Effects on Synchronization and Reproductive Efficiency of Delaying the Removal of the Intravaginal Progesterone Device by 24 h in the 5d Co-synch Protocol in Heifers

In beef herds, increasing animal welfare, improving reproductive performance and easing animal management are key goals in farm economics. We explored whether delaying the removal of the intravaginal progesterone device by 24 h in heifers synchronized with a 5d Co-synch 72-h protocol could improve reproductive efficiency of fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). In experiment 1, we examined the total synchronization rate (TSR) in cycling Holstein heifers. Heifers (13.4 ± 0.69 mo.) were randomly assigned to the standard 5d Co-synch 56-h protocol (5dCo56; n = 10), 5d Co-synch 72-h (5dCo72; n = 17), or the modified 5d Co-synch 72-h protocol, in which removal of the progesterone device was delayed by 24 h (6dCo48; n = 19). In experiment 2, 309 cycling beef heifers on 18 commercial farms were subjected to the 5d Co-synch 72-h or 6-d Co-synch 48-h protocol and conception rate (CR) studied. In experiment 1, the three protocols led no differences on TSRs of 80.0% (5dCo56), 88.2% (5dCo72), and 89.5% (6dCo48). In experiment 2, the CR from the beef heifers, observed during two consecutive reproductive seasons did not differ: 59.7% for 5dCo72 and 62.0% for 6dCo48 (p = 0.907). Therefore, delaying removal by 24 h provides satisfactory results without reducing reproductive efficiency of heifers.

Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Autumn Planted Sugarcane under Different Planting Patterns with Lentil Intercropping

Proper sowing orientation and spacing are important factors for best crop growth. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different planting patterns with and without lentil intercropping on sugarcane growth and yield and farm economics. Each of these treatments were planted as sole crop and intercropped with lentil. Data were collected on plant cane and first ratoon crop. The maximum stripped cane yields (154.36 t/ha and 130.28 t/ha in plant and ratoon crop, respectively) were obtained from sugarcane planted at 120 cm trench planting both as sole as well as lentil intercropped. This treatment also attained 61% and 43% higher total sugar yields compared to traditional 60 cm single rows planting in plant and ratoon crops, respectively. Lentil intercropping did not have any significant effect on sugarcane yield, but trench planting at 120 cm with lentil intercropping had the highest lentil seed yield (598.0 in 2013–2014 and 629.8 kg ha−1 in 2014–2015) along with maximum land equivalent ratio (1.40 and 1.37), net return (Rs.321254/ha), net field benefit (Rs.491703/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.01). Sugarcane at 120 cm trench planting with lentil intercropping also outperformed other planting patterns in improving economic returns.

Effect of dietary supplementation of different levels of saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance and hematology in broiler

Present study was planned to highlight the effects of inclusion of different levels of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (SC) in broiler feed, on growth performance, hematology and farm economics. One hundred and fifty, one day old broiler chicks (Hubbard) were divided into five groups; each group was subdivided into three replicates of 10 birds each. Starter (CP 20% and ME 2860 Kcal/Kg) and finisher (CP 18.75% and ME 3000 Kcal/Kg) diets were fortified with levels of SC at 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g/Kg to prepare diets A, B, C, D and E respectively. Each dietary treatment was allotted to three replicates. Weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio improved significantly (p less than 0.05) as a result of feeding diet D containing 1.5 g/Kg SC in comparison to all other treatments. Dietary inclusion of SC significantly (P less tham 0.05) reduced the levels of blood glucose and cholesterol in the birds of all treated groups when compared to those of control group. Maximum reduction in glucose and cholesterol levels was observed in the birds of treatment group D using SC @ 1.5g/Kg diet as compared to those of other treatment groups. Values regarding hemoglobin, PCV and DLC of the birds remained unaffected by dietary inclusion of SC in all treatment groups. However, numerical values of Hb and PCV in the birds consuming diet supplemented with 1.5g/Kg SC were apparently higher than those of control group. The treatment group D using SC @ 1.5g/Kg proved to be cost effective and fetched more profit per kg live weight which positively affected the farm economics.