Pakistan Veterinary Journal 

About: Pakistan Veterinary Journal is an academic journal published by University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Dairy cattle & Blood serum. It has an ISSN identifier of 0253-8318. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 1529 publications have been published receiving 15560 citations.

Influence of two plant extracts derived from thyme and cinnamon on broiler performance.

Abstract: This study was conducted to explore the use of essential oil (EO) in broiler nutrition as a natural growth promoter. Different levels of EO derived from thyme and cinnamon were added to a standard diet to determine its effects on feed intake, live weight gain, feed conversion ratio and blood constituents. Three hundred day-old broiler chicks (Arbor-Acres) were divided into five equal groups and treated as follows: No EO (control group), 100 ppm EO derived from thyme (group 2), 200 ppm EO derived from thyme (group 3), 100 ppm EO derived from cinnamon (group 4) and 200 ppm EO derived from cinnamon (group 5). The diets were prepared freshly each day. Experiments were carried out for 42 days. Results showed that chicks fed with 200 ppm EO derived from thyme and cinnamon had significantly higher (P<0.05) feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio, followed by chicks fed with 100 ppm EO derived from thyme and cinnamon compared with control group, which showed the lowest performance. Moreover, the chicks fed with ration containing EO derived from thyme and cinnamon had reduced (P<0.05) serum cholesterol. The total proteins increased significantly (P<0.05) for the groups consuming 200 ppm EO derived from thyme and cinnamon. In conclusion, EO could be considered as a potential natural growth promoter for poultry at the level of 200 ppm, depending on the kind of EO derived from herbal plants.

Heavy metal levels in three major carps (catla catla, labeo rohita and cirrhina mrigala) from the river ravi, pakistan

Abstract: The present study was conducted to determine heavy metal (cadmium and chromium) concentrations in gills, kidneys, liver, skin, muscles and scales of three fish species (Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhina mrigala) from three stations viz. Lahore Siphon (Up stream), Shahdera Bridge and Baloki Headworks (Down stream) in the river Ravi, Pakistan. Heavy metal concentrations varied significantly depending upon the type of fish tissues and locations. The concentrations of cadmium and chromium differed significantly (p<0.001) among five fish organs and three sites and non-significantly between the three fish species. Fish liver appeared to have significantly higher tendency for the accumulation of cadmium and chromium (4.26 ± 1.57 and 6.23 ± 1.14 µgg -1 ), while gills had minimum concentrations (1.10 ± 0.53 and 1.46 ± 0.52 µgg -1 ) of these metals. Generally, Catla catla showed higher levels of metal concentrations than Labeo rohita and Cirrhina mrigala. Metal contamination was highest at Baloki Headworks, probably due to inclusion of more effluents from industrial and sewage water.

The role of agricultural credit in the growth of livestock sector: a case study of Faisalabad.

Abstract: This study employed stratified random sampling approach to collect the input-output and socioeconomic data set to see the impact of credit on the growth of livestock sector in the rural areas. The income elasticities of meat and livestock products were highest compared to all other food items except fruits, defining the future role of livestock sector in our food basket. It was observed that credit availability expanded the livestock sector more than double (economies of size), which increased per family per month income from livestock sector by 181%. The elasticity values of family size, literacy rate (schooling years) and credit were 0.18, 0.05 and 0.06, respectively. The elasticity of family size was highest, followed by credit and literacy rate, indicating that adequate potential exists that can be explored to utilize unemployed and untrained rural labor in the agriculture sector. It would help to mitigate the increasing population pressure on mega cities of Pakistan by providing employment opportunities at the door steps of rural community.

New dimension of medicinal plants as animal feed

Abstract: The medicinal plants and herbs have been used for many years in the treatment of various diseases in animals and human beings. Now-a-days, utilization of these medicinal plants is increasing. These are used in animal feed as the growth promoters. Due to prohibition of most of the antimicrobial growth promoters in animal feed because of their residual effects, plant extracts are becoming more popular. They act as antibacterial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antifungal, analgesic, insecticidal, anticoccidial and growth promoters. These plant extracts compete with the synthetic drugs. Majority of medicinal plants do not have the residual effects. Azadiracht indica, Zizyphus vulgaris, Ocimum gratissimum and Atlanta monophylla have the strong antibacterial activity, whereas ocimum plant has strong antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antifungal, analgesic and antipyretic properties. Leaves of Azadirachta indica are used for feeding and reducing the parasitic load of animals. The fruit of Azadirachta indica also has the anticoccidial activity for poultry.