Effect of housing and nutritional interventions during winter on wool attributes of Corriedale sheep.

There are several factors that can directly or indirectly influence wool quality and quantity in sheep, the main elements being genetic and environmental factors. An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of different management/housing interventions during winter on wool quality and yield in Corriedale ewes. Forty healthy pregnant ewes were selected and divided into four groups (G1, G2, G3, G4) based on their body weight and parity. Throughout the study period, the groups G1 and G3 were reared inside the shed, while G2 and G4 were reared in an open shed with four-sided wire fencing and a roof shelter for direct rain/snow protection. The basic ration of all the four groups consisted of 1.25 kg roughage/head/day and 500 g concentrate/head/day. G3 and G4 were fed additional concentrate @ 100 g/head/day. Significant differences were observed in the crimp frequency, fibre diameter, fibre length and medullation percentage. G2 and G4 showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher fibre diameter but lower crimp frequency. Also, medullation percentage was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for G2. However, the studied rearing systems showed no significant differences for wool yield, staple length, scouring yield and burr content. The study concludes that the wool quality parameters observed in sheep, exposed to cold environment, meet most of the requirements of textile sector and thus can be reared in open houses without any adverse effects.

Idebenone improves quality of ram sperm by mitigating oxidative stress during cryopreservation.

The present study was designed to test the effect of different levels of idebenone, a potent antioxidant on the quality of ram semen at post thaw. Eighteen (18) ejaculates were collected and extended with tris extender supplemented with no antioxidant (CON), with 2 µM idebenone (Id2), 5 µM idebenone (Id5), 7.5 µM idebenone (Id7.5) and 10 µM idebenone (Id10). The sperm quality was determined in terms of percent sperm motility, live sperm percentage, percent hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST) positive spermatozoa and percent intact acrosome (PIA). Moreover, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, an end product of lipid peroxidation (LPO) was also measured at post thaw both in seminal plasma and sperm cell. At post thaw, the percent sperm motility was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for Id10 as compared to Id2, Id5, Id7.5 and control. The live sperm percentage was non-significantly (p > 0.05) higher for Id10 as compared to control, Id5 and Id7.5 but significantly higher than Id2. The percent HOST positive spermatozoa was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for Id10 than control, Id2 and Id5. The MDA level in seminal plasma was significantly lower (p < 0.05) for Id10 than control and Id2. The MDA level in spermatozoa did show similar trend as in seminal plasma. Further, all the sperm parameters at all idebenone levels declined significantly from pre freeze to post thaw. In conclusion, idebenone at 10 µM level improved post thaw sperm quality by mitigating peroxidative stress, hence could be considered as a promising antioxidant additive for cryopreservation of ram semen.

Retraction : Live birth of a Pashmina goat kid after transfer of handmade cloned embryos.

This article released online on March 5, 2019 as advance publication was withdrawn from consideration for publication in Journal of Reproduction and Development at author's request.

Live birth of a Pashmina goat kid after transfer of handmade cloned embryos.

The present study aimed to establish a zona free (handmade cloning) embryo production system for Pashmina goat embryos. Abattoir derived oocytes were matured in vitro; after maturation, oocytes were enucleated and fused with somatic cells derived from an adult Pashmina goat tissue. The reconstructs were activated using a calcium ionophore-DMAP procedure. The embryos were distributed into two experimental groups. In Experiment 1, the embryos were cultured in one of the following four culture media (i) G1.G2 media (ii) Modified synthetic oviduct fluid (mSOF) (iii) Research vitro cleave media (RVCL) and (iv) Embryo development media (EDM), and were cultured for 7 days. The cleavage rates in G1.G2, RVCL, and mSOF were higher than those in EDM (86.8, 82.4, 77.3, and 68.8%, respectively). Blastocyst rates were higher in RVCL than those in mSOF, EDM, and G1.G2 (15.0, 10.5, 4.9, and 2.2%, respectively). In experiment 2, the embryos were cultured in five different culture systems: (i) Flat surface (FS), (ii) Well in drop (WID), (iii) Well of well (WOW), (iv) Micro drop, and (v) Hanging drop, for 7 days. The cleavage rates in FS and WID were higher than those in WOW, Micro drop, and Hanging drop (84.3, 81.2, 73.6, 73.5, and 70.3%, respectively). The blastocyst rates were higher in WID than those in WOW, Micro drop, Hanging drop, and FS systems (21.6, 13.7, 11.5, 10.9, and 3.9%, respectively). The embryos produced in experiment 2 were transferred to synchronized recipients. Of the three pregnancies established on day 40, one resulted in the delivery of a healthy Pashmina kid.

Streptozotocin Induced Acute Clinical Effects in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Streptozotocin (STZ) is used for induction of Type-1 diabetes mellitus in animal models. Its beta-cytotoxic action results in sudden release of insulin leading to severe hypoglycaemia and even mortality. However, its sensitivity varies with species. Present investigation was aimed at studying STZ induced acute clinical effects in rabbits. METHODS: Streptozotocin @ 65 mg/kg b.w. was administered to thirteen New Zealand White rabbits, 1-1.5 kg body weight, as single intravenous dose in 1mL citrate buffer, pH 4.6. Blood glucose levels were recorded before drug administration and then at 20 min, 1h, and hourly up to 9 hours post-treatment followed by intravenous and oral glucose therapy. Clinical signs were noted. RESULTS: STZ caused immediate hyperglycaemia up to 4 hours, and then progressively severe hypoglycaemia up to 9 hours. Hypoglycaemia caused characteristic behavioural alterations including lethargy, dullness, sitting quietly but appearing alert, followed by aesthesia and then muscular weakness with characteristic postural changes starting from drooping of head and torticollis, Rabbits recovered following glucose therapy. Marked individual variations in response vis-a-vis onset and severity of glycaemic changes were observed. CONCLUSION: STZ induced a characteristic multiphasic immediate response in rabbits similar to one reported in other rodents. Behavioural changes were characteristic of hypoglycaemia warranting early management in order to avoid fatalities.