 0.03) and Dimitri up to 72 hrs showed decreased (P< 0.001) MDA levels. MH with Ken/Dimitri extenders had a powerful effect in improving stallion chilled semen properties. MH-Ken was superior in improving semen characteristics, antioxidant defense, and potential fertilizing capacity while MH-Dimitri was good at maintaining wall integrity and shielding lipid peroxidation.
This study, conducted between April 2024 and July 2025, assessed the prevalence and risk factors of infectious diseases at the livestock–wildlife interface of Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary (RWLS), Jammu. Domestic livestock from fringe villages and migratory Bakarwal herds were surveyed using community interviews, local veterinarian interviews and laboratory diagnostics. High levels of overlap between domestic and wild animals were reported, particularly near shared water sources and forest edges. Villagers noted tick infestation, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), reproductive disorders, and diarrhoea, while Bakarwal herds exhibited sore mouth lesions, diarrhoea, and tick infestation. Laboratory surveillance revealed gastrointestinal parasitism in 42.5% of cattle, 46.67% of buffaloes, 39.58% of sheep, and 38.0% of goats. Brucella seroprevalence was 18.18% in cattle and 10.34% in goats, while LSDV was detected in 15.15% of cattle. Risk factors included irregular deworming and vaccination, lack of mineral supplementation, limited veterinary access for pastoralists, and shared grazing and water resources with wildlife. Seasonal overlap—defined as the convergence of migratory livestock herds with wildlife populations during grazing and water availability periods—was also identified as a potential driver of exposure. Although chisquare analysis (χ² = 0.2; p > 0.05) did not show a significant statistical association between wildlife interaction and disease occurrence, ecological evidence indicated that shared environments and overlapping seasonal movements created opportunities for indirect transmission. The identified factors were interpreted as potential ecological and management related exposure conditions rather than statistically confirmed predictors of disease transmission. The findings underscored the need for integrated management strategies, improved veterinary outreach, community awareness, and coordinated surveillance to mitigate disease risks at the livestock–wildlife interface.
