<div><strong>Background: </strong>In sheep,<em> Escherichia coli </em>infection can occur as asymptomatic entity to septicaemic episode. Chiefly, it causes heavy mortality in lambs and devastates the farm economy. With an objective of documenting the salient epidemiological and clinico-pathological observations in this naturally occurred outbreak of septicaemic colibacillosis, this communication is made herewith.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods:</strong> In February 2019, sudden death in lambs was observed in three flocks of sheep. Carcasses were subjected for necropsy and histopathological examination. Swab samples from heart, abomasum, intestines, liver and lung were examined for bacteriological and molecular confirmation.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Result:</strong> The mean (&plusmn;SE) age of lambs that were affected was 11.00 &plusmn;0.49 days (n=404). Lambs of native Malpura breed (87.5%) and other two crossbred sheep were affected. Overall mortality of lambs was 23.76%. Gross pathological observations were pulmonary edema, ecchymotic lesions in lungs, congestion in kidney and liver and presence soil-mixed ingesta in abomasum. From the morbid materials including stomach and intestinal swabs, 45 <em>E. coli </em>isolates were identified and they were also confirmed on polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Consequently, virulence genes for shiga toxin (<em>stx2</em>) and intimin (<em>eae</em>) were identified from the isolates. Although antibiotics were administered, only probiotics could control the new infection rate.&nbsp;</div>


<div>Soil-borne Septicaemic Colibacillosis in Neonatal Lambs: Salient Observations</div>


<div>The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of direct fed microbial (DFM) supplementation on growth performance, metabolic profile and mortality rate of newborn lambs at different weaning ages. Five days old sixty Najdi male lambs (5.40 &plusmn; 0.10 kg BW) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (15 lambs each): lambs received either no DFM and weaned at 60 days of age (control) or oral dose of DFM (5 ml) at 5, 10 and 15 days old, and weaned at 30 (DFM30), 45 (DFM45) or 60 (DFM60) days old, respectively. Final body weight was higher (P=0.05) and tended to be higher (P=0.09) in DFM30 and DFM45 lambs, respectively whereas body weight gain was higher (P=0.01) in DFM45 and DFM60 lambs. The mortality rate was declined from 33.3s% to 6.67% in DFM30 and DFM45 lambs compared to control ones. Serum cortisol and creatinine levels tended to be reduced (P=0.07 and 0.11, respectively) in DFM30 and DFM45 lambs. The serum total cholesterol was highest (P=0.02) in DFM60 lambs and lowest in both DFM45 and control lambs. Similarly, the DFM30 and DFM45 lambs showed a declined serum triglyceride compared with control and DFM60 lambs (P=0.02). Serum phosphorus declined (P=0.04) in DFM30 treated lambs while serum zinc and copper levels decreased (P=0.02 and 0.05, respectively) in all treatments compared to control lambs. These results indicated that DFM supplementation may enhance the growth and health of early weaned lambs.</div>


<div>Effects of direct-fed microbial supplementation on growth performance and metabolic profile of newborn lambs weaned at different ages</div>


<div style="text-align:justify"><strong>Background:</strong> Ruminants, during the newborn stage, are considered as agammaglobulinemic (calves and buffalos) or hypogammaglobulinemic (kids and lambs), where the colostrum intake is important for the decrease of illness incidence, an adequate development and a low peripartum mortality. The aim was to evaluate the use of dehydrated bovine colostrum as an alternative to natural ovine colostrum upon de development and immunity of Dorper lambs.<br />
<strong>Methods:</strong> A total of 35 lambs, divided in two groups, one (CN; n=17) fed with natural colostrum directly from the mother, the second (CB; n=18) fed with a colostrum substitute based on dehydrated bovine colostrum, were used.<br />
<strong>Result:</strong> The colostrum quality was better for the CN group regarding lipids, CP, density, solids and fat when compared to the CB (p&lt;0.05). Glucose levels were higher in the CN than the CB 24 h after colostrum administration (116 mg/dl and 97 mg/dl, respectively; p&lt;0.05). There were no diarrheas or respiratory illnesses in lambs from both groups at 24 h after birth (p&gt;0.05). Maybe, the use of bovine dehydrated colostrum transfers a similar immunization than natural colostrum, which generated a low incidence of respiratory and metabolic illnesses and a good body development.</div>


<p class="ql-align-justify">Effect of Dehydrated Bovine Colostrum upon Immunity and Development of Dorper Lambs</p>

<div><strong>Background:</strong> The development of connective tissue in the fetus during the ruminant gestation period increases the need for vitamin C, which is then further increased by the course of pregnancy and lactation. As pregnancy and lactation develop, free radicals and MDA produced as a result of oxidative stress interact with functional groups in the cell, resulting in cell damage. The oxidant/antioxidant balance at this time can be calculated using the total antioxidant status, total oxidant status and oxidative status index values. This study aimed to investigate the effect of two different doses of vitamin C on oxidative stress indicators in late gestation, early and late lactation ewes and their offspring.<br />
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<strong>Methods:</strong> In the study, 48 ewes of the German Meat Merino and Akkaraman breeds that were developed by crossbreeding were employed. After breeding, four groups were formed from pregnant and non-pregnant ewes. Negative Pregnancy Control group was formed from non-pregnant ewes. Positive Pregnancy Control, Positive Pregnancy Practice 1 and Positive Pregnancy Practice 2 groups were formed from pregnant ewes. After the 90<sup>th </sup>day of pregnancy, ewes in the Negative Pregnancy Control and Positive Pregnancy Control groups received saline (0.9% NaCl, 2.5 ml) injections every week concurrently with the other pregnant groups until delivery. From the 90<sup>th</sup> day of pregnancy until birth, sheep participating in Positive Pregnancy Practices 1 and 2 received weekly injections of vitamin C (625 mg/CA, 2.5 ml and 1250 mg/CA, 5 ml, respectively).&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Result:</strong> In the study, no statistically significant difference was found in serum MDA, TAS, TOS and OSI levels between late pregnancy, lactation and born lambs. While none of the pregnant ewes in this study aborted, vitamin C injection significantly decreased postnatal lamb mortality. This showed that vitamin C helped pregnant ewes feel less stressed throughout pregnancy and helped lower postnatal lamb mortality. In pregnant ewes, AO-effective vitamin C supplementation has been shown to have possible beneficial effects on both maternal and offspring health, whereby the number of stillbirths was reduced by vitamin C supplementation, especially in Positive Pregnancy Practice 2 lambs.</div>


<p>Effect of Vitamin C at Different Doses on the Oxidant/Antioxidant System of Ewes During Late Pregnancy, Early and Late Lactation and Their Lambs</p>


<div style="text-align: justify;">he aims were to identify the body weight of the several age groups in Norduz lambs and its correlations between these traits were to determine the best non-linear growth curve models for the growth performance of the Norduz sheep breed. A total of 91 male and female of Norduz lambs were evaluated under extensive system conditions. The least square means for weights at birth and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165, 180, 195 and 210 days of age periods were 4.51&plusmn;0.56, 9.28&plusmn;0.25, 11.14&plusmn;0.29, 14.99&plusmn;0.37, 18.21&plusmn;0.43, 22.54&plusmn;0.54, 22.33&plusmn;0.25, 23.59&plusmn;0.54, 25.58&plusmn;0.55, 28.07&plusmn;0.58, 29.45&plusmn;0.60, 29.98&plusmn;0.84, 32.44&plusmn;0.61, 32.03&plusmn;0.59 and 31.45&plusmn;0.57 kg, respectively. There were differences in favor of lambs of four-year old dams at 15 days of age and also lambs born single at 90 days of age for the body weight. The effect of weight of dam at birth, 30, 45, 60 days of age was significant (P&lt; 0.05-P&lt;0.01) and the birth weight in lambs importantly effected the weights at 15, 30, and 45 days of age.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;All correlations between the body weights of several age periods were significant as statistical (P&lt;0.01). As for the growth models, distinguished models were compared using the coefficient of determination and mean square error for both sexes. As a result, we concluded that von Bertalanffy model were the best model in comparison with the other models for biological growth curves in Norduz male and female lambs.</div>

Effects of some factors on growth of lambs and the determination of growth curve models

<div style="text-align: justify;">The present work was conducted to elucidate the relationships between chronological age, testosterone concentration and testis size of Najdi and Naemi ram lambs under desert conditions to determine the reproductive capacity of the above two breeds. The postnatal development of the seminiferous epithelium of the testes was also monitored. A total of 90 (45 Najdi and 45 Naemi lambs) aged between one and nine months, with five lambs at each month of age for each breed were used. The results showed that the testosterone concentration increased dramatically and rapidly between five and six months, followed by a period of gradual growth where testicular size was increased from 3 to 6 months of age. There was a significant (P &lt; 0.05) difference in testosterone concentration (TC) and testis size (TS) in ram lambs between different age groups, similarly there were significant differences between body weights and lamb age between one and nine months. A positive correlation between the increasing body weight and the size of the testicle was observed. The testicles of lambs at each age-group had a different histological appearance except those of Najdi lambs at 2, 3 and 4 months and Naemi lambs at 2, 3, 4 and 5 months, where few differences were apparent. Small quantities were of spermatozoa appeared at the eighth month of age and increased in the ninth month. In conclusion, the current findings indicate that puberty in Najdi and Naemi rams occurs at the 8th and 9th month of age, respectively.&nbsp;</div>

Pubertal changes in testicular parameters and secretion of testosterone in Najdi and Naemi ram lambs under desert conditions

<div style="text-align: justify;">The present study was aimed at characterizing carcass and meat quality traits in Bandur/ Mandya ram lambs. Eighteen ram lambs were slaughtered at the age of six months by Halal method. The pre-slaughter weight (PSW), hot carcass weight (HCW) and dressing percentage based on PSW recorded were 13.49 &plusmn; 0.26 kg, 6.44 &plusmn; 0.14 kg and 47.77 &plusmn; 0.70 per cent, respectively. The mean loin eye area was 15.43 &plusmn; 0.64 cm2. The mean primal cut weights for leg, loin, rack, chuck, and breast and fore shank were 2.090 &plusmn; 43.35, 0.675 &plusmn; 29.40, 0.646 &plusmn; 28.82, 2.036 &plusmn; 47.35 and 0.601 &plusmn; 23.97 kg, respectively. The highest proportion of meat was recorded in leg (25.06%) and chuck (23.23%). The meat quality traits viz., pH, water holding capacity, Warner-Bratzler Shear Force value, cooking loss and back fat thickness were 6.35 &plusmn; 0.05, 49.74 &plusmn; 3.33 per cent, 3.75 &plusmn; 0.14, 26.01 &plusmn; 2.19 per cent and 0.26 &plusmn; 0.02 cm, respectively. The mean percentage values for proximate principles viz., moisture, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, and total ash were 72.10 &plusmn; 0.38, 19.76 &plusmn; 0.34, 0.24 &plusmn; 0.03, 7.23 &plusmn; 0.47 and 1.01 &plusmn; 0.04 per cent, respectively. Compared to earlier reports higher loin eye area measurement was observed in the present study indicating higher muscular development in Bandur ram lambs.&nbsp;</div>

Carcass and meat quality characteristics of Bandur ram lambs

<div><strong>Background:</strong> The pre and post-weaning mortality in broiler rabbit limits the production potential and lower the income generation through rabbit farming. Therefore, mortality pattern of animals in a farm is very essential clue for future strategy to combat the incidences of various diseases and prevention. Considering the above fact the present study was undertaken to find out the incidences of various rabbit diseases and mortality in an organized institutional farm.<br />
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<strong>Methods: </strong>ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna was maintaining a broiler rabbit farm with 364 rabbit comprising Newzealand White (194) and Soviet Chinchilla (170) rabbit breed. During the three years (October, 2011 to September, 2014) study period in total 364 rabbits were under observation. The seasonal variation viz. (pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon and winter, in regards to &nbsp;mortality, disease incidences, young and adults, sex variation, breed, housing system etc were recorded. The incidences of disease and mortality of rabbits were diagnosed through pathological examination and postmortem findings. The descriptive statistics and &divide;2 test were used to explain the statistical significance.<br />
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<strong>Result:</strong> During the three years study period out of 364 broiler rabbits (Soviet Chinchilla and Newzealand white) in total 63 rabbits (17.31%) were died due to various diseases. The coccidiosis (3.02%), green slime disease (2.20%), haemorrhagic tracheitis (1.92%), enteritis (1.65%), pneumonia (1.37%) and peritonitis (1.37%) were affected more than the other diseases. Apart from these the other ailments that affected broiler rabbits were ear cancer (0.82%), gastroenteritis (0.82%), stomach infection (0.82%), cardinogenic shock (0.55%), stomach impaction (0.55%), kidney infection (0.55%), limb injury (0.27%), ascites (0.27%), cystitis (0.27%), abscess in abdominal cavity (0.27%), rupture of liver and gall bladder (0.27%) as well as injury of eye and blindness (0.27%). The Soviet Chinchilla rabbits were less (7.14%) affected than the Newzealand white (10.16%). It was observed that mortality of male rabbits (6.04%) were less than the female rabbits (11.26%) and &nbsp;mortality of young were higher (11.54%) than the adult rabbits (5.77%). The seasonal variations in mortality of broiler rabbits were observed in present study. In monsoon season mortality was maximum <em>i.e.</em> 6.32% whereas, in post-monsoon it was 5.49%, pre-monsoon 3.02% and in winter season mortality was only 2.47%. The Soviet Chinchilla rabbits were less susceptible and comparatively better performer in regards to disease resistance. It may be concluded that in broiler rabbit farm coccidiosia is a major concern along with other parasitic and bacterial diseases. However, proper hygiene and sanitation along with periodic treatment with coccidiostat and deworming reduces mortality of rabbits.&nbsp;</div>


<div>Mortality Pattern of Broiler Rabbits in an Organized Farm in Bihar, India</div>


<div style="text-align: justify;">This investigation was conducted to estimate the breeding values and genetic trends for body weight (BW), scanning fat depth (SFD) and scanning muscle depth (SMD) of Karayaka lambs (n= 1059) at 140 &plusmn; 3.36 day of age. Experiments were conducted in a nucleus flock of Karayaka sheep under a selective breeding program to increase productivity at research farm of Gaziosmanpasa University between the years 2006 - 2011. Breeding values were estimated with ASREML software. While genetic trend for BW and SMD showed a smooth ascending trend, SFD exhibited a descending trend throughout the experimental period. The genetic trend for BW, SFD and SMD of Karayaka lambs were observed as 0.433 kg / year, - 0.00686 mm / year and 0.00786 mm / year, respectively. The results showed that applying of a selection program on BW, SMD and SFD characteristics would increase BW and SMD values and decrease SFD value in Karayaka lambs.&nbsp;</div>

Genetic trends of body weight and some scanning traits of Karayaka lambs

<div><strong>Background:&nbsp;</strong>High mortality of goat kids due to infectious and non-infectious diseases negatively impacts goat husbandry.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Methods:</strong> To study the influence of genetic and nongenetic factors on preweaning mortality of goat kids, three years&rsquo; data (July, 2015 to June, 2018) of breeds maintained at Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Research on Goats (ICAR-CIRG) <em>viz</em>. Barbari, Jamunapari and Jakhrana was analyzed to find effect of breed, parity, birth weight, litter size, season of birth, sex and kid&rsquo;s age on mortality. Postmortem findings as entered in the record have been considered to arrive at the cause of mortality.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Result:</strong> A preweaning mortality rate of 2.59% was recorded in kids of all the three breeds studied. Mortality rate of Barbari, Jamunapari and Jakhrana kids was found to be 2.15%, 3.39% and 2.13% respectively. Kids birth weight, sex or age had no effect on mortality. Highest mortality was observed in kids born as triplet/quadruplet (4.49%) followed by that in twins (2.88%) and singlets (2.01%). Highest mortality was observed in kids born to primiparous dams (3.95%) followed by kids born to dams having =/&gt; 5<sup>th</sup> parity (3.01%) and least in 2<sup>nd</sup> to 4<sup>th</sup> parity (1.82%). Most of the kids died due to enteritis (38.3%) followed by pneumonia (28.3%), debility and anemia (11.7%) septicemia (10%) and others in remaining 11.7% cases.</div>
