Browsing by Author "Rajan, M R"

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    Evaluation of porcine immune responses among different genetic groups
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Jeeeba K George; Rajan, M R
    Porcine immune responses were evaluated using PHA skin test and microhaemolytic assay in this study. Investigation was undertaken in three genetic groups namely Desi, Large White Yorkshire and Duroc x Large White Yorkshire. The economic traits studied were birth weight, litter size at birth, weaning litter size and weaning body weight. The cell-mediated immune response was assessed by noting cutaneous response to intradermal injection of phytohaemagglutinin. Humoral immune response was assessed by noting antibody response to sheep red blood cells. Correlation of immune response with growth, disease occurrence and mortality among the littermates were also evaluated. The highest birth weight, body weight at weaning, litter size at birth and weaning were recorded in Duroc x Large White Yorkshire, medium in Large White Yorkshire and least in Desi. The increase in skin thickness at 24, 48 and 72 hour post- injection of PHA-M was highest in Desi, medium in Duroc x Large White Yorkshire and least in Large White Yorkshire. The correlations of cutaneous response to phytohaemagglutinin with pre- weaning mortality among littermates and enteritis were found to be non-significant in Desi, Large White Yorkshire and Duroc x Large White Yorkshire piglets. Among three genetic groups, serum samples from Desi piglets had a higher mean antibody titre on 7th, 14th, 21st day than the other two. Medium titre was noted in Duroc x Large White Yorkshire and least in Large White Yorkshire. Sire effect was highly significant with antibody response on seventh, fourteenth and 21st day post inoculation. The correlations of antibody response to sheep RBC with pre- weaning mortality among littermates and enteritis were also found to be non-significant in Desi, Large White Yorkshire and Duroc x Large White Yorkshire piglets. The effects of sires within Desi, Large White Yorkshire and Duroc x Large White Yorkshire were found to be highly significant (P<0.01) on antibody response to sheep RBC on 7th, 14th and 21st day. Different litter traits had no significant effect on cutaneous response to PHA-M and antibody response to sheep RBC. High heritabilities were estimated for pre-injection skin thickness, cutaneous response to PHA-M at 24, 48, 72 hour post-injection and antibody response to sheep red blood cells on 7th, 14th, 21st day post- inoculation. Correlations of antibody response to sheep RBC on 14th day with cutaneous response to phytohaemagglutinin at 24 hour and 48 hour were found to be non-significant. Antibody response to sheep RBC on 21st day correlated non-significantly with cutaneous response to PHA-M at 24 hour and 48 hour. Antibody response to sheep RBC on 7th, 14th and 21st day associated non-significantly with weaning body weight and pre-weaning mortality. Even though correlations were non-significant, they revealed a negative trend. The association between cutaneous response to PHA-M at 24 hour and birth weight was non-significant.
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    Genetic and environmental factors influencing growth rate and body weights up to six months in Malabari goat
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Jithendrakumar, K B; Rajan, M R
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    Genetic evaluation of litter traits and viability of desi pigs
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Kowsigaraj, P; Rajan, M R
    In a six month study ninety six Desi piglets born in the same period and year were observed for evaluation of certain litter traits, association of gammaglobulin with incidence of disease symptoms and morphological differences based on body measurements. The average birth weight, weaning weight, litter size at birth and weaning, litter weight at birth and weaning were 0.827 ± 0.020 kg, 6.36 ± 0.156 kg, 8 ± 0.520, 6 ± 0.325, 6.621 ± 0.477 kg and 38.160 ± 2.48 kg, respectively. Influence of different factors on birth and weaning weight were worked out by Least squares analysis of variance. The pre-weaning mortality was 25.865 ± 3.107 per cent. The mortality percentage was worked out with respect to birth weight and the causes for the mortality were recorded based on post mortem findings. Maximum mortality occurred in piglets with 0.5 kg weight and below at birth. Gastro-enteritis and pneumonia were found to be the common causes ofpre-weaning mortality. The body weights and body measurements up to 180 days were recorded at monthly intervals. The average body weight at sixth month of age was 25.670 ± 0.250 kg. Maximum growth rate was found from the fourth to sixth month. Body weights and body measurements were positively correlated at all ages. The post- weaning body weight was most influenced by body length. The total body surface area of Desi and Large White Yorkshire pigs were computed by dividing the body into different geometrical figures. Desi pigs excelled the Large White Yorkshire in surface area per kg body weight and the difference was significant (Pgarnmaglobulin was estimated by Zinc Sulphate Turbidity Test and the factors influencing its level were determined by Least squares analysis of variance. Sire, litter size and incidence of diarrhoea had significant (P<0.05) association with serum gammaglobulin level. Serum gammaglobulin level was positively correlated with post-weaning body weights.
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    Porcine immuno response as marker traits for selective breeding
    (Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2002) Rajan, M R; Raghunandanan, K V
    Survivability and better performance of pigs under tropical stress have been reported to be significantly influenced by immune responses. Immune response -traits under genetic control offer potential possibilities for exploited in commercial pig production. The present research project on the utilisation of porcine immune responses by estimating the magnitude of humoral and cell' mediated immune responses in Desi and Large White Yorkshire attempted to evaluate the genetics of immune responses and to identify the association between the immune response traits and economic traits. The immune response traits were studied in 150 piglets aged between two to three months, 75 each belonging to Desi and Large White Yorkshire of both sexes and sired by eight sires each. The immune response traits studied were antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) to intradermal injection of PHA-M and lymphocyte transformation response to BCG. The economic traits recorded were litter size at birth, litter weight at birth, litter size at weaning, litter weight at weaning, weaning mortality and the occurrence of diarrhoea and pneumonia. Naturally occurring antibodies to SRBC could not be detected in both the breeds. Peak antibody response to SRBC was obtained at day 7 post immunisation with a mean titre of 4.830. Heritability estimates of antibody response to SRBC were 0.8969 ± 0.4235, 0.9187 ± 0.4893 and 0.8174 ± 0.4893 respectively at 7th day, 15th day and 21st day post- immunisation. Litter size at birth and weaning had no significant influence on antibody response. Similarly, antibody response to SRBC among piglets was not influenced by the incidence of diarrhoea, pneumonia and pre-weaning mortality to a significant level. DTH responses to intradermal injection of PHA peaked at 24 hours post injection with a mean value of3.39 mm. The mean pre injection skin thickness was 3.508 mm and 3.012 mm among Large white Yorkshire and Desi pigs respectively. This difference was found to be significant (P<0.05) and this difference was due to the significant breed difference confounding with body weight classes. The effect of breed on PHA responses at 24, 48 and 72 hours were not significant. Sex of the pig also did not influence the PHA responses significantly. The body weight classes did not influence the DTH response to PHA significantly. Sire effect was not significant on the pre injection skin thickness. But the DTH response at 24 hours was influenced by the sires in both Large White Yorkshire and Desi pigs to a highly significant level (P