NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
132 STUDIES ON FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE [Vol. XXII, Part IV
SUMMARY
The article deals with the experimental work carried out with the object of modi-
fying the crystal violet vaccine for use in large-scale vaccination in the field. Crystal
violet vaccine (2.5 per cent virus content) is used in the dosage of 30 to 50 cc. which
is found to be a rather unwieldy dose and difficult to administer in large number of
animals.
The method of preparation of the concentrated crystal violet vaccine is similar
to that for the preparation of crystal violet vaccine described in an earlier paper,
excepting that the concentration of the virus is increased to 15 per cent.
Experimental trials were undertaken with the concentrated crystal violet vaccine
with 15 and 10 per cent virus content in a dose of 5 cc. administered subcutaneously.
Indications of adequate immunity were obtained from the test carried out on
batches of vaccinated animals at the Institute by administration of live virulent
virus.
A large-scale field trial was undertaken with the vaccine at the Karnal Farm
where 236 young stock between the ages of 9 months and 3 years were vaccinated
and an adequate number of animals of the same age-group were left as unvaccinated
controls. Assessment of the value of the vaccine was facilitated in the course of a
natural outbreak of the disease which occurred on the Farm about 2½ months later.
It was observed that of the 236 animals of the vaccinated group only 2 animals
contracted a mild form of the disease while 210 out of the 400 unvaccinated animals
suffered from the disease.
The second large-scale field trial was undertaken at the Tisco Farm, Jamshedpur
and the results, of the immunity tests indicate that the vaccinated animals had
adequate immunity when exposed to artificial infection with live virulent virus after
a period of 17 months and 25 days following vaccination.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The work was carried out under a scheme of research financed by the Indian
Council of Agricultural Research, India.
REFERENCES
Dhanda, M. R., Gopalakrishnan, V. R., and Dhillon, H. S. (1953). Proc. In, Sc. Congress (1954),
Part III, p. 226.
Gopalakrishnan, V. R. (1951). Annual Progress Report of the Scheme for vaccination of cattle against foot'
and-mouth disease, Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
STUDIES ON REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN DONKEY
MARES
By M. L. KOHLI and K. R. SURI, Government Livestock Farm, Hissar
[Received for Publication on March 22, 1956.
Accepted for Publication on August 24, 1957.]
F ERTILITY of the mares bred during and after foal heat has been studied by
various workers, but very limited information is available about the breeding
of donkeys. The present study was undertaken to investigate the reproductive
efficiency in donkey mares bred during different periods of the year at various inter-
vals of post-partum oestrus.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Williams [1926] recorded the results of 120 ninth-day breedings in a famous
thorough-bred stud of high repute for fertility. Thirty per cent conceived at the ninth-
day breeding ; 40.8 per cent at later matings after having failed at first service and
29.2 per cent failed to settle. Those which conceived on ninth day showed 11.2
per cent of aborts and non-viable foals while the pregnancies from later breedings
were followed by 4.1 per cent aborts and non-viables. Caslicks [1937] reported that
of 533 mares bred on the ninth or tenth day, 36.6 per cent conceived ; while of those
which failed when bred at first post-partum oestrus, 56.6 per cent conceived at
second mating. Jennings [1941] stated the rate of conception of one service from
ninth day breeding to be 43.7 per cent as compared with 67.3 per cent for those
first bred at later dates. An abortion ratio of 12.8 per cent was detected which was
four times as great as that followed from first breeding at later dates. The rate of
death or diseased foals at birth was 7.3 per cent following ninth day breeding which
was six times as great as that from later breedings. The rate of heavy or retained
placenta occurred in 29.1 per cent of mares bred on ninth day and only 21.0 per cent
in those bred at later periods. Stevenson [1945] noted no significant difference in
the percentage of conception or in percentage of healthy foals born to a group of
mares bred within 8 to 14 days after parturition and a similar group bred during non-
foal heats. Wagenar [1948] concluded that the conception rate is highest in mares
when service takes place in later spring (May to June) and that fertility is reduced
in the first heat after foaling. Nishikawa and Yamasaki [1949] considered that the
breeding season in she-ass to be from April to September; December and Janu-
ary to be months of sexual rest, while the intervening months represent phases of
transition into and from the breeding season. Korolikov [1952] observed the foaling
period in mares from March to July; and that the majority foaled from March to
May. Mares foaling from March to May required 2.2 to 2.4 services per conception
and 6.4 for those in July. Jordao [1951] found the average conception rate in
she-asses to be 57.1 per cent.
133
28 AR/57.
4
134
REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN DONKEYS
[Vol. XXVII, Part IV,
MATERIAL
The data of 128 donkey mares used in the study were collected from the donkey
breeding stud at the Government Livestock Farm, Hissar, for a period of about 38
years (December, 1916 to May, 1954). This stud was maintained at the Farm with
the object of supplying donkey stallions to different parts of the Punjab State to
promote mule breeding. In all, 694 pregnancies as confirmed by subsequent normal
foalings, were studied.
The animals were let out for grazing in the morning and returned to stables in the
evening. In the days of scarcity, the grazing was supplemented by 40 lb. of green
fodder and 2 lb. of concentrates per animal. Animals for heat were checked
regularly, both morning and evening before they had moved out for grazing and after
they had returned to the stables. Cases that were detected on heat were given
natural service.
Close in-breeding was avoided with the frequent introduction of fresh blood by the
purchase and exchange of new donkey stallions from other studs in the State and by
the imported American Jacks.
RESULTS
The study was based on 694 actual foalings recorded during a period of about 38
years. For the post-partum foalings it was observed that 2.2 services were required
for a donkey mare to conceive.
The percentage of mares that conceived on the first, second, third and fourth
service was 46.9, 26.6, 11. 4 and 6.9 respectively (Table I). The remaining 7 per cent
of the pregnancies took 5 or more services with nearly 3 per cent of these requiring
7 or more services. The results showed a decrease in the efficiency of each subse-
quent service as the highly fertile donkey mares seemed to have got pregnant with
the first or second matings. The breeding efficiency for each of the first five services
was 46.9 per cent conception in first service, 50.0 in second, 43.0 in third, 45.3 in
fourth and 31.2 for the fifth time.
TABLE I
Per cent of total number of donkey mares conceiving at each consecutive service
after the first foaling
Service sequence
Number mated
Number of conception
Per cent conception
Percentage of mares
receiving 'n' services
for conception
n
1
614
288
46.9
46.9
1
2
310
155
50.0
26.6
2
3
135
58
43.0
11.4
3
4
64
29
45.3
6.9
4
5
32
10
31.2
2.6
5
6
16
4
25.0
1.4
6
7
9
2
22.2
1.0
7
8
5
1
20.0
0.7
8
9
3
1
33.3
0.9
9
10 and
above
4
1
25.0
0.4
10
December, 1957]
M. L. KOHLI AND K. R. SURI 135
The percentage of mares that conceived on the first, second, third and fourth
service for the first foaling was 55.2, 21.4, 10.3, 8.9 respectively (Table II).
The average number of services required per conception for the first foaling was
1.9 with the average fertility as 52.2 per cent. The average number of services and
the fertility per cent for the post-partum foaling was 2.2 and 46.1 respectively. The
difference between the services required and the fertility rate for the first foaling
period and for the later foalers was not significant.
TABLE II
Per cent of total number of donkey mares conceiving at each consecutive service
for the first foaling
Service sequence
Number mated
Number of conception
Per cent conception
Percentage of mares
receiving 'n' services
for conception
n
1
145
80
55.2
55.2
1
2
65
31
47.7
21.4
2
3
34
15
44.1
10.3
3
4
19
13
68.4
8.9
4
5
6
2
33.3
1.4
5
6
4
1
25.0
0.7
6
7
3
2
66.6
1.4
7
8
1
..
..
..
8
9
1
1
100.0
0.7
9
The length of the post-partum breeding interval and its effects on the reproductive
efficiency indicated (Table III) that, on an average, maximum number of donkey
mares came in heat within 40 days of foaling and thereafter the number decreased
with the increase in the post-partum interval. The shortest inter-foaling period of
494.6±11.6 days fell between the post-partum breeding interval of 40-79 days. The
number of services per conception, although lower than 1.9 in a few post-partum
breeding intervals did not compare favourably with 1.9 services of 40-79 days interval
as the inter-foaling period corresponding to these services was significantly high.
Further analysis of the data indicated that there were 198 cases which were mated
within 16 days after foaling. Out of these 48.4 per cent were served below 11 days,
32.4 per cent between 11 to 13 days and 19.2 per cent between 14 to 16 days after
foaling and the per cent of fertility was observed to be 27.1, 31.2 and 34.2 respectively.
The rate of conception of first service during foal heat period of 10 days' breeding
was 27.1 per cent as compared with 50.1 per cent for those bred during
non-foal heat. The difference of fertility rate between the two was significant.
The inter-foaling period for the additional post-partum days corresponding to each
group is given in Table III.
136
REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN DONKEYS [Vol. XXVII, Part IV,
TABLE III
Length of the post-partum breeding interval and its effect on the reproductive efficiency
in donkey mares
Post-partum breeding
interval
0—39
40—79
80—119
120—159
160—199
200—239
240—279
280—319
320—359
360—399
400—439
440—479
480—519
520—559
560 and above
TOTAL
No. of
first
services
296
131
62
36
23
16
7
7
5
10
1
4
3
2
11
614
No. of
conceptions
649
219
132
63
44
31
7
7
5
12
2
5
3
2
11
1192
No. of
total
services
270
115
53
33
23
15
4
4
3
9
1
4
3
1
11
549
Services
per
conception
2.4
1.9
2.5
1.9
1.9
2.1
1.8
1.8
1.7
1.3
2.0
1.2
10
2.0
1.0
..
Inter-foaling
period
511.9±12.4
494.6±11.6
520.4±13.4
528.6±12.2
559.4±15.3
636.1±41.8
641.5±15.5
648.8±34.8
714.0±6.8
710.0±19.1.
789.0± ..
850.5±16.7
885.7±13.0
2993.0± ..
1325.4±104.3
..
It was observed (Table IV) that the foaling percentage throughout the year did
not vary from month to month.
December, 1957]
M. L.
KOHLI
AND
K.
R.
SURI
137
TABLE IV
Effect of the month of the year on fertility in the donkey mares
Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
No. of cases
served
75
117
88
123
129
128
120
98
91
76
60
87
No. of foalings
37
53
39
54
58
63
51
42
43
39
29
41
Fertility
percentage
49.3
45.3
44.3
43.9
45.0
49.2
42.5
42.9
47.2
51.3
48.3
47.1
The maximum post-partum interval for the fertile service was 173.17±21.53
days at fourth foaling and minimum of 129.04±36.20 days at the seventh foaling
(Table V). The intervals for the ninth foaling and above were not taken into con-
sideration as the number of cases were few. The average period for fertile service
was 162.49±6.67days.
TABLE V
Number of services and the post-partum interval for different foalings in the
donkey mares
Sequence of foaling
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
No. of
conception
122
115
90
97
59
38
25
12
9
2
Service per
conception
1.8
1.9
2.1
1.9
1.7
1.8
1.6
1.7
2.2
4.0
Per cent services
resulting in con-
ception
55.2±0.03
56.0±0.03
48.7±0.04
5l.7±0.04
60.8±0.05
56.9±0.06
62.5±0.09
57.1 ±0.11
45.0±0.11
25.0±0.18
Average post-partum
interval for fertile
services (days)
173.91±12.82
168.79±14.65
160.51±17.25
173.17±21.53
141.97±16.87
132.82±18 89
129.04±36.20
137.83±46.55
214.22±66.65
295.00±7.00
28 AR/57
5
138
REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN DONKEYS
[Vol. XXVII. Part IV
DISCUSSION
The results of this study indicated that the average fertility rate of 47.2 per cent
differ from the results reported by Jordao [1951] who obtained the average concep-
tion rate of 57.1 per cent in his study of 43 she-asses during the year 1939 to 1949.
The average number of services required per conception was 2.1 which was lower
when compared to the findings of Korolikov [1952] who got 2.2 to 2.4 and 6.4 ser-
vices per conception for the majority of mares that foaled from March to May and
for July respectively. The percentage of conception of donkey mares bred during
foal-heat was lower than those bred during non-foal heats which is in agreement with
the observations of Williams [1926], Caslicks [1937] and Jennings [1941]. This low
fertility rate may possibly be due to the incomplete involution of the uterus during
the foal heat period. No period for sexual rest was observed as reported by Nishi-
kawa [1949].
SUMMARY
A study of 694 foalings of 128 donkey mares during the period from 1916 to 1954
showed that:
The services required per conception and the fertility rate for the first foaling did
not differ significantly from the post-partum foalings.
A mean of 2.1 services was required per conception and the average fertility rate
of the stud was 47.2 per cent.
The conception rate of foal heat was poorer than those bred at later dates.
Fertility rate was highest for the period between 40-79 days after foaling.
The foaling percentage did not vary from month to month.
The average post-partum period for fertile service was 162.49±6.67 days.
REFERENCES
Caslicks, E. A. (1937). The sexual cycle and its relation to ovulation with breeding records of the
thorough bred mare. Cornell Vet. 27 : 187-206
Jennings, W. F. (1941). Some common problems in horse breeding. Cornell Vet. 31: 197-216
Jordao, L. P., Xavier D Camargo, M., and Furtado Gonveia, P. (1951). The reproductive efficiency
of Brazillian asses at the Sao Paulo Stud. Industr. Anim., N. S., 12 : 82-93 An. Br. Abst. 20(4),
312
Korolikov, A. G. (1952). Reproduction indices in relation to dates of foaling of mares under taboon
conditions. Konevodstvo, 22 (6): 30-32. An. Br. Abst., 20(4): 312
Nishikawa, Y. and Yamasaki. Y. (1949). Studies on reproduction in asses. Jap. J. Zootech. Sci.
19 : 119-123. An. Br. Abst., 18(4): 368
Stevenson, W. G. (1945). The comparative fertility of mares bred at foal and non-foal heat. Canad.
J. Comp. Med. 9: 126.130
Williams, W.L. (1950). The diseases of the genital organs of domestic animals. 3rd Ed. Ithaoa. N. Y.
Wagenar. G. (1948). Fertility in horses. Tijdschr.. Diergeneesk. 73: 933-936. An. Br. Abst.,
17(1): 17
COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF A NORMAL AND HIGH-
PROTEIN RATION WITH AND WITHOUT "AUROFAC" 1
UPON GROWTH RATE OF CHICKS
By ALEX REED2 and JOHN, G. VELU 3 , Department of Animal Husbandry, Allahabad
Agricultural Institute, Allahabad, U. P
[Received for publication on June 11, 1957
Accepted for publication on August 3, 1957]
I T is rather generally agreed that the addition of aureomycin and vitamin B 12
to normal rations or rations with less than the normal amount of protein will
increase the growth rate of chicks to eight weeks of age. Berg et al. [1950], Scott and
Glista [1950], Biely and March [1951], Stockstadt and Jukes [1951], Heuser and
Norris [1952] and Macklin et al. [1952] reported that aureomycin exerted a definite
stimulating effect upon growth when fed to chicks with rations containing normal
or below normal amounts of protein. These results were observed outside India.
Bose et al. [1955] feeding vitamin B 2 and bacitracin to chicks on a normal ration
common in India, obtained increased growth to eight weeks of age. Reed and Velu
[1955] feeding aureomycin and vitamin B 12 with a ration containing 22 per cent
total protein obtained a significant increase in growth rate of chicks to six weeks of
age. Most of the work reported on the use of antibiotics and vitamin B 12 was
done with rations containing normal or below normal amounts of protein with the
main objective to save costly protein supplement.
With the relative prices of maize and groundnut cake in many areas of India
favouring the increased use of groundnut cake for cheaper rations, evidence was
needed as to the effects upon the growth rate of chicks of a high-protein ration con-
taining a high proportion of groundnut cake. Ewing [1951] in reviewing numerous
experiments on the determination of the optimum protein level for chicks, con-
cluded that about 21 per cent is the best during the first twelve weeks but that there
was evidence to indicate that higher levels of protein were not injurious and might be
beneficial. Also in reportirg work of Milne [1932] it was stated that he obtained
excellent growth with chicks fed diets containing 22.5 and 30.5 per cent protein
during the first six weeks. Biely et al. [1952] and Scott et al. [1952] reported that
aureomycin did not lower the dietary level of protein required by chicks but im-
proved growth more at protein levels below the normal requirement.
1 Commercial product containing 1.8 grams aureomycin and 1.8 milligrams vitamin B 12 per
pound.
2 Professor, University of Illinois, College of Agriculture assigned to the Allahabad Agriculture
Institute for Research in animal nutrition.
3 Member of staff
Department
of
Animal Husbandry,
Agricultural Institute,
Allahabad, U. P.
139
28 AR/57
6
140
EFFECT
OP
AUROFAC
[Vol. XXVII, Part IV,
With the present economic relationship between maize and groundnut cake
favouring the use of ration containing higher proportions of groundnut cake than
are normally used it was considered desirable to investigate the effects of such a
ration upon chicks when fed with and without " Aurofac".
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
One-hundred-eighty Rhode Island Red day-old chicks, obtained from the
Government Poultry Farm, Ganjeria, Lucknow, were randomly divided into 20
groups of nine ch cks each. The groups were randomly assigned to wire cages.
Brooding heat was provided by sixty watt electric light lamps suspended in each cage.
The groups were rotated in a systematic order from one cage to another each week
in order to eliminate possible position advantage. Feed and water were supplied
ad libitum. Feed remaining each day was weighed back and not offered again.
Records of weekly weight, mortality and feed consumption were kept. Weight of
individual chicks was recorded at the beginning and close of the project.
Ten groups of chicks chosen randomly were given diet No. 1 and the other
ten groups were given diet No. 2 as shown in Table I. Five groups on diet No. 1
and five groups on diet No. 2 chosen randomly, received the basal diets plus 9 grams
aureomycin and 9 milligrams vitamin B 12 per ton of ration (Aurofac at rate of
5 pounds per ton).
TABLE I
Composition of basal diets: Trial No. 1
Ingredients
Ground yellow maize
Wheat bran
Groundnut cake
Fishmeal
Sterilised bonemeal
Lucerne leaf meal
Limestone
Salt
Shark-liver oil
Manganese sulfate
Dried skim milk 1
Total protein (N.×6.25) 2
Average cost per 100 pounds
Diet
No. 1
44 per cent
10 per cent
36 per cent
5 per cent
2 per cent
1 per cent
1 per cent
0.5 per cent
0.5 per cent
5 oz. per ton
4 lb. per hundred
22.37 per cent
Rs.13/2/6
No. 2
20 per cent
10 per cent
60 per cent
5 per cent
2 per cent
1 per cent
1 per cent
0.5 per cent
0.5 per cent
5 oz. per ton
4 lb. per hundred
30.56 per cent
Rs.12/1/0
1 From the fourth to seventh week, dried skim milk was added to all diets at the rate of 4 pounds
per 100 pounds of ration.
2 Determination made by Chemistry Department, Allahabad Agricultural Institute.
December. 1957]
ALEX
REED
AND
JOHN
G.
VELU
141
Early in the third week a few chicks began to show symptoms of curled toe
paralysis. The first to be affected were in the groups receiving "high-protein"
with Aurofac. Within two days some chicks in groups on rations without Aurofac
showed similar symptoms. The most rapid growing chicks were the first to show
signs of deficiency. Re-examination of our basic ration showed a possible deficiency
of riboflavin. To correct the deficiency, dried skim milk was added to all diets at
the rate of four pounds per hundred pounds of feed. Within a few days most of the
affected chicks made a complete recovery. A small number did not recover com-
pletely although they showed considerable improvement. These were apparently
too seriously affected before the skim milk was added to the ration. This trial was
conducted from January 24 to March 13, 1956.
To test the effectiveness of a high-protein ration similar to the one used in trial
No. 1, modified to correct apparent deficiencies, a second trial was conducted.
Since the more serious difficulties in Trial No.1 were in the groups receiving high-
protein with Aurofac, only two rations were used in Trial No. 2 both of which con-
tained Aurofac.
Trial No. 2.
Eighty-day old White Leghorn chicks from one hatching at the Agricultural
Institute were randomly divided into eight groups of ten chicks each. These groups
were randomly assigned to wire cages. Four groups were randomly assigned to
ration diet No. 1 and four groups to diet No. 2 (Table II). The groups were rotated
in a systematic order from one cage to another each week to eliminate any possible
position advantage. The experiment extended from March 21 to May 2, 1956. Feed
and water were given ad libitum, to all groups and a small amount of greens was
offered daily.
TABLE II
Composition of diets used (Trial No. 2)
Ingredients
Ground yellow maize
Wheat bran
Groundnut cake
Fishmeal
Dried skim milk
Lucerne leaf meal
Sterilized bonemeal
Lime stone
Salt
Shark-liver oil
Manganese sulfate
Aurofac (aureomycin, vitamin B 12 )
Total protein (N×6.25)
Diet
No.1
42 per cent
8 per cent
34 per cent
5 per cent
4 per cent
3 per cent
2 per cent
1 per cent
0.5 per cent
0.5 per cent
5 oz. per ton
4 oz.
23.4 per cent
No. 2
18 per cent
8 per cent
58 per cent
5 per cent
4 per cent
3 per cent
2 per cent
1 per cent
0.5 per cent
0.5 per cent
5 oz. per ton
4 oz.
31.6 per cent
*Determination made by Chemistry Department of Allahabad Agricultural Institute.
142
EFFECT OF AUROFAC
[Vol. XXVII, Part IV,
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A summary of the data obtained on rate of growth and gain per pound feed fed in
Trial No. 1 is shown in Table III. When fed with the 'normal-protein' ration
Aurofac gave a highly significant increase in growth rate of chicks to six weeks of
age and an increase which was significant at the .02 per cent level of probability at
seven weeks. When fed with the 'high-protein' ration, Aurofac gave a highly signi-
ficant increase in growth rate with chicks to four weeks of age. After four weeks,
feeding Aurofac gave no significant growth stimulus with the 'high-protein' ration.
TABLE III
Effect of "normal" and "high-protein" rations with and without Aurofac upon rate
of growth and feed efficiency of Rhode Island Red chicks up to seven weeks of age
Protein Aurofac pp/cwt.
22.37
22.37
30-56
30.56
22.37
30.56
0
0.25
0
0.25
0
0
Average weight at indicated period
(g. m.)
Start
38.9(45)
39.0(45)
38.2(45)
38.7(45)
38.9(45)
38.2(45)
2 wks.
66.3
76.6 a
76.9
89.9 a
66.3
76.9 a
4 wks.
129.7
165.3 a
174.7
207.3 a
129.7
174.7 a
6 wks.
280.0
363.1 a
355.0
367.6
280.0
355.0 a
7 wks.
354.4(34)
449.2(41) b
439.4(39)
437.5(40)
354.4
439.4 b
Feed per
lb. gain
(lb.)
5.00
4.15
4.05
( ) Indicates number of chicks.
a-P
.01
b-P
.02
c-P
.05
Significance determined by "t" test. (Snedecor 1946).
The 'high-protein' ration without Aurofac gave a highly significant increase in
growth rate over the 'norma-Iprotein' ration to six weeks of age. The difference in
weight at seven weeks was significantly higher for the chicks receiving the high-
protein ration.
The 'high-protein' ration with Aurofac gave a highly significant increase in growth
rate over the 'normal-protein' ration with Aurofac for the first four weeks of feeding.
There was no significant difference in the sixth and seventh weeks.
Analysis of variance of average weight of twenty pens of Rhode Island Red chicks at
seven weeks of age
Factor
Total
Treatment
Groups
Error
Degrees
freedom
19
3
4
12
Sum of
squares
63,817.4
27,933.4
5,979.1
29,903.9
Variance*
9,311.1*
1,494.8
2,491.9
*F= 3.736 < Sig. *05 level.