This study was conducted to assess the quality and quantity aspects of different genetic group of buck’s semen used for Artificial Insemination (AI) at National Livestock Breeding Centre (NLBC), Pokhara. For this, records from different breeds and genetic groups of buck semen collected over 3 years (2014-2016) were analyzed. Parameters such as volume, density, mass motility, initial motility concentration and post thaw motility were analysed for various non-genetic factors like year, season, green based feeding. Data were analyzed by least square method using Harvey 1990 software package. The result showed that different genetic group of bucks (P<0.001) have highly significant effect (P=0.00) on volume of semen. Significant interaction (P=0.01, 0.001) was observed between year and season on volume and density of the semen. Similarly, different genetic group of bucks had significant effect on density (P=0.03). Year showed a significant effect (P=0.02) on initial motility of the buck semen. Similarly, significant interaction between year and season on initial motility percentage (P=0.01) and post thaw motility percentage (P=0.00) was found. Likewise, year has a significant effect (P=0.01) on the Post thaw motility percentage (P=0.03) of the semen. Also, a significant effect of different breed of buck was found on post thaw motility percentage (P=0.00). In addition, the average post thaw motility percentage semen of all the genetic groups of bucks was above 52% which is considered as a good percentage for the success of AI. This result might be due to use of egg yolk free extender which is soya-based protein. Moreover, adoption of new buck semen processing technologies might further improve the semen quality and long term storability along with better management and distribution of these buck semen by Government of Nepal through livestock unit at different municipalities will improve the conception rate and save huge effort and investment for the importation of buck semen.

Present study was carried out for the accuracy of commercially available progesterone ELISA kit at NCRP farm in the fiscal year 2015/16. Twenty crossbred Jersey and Holstein dairy cows were selected at different time periods of post insemination. Blood serum was collected in those animals and progesterone was quantified with the commercially available progesterone ELISA kit. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by rectal palpation and Ultrasonography (USG) as a Gold standard and compared for the accuracy to ELISA kit. Results of the ELISA kit revealed the accuracy of the kit to be only 80 % with high sensitivity 92 % and very low specificity 57 % at 95 % confidence interval. Out of twenty artificially inseminated cows, thirteen were pregnant and seven were non-pregnant by the Gold standard test with their significantly different mean progesterone (at P < 0.05) 8.93±1.10 ng/ml and 4.36±1.21 ng/ml respectively. Hence, it can be used in the early pregnancy diagnosis at only after 24 days of the insemination, however, progesterone quantification by ELISA is not the confirmatory tests for the pregnancy diagnosis as this results accuracy of only 80 %.

After having demonstrated the beneficial effects of stinging nettle supplementation in poultry and pigs, a month long on-station pilot trial in 10 lactating cattle of second to third stage of parity at Cattle Research Programme at Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Lalitpur was carried out. Daily supplementation of 20 gm nettle powder to dairy cattle resulted in enhanced milk production by 0.9 litres on an average compared to milk yield before nettle supplementation (3.2 litres/day versus 4.1 litres/day). After the on-station pilot trial; an on-farm trial in Tanahun, 150 km west of Kathmandu was carried out in 12 lactating Jersey cross cows by daily supplementation of 20 gm (T1) and 40 gm (T2) of nettle powder in two groups (n=4 cows/group) of cattle and productive performance was compared with control. Milk yield in terms of quantity and quality was recorded one week prior and during nettle supplementation. Qualitative analysis of milk samples was done every 14 days to measure levels of milk fat, solid non-fat and milk protein using Lactoscan. Available data on on-farm trial showed that there was increment in milk production in both treatment (T1 and T2) groups by 8.08% and 10.19%, respectively against control. Similarly, fat percentage was also increased compared to fat level prior to nettle supplementation in both T1 (3.52% vs. 4.15%) and T2 (3.46% vs. 4.46%) groups while in control group there was very negligible change (3.24% vs. 3.33%). Likewise, there were also remarkable increment in solid non-fat (SNF) and milk protein in nettle fed groups against control. Furthermore, overall body condition score in nettle supplemented group was better than that of control towards the end of supplementation. Our findings exhibited the beneficial effects of stinging nettle supplementation in enhancing the quantity and quality milk yield besides improving body condition score of the dairy cattle.

This study was commissioned to assess studies on feeding resources and feeding management of goat in mid hills of Nepal. During the study, 162 goat farms located in Ghiring and Baradi of Tanahun districts in Nepal were surveyed, and a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to each farm. Farmers in this region prefer integrating livestock raising with crop production. The majority of the farms surveyed kept indigenous Khari goats, either in pure flocks or through crossbreeding. The types of goat farming were commercial (8.02%), semi-commercial (29.01%) and subsistence (62.96%). The nature of management practices for goat farmers was intensive (70.99%), semi-intensive (14.81%) and free range (14.20%). Farmers grazed their livestock in different locations, including their own land (48.77%), forests (22.22%), and other places (29.01%). The selection of fodder species by farmers varied depending on the availability of different species in the mid hills, reflecting differences in their perception and preference. Among the top fodder species highly preferred by the farmer in summer season are Ficus cunia followed by Bauhinia longifolia, Ficus hispida, Castanopsis indica and Ficus auriculata. Fodder species highly preferred by the farmers in winter season are Litsea polyantha followed by Drepanostachyum khasianum, Shorea robusta, Terminalia elliptica and Mangifera indica.  Goat production is an essential aspect of subsistence farming, providing both meat and cash income. Consequently, this study recommends promoting locally preferred tree fodder species and supplementing them with feed during different seasons, based on their availability and local preferences. Such strategies can help to improve goat production and support sustainable livelihoods for farmers in the region. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 11(1): 15-24