Seasonal Influence on Sexual Behaviour of Jaffrabadi Buffalo Bulls

The study was carried out on four mature Jaffrabadi breeding bulls (4–6 years old) maintained at Cattle Breeding Farm, JAU, Junagadh for a period of 8 months during winter and summer. The seasonal and bull variations in sexual behavior traits were studied. A total of 64 observations (32 per season, 8 per bull) were availed at the fortnightly interval. The mean values/ scores for temperament (0–5 scale), libido (0–9 scale), penile erection (0–4 scale), protrusion (0–4 scale), intensity of thrust (0–4 scale), reaction time (sec) and Flehmen reaction (0, 1) during winter season were 1.28 ± 0.08, 6.75 ± 0.19, 3.22 ± 0.74, 2.88 ± 0.59, 3.15 ± 0.65, 125.00 ± 6.92 and 0.91 ± 0.43, respectively, while the respective values in summer season were 2.22 ± 0.07, 5.93 ± 0.43, 2.84 ± 0.65, 2.75 ± 0.59, 2.93 ± 0.13, 143.5 ± 7.07 and 0.88 ± 0.06. There were significant differences among seasons for temperament, libido and penile erection score of Jaffrabadi bulls. Significant differences among bulls were also found for libido score, the intensity of thrust and reaction time in the winter season, and for ejaculatory thrust in the summer season. All these traits were highly significantly and positively interrelated (r = 0.353 to 0.512), except Flehmen reaction and reaction time which were negatively correlated with all other behavioral traits (r = –340 to –0.499). Summer in general significantly exerted an adverse effect on the sexual behavior of Jaffrabadi bulls, and winter was the favored season. It could be concluded from the study that the Jaffrabadi bulls had good sexual behavior scores throughout both the seasons, however, bulls showed better sexual behavior during winter as compared to summer.

Study on varietal preferences and seasonal incidence of parasitoids of rice pests

The egg masses of yellow stem borer, larvae of leaf folder and rice horned caterpillar and eggs of ear head bug were collected randomly at fortnightly interval from four different varieties viz., CO 43, CO 50, CO 51 and CR 1009 from the rice field. The data was pooled and per cent parasitization was calculated to find out the varietal preference and seasonal variations of parasitoids. Among the four different varieties tested for the preference of parasitoids, per cent parasitization of stem borer egg mass was found to be more (26.59) in CO 50. The per cent parasitization of leaf folder larvae and rice horned caterpillar was found to be maximum in CO 51(40.29) and CO 43(33.21), respectively. In case of ear head bugs, the egg parasitization was maximum (27.70) in CO 50. The mean egg mass parasitization of stem borer was highest (71.88) in first fortnight of December. The larval parasitization of leaf folder and rice horned caterpillar were found to be maximum during the second fortnight of December (64.3) and the first fortnight of January (71.88), respectively. The parasitism rate of ear head bug eggs was maximum (62.95) during the second fortnight of December. Interestingly, phoresy exhibited by Sceliocerdo sp. an egg parasitoid of Neorthacris sp. was also recorded.

Colostrum and milk composition during postpartum period in Hill cow, sahiwal and crossbreds cow

The study was undertaken to determine the composition of colostrum and milk of Hill cattle during postpartum period and compared them to Sahiwal and crossbred cow. Fifteen colostrum samples per day from each group of cow (as per availability) were collected during first five postpartum days while as milk samples were collected from eight cow each of Sahiwal and crossbreds and six form Hill cow, at fortnightly interval up to 32 weeks postpartum. These samples were subjected to various physico-chemical analyses. There was a significant (P?0.05) difference between overall mean protein per cent, pH and electrical conductivity in the colostrum of Hill cow, Sahiwal and crossbred cow but lactose per cent did not diffe significantly. In milk there was a significant (P?0.05) difference between overall mean of fat, protein, solid not fat, total solids per cent, pH, electric conductivity, somatic cell count and milk yield of Hill cow, Sahiwal and crossbreds while non-significant (P?0.05) difference was noticed for lactose per cent and specific gravity. The colostrum of Hill cow and Sahiwal were richer in protein, fat, lactose, TS and ash content as compared to crossbred cow. Milk of Hill cow had higher content of protein, fat, SNF, TS and lower pH, EC and SCC compared to crossbreds and Sahiwal.

Filth flies associated with municipal solid waste and impact of delay in cover soil application on adult filth fly emergence in a sanitary landfill in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Two types of municipal solid waste (MSW), newly arrived and 2 weeks old, were sampled from a sanitary landfill in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia at a fortnightly interval and kept under field conditions for 2 weeks. A total of 480 kg of each type of MSW was sampled to study species composition and impact of delays in cover soil applications on filth fly emergence. Out of 960 kg of MSW sampled, 9.2 ± 0.5 flies emerged per kilogram. Weekly adult fly emergence rates of newly arrived and 2-week-old waste did not differ significantly and MSW remained suitable for fly breeding for up to 1 month. Eight species of flies emerged from the MSW: namely, Musca domestica, Musca sorbens, Synthesiomyia nudiseta, Hydrotaea chalcogaster, Chrysomya megacephala, Lucilia cuprina, Hemipyrellia ligurriens and Sarcophaga sp. Newly arrived waste was determined to be the main source for M. domestica, C. megacephala and L. cuprina in the landfill owing to significantly higher mean emergence compared with 2-week-old waste. Musca sorbens was found in newly arrived waste but not in 2-week-old waste, suggesting that the species was able to survive transportation to landfill but unable to survive landfill conditions. Hemipyrellia ligurriens, H. chalcogaster and S. nudiseta were not imported into the landfill with MSW and pre-existing flies in and around the landfill itself may be their source. The results show that landfills can be a major source of fly breeding if cover soil or temporary cover is not applied daily or on a regular schedule.