The study was aimed at induction/synchronization of estrus in postpartum anestrous Kankrej cows of zebu cattle maintained at an organized farm. The study included use of different hormone protocols, viz., Ovsynch, CIDR (controlled internal drug release), Ovsynch plus CIDR, and Heatsynch with estimation of plasma progesterone on days 0, 7, 9/11 (artificial insemination--AI) and on day 20 post-AI following fixed time insemination. Thirty selected anestrous animals were divided into five equal groups (four treatment and one control), and the findings were compared with the normal cyclic control group of six cows. All the protocols were initiated in cows with postpartum anestrous period of more than 4 months, considering the day of first GnRH injection or CIDR insertion as day 0. The animals were bred by fixed time artificial insemination. Pregnancy was confirmed per rectum on day 60 post-AI in non-return cases. The conception rates at induced/first heat in Ovsynch, CIDR, Ovsynch + CIDR, and Heatsynch protocols were 33.33, 66.66, 50.00 and 16.67%, respectively. The corresponding overall conception rates of three cycles post-treatment were 50.00% (3/6), 100.00% (6/6), 66.66% (4/6), and 50.00% (3/6). In normal cyclic and anestrous control groups, the pooled pregnancy rates were 83.33% (5/6) and 16.67% (1/6), respectively. The pooled mean plasma progesterone (nanograms per milliliter) concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) higher on day 7 in Ovsynch (5.727 ± 1.26), CIDR (4.37 ± 0.66), Ovsynch plus CIDR (3.55 ± 0.34), and Heatsynch (5.92 ± 1.11) protocols as compared with their corresponding values obtained on days 0, 9/11 (AI), and on day 20 post-AI. In anestrous control group, the mean progesterone concentration at the beginning of experiment was 0.67 ± 0.33 ng/ml, which was at par with values of all other groups. The overall plasma progesterone levels on the day of initiating treatment were low in all groups, with smooth small inactive ovaries palpated per rectum twice at 10 days interval, suggesting that most of the animals used in the study were in anestrous phase. Mean (± SE) values of plasma progesterone (nanograms per milliliter) on day 20 post-AI were higher in conceived cows than the non-conceived cows of all the groups, but differed significantly (P < 0.05) only in normal cyclic group. These results suggest that use of different hormone protocols particularly Ovsynch, CIDR, and Ovsynch + CIDR may serve as an excellent tool for induction and synchronization of estrus and improvement of conception rate in postpartum anestrous Kankrej cows.

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The present study was undertaken to characterize Enterococcus species isolated from poultry meat by cultural isolation, PCR detection  and antibiogram. Antibiotic profiling of detected Enterococcus spp. isolates were done by disc diffusion method. Total 150 chicken meat  samples were examined for the presence of Enterococcus spp. The overall prevalence of Enterococcus spp. by cultural isolation was 56%.  The prevalence of Enterococcus spp. by targeting tuf gene and ddlE.faecalis  gene in PCR was 95.23 and 77.38%, respectively. In the  antibiotic sensitivity test, Enterococcus isolates showed high resistance toward Erythromycin and Tetracycline. However, low resistance  was seen towards Chloramphenicol, whereas all the isolates were susceptible to Gentamicin.This study found a high prevalence of multi drug resistance among enterococci isolated from poultry meat, suggesting that these resistant bacteria and genes may be transported  from food to humans and pose a significant risk to human health in the coming years.

A study was conducted on 12 pluriparous parturient Kankrej cows of the University Farm, in Anand, randomly divided into two equal groups (n = 6 each). Group-I cows were administered on the day of calving with a sustained release 80 g mega mineral rumen bolus (Prepavel® 1 bolus/animal, Neolait, France) intra-ruminal through a specially designed applicator, while group-II animals served as untreated control. The animals were monitored periodically from the day of calving till 140 days postpartum along with other herd mates. Blood samples were obtained at 10 days interval in heparinized vacutainers for plasma progesterone, biochemical, and macro-micro mineral profiling. Among the six Kankrej cows of group-I, only one animal exhibited prominent estrus signs on day 96 postpartum and conceived at first service (AI) giving CR of 16.66%, while in group-II three cows exhibited estrus between day 73 and 86 postpartum, and conceived with one or two AI giving CR of 50% by 150 days postpartum. In both the groups, all other cows remained subestrus for more than 150 days postpartum and conceived very late, though mostly with single service at spontaneous estrus. The mean values of plasma progesterone (0.74 ± 0.32 to 5.57 ± 0.78 ng/mL), total cholesterol (103.88 ± 3.20 to 237.17 ± 24.66 mg/dL) and triglycerides (17.07 ± 1.16 to 28.29 ± 1.75 mg/dL) differed significantly (p less than 0.01) between postpartum intervals in both the groups, but not between groups at any of the intervals. The values of plasma total protein, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and magnesium as well as trace elements, viz., zinc, iron, copper, cobalt, and manganese, however varied insignificantly and inconsistently between intervals and also between groups from day 0 to day 140 postpartum. Thus, the insertion of Mega mineral ruminal bolus on the day of calving did not influence the plasma profile of biochemical/ metabolic constituents and macro-micro minerals profile in lactating postpartum Kankrej cows and was not beneficial in improving postpartum fertility. However, further study on a larger sample size is required to draw a valid conclusion.

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