eChapters

Origin and Distribution of Camel

A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus of the family Camelidae bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as “humps” on its back. There are two species of camel, viz. Camelus dromedarius (single humped dromedary) having habitat in dry hot arid lands of Africa and Asia, and Camelus bacterianus (double humped or bactrian) habitat of cold arid lands of Central palaerctic (a zoogeographical region consisting of Europe, Africa north of the Sahara, and most of Asia north of the Himalayas) region. Family Camelidae also includes other species which are camel like mammals. Those are Lama (Lama glama), Alpaca (Lama pacos), Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) and Guanaco (Lama guanicoe). These four species are termed as new-world Camelidae having habitat in South America. The Indian camel belongs to Camelus dromedarius. A very small numbers of double-humped camels are also available in Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir.

Camel is an important component of desert eco-system. It is capable of traveling long distance in hot, arid and sandy regions carrying men, material and providing energy to agricultural operations. They provide milk, meat, hair and used as work animals. It is believed that Camels were domesticated during the period from 3000 to 2500 BC. Average life expectancy of a camel is 40-50 years. The height at the shoulder and hump of a fully grown adult camel is 1.85 and 2.15 metres, respectively. Camel can run at a speed of up to 65km/h for a short distance and can sustain a speed of up to 40km/h for long distance.

Camels across the world are reared for milk, meat, draught, race and tourism. They are distributed in the African, Arabian and south Asian countries.  Apart from this, a feral population exists in Australia and recent reports indicate that a few animals of the species are also being reared in Europe. The world camel population shows an increasing trend with 12.92 m in 1961 to  24.68 m in 2010 producing 0.38 m tonnes of meat and 2.36 m tonnes of milk per annum.  The top 20 camel rearing countries produce both milk and meat with the exception of India and Pakistan as per FAO. Contrary to this, the research articles and news reports indicate that the species in the two south Asian countries too produce both milk and meat.

A. Answer the following question:

1.    What is carbohydrate?

Ans: Literally means hydrates of carbon. Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy (more than one OH group) aldehyde or polyhydroxy ketoneas in monosachharides; their olymers as in oligo and polysaccharides; their reduction products as polyhydric alcohols; oxidation products as aldonic, uronic, sacharic acid; substitution products as amino sugars.

2.    What is sugar?

Ans: The term sugar is generally restricted to those carbohydrates containing less than 10 monosaccharide residues.

3.    What is dextrin?

Ans: It is the intermediate products of the hydrolysis of starch and glycogen.

4.    What is exergonic reaction?

Ans: That portion of energy change during a reaction which is available to do work is termed the free energy change, designated, “G. when “Gis negative the reaction is said to be exergonic.

5.    What is substrate level phosphorylation?

Ans: Whenproductionof ATPfromADPtakesplacedirectlyduring a reaction, the process is known as substrate level phosphorylation.

6.    Why carbohydrate is a metabolically essential?

Introduction

Carbohydrates are the most common source of energy for all living cells, which, in presence of light, are formed by the green plants from CO₂ and water during photosynthesis. It canbe said that ‘light’ is theultimatesourceof energyrequired for all livingcells.Glucose,a monosaccharide,plays a centralroleincarbohydrate metabolismin all plants, animals and manymicroorganisms. Glucose is derived from the polysaccharides (starch, glycogen) and non-carbohydrate sources (amino acids, glycerols, etc.) during metabolism and ultimately converted either into carbondioxide and water orotherintermediateproducts.Complete oxidation of glucose to CO₂ and water provides ~2,840 kJ/mol energy. The other monosaccharides such as fructose, galactose, mannose, etc. are also important molecules in carbohydrate metabolism.

Cardamom thrips: Sciothrips cardamomi: Thripidae

Thysanoptera

This thrips attacks other crops like amomum,  tea, colocasia, grapevine, castor, cotton, ginger and turmeric also. The thrips are minute greyish brown insects with fringed wings. They breed on unopened leaves, spindles, leaf sheath, flower bracts and floral tubes .

Care and Management of Meat-Type Chickens (Broilers)

Broiler Overview

• Broilers are unisex young chickens raised specifically for meat production. They are typically grown to reach a body weight of 2.0 to 2.5 kg within 5 to 6 weeks, consuming 3.0 to 3.5 kg of feed, resulting in a feed conversion ratio of 1.50 to 1.75.

• Broiler meat is flvored for its tenderness, high-quality protein content, low fat and cholesterol levels, superior flavor, and juiciness.

• The broiler production cycle is divided into three phases based on the birds’ physiological and production needs: broiler starter (0-10 days), broiler grower (11-21 days), and broiler finisher (22 days to marketing).

3.1. Introduction 

Calves are the future replacement stock of dairy farm. The raising of calves, an important operation of the dairy farm requires a great deal of managemental skill, application and constant attention. Any negligency results in increased calf mortality, poor growth and development of the calves. So, care of the calves is important for success of the dairy farm.

Care and Management of Commercial Growers (09-20 weeks) Under Deep Litter System

Grower management essentially remains the same as that of chick management (brooding management) except for the additional space required for floor, feeders and waterers to keep with the size of birds. The growers may be reared in separate grower-houses or continued to be reared in brooder-cum-grower houses.

Floor space: 1260 cm² (1.4 ft²) per bird.

Feeder space: 6-8 cm per bird. One linear feeder of 120 cm length and 8 cm depth for 40 growers.

Waterer space: 2 cm per bird; a circular waterer of 36 cm and 8 cm depth of 6 lit. capacity for 50 growers. Growers are to be provided with fresh, cool and potable drinking water at least twice a day. Water requirement is increased during hot days. Care must be made not to spill water on litter.

Lighting management: No artificial lighting is given other than natural day light since they require only 9 hours of light per day.

5.1. Introduction

A dry cow is a cow that is not producing milk. Usually cow remains in-milk for about 305 days (average lactation length), after that it remains for a period of about 60 days in dry condition (not giving milk) called dry period. Dry period is critical for a cow for regeneration of her udder and reserve nutrients for the next lactation, otherwise, milk production will not be upto the mark and the cow may suffer from several metabolic diseases after parturition. A dry cow is just as valuable as a lactating cow, therefore should be not neglected. A dry cow management programme includes nutrition, general management and health control programme.

4.1. Introduction

Heifers are young female cattle from 12 months of age to first calving. Heifer management is important as they are future cow of the herd. Proper growth and body condition of the heifers are associated with their early sexual maturity and age at first breeding, and their later productive and reproductive performances, when they become cow. Thus, proper care and management of the heifers is necessary to establish a good dairy herd.

Introduction Care and management of calf • Begins before its birth. • Good dairy herds are raised rather than purchased. • Dam should be dried 6-8 weeks before expected calving and should be fed well. • Underfed dam will give weak and small calves. Steps of calf management 1.  Removal of mucous • Immediately after birth:  removal of mucous or phlegm from nostril, mouth, eyes & ears for normal breathing. • Rub and dry the calf with a dry cloth or gunny bag • If cow not licking: sprinkle a little common salt on calf’s body. • If calf does not start breathing: Provide artificial respiration by: • Compressing and relaxing the chest with hands • Swinging • Inserting twig in nostril 2.  Ligation of naval cord • Cutting of naval cord: ligate-2.5cm & cutting-1cm below.

CARE AND MANAGEMENT

Pregnant female should be fed with green, fresh vegetable, green leaves. Only with good management, healthy young ones can be expected. Similar to birds, rabbits have Nest building behaviour. Around 25 days of pregnancy, keep the pregnant animal in cage provided with bedding material separately. Around 28 days, the female makes nest by pulling the fur from abdominal region and also bedding material. The fur from abdominal region is pulled to make teats clean for young ones to suck milk. If female makes good nest, it can be concluded that it will be a good mother. Some females due to disturbance are unable to make nest and also abandon young ones, go astray.

Act of parturition in rabbit is kindling and it takes place in early hours of day and late evenings. Full process is completed in 90 minutes. In some females, aggressive behaviour is seen. Such aggressive females have good mothering ability.

6.1. Introduction

Care of cows at and after calving is vital for successful birth and maintaining the cow and calf in proper health condition. Calving is a high risk event in terms of both cow and calf health, and is associated with most of the health problems. New born calves are born sterile and it gets infection from the surroundings which depends on the maintenance of hygienic environment and care of the just after birth. The fresh cows are susceptible to a number of metabolic diseases and infections due decrease immune status of the cow. Preparation and care during this period will minimize sickness and death of the cow and calf.

7.1. Introduction

The lactating cows are important assets of a dairy farm. The profitability and viability of the dairy farm mainly depend on the overall milk production. The lactation cycle of the cow can be divided into different phases for efficient management as milk production, DM intake and body weight vary considerably during the different phases. In the early lactation, lactating animals loose body weight drastically and they are prone to various metabolic disorders. Efficient nutritional management during lactation is required to support the high milk production, persistency of lactation and health of the cows. Another most important event is the post partum oestrus and subsequent conception, which depends on the care and management of the cows during this period. Therefore, proper care and management of the lactating cows are essential to harvest maximum amount of milk from healthy cows in a sustainable way.

Calves play an important role in the dairy development and successful growth of young calves to mature stage is required for herd replacement and to get economic returns when they are sold. Good calf-care is important for sustenance of the dairy form and preservation and maintenance of good quality germplasm.

Introduction: Most young rabbits will be used for meat and skins; some will be kept for breeding. Whatever they are used for, the rabbit keeper will benefit if they are well cared for.

Handling of Rabbits: There will be times in any rabbitry when the animals will have to be picked up, e.g. when a doe is moved to a breeding hutch or when young rabbits are weaned.

When it is necessary to pick up a rabbit for any purpose, the aim should be to cause it no discomfort and to prevent it struggling. So it must be handled gently but firmly. There are three ways to hold a rabbit according to its size. 

Aphids: Myzus persicae : Aleyrodidae

Aphids are considered as the most serious pest of carnation. Both adults and nymphs suck sap from the leaves and debilitate the plants. They transmit carnation ring spot and carnation mosaic virus disease. They are thus more important as vectors. Regular monitoring for the incidence of the aphid and spot spray-ings of contact insecticides on the shoot tips can easily manage the pest.

The Tea mosquito bug : Helopeltis antonii : Miridae

The host range of this bug also includes tea, neem, moringa and guava. The attack can cause inflorescence blight, terminal drying of young shoots and heavy yield loss. The adult is a reddish brown bug with black head, red thorax, and black and white abdomen. The easiest identifying character for this pest is a pin like process on the scutellum mid dorsally on the thorax. It is reddish brown, erect and knobbed, and would seem as a pin inserted into the scutellum.

Cassava scale : Aonidomytilus albus: Diaspididae

White elongated scales appear in colonies on stems. Plants die in the field and under storage.  Stem becomes weak and dry, causing side branching to give bushy appearance.  Viability of planting material is reduced, resulting in poor establishment.

Livestock feeds have a variety of feed stuffs for feeding. Composition and characteristics differ even amongcloselyrelated feeds.Also, cost and availability of such feeds at a particular place, makes the farmer to choose for practical feeding. Therefore, it becomes imperative to learn about such classes. Feeds may generally be classified according to the amount of a specific nutrient they provide intheration. Theymayconvenientlybe divided intotwo general classes– roughages and concentrates. Roughages are bulky feeds containing more than 18 per cent crude fibre, but less than 60 per cent total digestible nutrients. Contrary to this, concentrates have less than 18 per cent fibre, but more than 60 per cent total digestible nutrients. Roughages may be further sub-divided intosucculent and drytypes.Whereas, concentratesare sub-dividedintoEnergy or basal feeds havingless than 20 percent crude protein and Protein supplements havingmorethan 20percent crude protein. Followingfeeds indicate theoutlines of classification [Flow chart 1] of the conventional feeds into broad categories with examples.