<div>Background: Feed is the single largest input which accounts for 60-70% of the total cost of poultry production. Sheep manure is an unconventional feed relatively high in protein and energy levels and can be used in poultry diet to reduce the cost of production. Inclusion of exogenous enzymes will improve its nutritional value as it contains relatively high fibre and utilization by birds. The performance of broiler chicken fed with heat treated sheep manure (HSM) based diets supplement with or without enzyme was studied. 
 
Methods: 210 broiler chicks were randomly distributed to five groups viz. T1 (Control), T2: 5% HSM without enzyme, T3: 5% HSM with enzyme, T4: 10% HSM without enzyme and T5: 10% HSM with enzyme containing 42 chicks in each group having three replicates of 14 chicks each. 
 
Result: The chemical composition of HSM like Dry matter, Organic matter, Crude protein, Ether extract, Crude fibre, Total ash, NFE, Calcium and Phosphorus were estimated as 90.15&plusmn;1.85, 71.88&plusmn;1.62, 15.24&plusmn;1.23, 4.22&plusmn;0.86, 17.09&plusmn;0.92, 28.12&plusmn;1.32, 35.33&plusmn;1.28, 1.15&plusmn;0.08 and 0.48&plusmn;0.03%. The ME (Kcal/kg) was 1565.33. The final body weight at 6 weeks of age was highest in T3 (1998.25&plusmn;13.29g) and lowest in T4 (1949.22&plusmn; 15.14 g). The cumulative feed conversion ratio ranged between 1.79 &plusmn; 0.083 in T1 to 1.83 &plusmn; 0.078 in T4. The cost of production per kg live weight was highest (Rs. 89.78) in T1 and lowest (Rs. 83.76) in T5 group. The benefit cost ratio was 1.14, 1.17, 1.19, 1.20 and 1.22 for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 groups respectively.</div>

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​Productive Performance and Economics of Broiler Chicken Fed Heat Treated Sheep Manure based Diets Supplemented with Enzyme

<div style="text-align: justify;">The aim of this study is to determine the effect of different combinations of farm manure and farm manure on earthworm proliferation and earthworm manure production quantity and property. Accordingly, 100% horse manure (H), 100% cattle manure (C), 100% straw cattle manure &nbsp;(SC), 90% horse manure + 10% hen manure (H/H), 90% cattle + 10% hen manure (C/H) and 90% straw cattle manure + 10% hen manure (SC/H ) six research groups were designed. The highest level of worm growth in the experimental period was in group H, followed by SC group. The lowest values were found in C/H group and C group. In the amount of worm manure produced, the highest value was found in H/H group and the lowest value was found in SC group. As a result, it was found that 100% H and 100% SC groups made a better contribution to the increase in worm growth.&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Effect of Various Farm Manures and Straw Containing Cattle Manure on Worm and Worm Manure Production</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: A well-managed manure is a valuable resource in providing nutrients for crop production. Farmers usually follow manual manure application practices which involves lot of drudgery and physical stress to pulverize as well as to apply in field. Also traditional practices results in a reduced field capacity along with higher cost of application. So there is a need to create a medium between the farmers and manure application practices by introducing manure pulverizers and applicators. Hence a study was undertaken to analyze the economic impact of a tractor powered manure pulverizer cum applicator over traditional practices. 
 
Methods: A manure pulverizer cum applicator helps in managing the manure by simultaneous pulverization and application in the field as basal application. On the other hand traditional practices involve manual dumping, clearing of lumps and spreading them in the field which require more than 3 labours to cover an acre in a day. Cost incurred with both manual and mechanical practices were calculated in terms of rupees per hour and rupees per hectare of operation. 
 
Result: The actual field capacity and efficiency of manure pulverizer cum applicator was observed to be 0.311 ha h-1 and 86.5% at a forward speed of 2.0 km/h-1. The cost of manure pulverizer cum applicator alone was Rs. 64,000. Cost of operation of manure pulverizer cum applicator as an attachment to tractor was found to be 1943.5 Rs ha-1. Cost of manual manure application followed by manure pulverization was noted as 4662.2 Rs ha-1. Saving in cost of operation was more than Rs. 2700 with tractor operated manure pulverizer cum applicator over manual application practices. The benefit-cost ratio of the developed machine was 1.4:1.</div>

Economic Analysis of Tractor Powered Manure Pulverizer cum Applicator over Traditional Manure Application Practices

<div>Background:&nbsp;Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of endogenous non-coding RNAs with covalently closed loop structures, play important role in mammalian growth and development by regulating gene expression and participating in various biological processes. The aim of this study was to identify the expression profiles of circRNAs in the ovaries of Hu sheep and local Fat-tailed sheep during the luteal phase to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of circRNAs on reproduction and follicular development in sheep. 
 
Methods: To identify the differentially expressed circRNAs expressed in luteal phase conditions in Hu sheep and fat-tailed sheep, ovarian samples collected during the luteal phase were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and subsequent transcriptomic approaches and bioinformatics analysis. 
 
Result:&nbsp;A total of 2,875 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified by high-through sequencing. Gene Ontology terminology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis showed that the host genes were mainly involved in the secretion and metabolism of the various pathway. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to validate the results of expression profiling. These results contributed to an improved understanding of circRNA and the biological mechanisms of ovarian reproduction in sheep.</div>

Identification of Circular RNAs in the Ovaries of Hu Sheep and Local Fat-tailed Sheep during the Luteal Phase

<div>Background:&nbsp;Conventional monoculture or cereal-cereal sequence systems insist farmers to use excessive application of chemical fertilizer in agriculture resulting reduce the soil organic matter contents and structures. The inclusion of green manuring crops in a rotation is vital to improve the biochemical and physical properties of the soil via increasing the labile of organic matter and ultimately increased crops yield. Some complex molecules of green manuring crops takes a longer time of decomposition and thus nutrients reserve in soil and release latter which provide nutrients to the succeeding and following crops. So the current experiment aimed to study the residual effect of different in situ green manuring crops to the sub-sequent and following soil. 
 
Methods: The field experiment conducted during 2015 to 2016 with eight green manuring crops and rice and mustard was the subsequent and following crop. In situ incorporation of GM crops with 100% (F1) and 50% (F2) fertilizer, the prior and post-harvest soil (cropping pattern) of experiment field (0-15 cm) was collected and analyzed. 
 
Result: After two consecutive year, GM-T.aman-Mustard cropping pattern increased soil organic matter 0.04% to 0.07% and 0.02% to 0.03% (T1 and T2 with F1 and F2) and nitogen 0.05% (T1, T2 and T7 with F1 and F2) and K 0.2 to 0.5 meq/100 g (M. pudica with F1 and F2) and P 2 ppm to 15 ppm (T1, T2, T3 and T7 with F1 and F2) compared to initial soil. Rice yield with T1, T2, T3 and T6 shown higher with both fertilizer doses. Nitrogen fertilizer rates could be reduced after the incorporation of green manures in the succeeding and following crops.</div>

Residual Effect of Green Manure on Soil Properties in Green Manure-Transplant Aman-Mustard Cropping Pattern

<div>Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are active regulators of numerous biological and physiological processes and play an important role in the regulation of animal ovaries and other reproductive related organs. To understand the molecular mechanisms of miR-10 family, we investigated the molecular characteristics and the relative expression of sheep miR-10a and miR-10b (miR-10a/b) and conducted bioinformatics analysis. 
 
Methods: During the period 2018-2019 total of 20 samples including blood and tissues such as hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary were collected from the Hu sheep raised in the National Meat Sheep Experimental Station of China (Luoyang City, Henan Province, China). Blood was collected from jugular vein by vacuum and anticoagulation blood collection tube and stored in refrigerator at -20&deg;C. The tissues were placed into the cryopreservation tube treated with Diethy pyrocarbonate (DEPC) water and stored in liquid nitrogen. All the samples were processed for isolation and confirmed with biochemical analysis and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. 
 
Result: The target genes were predicted by three kinds of target gene predicting software. The function of target genes and their involved pathways were obtained by gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The relative expression of miR-10a/b in sheep ovary was extremely significantly higher than that in hypothalamus and pituitary gland (P &lt; 0.01). The relative expression of miR-10b in ovary or pituitary was extremely significantly higher than that of miR-10a (P &lt; 0.01) and the relative expression of miR-10b in hypothalamus was significantly higher than that of miR-10a (P &lt; 0.05). These results serve as a foundation for further study on the Sheep miR-10 family.</div>

<div>Cloning, Characterization and Bioinformatics Analysis of the Sequences of miR-10a and miR-10b in Sheep (Hu sheep)</div>

<div>Background: Manures (FYM, vermicompost, edible oil cakes etc.) are important resources which provide nutrients that could reduce bagged fertilizer costs and improves the crop growth and performance. A well-managed manure is a valuable resource in providing nutrients for crop production. As manure dries, nutrients not only get concentrated on a weight basis, but also on a volume basis due to structural changes. Compared to fresh manure, it is easier to handle and transport because of decreased volume and weight. Hence, it is necessary to pulverize the manure when it is applied to the land. 
 
Methods: Various research works previously carried out on manure pulverizers and applicators have been considered in the study to come up with an idea of developing a tractor powered manure pulverizer cum applicator. Studies concluded the importance of manure pulverization, effect of wind, angle of repose and coefficient of friction in the designing and development of manure dispensing equipment. 
 
Result: Manure pulverizer integrated with tractor PTO along with an applicator was designed and developed. The machine consists of KAU manure pulverizer, feed chute, blower, frame and hitch, gearbox and extension shaft. Power to the gearbox was drawn from the tractor PTO. Dried manure was continuously fed through the feeding chute and rotating blade helps in pulverizing the manure until it achieves a size smaller than the sieve. The pulverized manure reaches the blower unit by means of a chute and gets discharged through the flexible pipes. Maximum field capacity was noted at a traveling speed of 3.0 km h-1. A larger application rate of 1387.1 kg ha-1 for cow dung, 1624.4 kg ha-1 for goat faecal pellets and 1618.6 kg ha-1 for neem cake was noted at an engine rpm of 2500, forward speed of 2 km h-1 with a field capacity of 0.31 ha h-1.</div>

Manure Pulverizers and Applicators: A Review

<div>Background: The study of the homology of loci between different species has allowed the improvement of specific genetic knowledge and the development of several fundamental concepts. Thanks to this method, Wright discovered the correspondence between a gene and an enzyme (Wright, 1917). In ruminants, this correspondence between loci of different species has been demonstrated for a very long time (Lauvergne, 1979). In fact, the objective of this work was, initially, to use microsatellites recommended for sheep (FAO, 2011) for the amplification of bovine DNA to show that these loci are homologous and, then, to study the genetic diversity and population structure of three groups of each of the two species in Tunisia. 
 
Methods: In this study, we used three microsatellite markers (OarFCB304, OarFCB193 and MAF209) to verify whether they can be amplified in both sheep and cattle. For that, we considered 28 samples of sheep species from 3 different populations and 17 samples of cattle belonging to three breeds. The data obtained were also used to study their genetic diversity and population structure.&nbsp; 
 
Result: We have demonstrated the existence of microsatellite regions common to sheep and cattle. Regarding genetic diversity, we observed a heterozygous deficiency in all the studied breeds. Nei&rsquo;s genetic distances were greater between breeds of cattle than between breeds of sheep.</div>

Detection of Homologous Loci in Sheep and Cattle

<div>Background: Hassan sheep is the third most populous breed of the five registered sheep breeds from Karnataka with limited studies on its morphological and carcass characteristics. Hence, the study was undertaken to know the present status of morphological and carcass characteristics of this breed. 
 
Methods: A total of 34 randomly selected flocks were surveyed and the data on various parameters were collected. The morphometrical data was collected on 344 sheep belonging to eight flocks from the breeding tract. The carcass characteristics were documented by slaughtering six male lambs (between nine to twelve months of age). 
 
Result: These sheep had varied coat colours viz. complete white (23.3%), white with light brown patches (58.1%) and white with black patches (18.6%) on head and neck region. It was observed that 40.4 per cent of males and only 1.4 per cent of females were horned. Atrophied ears were noticed in 2.3 per cent of these sheep. The average adult body length (cm), height at wither (cm), chest girth (cm), paunch (cm), ear length (cm), tail length (cm) and average adult body weight (kg) were 66.4&plusmn;0.62, 65.03&plusmn;1.45, 75.2&plusmn;1.02, 76.5&plusmn;1.38, 15.2&plusmn;0.07, 11.5&plusmn;0.07 and 32.7&plusmn;2.03 in males and 63.8&plusmn;0.85, 61.7&plusmn;1.38, 71.8&plusmn;2.32, 74.5&plusmn;2.60, 15.0&plusmn;0.34, 11.3&plusmn;0.08 and 27.8&plusmn;1.21 in females, respectively. The difference in body weight between males and females increased significantly over the age. The pre-slaughter weight (PSW), hot carcass weight (HCW) and dressing percentage recorded were 20.3&plusmn;1.42 Kg, 9.5&plusmn;0.23 kg and 46.80 per cent, respectively.</div>

Phenotypic and Carcass Characterization of Hassan Sheep

<div style="text-align: justify;">This study has aimed to investigate the differences between the levels of trace elements in sheep with the diagnosis of ecthyma, and in healthy sheep. For this purpose, Be,Bi,Pb,Cd,Na,K,Ca,Mg,Fe,Cu,Zn,Se,Ni and Mn,Co,Cr,Li elements in the plasma of sheep with Contagious ecthyma detected with PCR and in sheep in the control group were analyzed with ICP-OES.In this study, the levels of Fe,Cu,Zn,Se and Pb trace elements were found to be statistically different between the sheep infected with parapoxvirus.The Na element of the macro elements was observed to be statistically different in sheep with ecthyma, to the control group(P&lt;0.05).When there are low levels of metal concentration in sheep with ecthyma, their immune system can be considered to be weakened.Further studies can be carried out on the increase in the risk of developing the disease as a result of, in particular, a decrease in the Fe,Cu,Zn and Se concentrations in sheep infected with the virus.</div>