Background: Black gold popularly renounced for Large cardamom which is world&rsquo;s oldest and third expensive spice following, saffron and vanilla. The study was to assess suitability of large cardamom farming as business in eastern Nepal.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Eastern Nepal, subdivided as Koshi corridor (Sankhuwasaba and Tehrathum) and Mechi corridor (Taplejung and Panchthar), were purposively selected as a research site. About 480 Households were selected randomly. An interview schedule was prepared for cost of production and other expenses incurred along with production and price received by farmers. 
 
Result: During the 7-year cycle, the total fixed cost was NRs 115,663. The breakeven point for large cardamom was calculated to be 157.45 kg. The average price per kilogram of large cardamom was NRs 1274.6. The average variable cost per kilogram of large cardamom was NRs 621.01. Financial indicator like net present value (NPV), benefit cost ratio (BCR) and internal rate of return (IRR) were 1,536,006, 2.14 and 71.31. The Return on Investment (ROI) and Payback period (PBP) were 138.45 and 5.6 years. Under worse scenario, The NPV declined to 977,115.1, the BCR fell to 1.60, the IRR fell to 50.02 and the ROI fell to 78.84. The PBP has risen to 6.8 years. This scenario demonstrated that simultaneous negative increases in cost and income had a greater impact on the profitability of large cardamom farming. Finally, the study&rsquo;s findings highlighted the sensitivity of financial indicators in large cardamom farming to changes in production costs, income and delays. This helpful information could be used by stakeholders to make decisions and develop strategies to improve sustainability of large cardamom growing in the research area.

Suitability of Large Cardamom Farming as Business in Eastern Corridor of Nepal

<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Cardamom is often valued as the third most expensive spice in the world after saffron and vanilla. The prominent area where e-marketing is adopted in spice trade in Kerala is in the e-auctioning of cardamom. The Spices Board had introduced e-auction of cardamom in Vandanmedu, Idukki, Kerala in December 2007. The other e-marketing platforms of cardamom includes marketing through websites and social media. The current study aimed to delineate the benefits and constraints perceived by farmers in e-marketing of cardamom. 
Methods: The study was conducted in the Idukki district of Kerala. Sixty farmers undertaking e-marketing of cardamom were selected and interviewed, six each from the ten panchayats with maximum area under cardamom cultivation. The benefits and constraints identified based on open-ended questions during survey were listed and ranked according to their frequency and percentage. 
Result: The major benefits of e-marketing identified were the availability of proper transaction records and bills, assurance of timely delivery and prompt payment and absence of information asymmetry between buyers and sellers. The major constraints of e-marketing identified were the delay in payments, exploitation of farmers by auctioning agencies and effect of lot number in the e-auction on the prices offered.</div>

E-Marketing of Small Cardamom in Kerala: Constraint-Benefit Analysis

Present study was conducted to compare the production and reproduction performance of Ghungroo and Large Black breeds maintained at ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, Nagaland. The birth weight (1.09 vs. 0.96 kg), pre-weaning growth rate (174.90 vs. 141.40 g/day) and matured body weight at 7 months (64.74 kg vs. 53.13 kg) were significantly higher (p. 9.96 kg) and weaning (47.35 vs. 52.50 kg) were recorded in Ghungroo and Large Black, respectively. The pre-weaning mortality was higher in Ghungroo (2.64) due to lower birth weight and larger litter compared to the Large Black (1.47, py breed not by parities. Thus, from this study it is concluded that the Ghungroo breed matured early, produce more litter and performs similar to the popular Large Black breed under organized farm condition.

Comparative performance of Ghungroo and Large Black pig at organized institutional farm conditions

<div>Background: The gut mucosa is effectively protected by a local organization of lymphoid tissue. In large intestine, isolated lymphoid follicles give rise to solitary lymphoid nodules and lympho glandular complexes, which are responsible for sampling of gut antigen and production of local immunity. Large intestine requires higher level of mucosal protection as because it is the site where food staff remains for a longer period and also for ascending rectal infection. Present study was undertaken highlighting the lymphatic drainage from large intestine and solitary lymphoid nodules of pig. 
 
Methods: 1% solution of methylene blue up to 100 micro litters in the one place of submucosa of large intestine as per the standard technique advocated by Smedley et al. (2014) and then stained nearest mesenteric lymph nodes were recorded and re-injected to map the drainage to the next draining lymph node to trace the lymphatic tract. 
 
Result: The study was designed on 12 (Twelve) apparently healthy weaned crossbred piglets of 3 to 4 months age irrespective of sex. Gross study revealed the presence of two different types of solitary lymphatic nodules (SLN) viz.&nbsp;scrotiform and faviform. The scrotiform SLN consisted of central small pore was appreciated in colon and rectum, whereas the faviform SLN although present in colon and rectum was devoid of a central pore. The average solitary lymphoid nodules in the large intestine was 427, of which 403 in colon and 24 in rectum and in terminal part of rectum patches of solitary lymphoid nodules of more than 100 numbers were observed. The different lymph nodes involved in the lymphatic drainage of large intestine of pig were colic caecal, anorectal , lumbar aortic, renal , medial lumbar and lateral lumbar lymph nodes. Again, except the right and left lumbar duct, one minor lymphatic trunk was observed parallel to the rectum, draining the lymph from anorecral lymph node to caudal mesenteric lymph node and then to renal lymph node. The celiac trunk and the jejunal trunk joined and formed a common trunk which was again joined by the colic trunk that finally opened into the caudal aspect of cysternachyli.</div>

Lymphatic Drainage Conduit and Macro Anatomy of Lymphoid System in Large Intestine of Post Weaned Pigs

<div style="text-align: justify;">The present karyotype analysis was carried out on 15 females and 15 males of Large White Yorkshire crossbred and non-descript pigs to study their cytogenetic profile and morphometric measurements by using short term leukocyte culture technique. The diploid chromosome number (2n) in both the breeds was found to be 38 with a fundamental number of 64 as in exotic.The least squares mean relative length of autosomes in Large White Yorkshire crossbred pigs ranged from 2.80&plusmn;0.17 to 10.85&plusmn;0.17 and the values for non-descript pigs from 2.88&plusmn;0.10 to 11.03&plusmn;0.18. The relative contribution of X and Y-chromosome in Large White Yorkshire crossbred pigs was 4.66&plusmn;0.15 and 2.05&plusmn;0.17, whereas these values were 4.81&plusmn;0.17 and 2.19&plusmn;0.17 in non-descript pigs respectively. The overall mean arm ratio of autosomes ranged from 1.01&plusmn;0.03 to 2.45&plusmn;0.03 and 1.02&plusmn;0.01 to 2.43&plusmn;0.02 in Large White Yorkshire crossbred females and males respectively. The mean centromeric indices of autosomes differs from 0.50&plusmn;0.04 to 0.71&plusmn;0.02 in females and 0.51&plusmn;0.02 to 0.72&plusmn;0.03 in males of Large White Yorkshire crossbred pigs. The average morphological index value of autosomes ranged from 2.43&plusmn;0.06 to 7.29&plusmn;0.11 in females and 2.41&plusmn;0.05 to 7.31&plusmn;0.12 in males of Large White Yorkshire crossbred pigs.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">A comparative study on cytogenetic profile of Large White Yorkshire crossbred and non-descript pigs</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">The present study was undertaken to study the effect of inbreeding on pre-weaning and sow performance traits of Large White Yorkshire pig population. Data on 7596 Large White Yorkshire pigs maintained at PGRIAS, Kattupakkam from the period of 1990 to 2015, were subjected to least square analysis to study the effect of inbreeding and other non-genetic factors viz., period, season, sex, parity, litter size at birth on various traits using general linear model. Inbreeding was calculated as Wright&rsquo;s path co-efficient. The mean inbreeding co-efficient of LWY population studied was 2.45 %. &nbsp;Among 7596 animals in the pedigree, 2088 were inbred and the range of individual inbreeding co-efficient (F) was from 0 to 37.5 per cent. The average inbreeding in the inbred population was 8.92 %. The effect of inbreeding was found to be significant for weaning weight, pre-weaning average daily gain and litter weight at weaning, where the traits were found to increase with inbreeding (enhancement). The absence of depressive effect on fitness traits observed in the present study could be due to lower levels of inbreeding, which was possible due to periodic introduction of breeding animals and planned mating.</div>

Effect of inbreeding on pre-weaning and sow performance traits in Large White Yorkshire pigs

<div>Background: Pig is recognized as an advantageous non-rodent animal model within a large number of biomedical research areas and of xenotransplantation of animal organs into humans. People prefer taking goat milk during dengue fever like conditions for recovery from low blood constituents, particularly the blood platelets, without any scientific proof.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Haemoglobin, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and blood platelets count were studied in 2.5 months old 18 experimentally induced hypovolemic Large White Yorkshire (LWY) piglets at CVASc., GBPUAT, Pantnagar after feeding them milk of Pantja goats and black Badri cows over a period of 30 days during Oct.&ndash;Nov. 2019 and May-June 2020. Hypovolemia in piglets was achieved by withdrawing their 15% of total estimated blood volume (@ 7.5% in each time on day 1st and 3rd of experiment), followed by providing them with milk, which was double the amount of blood withdrawn, for 30 days. Control group (T1) piglets (6 no.) were maintained on basal diet, whereas group T2 and T3 piglets were given milk of Pantja goats and black Badri cows, respectively. Blood samples for testing were collected on 1st, 3rd, 7th, 15th and 30th day. 
 
Result: Average normal blood picture of weaned LWY piglets for haemoglobin (g/dl), ESR (mm/hr) and platelets count (105 cells/ mm3) was 11.36 &plusmn; 0.20, 10.00&plusmn; 2.01, 3.1767 &plusmn; 0.2577, respectively. For haemoglobin and ESR, the values on testing days and the overall values for group T1, T2 and T3 piglets did not show any significant variation. However, the pooled values for haemoglobin were significantly different (P&lt;0.01) on various testing days, being higher on day 1st and 30th than on 3rd, 7th and 15th day, implying that normal haemoglobin level was regained on 30th day of hypovolemia. The pooled values for ESR were significantly different (P&lt;0.05) on various testing days, being higher on day 1st and 3rd only, which may be due to simultaneous increase in total erythrocyte counts. Overall mean platelets count (x105&nbsp;cells/ mm3) for LWY piglets was 3.2570&plusmn; 0.0890 and their values in group T1, T2 and T3 piglets were 3.0983&plusmn;0.1675, 3.0820&plusmn;0.1490 and 3.5907&plusmn;0.1885, respectively, being significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) for black Badri cow milk fed group piglets. This may imply usefulness of black Badri cow milk over Pantja goat milk in improving blood platelets count in human, considering pig a good animal model for human within a large number of biomedical researches.</div>

<div>Haematological Traits of Induced Hypovolemic Large White Yorkshire Piglets as Affected by Feeding them Milk of Pantja Goats and Black Badri Cows</div>

<div>Background: In veterinary practice, cutaneous injuries are a very common occurrence. Various methods have been employed to close large skin defects like skin graft or flap often associated with relatively more complex surgical procedures. Use of tension relieving suture techniques like spider plasty and bow tie technique allow the mobilization of adjacent local tissue to cover large cutaneous defects which was thus utilised in the study. 
 
Methods: Twelve dogs brought to the Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital, Chennai,TANUVAS with large diameter open wounds were selected for the study. Irrespective of the stage of closure the two tension relieving suture techniques, i.e. Spiderplasty and Bow-tie, were performed for closure of the large wounds. The preoperative and postoperative wounds assessment were performed through subjective evaluation, planimetry, bacteriological examination and histopathological&nbsp; evaluation. 
 
Result: The Spiderplasty technique was more time consuming, required more surgical expertise and had slightly lower cost efficiency ratio. It could however be better utilised to close wounds located in confined anatomical areas, as compared to the Bow-tie procedure which was limited by its requirement to resect 36% of adjacent normal tissue.</div>

Spiderplasty and Bow-tie Tension Relieving Suture Techniques for Large Skin Defects in Dogs

<div>Background: To have a better understanding of the lympho glandular complexes (LGC) along with the histoarchitecture of large intestine and associated M cells, the proposed study have been undertaken. 
 
Methods: Present study was conducted on 12 (twelve) numbers of apparently healthy weaned crossbred piglets of 3 to 4 months irrespective of sex. After humane sacrifice of the animals with the approval of institutional animal ethics committee, the representative tissue samples were collected preserved, processed and stained as per standard methods of Luna (1968).&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: Columnar cells predominated the follicle associated epithelium (FAE) and the crypts. M cells were recorded in the follicle associated epithelium as well as in lower crypt epithelium in toluidine blue stained ultra thin sections. M cells were observed with intraepithelial lymphocyte and basally placed euchromatic nucleus. In the colon and rectum of crossbred pigs the lympho glandular complex (LGC) typically consisted of a pore like depression on surface epithelium from which extensions of mucosal glands passed through the circular gap into lamina muscularis mucosae. The lymphatic aggregation of LGC in the lamina propria and tunica submucosa showed three distinct zone viz. follicle, interfollicular area and dome area and distinct FAE could be appreciated. The epithelium lining the solitary lymphatic nodule (SLN) showed (Periodic acid-Schiff) PAS positive reaction. The mucous substance showed strong reaction in the gland in LGC and the FAE epithelium the number of goblet was less. The LGC was formed by aggregation of lymphoid follicles with invagination of crypt gland inside the follicle in the tunica sub mucosa. The follicle associated epithelium devoid of goblet cells were observed on the LGC with interspersed of diffuse migrating lymphocytes in the lamina propria. In the LGC, secondary follicle with interfollicular area was appreciated. In mesenteric lymph node the secondary follicles with inner germinal centre and outer corona could be seen in cortico medullary area. Meshwork of reticular fibers was abundantly present around the crypts in the lamina propria and in the pore like depression of LGC and around the secondary follicle. Collagen fibers could be seen surrounding the LGC and glands. Scanty collagen fibres were observed in the inter-follicular glands. Innervations of nerve fibre was observed around the lymphoid follicle and penetrating the LGC. The mucosal glands were PAS positive.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

Histoarchitecture of Large Intestine and Lympho Glandular Complex of Pig

Background: Camel follicular fluid is a complex biofluid that provides the microenvironment for oocyte development and maturation. The aims of current study were to compare serum metabolites with follicular metabolites of small, medium and large follicles of she-camels. 
 
Methods: Thirty pairs of active ovaries were chosen from non-pregnant she-camels aged 9-16 years old in addition to 10 blood samples after slaughetr. Ovarian follicles were classified into small (&lt; 0.5 cm), medium (0.5-8.0 cm) and large follicles (0.9-2.0 cm). Follicular fluid was aspirated using a syringe with 18-g needle. Biochemical analyses were carried out of serum and follicular fluid samples using biochemistry analyzer (Skyla VB1) and digital analyzer (ZEALSON). 
 
Result: The results showed that serum had higher total protein concentration compared to follicular fluid across all follicle sizes versus urea and creatinine values. Glucose values were the highest in serum group if compared to follicular fluid of all follicle sizes. In addition, glucose values were increased progressively of small FF, medium FF and large FF groups, respectively. The serum group had the highest HDL and triglycerides values compared to follicular fluid of all follicle sizes&rsquo; groups. Higher AST values were found in small FF, medium FF and large FF groups compared to the serum group whereas the highest ALT value was found in small FF group.