Palaeoclimatic significance of non - striate disaccate pollen in Yellandu coalfield of Godavari graben, Telangana State

The present palaeopalynological study deals with the significance of non - striate disaccate pollen from bore hole Q - 563 of Yellandu coalfield (Jawahar Khani - 5 coal block), Kothagudem sub-basin and to determine the age and palaeoclimatic interpretations of the study area based on the pollen morphological characters. For the palynological investigation, sixty samples were thoroughly analyzed in which fairly diversified palynofloral assemblages of Gondwanic affinity were recorded. About 30 genera and 50 species of palynomorphs, belong to Glossopteridales, Coniferales, Cordaitales of gymnospermous pollen, pteridophytic spores. In the present communication, the palynoflora belongs to Glossopteridales viz. Scheuringipollentites barakarensis, S. maximus, S. tentulus, Ibisporites diplosaccus, Primuspollenites levis, P. densus and Sahnites thomasii etc. Frequency distribution pattern of the palynotaxa reveals that the assemblage is dominated by the non - striate disaccates followed by striate disaccates, monosaccates (gymnosperms) and pteridophytic spores. The diversified palynoassemblage of both non striate and striate disaccates pollen strongly signifies that the Yellandu coal belt of Godavari graben belongs to Barakar Formation of Early Permian age (Late Sakmarian – Early Artinskian). Predominance of non - striate disaccate pollen recorded from the Yellandu sediments indicates a warm and high humid climatic condition with fluvial environment of deposition.

Influence of Animal Factors on Milk Somatic Cell Count in Crossbred Cows Reared Under Hot-Humid Climatic Condition

The present study was undertaken with the objective of influence of various animal factors like parity, stage of lactation, production level and season of calving on milk somatic cell count (SCC) in Jersey crossbred cows reared under hot-humid climatic condition. Total 366 quarter wise morning milk samples were collected aseptically from the experimental cows maintained at cattle yard, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kalyani, West Bengal and subjected to microscopic method of somatic cell count. The estimated overall arithmetical mean (±SE) of SCC (logarithmic) was 5.377 ± 0.039. There was significant (P<0.01) effect of all the animal factors and season of calving on Log10SCC. The SCC was significantly (P<0.05) higher in cows of later parities and late stage of lactation. Medium milk producer animals had significant (P<0.05) lower mean SCC as compared to low and high milk producers. The SCC level was significantly (P<0.05) higher in cows calved during the summer season followed by cows calved in rainy and winter season. It can be concluded that the animal factors like parity, lactation stage, production level and season of calving has noteworthy effect on milk SCC level in crossbred cows under hot-humid climatic condition and therefore, these factors can be taken into account while selecting dairy animals accompanied by SCC can be used as routine tests to achieve the best strategy for the treatment and prevention of intra-mammary infections (IMI) in dairy cows.Key words: Animal Factors, Somatic Cell Count, Crossbred Cows, Hot-Humid Climate

Influence of Animal Factors on Milk Somatic Cell Count in Crossbred Cows Reared Under Hot-Humid Climatic Condition

The present study was undertaken with the objective of influence of various animal factors like parity, stage of lactation, production level and season of calving on milk somatic cell count (SCC) in Jersey crossbred cows reared under hot-humid climatic condition. Total 366 quarter wise morning milk samples were collected aseptically from the experimental cows maintained at cattle yard, ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kalyani, West Bengal and subjected to microscopic method of somatic cell count. The estimated overall arithmetical mean (±SE) of SCC (logarithmic) was 5.377 ± 0.039. There was significant (P<0.01) effect of all the animal factors and season of calving on Log10SCC. The SCC was significantly (P<0.05) higher in cows of later parities and late stage of lactation. Medium milk producer animals had significant (P<0.05) lower mean SCC as compared to low and high milk producers. The SCC level was significantly (P<0.05) higher in cows calved during the summer season followed by cows calved in rainy and winter season. It can be concluded that the animal factors like parity, lactation stage, production level and season of calving has noteworthy effect on milk SCC level in crossbred cows under hot-humid climatic condition and therefore, these factors can be taken into account while selecting dairy animals accompanied by SCC can be used as routine tests to achieve the best strategy for the treatment and prevention of intra-mammary infections (IMI) in dairy cows.

Clay minerals, δ13C values, pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs as palaeoenviromental and palaeoclimatic indicators in Pliocene sediments of central Anatolia, Turkey

The Çankırı Basin is one of the largest Cenozoic basins in Central Anatolia, Turkey and contains possible economic hydrocarbon and evaporite reserves. Gypsum is the dominant mineral in the evaporite-bearing Pliocene deposits of the Çankırı Basin. In claystones, the abundance of smectite, dolomite, illite/mica and chlorite in association with minor amounts of mixed-layer chlorite-smectite, mica-vermiculite, amphibole, serpentine, quartz and feldspar together indicate an alkaline environment. Minor kaolinite is also present in some clay samples. Smectite is both detrital and authigenic. Palynological analysis revealed the existence of a mixed forest (Pinus, Cathaya, Tsuga, Cedrus, Abies, Quercus, Ulmus, Juglans, Pterocarya, Acer, Carya, Carpinus, Fagus) dominated by Pinus with a widespread herbaceous understory (Poaceae) interspersed sparsely with open areas occupied by Asteraceae. This flora reflects warm-temperate and humid climatic condition. δ13C analyses have shown that the vegetation was dominated by C3 plants.