AbstractInsulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a low molecular weight peptide produced mainly by liver cells and plays an important role in regulating postnatal growth. Recently, IGF-1 has been implicated as a marker for resistance against gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. A study was conducted to find out the sequence information of IGF-1 gene in Haemonchus contortus-resistant Malpura sheep. Total RNA was extracted from liver tissue collected from Haemonchus contortusresistant Malpura sheep and complementary DNA was synthesized. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of ovine IGF-1 gene was done using gene-specific primers. A 591 bp PCR product was amplified and characterized by nucleotide sequence for sequence variations. It showed 100% similarity with the sheep IGF-1 sequence available in the public domain. Deduced amino acid (154 residues) revealed close to goat and taurine cattle. The predicted local distance difference test (pLDDT) score of the protein was 55.78. At present, a sheep-specific antibody against protein is not available for the development of immunological assay. Thus, the present findings would be useful to generate recombinant ovine IGF-1 protein for the generation of antibodies for immunological investigation.
AbstractAn investigation was undertaken to study the effect of replacing concentrate mixture with azolla on milk yield, blood metabolites and economics of Alpine x Beetal goats. Eighteen Alpine x Beetal goats (43.00±1.37 kg body weight, 1.17±.04 kg milk yield/day) were divided into three groups of six each. Goats in the control group (T0) were fed a conventional ration, whereas in T1 and T2 groups, 25 and 50% of the concentrate mixture was replaced by fresh azolla. Azolla is a good source of protein and contains 23.20% protein. Dry matter intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T0 (1.840±0.08 kg) as compared to T2 (1.708±0.11 kg). Blood metabolites (blood urea nitrogen, non-esterified fatty acids), enzymes (alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase), and milk yield and composition were unaffected by substituting azolla for 25% and 50% of concentrate feed. On feeding of azolla to the T1 and T2 groups, the cost of feed/kg milk yield was decreased by 16.37 and 20.44%, respectively, in comparison to the T0. It was concluded that 25% replacement of concentrate mixture with azolla decreased the cost of milk production in Alpine x Beetal goats.
AbstractTo compare the socio-economic conditions of resource-poor farmers before and after the introduction of goat farming, a baseline survey was conducted in Nashik, Nandurbar, Pune, Ahmednagar and Hingoli districts of Maharashtra. Forty-five scheduled tribe (ST) farmers of Nashik and Nandurbar districts and 51 scheduled caste (SC) farmers of Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar and Hingoli districts were randomly selected. Training on goat farming was imparted to the selected farmers. Thereafter, they were provided one unit of adult Osmanabadi goat (1 male + 4 female), 200 kg of goat feed, 2.0 kg of mineral mixture, feeder, waterer and tarpaulin sheet. The survey of farmers showed that the main occupation of the farmers was agriculture (48.42 ST vs. 42.73% SC) followed by daily wage in both the ST and SC-dominated talukas (26.32 vs. 20.00%). A total of 422 kids were born during four years (2020 to 2024) in herds of 54 farmers. Average daily gain of kids was 108.07 g/day in the farmers' herds. The overall daily milk yield of a doe was 451.08 ml during the study period of four years. The average annual mortality rate was 8.24% in kids and goats in the farmers' herds. A total of 54 farmers sold their goats and earned an average of Rs. 12061 per annum. Annual income of farmers increased over baseline income by 41.65%. It was inferred that the introduction of goat farming among resource-poor farmers sizably improved their income and benefitted them economically.
AbstractA study aimed to characterize molecularly a partial fragment (219 bp) of keratin-associated protein 6.1 (KAP 6.1) gene in Rambouillet sheep and explore its evolutionary relationship with other mammalian species. PCR amplification followed by sequencing confirmed gene identity with reference ovine sequences. Basic local alignment search tool results indicated high sequence similarity with Capra hircus (98.89%) and Ovis aries (96.11%, Chokla breed) and more distant homology with non-ruminant species, such as Cavia porcellus, Homo sapiens and Mus musculus. Nucleotide composition analysis revealed the guanine and cytosine-rich structure (63.11%) in Rambouillet sheep, suggesting sequence stability. Multiple sequence alignment demonstrated conserved motifs among small ruminants. Phylogenetic analysis clustered Rambouillet sheep closely with related species, supported by strong bootstrap values. Pair-wise distance estimations reflected minimal divergence from other ruminants and increasing genetic variation among unrelated taxa. Tajima's neutrality test yielded a negative D value (-2.1622), indicating possible purifying selection. These findings establish KAP 6.1 as a structurally conserved and potentially significant gene with applicability as a genetic marker for wool trait improvement in sheep.
AbstractA study was aimed to evaluate two total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) protocols for orthopaedic surgery in goats. Twelve goats were randomly allocated into two groups of six each to compare the effects of two anaesthetic combinations administered as continuous rate infusion (CRI). Gr I received dexmedetomidine-midazolam-propofol-lignocaine (DMPL), while Gr II received xylazine-midazolam-propofol-lignocaine (XMPL). Clinical, physiological, haemodynamic, haematological and biochemical characters were monitored. Both protocols provided rapid sedation, excellent induction and effortless endotracheal intubation. A stable surgical plane of anaesthesia was maintained for a mean duration of 105 min with complete analgesia and excellent muscle relaxation in both the groups. Predictable decreases in heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were observed, with significant (P<0.05) reduction in mean arterial pressure from 90.17±0.70 to 83.10±0.94 mmHg. Haemoglobin oxygen saturation remained stable. Transient decreases in erythrocyte indices were noted at 120 min, which normalised by 48 h. Biochemical characters remained stable. Recoveries were smooth and excitement-free. Both the DMPL and XMPL protocols are effective and safe TIVA options for maintaining anaesthesia in goats during major orthopaedic surgeries. The primary distinction was a more pronounced mean arterial pressure decrease in XMPL, suggesting that DMPL offers slightly superior cardiovascular stability.
AbstractA study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of Ziziphus mauritiana (Ber, Jujube) fruit as a substitute for maize grain in goats. In an in vitro study, maize was replaced with Z. mauritiana fruit in concentrate feed viz., 0% (C1), 10 (C2), 20 (C3), 30 (C4), 40 (C5), 50 (C6), 60 (C7), 70 (C8), 80 (C9), 90 (C10) and 100% (C11). Z. mauritiana fruit contains dry matter (79.53%), crude protein (7.45%), ether extract (0.17%), crude fibre (10%), nitrogen-free extract (77.92%), calcium (0.14%) and phosphorus (0.05%). In vitro degradability of concentrate mixtures showed significant (P<0.01) decline in dry matter (IVDMD) and crude protein degradability (IVCPD) with increasing replacement levels. Control diet (C1) had the highest IVDMD (83.33%) and IVCPD (86.13%), followed by C2-C5 (IVDMD 76.67-79.33% and IVCPD 78.66-82.73%), which progressively decreased to 70.33% IVDMD and 70.79% IVCPD at 100% replacement (C11). The findings suggest that partial replacement of maize up to 40% is feasible with minimal impact on degradability, while higher inclusion levels substantially reduce nutrient degradability.
AbstractTo evaluate the techno-economic feasibility of commercial goat farming in India, data were collected from 136 commercial goat farms across 20 states of the country, representing six major goat-rearing regions during 2019-21. Overall, the cost and return analysis revealed that the initial investment on the purchase of animals constituted 38.66%, while the construction of goat sheds accounted for 61.34% of the total investment. In variable cost, overall feed and fodder cost was 52.87%, followed by labour (29.84%), interest on capital (6.58%) and depreciation on sheds and equipment (6.48%). Veterinary costs and other expenses made up the remaining part of the variable cost. On the income side, sale of kids was the primary source of income (78.27%), followed by milk (13.22%) and manure (8.51%). The annual net income per breedable goat (over variable costs) was Rs. 6903 for small, Rs. 7715 for medium and Rs. 8767 for large farms. The overall net income per goat was Rs. 8088 with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.24. Goat breed, adoption of good management practices, body weights of male kids and strategic marketing influenced the return to farms, particularly during festivals. The sale of male goats during festivals received 43% higher prices. An average score of 0.77 was found in the technical efficiency analysis; 24% of farms operate at 100% and 60% at >70% efficiency. The findings suggested that commercial goat farming is a highly viable enterprise in India, profitability and efficiency strongly influenced by breed, management and market strategies.
AbstractThe domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a promising micro-livestock species that can play a role in improving the livelihood and nutritional security of poor and marginal farmers. Rabbits have, probably, the highest meat production capacity among domestic animals. One adult female can produce a large number of kits and thereby a large quantity of meat in a year. Protein of high biological value, low fat and higher vitamin and mineral content make rabbit meat one of the important constituents of a healthy human diet. The new generation is more aware of health concerns raised by the medical fraternity about red meat consumption. In search of an alternative meat, rabbit meat can reliably address health and nutritional issues. Shorter age at maturity, short generation interval, higher prolificacy (30-50 kits/doe/yr), higher meat yield per rabbit per year, feed conversion efficiency (3.46 to 4.80) and unique meat quality are some of the virtues of the meat rabbit. However, like all animal farming, rabbitry is also considered a subsidiary sector of agriculture. The dependence of rabbits exclusively on crop residues may be suitable only for backyard rabbitries but not for commercial rabbitries. Newer rabbit strains, suitable fodder, value addition of meat and other products and marketing and export opportunities are needed to leap forward in meat rabbitry. This review provides insights into the status of rabbit farming, meat production, consumption and their future perspectives and the way forward for making it sustainable and remunerative in India.
AbstractThe study aimed to assess the impact of FecB gene on litter size and productivity in Nilagiri Synthetic sheep. A total of 179 ewes were screened for the FecB mutation between January 2015 and October 2016, and the reproductive performance of 158 non-carrier (++) and 21 heterozygous carriers (B+) was compared. Results indicated that ewes with one copy of FecB gene showed significantly (P<0.05) higher litter sizes at birth, weaning and in lifetime as compared to non-carrier ewes. The average litter size at birth was 1.09±0.10 for non-carriers and 1.60±0.10 for carriers, while the corresponding values at weaning were 1.09±0.11 and 1.56±0.12, respectively. Heterozygous carrier ewes (B+) weaned an additional 0.47 lambs per ewe compared to non-carriers. Further, in a lifetime, heterozygous carriers produced 3.13 more lambs at birth and 3.04 at weaning compared to non-carriers. These findings suggest that FecB gene contributes positively to prolificacy and overall reproductive performance in Nilagiri Synthetic sheep.
AbstractA study was conducted to survey and characterise Sangamneri sheep and document breeding, management and production practices followed by the shepherds in their native breeding tract. During 2023, a total of 72 sheep flocks (8492 sheep) were surveyed in 20 villages of Sangamner block in Ahilyanagar district and 706 animals in Breeding Farms at Ch. Sambhajinagar and Jalgaon (Maharashtra) districts. The survey indicated that the Dhangar community, mainly reared this sheep for generations. The average flock size in the surveyed population was 117.94 (82.20 ewes, 2.40 rams and 33.34 lambs). The mean birth weights in males and females were 3.18±2.15 and 2.60±0.04 kg, respectively. Three-months weights were 18.19±0.23 kg in males and 17.30±0.21 kg in females. The age of lambs at slaughter was little above 3 months, with an average carcass weight of 8.69±0.22 kg in males and 8.03±0.21 kg in females. Daily milk yield of ewe was 603.88±28.66 g, whereas complete yield was 67.24±3.97 kg in a lactation period of 110.83 days, with very high fat content (9.34%). The mean age at first lambing was 449.20±1.41 days and litter size was 1.27±0.02. The study revealed Sangamneri is a mutton-type sheep with better growth rate, multiple births and adaptability to harsh climatic conditions in the breeding tract and an important genetic resource for farmers in the region.
AbstractA study was undertaken to develop functional restructured goat meat slices (RGMS) incorporated with jamun (Syzygium cumini) seed powder (JSP). Based on preliminary trials, four different batches of RGMS were prepared viz., control (without JSP), T1 (1% JSP), T2 (3% JSP) and T3 (5% JSP) by vacuum tumbling for 3.5 h after refrigerating of the mixture for 4 h. The samples were assessed for proximate composition, various physicochemical, colour, textural characters and sensory evaluation. The cooking yield, dietary fibre and calcium content of RGMS recorded an increasing trend with the increase in the JSP levels, whereas an inverse trend was recorded for protein and moisture contents. The colour attributes (L*, a* and b*) were lower in the treated samples compared to control. Hardness value increased with increasing levels of JSP. The overall acceptability of T1 and T2 was within the very good category. The overall acceptability lowest was for T3 with a bitter taste. The study indicated that good quality RGMS could be prepared by incorporating 3% JSP.
AbstractA study was conducted to investigate the in vitro cryopreservation and temporal gene expression variations in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated skin fibroblasts of Kendrapada sheep. Four skin samples from two Kendrapada rams (~3 yr old) were cultured, fibroblasts were characterized morphologically, and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. After LPS stimulation of passage-4 of cells, gene expression analysis was carried out. Real time PCR expression of genes viz., toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), TIR domain containing adapter inducing interferon ß (TRIF), cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa), interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF 3), interleukin (IL) 1, 2, 4, 8, 10 and interferon gamma (IFN?) was carried out at 12, 24 and 36 h post stimulation (PS). Transcripts expression analysis revealed dynamic regulation over time, with an initial inflammatory surge followed by varied expression patterns. There was an increase in IL8, IRF3, and IL10 at 12 h followed by a reduction at 24 h and a mixed response at 36 h, indicating a complex regulatory landscape. The exceptionally high expression (39.26±0.29) of IL8 throughout signifies its pivotal role in the immune response, while the observed downregulation of IL10 and IL2 at 24 h hints at regulatory feedback mechanisms or adaptive processes. These findings offer crucial insights into Kendrapada sheep's immune response mechanisms, informing conservation efforts and enriching our understanding of their adaptation to diverse agro-climatic conditions.
AbstractBluetongue virus (BTV), transmitted by Culicoides biting midges, poses significant threat to the health of sheep and goats, causing bluetongue (BT) disease and substantial economic loss in the small ruminant sector. Current control strategies using a pentavalent inactivated vaccine have certain limitations, emphasising the urgent need for more effective and broadly protective vaccines. The outer surface proteins of BTV, VP2 and VP5, appear to be promising targets for a subunit vaccine for BT. The present study aimed to investigate the immunogenic potential of a chimera comprising a conserved region of VP2 (cVP2) and VP5 proteins for BT, which can ultimately offer cross-protection against the majority of known BTV serotypes. Both cVP2-VP5 were stitched together with the help of different linkers, leading to the formation of a chimeric protein. An immuno-informatics approach was employed to assess the antigenicity and the presence of B-cell and T-cell epitopes in the constructed chimeric proteins. The 3D structure was predicted, refined and validated using bioinformatic tools. Of the 12 linkers tested, chimeras with four linkers expressed the maximum number of immunogenic epitopes on the surface, emphasising the critical role of linkers in maintaining conformational flexibility and preventing steric hindrance, thereby enabling proper folding and presentation of epitopes. The present study employs an immuno-informatic-driven approach to develop a probable subunit vaccine with potential DIVA (differentiation between infected and vaccinated animal) ability for BT.
AbstractA study was aimed to conduct molecular characterization of keratin-associated protein 11.1 (KAP11.1) gene in Rambouillet sheep and to elucidate its evolutionary relationships with homologous gene sequences across diverse mammalian species. A 439 bp fragment was amplified using gene-specific primers, sequenced, and analyzed through bioinformatics tools. BLAST results indicated 99.25% identity with Ovis aries and 98.48% identity with Capra hircus, while lower similarity was observed with non-ruminants, including Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, and Cavia porcellus. Nucleotide composition analysis revealed a GC-rich structure (62.1%) in Rambouillet sheep, suggesting sequence stability. Multiple sequence alignment demonstrated conserved cysteine-rich motifs, particularly among small ruminants. Phylogenetic analysis clustered Rambouillet sheep with Capra hircus and other sheep breeds, supported by strong bootstrap values. Pair-wise distance analysis reflected minimal divergence from other ruminants and greater genetic distance from unrelated taxa. Tajima's D neutrality test yielded a slightly negative value (-0.2289), indicating possible weak purifying selection or demographic stability. The findings establish KAP11.1 as a structurally conserved and potentially important gene with applicability as a molecular marker for wool trait improvement in Rambouillet sheep.
AbstractIn Colombia, goat production is constantly growing with a regional focus, where the largest population is found in the north of the country; but in other departments, such as Cundinamarca, dairy goat production has developed as an alternative system. The objective of this work was to characterize the goat production systems in the department of Cundinamarca in relation to their resources, management practices, and limitations. A semi-structured survey was carried out by personal visits to dairy goat producers during 2022. Most of the production systems (73%) were stationary, where the predominant goat breed was Alpine (90%) and only 9% used artificial insemination. In addition, 27% of the goat pens did not have good bio-security practices, such as washing facilities and quarantine zone. The main diseases were gastrointestinal nematodes, caseous lymphadenitis, and symptoms compatible with lentivirus of small ruminants. The average daily milk production of goats was 1.5 litres in a lactation period of 304 days. Most of the milk producers did not have a milking protocol, but 100% of them refrigerate the milk before sale. Goat production systems in Cundinamarca showed limited technological adoption; but there is an opportunity for enhancing income of dairy goat producers and contribution to food security.
AbstractA study was conducted to assess the population structure, genetic variability and inbreeding in Bharat Merino sheep flocks. The pedigree records of Bharat Merino sheep maintained at ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan (n=5158) and Southern Regional Research Centre, Mannavanur, Tamil Nadu (n=4974), from 1975 to 2021 were used for the study. Population and genetic variability traits were estimated based on the gene origin probabilities. The average equivalent generation (population’s pedigree depth) was 5.69. The estimated Wright’s F-statistic values were FIS = -0.0012, FIT = 0.0013 and FST = 0.0025. The effective population size and mean generation interval were 114.21 and 3.61 years, respectively. Inbreeding and average relatedness were 2.39 and 4.51%, respectively. The fe/fa ratio (degree of population bottlenecks) was 1.29. Sixteen key ancestors contributed 50% of the population’s genetic variability. Allele fixation through homozygosis did not occur in the population. The population possessed an appropriate amount of genetic variability, as evidenced by larger genetic differences within the flocks and the effective population size. A certain amount of genetic variability was lost due to the overuse of a few progenitors. The rate of inbreeding was under control, suggesting effective mating strategies to avoid inbreeding in Bharat Merino flocks.
AbstractA study aimed to estimate the effect of non-genetic factors on growth traits and genetic parameters in Surti kids. Data on growth traits of Surti kids maintained under All India Coordinated Research Project on Surti Goat at Livestock Research Station, Navsari (Gujarat) from 2012 to 2021 were used for the study. Type of birth had significant (P<0.05) effect on growth traits up to 6 months. However, season and period of birth had a significant (P<0.05) effect up to 3 months only. Sex of the kid had significant (P<0.01) effect on the growth traits up to 12 months of age. Heritability estimates at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were higher for body weight (0.638, 0.372, 0.358 and 0.350), body height (0.343, 0.467, 0.459 and 0.465) and heart girth (0.430, 0.450, 0.456 and 0.459), whereas moderate for body length (0.315, 0.274, 0.259 and 0.278) respectively. High and positive genetic-phenotypic correlations at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were observed for body weight, body length, body height and heart girth. The study revealed a significant effect of non-genetic factors during the early stage of life. Moreover, growth traits were moderate to highly heritable up to 12 months, except at birth in Surti goats.
AbstractAsurvey was conducted from July 2023 to January 2024 for phenotypic characterization of the Pallai Adu, a lesser-known goat population of Tamil Nadu. A total of 721 goats from 112 herds across 33 villages in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts (Tamil Nadu) were evaluated for morphological, morphometric, body weight and reproductive traits. Pallai Adu goats had predominantly black coat colour (55.8%) with compact body conformation, short limbs and broad barrel. Morphometric measurements indicated a small-sized animal with height at withers (60.63±0.26 cm) and chest girth (65.76±0.22 cm) at full mouth age. These goats had a unique morphometric profile with pelvic girth exceeding chest girth and height at withers. Average overall body weights were 1.84±0.16 kg (birth), 6.64±0.24kg (3 months) and 29.84±0.33 kg (full mouth). Reproductive performance showed early maturity in them, first mating at 10.1 months (bucks) and 8.9 months (does), kidding interval of 7.6 months and gestation period of 150.3 days. The mean litter size was 2.05, with 44.56% of twin births. The study highlights Pallai Adu is a distinct and productive goat population adapted to low-input systems. These findings provide baseline data crucial for breed recognition, conservation and genetic improvement initiatives.
AbstractA White Giant male rabbit (13 months old) was treated for chronic weight loss, cessation of faecal production and suspected wool block in the intestine at Southern Regional Research Centre (ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute), Mannavanur (Tamil Nadu). Palliative therapy was not successful and the animal succumbed on 5th day. On necropsy, nodular protruding lesions on the renal cortex were found that disfigured renal architecture. The renal pelvis was fleshy and dark red in colour. Caecal appendix was enlarged and ecchymotic haemorrhages were seen inside the lumen. On histopathological examination, lymphoblastic infiltrations were seen in the liver, spleen, lung and caecal appendix, suggestive of lymphoid tumour metastasised to visceral organs.
AbstractThe critical condition of hyperthermia was recorded in Bharat Merino and Avihill lambs (3 to 4 months old) in the north temperate region of Himachal Pradesh in April 2024 (ambient temperature 30°C and relative humidity 63.5%). Four lambs exhibited symptoms of hyperthermia, lethargy, hyperextension of hind limbs, panting, rectal temperatures (41.6 to 42.0°C), along with tachycardia, tachypnoea, enhanced bronchovesicular sounds, higher haemoglobin (13.82±0.31 g%), packed cell volume (32.75±0.93%), and total erythrocyte count (14.55±0.27 x106/µl). All the lambs were immediately shifted to cool places, followed by intravenous infusion of normal saline solution (20-30 ml/kg body weight). Two lambs were intramuscularly administered procaine penicillin (20000 IU/kg), pheniramine maleate (1.0 ml, Avilin) and Tribivet® (1.0 ml). The other two lambs were managed without antibiotics but received the same treatment. All the lambs responded positively, and rectal temperatures dropped to ~39.4°C within one hour of treatment. The cooling measures, fluid therapy, and supportive care were found to be effective for managing hyperthermia in Bharat Merino and Avihill lambs.
