<div style="text-align: justify;">In cattle, sex selection has a significant economic impact when it improves herd capacity of milk or meat production and is commonly used for the production of calves of the desired gender. &nbsp;New separation techniques which present both better accuracy and low costs are necessary. Density gradient centrifugation might be an approach to sexing spermatozoa because of the additional DNA content and volume of X-bearing sperm head. The present study was designed to apply the modified percoll discontinuous density gradient for X-sperm enrichment in cross bred bovine semen. We attempted to amplify the level of X-sperm enrichment by using double centrifugation in percoll gradient. In addition, effect of percoll density gradient on fertility of semen was also evaluated at three stages; before centrifugation (stage I), after 1st centrifugation (stage II) and after 2nd centrifugation (stage III) respectively and ultrasonography was carried out to confirm the sex of fetus at 60-90 days post AI. Semen was collected from two cross bred bovine bulls and 34 cows were inseminated with liquid X-sperm enriched semen after double centrifugation in percoll gradient. 22 cows were inseminated with non-sexed fresh liquid semen (control). Results showed that the volume, progressive motility, live sperms, concentration and HOST reactive sperms significantly (P&lt;0.05) decreased at stage II and stage III compared to stage I. However, no significant (P&gt;0.05) change was observed in pH and mass motility of semen at all three stages. There was non-significant effect on per cent spermatozoa with intact acrosomal membrane and fully damaged acrosomal membrane at all three stages however, partially damaged acrosomal membrane sperms were significantly (P&lt;0.05) decreased at Stage II and Stage III compared to Stage I. The conception rate significantly (P&lt;0.05) decreased with X-enriched semen (41.17%) compared to non-sexed liquid semen (59.09%). The female sex ratio of calves significantly (P&lt;0.05) increased to 66.66% with X- sperm enriched semen compared to the male percentage of 33.33% with sexed semen and female percentage of 46.15% with non-sexed semen.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">X-sperm Enrichment of Bovine Semen by Percoll Density Gradient Method and Its Effect on Semen Quality, Sex Ratio and Conception Rate</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Foam fractionation technology works on the adsorptive bubble separation principle. This technique involves adsorption of the surface-active substances on to a gas-liquid interface and separation of these components from the liquid along with bubbles as foam. The foam separation technology has been successfully utilized in the recovery of proteins from solutions containing either a single protein or binary mixtures. To develop a foam fractionation technology for selective enrichment and recovery of whey proteins, it is essential to investigate the effect of different feed and process variables that affect the foam fractionation process. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of two important feed variables, such as pH and initial protein concentration on recovery and enrichment of total whey proteins as well as &alpha;-lactalbumin and &beta;-lactoglobulin. Methods: All the experiments were conducted in Agriculture and biosystems engineering lab and Alfred Dairy Science lab at South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota during 2011-2013. The experiments used four levels of initial protein concentration and five levels of feed pH. Yield and enrichment ratios were determined for total whey proteins, &alpha;-Lactalbumin (&alpha;-La) and &beta;-Lactoglobulin (&beta;-Lg).&nbsp; Result: Whey protein yields ranged from 51.58 to 90.92%, while the enrichment ratios were between 1.2 to 5. The yield of &alpha;-La varied from 59 to 94% and the highest enrichment ratio of 8.45 was obtained with the treatment combination of initial protein concentration of 109 mg/L and pH of 5.1. Selective enrichment of &alpha;-La over &beta;-Lg was observed at a pH of 4.65 with &alpha;-La to &beta;-Lg ratio of 0.49. These findings will be helpful in selective enrichment and recovery of valuable proteins from Cheddar cheese whey using the foam fractionation process.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Foam Fractionation Technology for Enrichment and Recovery of Cheese Whey Proteins</div>

<div>Background: A reliable method for controlling the sex of farm animals has the potential to revolutionize dairy farming. This can only be achieved by use of a method capable of separating X and Y chromosome bearing spermatozoa at lower cost and causing no significant damages to sperm viability. Realizing significance of buffaloes in Indian dairy farming, present study was aimed to develop appropriate density gradient model for enrichment of X chromosome bearing spermatozoa population in semen of Murrah buffalo bull.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Density gradient centrifugation (DGC) technique was employed for enriching X chromosome spermatozoa in buffalo bull semen using four gradient media viz., Percoll, Optiprep, Ficoll and Sucrose. Percentage enrichment of X chromosome bearing spermatozoa in all the DGC models was determined by SYBR green based Real Time PCR. 
 
Result: Our investigations revealed that number of layers and centrifugation speed (g) factors in a density gradient centrifugation model, have significant effect on the percentage enrichment of X chromosome content in semen samples.Three layers, four layers and five layers density gradient centrifugation models showed significant differences (P&lt;0.05) in the sex ratio towards X spermatozoa population in semen (61.72%&plusmn;0.81, 64.55%&plusmn;0.26 and 67.31&plusmn;0.33%) respectively. Density gradient centrifugation models with centrifugation speed (g) 200x g and 300x g also showed significant differences (P&lt;0.05) in the sex ratio towards X spermatozoa population in semen (66.36%&plusmn;0.25 and 62.69&plusmn;0.22%) respectively. Out of all DGC models, Optiprep density gradient model with 5 layers and centrifugation at 200xg (O3) yielded maximum enrichment (72.4%&plusmn;1.38). In conclusion, O3 poses to be a promising model for enrichment of X spermatozoa in buffalo bull semen.</div>

<div>Five Layered Optiprep based Density Gradient Model is a Promising Model for Enrichment of Viable X Chromosome Bearing Spermatozoa in Bubalus bubalis</div>

Background: Limited information is available on the enrichment of omega-3 fatty acids and their stability in poultry products during their processing and preservation. Keeping this on view, the present study was undertaken to develop chicken meat sausages enriched with omega-3 fatty acids by incorporation of flax seed oil at different levels.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The present investigation on standardization of the different levels of flax seed oil (2, 4 and 6%) on various physico-chemical, proximate, omega-3-fatty acid profile and sensory scores of functional chicken meat sausages was investigated. The developed functional chicken meat sausages were analyzed for various quality characteristics like physico-chemical (cooking yield, emulsion stability, water holding capacity, pH and hardness and proximate composition, omega-3-fatty acid profile and sensory evaluation.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Chicken meat sausages added with 6% flax seed oil (T3) had significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher cooking yield, emulsion stability, water holding capacity, protein and fat than control and remaining formulations. In the same line, chicken meat sausages added with 6% flax seed oil (T3) had lower SFA values and higher MUFA values, n-6 PUFA and n-3 PUFA values, n6 PUFA/n3 PUFA ratio and PUFA/SFA ratio and superior sensory scores than control and other formulations. The addition of flax seed oil to chicken meat sausages improved the healthy fatty acid profile.

Quality Characteristics of Functional Chicken Meat Sausages Enriched With Omega-3-Fatty Acids

An aerobic composting experiment was conducted for 91 days in the laboratory of the Department of Soil and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Sudan to investigate the effects of three levels of C/N ratio on some physico-chemical properties of final compost from sheep manure (C/N 15.9), groundnut straw (C/N ratio 25.9) and their mixture (C/N ratio 18.3). Increase in C/N ratio of materials had consistently resulted in an increase in pH, increase of the final compost and the increase was 5, 36 and 68%, respectively. Total N, P, K, Mg, pH, WHC and bulk density were increased in final compost whereas organic C, lignin, polyphenol and C/N ration showed variable reduction. Characterization of final compost generally depends on initial C/N ratio of the materials used.

Characterization of compost as affected by manipulation of C/N ratio

<div style="text-align: justify;">The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc enriched Farm Yard Manures (FYM) on zinc deficient loamy sand soil and yield of mungbean[Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek.]. Treatments consisted of 15 combinations of three levels of FYM i.e. F0 (no FYM), F1 (FYM @ 5 t ha-1) and F2 (FYM @ 10 t ha-1) and five treatments of enrichment i.e. Zn enrichment (EnZn1, EnZn2, and EnZn3) at three levels of Zn (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 kg Zn ha-1) @ 500 kg ha-1 FYM and without enrichment (Zn0 and Zn1) at two levels of Zn (inorganic salts) i.e. 0 kg and 5 kg Zn ha-1, replicated thrice in factorial randomized block design (FRBD)during 2012. The enrichment process was started 50 days before their use in kharif season experiment on mung bean.The average improvement in seed yield of mungbean was 1179 kg ha-1. Zinc-enriched FYM and their straight application produced (10983kgha-1) 31.86 and 22.83% higher grain yield, respectively, relative to control Zn0 (8959kg ha-1).The yield was increased due to enrichment and it was achieved by 9.04 % over straight application of zinc. Zn uptake was recorded significantly higher under the EnZn2 (143.96 g ha-1) which was at par with EnZn3 (148.23 g ha-1) followed by EnZn1 (118.50 g ha-1) all these values are significantly higher than Zn0 (92.02 g ha-1).The average improvement in total uptake of Zn by mungbean was 48.71%higher due to zinc enriched FYM than the straight application of zinc. The application of zinc enriched FYM significantly increased available N, organic carbon andDTPA-extractable Zn with increasing the level of enrichment.The application of zinc enriched FYM had non-significant effect on bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity and moisture retention at 1/3 and 15 bar and CEC than control.Application of 2.5 kg Zn ha-1which wascomparable to enriched with FYM,in terms of higher seed yield of mungbean.</div>

Effect of zinc enriched farm yard manures on yield of mung bean and Physico-Chemical Properties of soil

A field experiment was conducted at Udaipur for two consecutive rabi seasons of 2011-12 and 2012-13 with aim to rationalize the water use and enhance the productivity of fenugreek through use of appropriate IW-CPE ratio and fertilizer level. Results show that IW-CPE ratio of 1.0 registered significantly higher pooled seed yield (1833 kg ha-1) to an extent of 45.48, 27.50 and 11.90% and pooled haulm yield (5111 kg ha-1) to a level of 41.42, 23.72 and 10.26% over lower IW-CPE ratios 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8, respectively. However, pooled seed and haulm yield were statistically at par between IW-CPE ratios of 1.0 and 1.2. IW-CPE of 1.0 also recorded significantly higher pooled consumptive use (211.91 mm ha-1) over lower IW-CPE ratios. Water use efficiency (WUE) under IW-CPE ratio of 1.0 (8.63 kg grain mm-1 ha-1) was indifferent to IW-CPE ratio of 1.2 however; these treatment registered significantly lower pooled WUE values than various lower IW-CPE ratios. IW-CPE ratio of 1.0 also registered significantly higher pooled dry matter plant-1 at 40 and 80 days (1.40 and 11.97 g, respectively) and at harvest (17.07 g) over different lower IW-CPE ratios. IW-CPE ratio of 1.0 fetched significantly higher pooled net return (Rs 58442 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.53) over lower IW-CPE ratios but variations were indifferent with IW-CPE ratio of 1.2. Among fertility levels, 40 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 registered significantly higher pooled yield (seed: 1721 kg ha-1 and haulm: 4777 ha-1), consumptive use (173.59 mm ha-1), WUE (10.40 kg grain mm-1 ha-1), dry matter plant-1 at 40 days (1.34 g), 80 days (11.67 g) and at harvest (16.39 g), net return (Rs 54176 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.33) but variations were indifferent with 60 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 in pooled seed and haulm yield, consumptive use, WUE, dry matter plant-1 at 40 and 80 days and harvest and net return.&nbsp;

Water use, yield and economics of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) under varying IW-CPE ratios and fertilizer levels in South West Rajasthan

Background: The increasing pressure on land resources, climate variability and need for sustainable intensification, cultivating pulses with fingermillet appears as a practical and ecologically sound strategy in rainfed agriculture. Legume inclusion provides sustainability to non-legume cereal components by enriching soil fertility, increasing system productivity and economic returns. Fingermillet + pulses intercropping system helps to conserve moisture, improve soil physical properties and buildup soil fertility. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted in randomized block design on the Experimental Farm of the College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Science, CAU(I), Kyrdemkulai, Meghalaya during kharif season of 2023 and 2024 to assess the performance of fingermillet + kharif pulses intercropping system as well as growth and yield behaviour of intercrop kharif pulses viz., greengram and blackgram as intercrops with different row ratios.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Among the fingermillet + greengram intercropping treatments, the highest value of growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of greengram were found with fingermillet + greengram at 3:3 row ratio followed by 2:2. Similarly, under differnent fingermillet + blackgram intercropping treatments, 3:3 row ratio recorded highest values of growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of blackgram. However, fingermillet + greengram at 4:2 row ratio registered significantly more FMEY (3.2 t ha-1) and LER (1.34) as compared to sole fingermillet among the different fingermillet pulses intercropping system. Furthermore, fingermillet + kharif pulses intercropped treatments were able to maintain higher levels of available soil N after completion of the two years experiment.&nbsp;

Growth and Yield of Intercrop Kharif Pulses and Performance of Fingermillet + Kharif Pulses Intercropping System as Influenced by Different Row Ratios

<div>Background: The uncertainty of groundnut productivity in the rainfed areas could be minimized by in situ conserving the soil moisture received through precipitation during the cropping period and improving the nutrient status.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu during 2014-2015 rabi season to find out the effect of charred rice husk and other organic materials enriched with or without fertilizer nutrient on the moisture retention and nutrient supply during the deficit period of crop growth. The treatment consists of charred rice husk, biochar, lignite and farm yard manure alone and enriched with the recommended dose of nitrogen (10 kg ha-1) and phosphorus (10 kg ha-1) fertilizer and compared with the absolute control and recommended dose of fertilizer (10:10:45 kg NPK ha-1). 
 
Result: The structural morphology of organic materials was studied using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed that the particles of charred rice husk were uneven and the diameter varied from 3-4 &igrave;m with clod and block appearance, the particles of biochar were irregular in shape, uneven sized and diameter varied from 2-3 &igrave;m with block appearance and the lignite particles found spherical and aggregated. The chemical composition of organic manure with nutrient examined under SEM-EDAX revealed that the charred rice husk contains 64.31% carbon, 28.42% oxygen and 5.96% silica. Results of the study revealed that, application of enriched FYM at 5 t ha-1 recorded significantly higher pod yield (2190 kg ha-1). The enriched biochar and charred rice husk produced comparable pod yield of 2010 kg ha-1 and 1983 kg ha-1, respectively.</div>

<div>Enriched Charred Rice Husk to Improve the Nutrient Management in Rainfed Groundnut</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: The Kleiber ratio in a goat is an important parameter related to feeding and health care. The present study was undertaken to assess the kleiber ratio of 3079 Marwari goats (born from 2016 to 2021) of registered farmers under the All India Coordinated Research Project on goats (Marwari goat field unit) in semi-arid region of Rajasthan.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The linear mixed model used for kleiber ratio estimation included: year of birth, sex, cluster, birth type and age of dam as fixed factors.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Overall least-squares means (LSM) for Kleiber ratio (KR) from birth to 3 months (KR1), 3 to 6 months (KR2) and 6 to 12 months (KR3) were 12.89&plusmn;0.03, 9.69&plusmn;0.05 and 4.59&plusmn;0.06, respectively. Year of birth and cluster had highly significant effect on all KR. The birth type had significant on all KR except KR1. The non-significant effect of sex and age of dam were observed on all KR except KR1. The study revealed that the KR was affected by different non-genetic factors. The heritability estimates for KR1, KR2 and KR2 were 0.66&plusmn;0.28, 0.07&plusmn;0.07 and 0.54&plusmn;0.26, respectively.&nbsp;</div>