Data on morphometrics and performance of 106 Black Bengal goats were collected through an in-depth monitoring survey conducted in 73 families of Gangatia, Borachala and Pachpai villages of Bhaluka Upazila, Mymensingh, Bangladesh using a structured questionnaire. Analyses of variance were performed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure under Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 14.0. Differences between mean values were separated using Duncun’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Body weight of goats significantly (p<0.001) differed with age classes and  body condition scores. Average body weight of Black Bengal goat was 14.47±0.48 kg. Body length at was 46.01±0.66 cm. Chest girth significantly (p<0.001) differed with age classes and body condition scores. Average chest girth of Black Bengal goat was 56.10±0.60 cm. Wither height significantly (p<0.001) differed with age classes and body size. Average wither height of Black Bengal goat was 46.41±0.36 cm. Scrotal length and scrotal circumference did not significantly (p>0.05) differ with age classes, villages and body condition. The number of services needed for each conception of Solid Black, Toggenburg pattern and Brown Bezoar goats were 1.32±0.31, 1.08±0.22, 1.25±0.31, 1.01±0.26 and 1.23±0.27, respectively. The lowest kidding interval was observed in Borachala village (169.80±38.11 days) and in Solid Black goats (176.71±36.17 days). The highest litter size was found in does (1.68±0.39) of Gangatia village (1.67±0.51) and in Solid Black goats (1.67±0.54). The lowest abortion rate was found in Solid Black goats (6.14%). The lowest kid mortality was observed in Solid Black goats (10.00%).  Variation observed in morphometric and production traits of indigenous Black Bengal goats indicated an opportunity for their improvement through an in-situ pure breeding program.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v41i2.14122 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2012. 41 (2): 83-89

Catharanthus roseus (Nyantara), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Allium sativum (Garlic) are medicinal plants, used in Ayurveda for treating various diseases, one of which is diabetes mellitus. In the present study of 12 months period from January to December 2007, aqueous extract of this plants were prepared and blood glucose lowering effect and improvement of body weight gain in Streptozotocin (50 mg/kg bwt i.p.) induced diabetic rats were measured and compared with that of a patent drug glimepride in the Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Rats were administered Catharanthus roseus, Azadirachta indica, Allium sativum extracts at the dose rate of 1g/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1g/kg bwt orally for 14 days, respectively. Blood glucose level and body weight was measured by Glucotrend kit and Electronic balance and that compared with a patent drug Glimepride at a dose rate of 100 mg/kg bwt. The data were compared statistically by using student's unpaired t-test. The herbal preparations of these plants significantly increased body weight gain and decreased blood glucose as compared with the patent drug. The present study clearly indicated the significant antidiabetic activity of Catharanthus Roseus, Azadirachta indica and Allium sativum and supports the traditional usage of the herbal preparations by Ayurvedic physicians for the therapy of diabetics. Key words: Catharanthus roseus, Azadirachta indica, Allium sativum, Glimepride, Streptozotocin, diabetic rat INTRODUCTIONDiabetes mellitus is a major health problem not only in urban but also in the rural areas of Bangladesh. Diabetic patients of rural areas usually do not register themselves in diabetic clinics or hospitals because the medical facilities are mainly concentrated in the urban areas. So, with the ever-increasing incidence of diabetes, it's management is becoming costly not only for the individual and his/her family but also for the national health care sector. Now-a-days various medicinal plants are becoming very popular for the treatment of different diseases in our country as well as all over the world. There are a number of plants to control the blood glucose level such as Nayantara (Catharanthus roseus), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Garlic (Allium sativum), Karela (Momordica indica), Methi (Trigonella foenum graecum), etc, which are indigenous plants of Bangladesh. So, this study with such above-mentioned plants might offer a natural key to unlock a dialectologist's pharmacy in future. For considering all these constraints, in this experiment we wanted to establish indigenous system of medicine (herbal therapy) as anti-diabetic drugs instead of chemical drugs and rat was used as model of animal.

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. The MIC of the cloxacillin for 5 MRSA strains were ≥32 (µg/ml), for 1 MRSA strain was ≥ 128(µg/ml) and for another 4 MRSA strains were above ≥128 (µg/ml). Antimicrobial susceptibility test of the isolated organisms were done by disc diffusion method. On antibiotic susceptibility test, MRSA strains showed 100% resistant against penicillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin and amoxycillin. Cent per cent susceptibility of MRSA was found against vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, fusidic acid and rifampicin.

Data were collected from a total of 41 goat farmers in 26 different villages of Barguna and Patuakhali district of Bangladesh to explore knowledge about the goat husbandry practices. Most of the farmers reared goats in semi-intensive system, took winter care and took bath of their goats in the summer. Main feed item of goats were green grass, tree leaves and main water source was pond though some farmers supplied concentrate to their goats. However, most of goat farmers used vaccine against PPR disease and de-wormed their goats. Majority of goat keepers used village buck to inseminate their does and most of the farmers gave service charge to the buck keepers while most of them did not keep bucks for insemination. Moreover, the study reported that the litter size increased with the increase of parity number of goats.

The experiment was carried out to determine the comparative efficacy of piperazine citrate, levamisole and pineapple leaves extract as anthelmintics against ascariasis in chicken in the Department of Pharmacology in collaboration with Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh, during the period from July to October 2004. Accordingly forty chickens naturally infected with ascarid parasite were selected for this experiment. The chickens were equally divided into 4 (A, B, C and D) groups. Group A was kept as infected control, while groups B, C and D were treated with piperazine citrate, levamisole and pineapple leaves extract, respectively. Although pineapple leaves extract showed less effectiveness in reducing parasite count in postmortem examination than piperazine citrate and levamisole but its use may be encouraging because of less adverse effects. In all treated groups total erythrocyte count (TEC), hemoglobin estimation (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) significantly (p < 0.01) increased and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and total leukocyte count (TLC) significantly (p < 0.01) decreased. Body weight was found to be increased following administration of piperazine citrate, levamisole and pineapple leaves extract.

The study was conducted to investigate the genetic relationships among indigenous sheep population of Bangladesh (Barind, Jamuna river basin, Coastal and Garole sheep) using microsatellite markers. A total of 96 blood samples were collected from adult sheep of Barind (24), Jamuna River Basin (24), Coastal (24), Garole(10) and available Chotanagpuri (10) sheep. Chotanagpuri sheep was used as an outgroup population. DNA was extracted from blood samples using QIAGEN DNA Mini extraction kit and was quantified using a nanodrop. FAO recommended 13 labeled microsatellite markers were used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR product was confirmed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized by staining with ethidium bromide.The exact allele sizes in each primer were determined by GeneMaker V1.85 demo. Microsatellite tool kit and Dispan software package were used for calculation of allele frequency, number of alleles per locus, observed and expected heterozygosity and genetic distances (DA). The Dispan software was used to calculate inter-individual genetic distances. These distance values were used to construct an UPGMA tree. Results showed that average number of polymorphic alleles per locus varied from4 in HUJ616 to 12 in MAF70. Observed heterozygosity was also varied from 0.54±0.04 in Coastal to 0.63±0.03 in Barind sheep population. Genetic distance between Jamuna river basin and Barind was lowest (0.01) and between Garole and Costal was highest (0.17). Garoleand Chotonagpuri sheep has higher genetic distance from other three sheep populations. Phylogenetic dendogram showed that sheep of Jamuna river basin and barind were belonged to same genetic group. Whereas, coastal, garole and Nagpur sheeps were shown higher genetic distances from Jamuna river basin and coastal sheep. Considering findings of this study it may be concluded that the Barind and Jamuna river basin sheep belongs to a similar genetic group while, Garole and Coastal sheep are belonging to two distinct genetic groups.

The research has been carried out from February to March 2005 on 20 sheep (infested and non infested with ectoparasites) of both sexes aged upto 3 to 4 years at the animal house of Veterinary Clinic, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to study the efficacy of ivermectin pour on (Ivermec® Pour on, Ethical Drugs Ltd., Dhaka, Bangladesh) against ectoparasites and its effect on certain haematological (Hb, TEC and PCV) parameters and body weight gain. Fifteen sheep heavily infested with different ectoparasites were randomly divided into 3 equal groups (groups B, C and D) consisting of 5 sheep in each. Another 5 sheep free from any ectoparasitic infestation were kept as uninfested control group (group A). Topical ivermectin preparation was administered at the dose rate of 400 ?g/kg body weight (pour on) and 500 ?g/kg body weight (pour on) in groups C and D respectively whereas sheep of group B was kept as infested control. The therapeutic efficacy of ivermectin was 100% against ectoparasites (lice and tick) after 7 days of treatment. The mean body weight of the sheep of treated groups (C and D) were increased after treatment with ivermectin, on day 28 post treatment. Similarly, total erythrocyte count (TEC) and hemoglobin (Hb) content was increased significantly. However, PCV was also influenced appreciably. From this experiment, it may be suggested that ivermectin is a very much suitable broad spectrum anthelmintic for sheep and its pour on formulation may be used effectively and conveniently to treat ectoparasitic infestations.