In the present study, the antimicrobial, rheological, mechanical, barrier and optical properties of Carrageenan and Manihot esculenta (composite) starch biobased edible film incorporated with caraway (Carum carvi L.) essential oil (EO) were investigated. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of caraway oil against B. cereus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were found to be 0.6, 1.4, 1.4 and 0.8% respectively. The Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) of caraway EO expressed a distinct chromatogram peak for phenolic compounds. Rheological results of Film-Forming Solution (FFS) revealed solid-like viscoelastic behavior. Incorporation of caraway EO in the film caused significant (P < 0.05) increase in moisture, moisture absorption, bio-degradability in terms of film solubility, L value, total color difference (ΔE), haziness and transparency value, however, significantly (P < 0.05) decreased tensile strength and whiteness index were observed. The zone of inhibition of caraway EO incorporated films against all test bacteria were highly significant (P < 0.01) than control whereas antibacterial activity was found more towards gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative bacteria. No significant (P>0.05) changes in thickness, density, water activity, swelling, elongation at break, water vapor transmission rate, a and b value were observed with increasing caraway EO concentration. These results with some good rheological, physic-mechanical, antimicrobial and optical characteristics suggest the application of such active film into a variety of foods with improved food safety and quality.

Background: Body measurements in cattle, are indicators of growth, health and productivity. These measurements help in selecting high-performing animals, prediction of milk yield and optimizing dairy farm management. Methods: A total of 89 Sahiwal cattle were selected from Instructional Dairy Farm, GBPUA and T, Pantnagar. The data of body measurements like body length (BL), heart girth (HG) and height at wither (HW) at birth, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 months were recorded. Production and reproduction data like age at first service (AFS), age at first calving (AFC) and 305-day milk yield (305 DMY) were collected. The linear regression analysis for prediction of 305 DMY from body measurements at different ages was carried out using SPSS software version 21. Result: The R² values for predicting first lactation 305-DMY at 6 months, HG alone (12.2 per cent) and combinations with BL and HW achieved R² values of up to 13.7 per cent, with the best prediction from HG combined with BL and HW. At 9 months, the R² values ranged up to 14.6 per cent, again favoring HG with BL and HW. At 3, 12, 18 and 24 months and at age at first calving, R² values were non-significant, highlighting the best predictive accuracy of HG and its combinations at earlier ages.