Veterinary World

N. Sheoran ¹, R. Kumar ¹, A. Kumar ¹, K. Batra ², S. Sihag ¹, S. Maan ², N. S. Maan ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Sciences, LLR University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar-125004, Haryana, IN
2 Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Sciences, LLR University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar-125004, Haryana, IN

Abstract

Aim: In this study, a planned research work was conducted to investigate the nutrigenomic aspects of supplementation of Allium sativum (garlic) and Ocimum sanctum (holy basil) leaf powder on the growth performance and immune characteristics of broilers.
Materials and Methods: A 6 weeks feeding trial was conducted with 280-day-old Ven Cobb broilers, distributed randomly into seven experimental groups. Each treatment had 4 replicates with 10 birds each. The birds of the control group (T₁) were fed a basal diet formulated as per BIS standards. The broilers of treatment groups T₂ and T₃ were fed basal diet supplemented with the commercially available garlic powder (GP) at levels of 0.5% and 1.0% of the feed, respectively, while broilers in T₄ and T₅ were fed basal diet supplemented with commercial grade holy basil leaf powder (HBLP) at levels 0.5% and 1.0% of the feed, respectively. Birds in the T₆ were fed with 0.5% GP and 0.5% HBLP, whereas T₇ was fed with 1.0% GP and 1.0% HBLP. At the end of the feeding trial (6th week), blood samples were collected and analyzed for relative mRNA expression of toll-like receptors (TLR) 2, TLR 4 and TLR 7 using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results: The mean body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were improved (p<0.05) in broilers fed the GP and HBLP incorporated diets compared with the control group. The relative mRNA expression levels of TLR 2, TLR 4 and TLR 7 in the peripheral blood of the broilers were found to be increased (p<0.05) in the birds supplemented with graded levels of the GP and HBLP as compared to the untreated group.
Conclusion: The present work concludes that the inclusion of GP and HBLP could enhance the production performance and immune status of birds by augmenting the T-cell mediated immune response and thereby protects them from disease without decreasing growth traits as a possible substitution to conventional antimicrobials.

Keywords

Broilers, Garlic, Gene Expression, Holy Basil, Toll-Like Receptors.

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S. Mahmood ¹, A. Kumar ², R. Singh ³, M. Sarkar ⁴, G. Singh ⁴, M. R. Verma ⁵, G. V. P. P. S. R. Kumar ⁶

Affiliations
1 Division of Animal Reproduction, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar-243122, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, IN
2 Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar-243122, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, IN
3 Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar-243122, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, IN
4 Division of Physiology and Climatology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar-243122, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, IN
5 Division of Livestock Economics and Statistics, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar-243122, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, IN
6 Division of Biotechnology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar-243122, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of scrotal circumference (SC) with plasma testosterone, seminal vesicles (SVs) weight, and its secretion as measurable indicators of fertility and also to sequence and establish phylogenetic relatedness of certain SV protein genes with other species as such integrated approach is lacking.

Materials and Methods: Altogether, 59 apparently healthy male buffaloes sacrificed at slaughterhouse were selected (irrespective of breed) for measuring SC and collecting blood and paired SVs. The SC was measured at greater curvature using soft thread. In the present study, blood plasma testosterone, cholesterol, protein, and glucose in addition to SV fructose, citric acid and proteins in SV fluid were also estimated. The SV tissue was fixed in RNA later for RNA extraction.Male buffaloes were categorized as per total SV weight into Group I (<5.0 g), Group II (5.0-7.84 g), and Group III (>8.0 g) and dentitions-I (≤18 months), II (18-24 months), and III (≥24 months) to assess the effect of weight and dentition age on SC, SV weight, and its certain secretions. Data were analyzed using linear model procedure including Tukey HSD test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Variance inflation and condition index were also used to assess multicollinearity.

Results: Gross and histomorphological evaluation of SVs did not show any abnormality. Macronutrients (plasma protein, glucose, and cholesterol) showed non-significant (p>0.05) variation between groups. The SC and SV weight varied significantly (p<0.05) with a significant positive relationship with plasma testosterone, SV protein, fructose, and citric acid. In addition, testosterone concentration also showed increasing trend from Groups I to III but increased significantly (p<0.05) from Group II to III with positive and significant correlations with SV protein, fructose, and citric acid similar to SV weight and SC. Binders of sperm protein (BSP1, 3, and 5) genes (full length) were sequenced and established an evolutionary relationship which is lacking in buffalo.

Conclusion: The present findings established a significant positive correlation of SC with that of other fertility parameters related to SVs weight and its secretions: Fructose, citric acid, and protein (inclusive of BSPs sequenced full length), and testosterone. Therefore, the present integrated approach along with certain semen quality attributes reflecting epididymis function could be used as a predictive fertility marker for grading and selection of breeding bulls and their progenies to develop outstanding bull mother farm.

Keywords

Male Buffalo, Morphology, Scrotal Circumference, Seminal Vesicles, Sequencing, Testosterone.

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