T. Veena’s research while affiliated with Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University and other places

The present study was conducted to establish the base line hematological values in Malnad Gidda cattle during winter and summer seasons under the agro-climatic condition of Western Ghats of Karnataka. Thirty healthy Malnad Gidda cattle divided into five groups based on age, sex and lactation. The mean values of TEC, Hb, PCV, ESR, TLC and eosinophil per cent were significantly (P>0.05) higher in adult animals than young animals in both sexes. But, MCV was significantly (P>0.05) higher in young compared to adult animals. The mean values of MCH, MCHC, neutrophil, basophil, monocyte and lymphocyte per cent did not vary significantly among the age groups and among the gender. The mean values of all the above parameters between sexes within age groups and between the seasons were not significantly different. The established hematological values in present study could be used as reference values in Malnad Gidda breed reared under similar climatic and environmental conditions.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of pregnant cow urine, known to contain estrogen, on follicular dynamics in female Wistar albino rats. The rats were reared from twenty day of age for 60 days in four groups consisting of six rats in each group. First trimester pregnant cow urine and last trimester pregnant cow urine was administered at a dose of 15 ml/ kg b.w to Group III and Group IV respectively. Group II was administered with 15 ml / kg b.w of non pregnant cow urine where as Group I was administered with distilled water which served as control. Significant advancement in the mean age of attainment of puberty was observed in the Group IV compared to other groups and the average number of surface follicles in left ovary was significantly high in Group IV compared to Group I and Group II. These results were indicative of positive effect of estrogenic compounds present in pregnant cows urine on folliculogenesis in rats.

A study was undertaken with the objective of making an insight in to the changes with respect to the level of certain metabolites in non pregnant and pregnant Bannur ewes which are indicative of their nutritional status and physiological well being. Eighteen Bannur ewes maintained under identical managemental conditions in a semi-intensive rearing farm which were of two to four years of age are categorized in to three groups, comprising of six animals in each group, such as non pregnant (Group I), early pregnant (Group II, at 20 to 35 days of pregnancy) and late pregnant (Group III, at 105 to 120 days of pregnancy) ewes based upon ultrasound imaging technique. The metabolites such as serum levels of β-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, total protein, blood urea nitrogen and lipid profile components were determined at 0, 7 and 15th day of sample collection. The biochemical parameters did not vary significantly (P>0.05) between the groups except for the glucose levels which were significantly (P<0.05) lower in Group III compared to Group I and Group II. It was concluded that, all the parameters studied in Bannur breed of ewes during non pregnancy, early pregnancy and late pregnancy were within the normal reference range described for sheep and it was suggestive that none of the ewes in the present study suffered from any kind of metabolic disorders.

The present study was performed to evaluate the possible antioxidant potentials of Fenugreek seeds and Turmeric rhizome on diet induced hyperlipidemic rats. Hyperlipidemic rat models were created by gavaging the rats with high fat diet made up dalda (vanaspathy) and coconut oil at the dose rate of 10 ml/kg body weight for four weeks. Hyperlipidemic rats were thereafter kept on normal diet and gavaged with Fenugreek seeds (2 to 4 g/kg body weight) and turmeric rhizome (200 to 400mg/kg body weight) powder for four weeks. Hyperlipidemic rats fed with normal diet were used as positive control. It was observed that treatments significantly inhibited levels of TBARS in hyperlipidemic rats. In addition, the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were augmented after herbal supplement. Histopathological examination of the liver and kidney showed fewer lesions in the hyperlipidemic rats treated with herbs compared with control hyperlipidemic rats. The results suggest that fenugreek seeds and turmeric rhizome would be effective in improving the antioxidant levels.

The present study was performed to evaluate the possible antioxidant potentials of Fenugreek seeds and Turmeric rhizome on diet induced hyperlipidemic rats. Hyperlipidemic rat models were created by gavaging the rats with high fat diet made up dalda (vanaspathy) and coconut oil at the dose rate of 10 ml/kg body weight for four weeks. Hyperlipidemic rats were thereafter kept on normal diet and gavaged with Fenugreek seeds (2 to 4 g/kg body weight) and turmeric rhizome (200 to 400mg/kg body weight) powder for four weeks. Hyperlipidemic rats fed with normal diet were used as positive control. It was observed that treatments significantly inhibited levels of TBARS in hyperlipidemic rats. In addition, the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were augmented after herbal supplement. Histopathological examination of the liver and kidney showed fewer lesions in the hyperlipidemic rats treated with herbs compared with control hyperlipidemic rats. The results suggest that fenugreek seeds and turmeric rhizome would be effective in improving the antioxidant levels.

A study was carried out to determine the estradiol-17β levels in the follicular fluid in relation to the size of ovarian antral follicles in Ankamali pigs. The ovaries were collected from apparently healthy, non pregnant and cyclic Ankamali pigs in the age group of 2 to 5 years which were brought for slaughtering at civil meat processing and production centre, Frazer town, Bangalore during the months of February to May, 2010. The surface antral follicles on the ovaries were classified into three groups on the basis of their diameter, viz., Group I (small, <3 mm), Group II (medium, 3-6.9 mm) and Group III (large, 7-12 mm). Follicular fluid was aspirated and pooled separately from these three groups of follicles, centrifuged and the supernatant was stored at -20 °C until used for estimation of estradiol-17β levels by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The results of the present study revealed that the estradiol-17β levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the large follicles (13.87 ± 0.32 ng/ ml) compared to small follicles (11.13 ± 0.61 ng/ml). But, the estradiol-17β levels in the medium follicles (12.83 ± 0.43 ng/ml) differed non-significantly when compared with small and large follicles. It was concluded that the levels of estradiol-17β in the ovarian follicular fluid of Ankamali pig increases with the size of follicles.

One day old commercial Cobb - 400 broiler chicks consisting of twenty unsexed birds in each group were administered from day one to 42 in drinking water with prebiotic (Lactose @ 2.5 %, Group II), probiotic (Lactobacillus acidopholus @ 0.1%, Group III), their combination (Lactose @ 2.5% plus Lactobacillus acidophilus @ 0.1%, GroupIV) and commercial product G-Probiotic Spl (R) (containing five species of probiotic organisms, three digestive enzymes and liver extract, @ 0.05% in the fed, Group V) to evaluate growth performance on day 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. The control group received only the basal diet (Group I). There was non-significant difference in body weight gain between different groups on day 7. On day 14, 21, 35 and 42, the gain in mean body weights in the prebiotic and probiotic supplemented groups increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to control group. The finishing body weights on 42(nd) day of observation were 1814 +/- 19.40, 2015 +/- 43.54, 2073 +/- 21.97, 2058 +/- 29.46 and 2027 +/- 33.12 grams in Group I, II, III, IV and V, respectively. There was significantly (P < 0.05) improved feed conversion ratio in all the treatment groups on day 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 compared to control. The significant improvements in body weight gain and feed conversion ratio could be possibly due to achievement of physiological well being which is attributed to various mechanisms of action of prebiotic and or probiotics such as competitive exclusion of pathogenic organisms, better absorption of minerals, secretion of digestive enzymes, enhanced nutrient digestion, improvement in immune status, source of nutrients, production of antibiotic substances and release of unidentified growth factors. It was concluded that the prebiotics and probiotics could be used as physiological growth promoters in broiler chickens.