Milk Production Function and Resource use Efficiency in Rajasthan

The study was undertaken in Rajasthan with the objective to examine the input-output relationships and assess the resource use efficiency in milk production. The study covered 60 dairy households. The results of Cobb-Douglas production function revealed that concentrate had positive and significant influence on returns from buffalo, crossbred cow and local cow milk. Green fodder and labour were also significantly influenced the returns from buffalo, crossbred and local cow. The results of resource use efficiency and marginal value productivity of inputs indicated that inputs were not optimally utilized by dairy households. The green fodder, dry fodder, concentrate and labour in buffalo, concentrate and labour crossbred cow milk production and green fodder in local cow milk production were found to be over utilized in study area resulting higher per litre cost of milk production on these species.

Clinical Epidemiological Investigation of Moldy Grain and Fodder Poisoning in Goat in Kathmandu Valley.

An outbreak of a syndrome of unknown etiology associated with the feeding of moldy maize grain and green fodder to goat in a herd of male 3853 goats for sale for the Dashahara festival during the month of October-2010 in Kathmandu valley. In a period of 10 days 500 goats suddenly became ill with symptoms of anorexia, apathy, diarrhea and ruminal stasis .On clinical examination these goats were provisionally diagnosed with sudden illness and moldy corn/fodder poisoning was suspected., about 250 goats died. Necrosis of the fore stomach mucosa was the most characteristic gross pathological change. Clinical pathological findings included mild focal erosions to severe, diffuse, coagulative necrosis of the mucosa in the rumen, reticulum and omasum and congestion and hemorrhages in the abomasums. Liver with shrunken appearance and pale to yellowish discoloration with bile filled distended bladder, pin point hemorrhage in kidney, intestine with excessive mucus. On mycological and microbiological examination of tissue samples from post-mortem of dead goat on respective medium revealed the growth of fungal pathogens like Penicillium spp with Staphylococcus.. These results provide circumstantial evidence that feeding on moldy maize grain and green fodder leaves infested with Penicillium may cause outbreaks of systemic Mycosis in goats.