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Breeder management includes pure line management, parent stock management, and grandparent stock management depending on the context. Except for small variations in management among these stocks basics are common within layer breeder stocks and broiler breeder stocks. The main objective of the breeder management is to produce more fertile eggs per pullet and increasing the hatchability by hygienic handling of these fertile eggs.

Location of the breeder farm

Location of the breeder farm should be away from commercial poultry farms in order to prevent the spread of diseases between the flocks. However, they must be in close vicinity of the city/town to have a good transport facility and other amenities such as water, electricity and availability of labour.

Adult female is called bitch and adult male is called dog.

Female comes to heat which is called season. Comes to season for first time at 6-8 months of age. Smaller breeds mature faster than large breeds.

SYMPTOMS OF HEAT

Females in heat becomes nuisance to both owner and public since the animal becomes unmanageable, goes out of house and sometimes street male dogs gets into house because of peculiar pheromone smell.

Has different stages

Poultry Breeding

Poultry breeding is a scientific practice aimed at enhancing the genetic traits of birds to improve their productivity and quality. Historically, poultry farming began as small-scale backyard operations, but it has now evolved into a major industry. This transformation has been driven by the development of superi or breeds for both egg and meat production through advanced breeding and selection techniques. Modern poultry breeds exhibit significantly improved productive capacities, such as higher egg production and better meat quality, compared to their ancestors. Successful poultry breeding requires a deep un derstanding of the qualities and capabilities of various breeds, allowing breed ers to select and combine desirable traits to achieve specific goals, whether for size, weight, egg production, meat quality, or a combination of these factors.

• Poultry production has transitioned from a small-scale backyard venture to a significant industry.

• This growth has been largely driven by the development of superior breeds for egg and meat production, utilizing modern breeding and selection techniques.

Hill cattle in Uttarakhand are multipurpose animals. They are used for milk, draft, manures and ceremonial purposes. Improvement for these attributes depends on definition and subsequent selection for various traits. Based on the criteria for improvement and detailed literature analysis, it is believed that the hill cattle of Uttarakhand is one of the potential population for milk in the state specially in the remote and high altitude areas.. Hill cattle have also been used for dairy improvement as a dam breed for crossbreeding in some cases in the state. It has been observed that hill cattle in the state mostly reared as dual purpose animal i.e milk and draft. Therefore, the hill cattle could be improved for both milk and draft. The aim of the present study is to know the status, characterstics and performance  and to suggest the possible options for improvement in milk productivity of hill cattle in the state.

CATTLE BREEDS The genus Bos is classified into Bos indicus  and Bos taurus. Bos indicus belongs to tropical region and have hump whereas Bos taurus belongs to temperate region and is humpless. Milch breeds are Red Sindhi, Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar. Dual purpose or general utility breeds are Nimari, Kankrej, Nellore, Dangi, Rathi, Deoni, Hariana, Krishna Valley, Ongole. Draught breeds are Amritmahal, Nagori, Khillari, Vechur, Bachaur, Siri, Ponwar, Kangayam, Bargur, Malvi, Hallikar. Cross-breeds Jersind = Jersey x Red Sindhi. Frieswal = HF x Sahiwal. Jerthar = Jersey x Tharparkar. Karan Swiss = Brown Swiss x Sahiwal. Karan Fries = HF x Tharparkar. Sunandini = Brown Swiss x Non descript. Jamaica Hope = 80% Jersey, 15% Sahiwal, 5% HF. Taylor = Short horn bull x Native cow. BUFFALO BREEDS (Bubalus bubalis) Buffalo breeds are classified as Riverine type

Animal Genetic Resources

Agricultural biodiversity is the product of thousand years of activity during which humans have sought to meet their needs in a wide range of climatic and ecological conditions. Well adapted livestock have been an essential element of agricultural production systems. For livestock keepers, animal genetic diversity is a resource to be drawn upon to select stocks and develop new breeds. More broadly, genetically diverse livestock populations provide society with a greater range of options to meet future demands, so the wise management of the world’s agricultural biodiversity is becoming an ever greater challenge for the international community. The livestock sector in particular is undergoing dramatic changes as large-scale production expands in response to surging demand for meat, milk and eggs (FAO, 2008).

Animal genetic resources (AnGR) include all animal species, breeds and strains that are of economic, scientific and cultural interest to humankind in terms of food and agricultural production for the present or the future. Domesticated animals are considered to be those species that are bred in captivity and modified from their wild ancestors to make them more useful to humans, who control their reproduction (breeding), care (shelter, protection against predators) and food supply (Diamond, 2002; Mignon-Grasteau, 2005). Only about 40 animal species have been domesticated since the Pleistocene. Common species include cattle, sheep, goat, chicken, duck, pig, horse, buffalo, rabbit, camel, donkey, elephants, various poultry species, reindeer, etc. All these AnGR are vital to the economic development of the majority of countries in the world playing an important role in the subsistence of many communities. Although only a subset of the diversity present in the ancestral species survived in the domestic counterparts, domestic livestock diversity has been continuously evolving.

Domestication of the rabbit is relatively recent and most of today’s breeds have been bred by man in the last 200 to 300 years.

The rabbit has been used as an experimental animal in genetics, reproduction and physiology since the beginning of the century, but it was not until 1950 that the first findings on quantitative genetics were published in Venge’s study of maternal influence on rabbit birth weight.

Breeds of Rabbit

There are many breeds of domestic rabbits in the world and all have different qualities. Out of the number of breeds and varieties about 38 breeds and 87 varieties are recognized and well established world wide.

For commercial purposes, the most important differences between rabbits are their size, colour breeding ability and suitability to the climate. Examples of several different breeds of rabbits are given below. Some of these might be used for improving local rabbit herds.

Worldwide, almost 90% of the human food supply is provided by only 15 crop species and eight livestock species. The eight livestock species useful to man include cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig, poultry, camel and horses. All or some of these species provide milk, meat, skin, fiber and manure for use of mankind. Whereas, milk and meat are important component of human food supply, skin, fiber and manure are also useful in different manner. Goats are important food-producing animals especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Goats are the most adaptable and geographically wide spread livestock species.

A breed of livestock is a group of animals that, through selection and breeding, have distinguishable characteristics and resemble one another and pass those traits uniformly to their offspring. Or A breed is defined as a group of animals that has been selected by humans to possess a set of inherited characteristics that distinguishes it from other animals within the same species. A cluster of domestic animals of a species where individuals are homogeneous in certain distinguishable characters which differ from one to the other group of animals constitute the breeds. Breeds are primarily distinguished by visual characteristics: color pattern, polled or horned condition, or extreme differences in form and shape. Breed is indicative of the perception of the breeders and the livestock industry which decides when a group of individuals constitutes a “breed”. Livestock breeds have evolved over time through genetic changes that are both natural and selected by man.

Primarily breeds have been developed to provide increased production of meat, milk and/or wool, pashmina within a certain environmental area. This breed development is a process of continuous selection over a number of generations so as to stabilize the characters in the animals for the selected traits. The distinguishable characters are quite often color markings, size, and shape, hair pattern which may have little economic significance in terms of meat, wool or pashmina production. Breed development may have begun soon after animals were first domesticated. Breed is a group of animals related by descent and similar in most characteristics like general appearance, features, size, configuration, etc. In most cases, selection has been practiced for many generations in order to fix certain characteristics in the breed. The goat breeds have since long been described primarily in terms of physical conformation (chiefly, ear, nose, face and horn), body coat/colour characteristics and body measurements with subtle reference to production traits. Today there are more than 300 breeds of goats, and they live in climates ranging from high altitude mountains to deserts. Some breeds are known by the same name in different places, but are phenotypically different from one place to another. Conversely, there are breeds that look alike but have different names in different places.

Shoot and fruit borer: Leucinodes orbonalis: Pyraustidae

The pest is active throughout year, but more during monsoon period. Heavy losses up to 60% can occur.

The adult is a greyish brown medium sized moth with white and hyaline wings, having triangular brown and red markings on forewing. A crescent shaped mark facing outside at the apical margin is typical for the species. About 150-250 creamy white eggs are laid singly on leaves, tender shoots, flowers and developing fruits. Egg period is 3-5 days and the hatched larva completes its life in 15 days with 5 instars.

Types of Brooders

Brooding is a mechanism of providing auxiliary or supplementary heat to chicks through artificial heat using brooders. Brooders are of several types depending upon the size and the nature of fuel used. These are individual, multiple units or central heating systems run by coal, wood, oil, gas or electricity. The essentialities of a good brooder are i) a dependable mechanism, ii) supply of fresh air, iii) dryness, iv) adequate space, v) easy for cleaning and disinfection, vi) protection against enemies, vii) safety from fire and viii) economy.

i) Hover brooders

Such brooders are more widely used in India wherever electricity is available. They maintain uniform temperature, convenient for operation and require very little attention. However, eclectic brooders do not heat house appreciably in very cold weather. Wet litter may be another problem requiring frequent stirring and renewal of litter.

Brooding and Rearing Practices Used for Chicken

What is Brooding?

Rearing of young ones immediately after hatching for at least 2-3 weeks, either by natural means or by artificial method is called brooding. Brooding is done by two ways i.e., Natural or Artificial ways.

Natural Brooding

In the natural method a desi fowl which acts both as incubator and brooder is used to raise only a small number of chicks. She sits on eggs (chicken) for 21 days to produce chicks from fertile eggs and broods thereafter.

Brooding is a crucial phase in poultry management that involves the care of day old chicks during the early stages of their lives. Due to their underdeveloped thermoregulatory systems, chicks cannot maintain their body temperature and thus require external warmth. Proper brooding ensures the healthy growth and development of the chicks. The brooder unit typically includes several key components and considerations.

Brooding of chicks

1. Floor brooding

• Floor brooders (canopy/hover brooder or infra-red bulb brooder) are used to keep specific area(s) within the shed at the desired temperature.

• In canopy or hover brooding method, an umbrella-like canopy with two or three incandescent bulbs (40 to 100 W) each, depending on the season) are fixed at the centre, is inverted and hung in such a way that the birds can move freely in and out of it.

• The bulbs, when put on, heat the air and the hot air is trapped by the canopy preventing the escape of hot air thereby providing warmth to the chicks.

• The height of the brooder should be around 6 inches during the first week.

Cacao Mealy Bug : Planococcus lilacinus : Pseudococcidae

The adult female mealy bug is 3.9 mm in length and 2.25 mm in width. Eggs are laid on the plant parts within a mass of tangled waxy strands, a female laying 50 to 300 eggs. The eggs hatch in less than 6 hours and the nymphs feeding on the plant juice become full-grown in 20-25 days with a mean of 23 days in the case of females and 17 to 20 days for the males. The male nymph assumes a pupal period which lasts for 4 to 6 days and the adult male is winged. They live for 2-3 days while the adult female has longevity of 12 -16 days. The females dominate the population, 67.6 per cent of the crawlers developing into female mealy bugs.

Introduction
 
Agricultural activity in the arid and semi-arid divided into two main components are plant production and animal production. Animal production is associated with a component of a large proportion of workers in the agricultural sector, either individually or as part of agricultural activity Integrative. The livestock are plays major role in the lives of the rural population to the availability of several important products such as meat and dairy products.

Farm animals in the arid and semi-arid depend on their feeding mainly on crop residues and natural pastures that do not meet their needs due to scarcity of resources in these regions. Such scarcity is caused by a number of factors; the most important factor is limited agricultural land devoted to cultivation of fodder crops, low rainfall and the deterioration of natural pastures. However, there are many studies in different countries suggesting the possibility of widespread exploitation of cactus as a strategic resource, especially in the areas of low rainfall and scarce feed resources (FAO 2007). Those studies recommend the use Cactus to feed cows, goats, sheep and rabbits without causing any problems to the animals’ health. In addition, it can be used as medicine and cosmetics for humans and for many other uses.

In recent years, the global agricultural landscape has witnessed a paradigm shift towards more sustainable and ethical practices, with a particular focus on the well- being of animals. One such notable transformation is evident in the egg production industry, where traditional methods are being reconsidered in favour of more humane alternatives. Cage-free farming has emerged as a promising path, not only for meeting the demands of a conscientious consumer base but also for addressing concerns related to animal welfare. Cage-free farming represents a departure from conventional egg production systems that confine laying hens to small, restrictive cages. Instead, it offers an environment that allows hens to express natural behaviors, such as walking, spreading their wings, and nesting.

Calcinosis is a condition characterized by the abnormal deposition of calcium salts in soft tissues, often leading to significant morbidity in affected animals. This condition is particularly relevant in grazing animals, as it can be associated with dietary imbalances, exposure to toxic plants, and metabolic disorders. Depending on the etiology, calcinosis can present as dystrophic, metastatic, or calcinosis circumscripta. Understanding the pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, and management is crucial for prevention and control in grazing animals.
Types of calcinosis
1. Dystrophic calcinosis: This type of calcinosis occurs when calcium deposits in damaged or necrotic tissues despite normal blood calcium levels. Associated with trauma, infections, or localized inflammation.
2. Metastatic calcinosis: This type of calcinosis results from hypercalcemia, which leads to calcium deposition in normal tissues.
Common causes include:
Nutritional imbalances (excessive calcium or vitamin D intake),
Toxic plants (e.g., Cestrum diurnum),
Chronic renal failure, causing disturbances in calcium-phosphorus metabolism,
Paraneoplastic syndromes associated with tumors.

Estimation of Calcium in Feeds, Fodders and Faeces
(Titrimetric method of AOAC, 1965)
Principle

When a solution containing calcium is treated with ammonium oxalate, all the calcium present is precipitated as calcium oxalate, The precipitate on treatment with sulphuric acid dissolves, forming calcium sulphate liberating free oxalic acid which is quantitatively estimated by titration against standard N/10 potassium permanganate solution to arrive at the calcium content present in the given solution. The reactions which take place are given below:

The nutritive value of feedstuffs is generally expressed in terms of protein and energy value. The protein and energy value usually referred in ruminants are DCP (Digestible crude protein) and TDN (Total digestible nutrients), because the feeds used in the diet of ruminants have a vide variability in their digestibility, hence after removal of the variable fraction the requirement of nutrients is expressed. Starch Equivalent (SE) is also the measure of energy but its usefulness is limited to certain extent, due to involvement of tedious and expensive process.

Camel Nomenclature Family: Camelidae Order: artiodactyla (even –toed ungulates) Suborder: Tylopoda (Pad on foot) The family Camelidae includes two genera: Camelus and Lama The genus Camelus consists of two species namely. Camelus dromedarius (unicorn or dromedary) with habitat in dry, hot, arid areas of Africa, Asia and Australia and Camelus bactrianus Double-humped or Bactrian) habitat in cold, dry areas of the central Palearctic Ecozone. These two species are commonly called Old World camels. The Species belonging to the genus Lama are Lama vicugna  Vicunaand Lama guanaco guanaco, Lama glama (llamaand Lama pacos alpaca . These four Species are called New World camels and have their habitat in South America Camels are considered a “ship of the desert” as a means of transport and Towing ability in the desert. The camel also played an important role in civil law and order, defense and battles from antiquity to the presen