June 2011

Discovery of soft bodied metazoans and microphytofossils from the Mesoproterozoic sediments of Vindhyan Supergroup, India

An assemblage of microbial remains consisting two types of preservations are being recorded for the first time from the phosphoritic chert intercalated in Tirohan Limestone (Rohtas Limestone Formation) of Semri Group, Vindhyan Supergroup, exposed in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh. The uniquely preserved, cryptic forms are multicellular, bilaterally symmetrical, monoecious, cylindrical elongated coiled body with clitellum...

Author(s): Veeru Kant Singh, Rupendra Babu, Prabhat Kumar and Manoj Shukla†

June 2011

Genetic and environmental trends in the long-term dairy cattle genetic improvement programmes in the central tropical highlands of Ethiopia

A total of 1979 lactation records from 550 selected crossbred dairy cows that born between 1974 and 2005 were used to estimate annual genetic and environmental trends in milk production and reproduction traits at Holetta Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. Annual genetic and environmental trends were estimated by regressing BLUP estimated breeding value on year of birth. Variance components and genetic parameters...

Author(s): Kefena Effa, Zewdie Wondatir, Tadelle Dessie and Aynalem Haile

June 2011

Influence of biometric characteristics and gender on serum IgM in the Benni, Barbus sharpeyi Gunther, 1874 (Osteichthyes: Cyprinidae)

IgM is the only known immunoglobulin in fishes with an important role in immune responses. This study was done to evaluate serum IgM level in Barbus sharpeyi and to study the influence of weight, length and sex on it. IgM value was determined in the serum of 42 male and female B. sharpeyi (Benni) fish using RIA method. Fish came from Dashte azadegan fish farm at the southwest of Iran. The mean value...

Author(s): M. Ansari, M. Khodadadi, R. Peyghan and M. Raissy

June 2011

Comparative assessment of in-vitro anthelmintic effects of the aqueous extracts of the seeds and leaves of the African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) on bovine nematode eggs

The effects of the aqueous extracts of seeds and leaves of the African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) on the viability of the eggs of cattle gastrointestinal helminthes was evaluated in cattle in vitro. The faecal egg counts (FEC) was determined using the modified McMaster technique. The seed extracts produced maximum inhibition of the hatchability of the helminth eggs at 0.3, 0.7 and 1.2 ml while the leave...

Author(s): Soetan K. O., Lasisi O. T. and Agboluaje A. K.