The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of varying levels of chromium propionate on blood biochemistry and growth performance of broilers (1–35 days). Five diets were formulated by using chromium propionate with inclusion levels of 0, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 ppb. A total of 300 broilers were divided into 5 groups with 6 replicates of 10 birds in each under completely randomized design. The starter feed intake remained unaffected (p > 0.05) whereas finisher and overall feed intake was different (p < 0.05) among different experimental groups. Feed conversion ratio and weight gain in starter, finisher and overall improved significantly (p < 0.05) with the increasing levels of chromium propionate. Blood glucose was decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary chromium level. Chromium supplementation did not affect antibodies titers against NDV and AIV-H9. Neither live, hilal, after skin removal, eviscerated, chest weight and legs with shanks weight nor liver and heart weights were affected (p > 0.05) while gizzard weight reduced significantly (p < 0.05) due to supplementation of chromium. On the basis of results, it may be concluded that chromium propionate supplementation improved weight gain and FCR and reduced blood glucose. However, better performance and weight gain may be achieved if chromium propionate is added at the rate of 400 ppb in broiler diets.

The aim of the present study was the validation of the already reported Bos taurus SNPs in the Sahiwal breed. A total of nine SNPs of the casein gene were studied. Out of nine, seven Bos taurus SNPs of casein protein genes were found to be significantly associated with milk productivity traits. The genomic DNA was extracted from the mammary alveolar endothelial cells of a flock of 80 purebred Sahiwal lactating dams available at Khizrabad Farm near Sargodha. New allele-specific primers were designed from the NCBI annotated sequence database of Bos taurus to obtain 100 nt-long PCR products. Each dam was tested separately for all the SNPs investigated. Animals with genotype GG for the SNPs rs43703010, rs10500451, and 110323127, respectively, exhibited high milk yield. Similarly, animals with genotype AA for the SNPs rs11079521, rs43703016, and rs43703017 showed high milk yield consistently. For the SNP rs43703015, animals with genotype CC showed high milk productivity. These above-mentioned SNPs have previously been reported to significantly up-regulate casein protein contents in Bos taurus. Our results indicated SNPs that significantly affect the milk protein contents may also significantly increase per capita milk yield. These finding suggest that the above-mentioned reported SNPs can also be used as genetic markers of milk productivity in Sahiwal cattle.

The present study was designed primarily for the investigation of tick infestation in three districts (Sargodha, Khushab and Attock) of Punjab, Pakistan. Ticks are arachnids responsible for major economic losses in livestock industry. Anemia, abortion, anorexia, irritation and depression due to tick infestation is not only a problem for livestock sector but ticks are also responsible for the spread of various bacterial, protozoal and viral diseases. Tick infestation in animals have also public health significance as many zoonotic diseases are also spread by ticks. Ticks can act both mechanical and biological vectors. Main objective of the present study was the isolation and identification of different tick species infesting domestic animals in Sargodha, Khushab and Attock districts. Ticks were collected from 2148 animals including cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, horses and dogs out of total 4950 animals inspected from three districts. Overall prevalence of tick infestation among these animals was calculated to be 43.39%. Highest prevalence of tick infestation with 44.18% was observed in Attock. Cattle with the prevalence of 54.13% were the most infested animals in all three districts whereas lowest prevalence of tick infestation was observed in horses with prevalence rate of 10.67%. Sheep and goats showed almost similar prevalence rates of 44.90% and 45.97% respectively. 11.65% of dogs were found to be infested with ticks in present study. Five species of ticks namely, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhiphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Riphicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, Rhiphicephalus sanguneus and Hemaphysalis spp. were identified morphologically. Most prevalent specie among these five was the Hyalomma anatolicum with the prevalence of 42.18%. High prevalence of Hyalomma anatolicumwas observed in Sargodha. Lowest identification rate of Hemaphysalis spp. was observed in all three districts with the prevalence of 4.59% in Attock and 4.00% in both Sargodha and Khushab districts. Data of tick infestation can be very handy while making control strategies for ticks. Many pandemics can be avoided by making policies keeping in view of the prevalence of ticks which are responsible for the spread of many pathogens including, protozoa, bacteria and viruses in animals and humans.

Malaria is considered as the single most prevalent life-threatening infectious disease in the world which spreads to human populations by Anopheles mosquito. Malaria infection poses serious risks to adults, children and pregnant women. The adverse effects in pregnant women include anaemia, fetal demise and premature delivery. The incidence of malaria is higher in children younger than five years in endemic areas like tropical Africa. The vector potential of female species Anopheles varies due to different meteorological conditions. Climate based models have also shown an enhancement of disease following extreme weather changes. This review gleans an insight into the association of malaria with different climatic variables. It covers etiology, symptoms’ manifestation, life cycle of the parasite, transmission, epidemiology, drug resistance, impact of El Niño cycle, malarial association with climatic change and conclusions and technological innovations.