Showing papers by "National Dairy Research Institute published in 2001"

Purification and characterization of a bacteriocin‐like compound (Lichenin) produced anaerobically by Bacillus licheniformis isolated from water buffalo

Abstract: Aims: To characterize a bacteriocin-like factor from Bacillus licheniformis 26 L-10/3RA isolated from buffalo rumen. Methods and Results: The culture supernatant exhibited the antibacterial activity against a number of indicator organisms in a cut-well agar assay under anaerobic conditions. The inhibitory component was purified by following ammonium sulphate precipitation, gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography and confirmed to be a single peptide. A single band on tricine-sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis confirmed that the peptide was purified to homogeneity and having an estimated molecular mass of approximately 1400 dalton. Complete amino acid sequence of the peptide yielded 12 amino acids from the N-terminal end (ISLEICXIFHDN). No homology with previously reported bacteriocins was observed and has been designated as Lichenin. Lichenin was found to be hydrophobic, sensitive to atmospheric oxygen, retained biological activity even after boiling for 10 min and was active over a pH range of 4·0–9·0. Conclusions: The Lichenin represents the first anaerobiosis specific expression of bacteriocin-like compound isolated from Bacillus licheniformis 26 L-10/3RA of buffalo rumen origin. Significance and Impact of the Study: Lichenin could be a potential condidate for manipulating the rumen function at molecular level intended for improving the productivity of the ruminant.

Mortality and life-years lost due to alcohol: a comparison of acute and chronic causes

Abstract: Objectives: (i) To estimate the numbers of deaths and person-years of life lost (PYLL) due to high-risk alcohol consumption in Australia during 1997, using current estimates of consumption. (ii) To compare the number of deaths and PYLL due to acute conditions associated with bouts of intoxication and chronic conditions associated with long-term misuse of alcohol. Methods: All Australian deaths during 1997 related to conditions considered to be partially or wholly caused by high-risk alcohol consumption were extracted from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Mortality Datafile and adjusted by alcohol aetiologic fractions calculated for Australia in 1997. A life-table method was used to estimate the PYLL for deaths from alcohol-caused conditions. Main outcome measures: Numbers of all deaths and PYLL due to chronic and acute alcohol-related conditions. Results: Of the 3290 estimated alcohol-caused deaths in 1997, chronic conditions (eg, alcoholic liver cirrhosis and alcohol dependence) accounted for 42%, acute conditions (eg, alcohol-related road injuries and assaults) for 28°o and mixed (chronic and acute) for 30%. Of the 62914 estimated potential life years lost, acute conditions were responsible for 46%, chronic for 33% and mixed for 21%. The average number of years of life lost through deaths from acute conditions was more than twice that from chronic conditions, because the former mostly involved younger people. Conclusions: In view of the societal burdens imposed by premature deaths, more effective public health strategies are needed to reduce the harm associated with occasional high-risk drinking (as well as sustained high-risk drinking), especially among young people.

Effect of environmental temperature on quality and developmental competence in vitro of buffalo oocytes

Abstract: BUFFALOES are the mainstay of the rural Indian economy, contributing milk, meat and draught power for the agriculture sector. However, delayed maturity, seasonality of breeding, poor conception rate, silent oestrus, fewer follicles, higher rates of follicular atresia, high embryonic mortality (Madan 1988), poor freezability of semen, susceptibility to thermal stress and poor superovulatory response (Kurup 1988) are major constraints to their reproductive performance and productivity. The transfer of in vitro embryos from slaughterhouse buffalo ovaries provides an opportunity to increase the reproductive efficiency. Indian buffaloes are seasonally polyoestrous and are reproductively less active in summer. High environmental temperatures have been associated with altered endocrine patterns (Rosenberg and others 1982, Wolfenson and others 1995), altered follicular development and dominance (Badinga and others 1994), and increased embryonic loss (Biggers and others 1987, Putney and others 1988). Buffaloes subjected to heat stress yield fewer good quality oocytes than their unstressed counterparts (Singla and others 1999); the developmental competence of the oocytes under in vitro conditions has not been investigated. The present study, therefore, was undertaken to examine the influence of heat stress on the recovery, quality and developmental competence in vitro of buffalo oocytes. Ovaries were collected from mature buffaloes of unknown reproductive status from an abattoir in New Delhi, India, in December to January, 1996 to 1997, the cool period (temperature I to 10°C) (n=31 1) of the year, and in April to May, 1997, the hot period (temperature >30°C) (n=280) of the year. They were transported to the laboratory (Embryo Biotechnology Centre, Karnal) in 0*9 per cent normal saline at 32 to 35°C within four hours of collection. Oocytes from all visible follicles were aspirated with a 20-gauge needle attached to a 5 ml glass syringe. The aspiration medium consisted of tissue culture medium (TcMl99) supplemented with 10 per cent buffalo oestrous serum and Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline supplemented with 0 3 per cent fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a 1:1 ratio. The aspirated oocytes were classified as follows: grade A (good): oocytes with unexpanded cumulus mass having at least four layers of cumulus cells and with homogenous granular ooplasm; grade B (fair): oocytes with two to three layers ofcumulus cells and having a homogenous granular ooplasm; and grade C (poor): oocytes either partially or completely denuded or with one to two layers of cumulus cells but with an irregular and dark ooplasm. Only gradeA and grade B oocytes were selected for in vitro maturation studies since only oocytes of these qualities can be used effectively for production of morulae and blastocysts (Chauhan and others 1998). The oocytes were cultured in TCM199 plus 10 per cent fetal calfserum (FCS) plus 5 pg/ml follicle stimulating hormone-P. After washing three times with the maturation medium, the oocytes (10 to 15 in a group) were placed in 50 ml droplets ofthe maturation medium, covered with warm paraffin oil in a 35 mm petridish and cultured for 24 hours in a carbon dioxide incubator (5 per cent carbon dioxide in air, 90 to 95 per cent relative humidity) at 38 5°C. Maturation was assessed by examining the expansion of cumulus cell mass as described RLIVINS 1-S S 5'. .6 ." Si SS 55

Genetic variation within and among three Indian breeds of goat using heterologous microsatellite markers.

Abstract: The parameters of genetic variation, genetic distances and time of divergence in three Indian goat breeds were studied using 16 cattle microsatellite markers. The mean number of alleles and mean allele size (bp) per microsatellite marker in goats were 5.37 +/- 0.78 and 143.9 +/- 33.75 bp respectively. The average values of heterozygosity and polymorphism information content were 0.54 +/- 0.2 and 0.48 +/- 0.20, respectively. Five of the eight genetic distance methods were highly correlated, revealing a closer relationship between Jamnapari and Barbari goats. A phylogenetic tree constructed from inter-individual distances revealed that the individuals clustered according to the breed to which they belonged, and the Jamnapari and Barbari goats formed a cluster. The divergence times between Sirohi and Jamnapari, and Sirohi and Barbari were approximately 2000 years, while its value between Barbari and Jamnapari goats was approximately 1370 years.

Performance evaluation, conservation and improvement of Sahiwal cattle in India

Abstract: The Sahiwal cattle, one of the best dairy breeds of Zebu cattle in India and Pakistan, originate from the Montgomery district of Pakistan and is distributed on farmer herds in certain pockets of the bordering districts of Punjab and Rajsthan in India. The animals of this breed are also available in Kenya and are used for crossing with local East African Zebu types to improve milk production. Sahiwal cattle have deep body, loose skin, short legs, stumpy horns and a broad head with pale red to dark brown body colour. The average body weight in adult females and males is around 350 and 500 kg, respectively. The animals of this breed are maintained on various State and Central Government farms, privately owned farms, charitable trusts and a small proportion of animals are also available with the farmers. More than 1 200 breedable females are available at various farms in the country. The average lactation milk yield of Sahiwal cattle on organized farms ranges between 1 500 to 2 500 kg. However, in well-managed herds, the highest lactation milk production in certain cows is more than 4 500 kg. The overall weighted average milk yield, age at first calving, lactation length and calving interval based on the performance at various herds is around 1 900 kg, 36 months, 315 days and 420 days, respectively. The fat and Solid Non Fat (SNF) percent ranges from 4.6 to 5.2 percent and 8.9 to 9.3 percent, respectively. Quite a large proportion of pure-bred Sahiwal cattle maintained on organized breeding farms has been used for the production of cross-bred cattle. As a result, different cross-bred strains of dairy cattle viz Karan Swiss, Karan Fries and Frieswal have evolved at the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal and Military Dairy Farms. The breed has also been utilized for the production of synthetic strains like Jamaica Hope (JH), Australian Milking Zebu (AMZ) and Australian Friesian Sahiwal (AFS) in other countries. Currently, efforts are being made to characterize, evaluate and conserve the breed in field conditions. More than 0.10 million doses of frozen semen of this breed are cryopreserved at various semen banks in the country. The frozen semen is being utilized for strengthening and genetically improving the existing herds of the breed through progeny testing programmes of sires associating various herds of Sahiwal in the country.

Activity of glutathione related enzymes and ovarian steroid hormones in different sizes of follicles from goat and sheep ovary of different reproductive stages.

Abstract: The investigations on enzymes related to glutathione like glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) have been carried out mostly in human and rat ovaries, however the studies on these enzymes in ruminants are relatively absent. In the present study the changes in the activity of these enzymes, in different sizes of follicles from goat and sheep ovaries of different reproductive stages, were investigated. The results demonstrated that the activity of the enzyme GST increased with the increase in size of the follicles from small to large follicles of follicular phase ovary and from small to medium follicles of luteal phase ovary in both the species, thereafter it decreased in large follicles of luteal phase ovary. There was increasing pattern in the activity of GSH-Px in the follicular phase follicles and a decreasing pattern in the luteal phase follicles from both the species. Thus the changes in the activity of glutathione related enzymes namely GST and GSH-Px in different size follicles from both the species during different reproductive phases are evident from the results. It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that these enzymes may have functional role in the steroid hormone metabolism in ruminant ovary as reported in human ovary.

Linkages among research, extension and farmers – A review

Abstract: Whether the agricultural research succeeds or fails as a catalyst to any nation's development depends largely on how well researchers and extension personnel communicate and cooperate with each other. In this regard, close and reciprocal interaction among research, extension and farmers is mandatory which could lead to design and delivery of appropriate technology. The status of linkages between research and extension, extension and farmers and research and farmers has been highlighted and also the indicators which could measure the linkage strength among the above actors in the development are reviewed.

Effect of postpartum breeding interval on milk production and reproduction traits in karan fries catile

Abstract: The data on 635 Karan Fries cattle up to 4th lactation spread over a period of 16 years (1980–95) were considered for studying the effect of postpartum breeding interval (PPBI) on milk production and reproductive efficiency traits. The effect of PPBI classes (based on 10 and 5 class interval) on lactation length, total lactation milk yield, service period and calving interval was highly significant. The effect of various PPBI classes on 305-day milk yield was not significant (based on 5 day class interval) but significant based on 10 day class interval. The effect of various PPBI classes (based on 10 and 5 class interval) on dry period and milk production efficiency trait i.e. total milk yield per day of calving interval (TMY/Cl) was not significant. Nevertheless, up to 65 day PPBI classes, the highest milk yield per day of calving interval (9.72±0.43 kg) was observed in 61–65 day PPBI class. Further, when the data were partitioned into 60 day PPBI classes the milk yield per day of calving interval (9.31 kg) was higher than >45 day PPBI class (9.20 kg), >50 day PPBI class (9.19 kg) and >55 day PPBI class (9.27 kg). Therefore, it can be inferred that a minimum period of 60 days should be taken as postpartum breeding interval for better reproductive efficiency and higher milk production.

Repeatability estimates of seminal characteristics of Murrah buffalo bulls

Abstract: Repeatability was estimated for volume, initial freezing motility per cent at 0 hr of freezing, post-thaw motility per cent after 0 hr, 1 hr and 2 hrs of incubation at 37°C, live per cent (non-eosinophilic) spermatozoa count, per cent head abnormalities and acrosomal integrity of stored frozen Murrah buffalo spermatozoa. The estimates were 0.202±0.089, 0.383±0.107, 0.104±0.084, 0.135±0.090, 0.142±0.092, 0.1l5±0.088, 0.402±0.100 and 0.155±0.090, respectively. The estimates were moderate to high for motility at 0 hr of freezing and per cent head abnormalities indicating that sufficient variation existed between different bulls which could be attributed to genetic and permanent causes and also suggesting an important role of these characteristics in screening of bulls.

Heterogeneity of transport systems for L-glutamine in mouse mammary gland.

Abstract: The characteristics of the transport systems of L-glutamine in lactating mouse mammary gland have been studied. L-glutamine uptake was mediated by three Na+-dependent and one Na+-independent systems. The 2-(methylamino)isobutyric acid-sensitive component of Na+-dependent uptake exhibited the usual characteristics of system A. The other two Na+-dependent systems, which we have named BCI(-)-dependent and BCl(-)-independent, are the new systems identified. These are broad specificity systems and were discriminated on the basis of inhibition analysis, Cl- dependency and the effect of preloading mammary tissue with amino acids. While L-aspargine inhibited the uptake of L-glutamine via both these broad specificity systems, L-homoserine inhibited the uptake of L-glutamine via only BCl(-)-dependent system. The uptake of L-glutamine via the BCl(-)-independent system was upregulated by preloading mammary tissue with L-serine, while BCl(-)-dependent system was unaffected. The Na+-independent uptake of L-glutamine was inhibited by 2-aminobicyclo-(2,2,1)heptane carboxylic acid and other neutral amino acids, and identified as the system L.

Proximate Composition and Glucosinolate Content of Various Indian Varieties of Mustard/Rapeseed ( Brassica Sp.)

Abstract: Proximate composition and glusinolate content of 12 varieties of Indian mustard/rapeseed (Raya RH 781, Raya RH 2859,Raya RC 781, Torla Shyamgarh, Toria Songram, Toria Kranti, Torio TH 109, B 054, B Bold, B carinato and B. napus) revealed thot the oil content varied in the range of 32.89 to 38.96%, highest being in Toria Knanti. Crude protein of oil free moterial wos in the range of 35.46 to 46.23% highest being in Torio Shyamgorh. Glucosinolate content on the other hand varied from 1.60 to 4.92% on DM basis of the oilseeds, highest being in Torio Sangram among the varieties of musturd/rapeseed. There was no significant relationship between oil and glucosinolate content of different varieties of brassica oilseed.