• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.309-313
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• 2006

Phytophthora blight(PB), caused by Phytophthora drechsleri f. sp. cajani is the third potentially important disease of pigeonpea in the Deccan Plateau(DP) of India after wilt and sterility mosaic. In the rainy-season of 2005, an outbreak of PB was seen throughout DP. To quantify the incidence and spread of the disease, a systematic survey was conducted in the major pigeonpea growing regions of DP during the crop season 2005. Attempts were made to determine the effect of cropping systems on the PB development and identify resistant cultivars, if any, grown by farmers and on research farms. Widespread incidence of PB was recorded on improved, and or local cultivars grown in different intercropping systems. Majority of improved cultivars grown at research farms were found susceptible to PB(>10% disease incidence). Pigeonpea intercropped with groundnut, black gram and coriander had less disease incidence(${\leq}10%$). Three wilt and SM resistant pigeonpea cultivars KPL 96053, ICPL 99044, and ICPL 93179 were found resistant(<10%) to PB as well. However, their resistance to PB needs confirmation under optimum disease development environments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.467-480
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• 1999

Many antinutritional and toxic factors abound in tropical seeds, which are also generally rich in nutrients and therefore more prone to attack from herbivores. Antinutritional and toxic factors are considered to defend seeds against environmental vagaries and thus help to protect them. These factors though good for the plant, cause deleterious effects or are even toxic to animals and man. The conventional seeds cultivated for oil or non-oil purposes, and general aspects of antinutritional factors are not presented here as these have already been discussed widely by many workers. Deficits in conventional protein and energy sources in the tropics have stimulated a quest for alternative feeds both for animals and humans. This article attempts to highlight two new oilseed crops, Jatropha curcas and Moringa oleifera, and in addition deals with some under-utilized seeds with potential as animal feed. Most of these seed plants are adapted to various marginal growing conditions in the tropics and can help to mitigate the prevailing deficit in protein and energy sources. Antinutritional and toxic factors in seed or seed meal, various approaches to detoxify seed meal, and future research and development priorities for their exploitation as animal feeds are presented.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.493-502
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• 1999

Majority of livestocks are kept in the tropics. Demand for animal products (meat and milk) is continuously increasing and is related to human population growth. Consequently, potential feeds should be continuously identified particularly on their nutritive values. Crop residues and agricultural by-products are the main feed sources for feeding livestock in the tropics. Their nutritive values ranging from low to medium quality level although Some agricultural by-products such as cotton seed meal and coconut meal are rich in nitrogaen contents. From literatures, nutritive values in these ingredients are mainly based on their chemical composition and to some extent based on limited number of in vivo studies. However, optimum of inclusion in the diet is suggested. Development of tree legumes should be thoroughly considered since they grow well in most tropical regions. In order to improve nutritive value of tropical feeds, biological treatments should be considered. Effect of secondary compounds decreasing efficiency of nutrient utilization in the rumen, to some extent could be reduced by introducing probiotics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.265-276
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• 2000

Crop-animal systems which form the backbone of agriculture in the tropics are discussed with reference to their characteristics, economic importance of animals, genesis and types of crop-animal systems, relevance and potential importance, and priorities for research and development. These production systems are found across all agroecological zones: rain-fed temperate and highland systems, semi-arid and arid tropics, and sub-humid and humid tropics: the last four are priority areas in Asia. The potential importance of these systems in Asia is reflected in their advantages, synergism and complimentarity, economic benefits and contribution to sustainability. Illustrative case studies are cited which are appropriate to the two broad types of mixed farming systems: systems combining animals and annual cropping, and systems combining animals with perennial cropping with reference to Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, China and Nigeria. Priorities for research and development should address more complete use of the animal genetic resources, intensive utilisation of the feed resources, development-oriented utilisation of research results, minimizing animal diseases, and implementation of appropriate institutional and policy issues.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.45-59
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• 2010

It is well established fact that under tropical condition, unlike polyvoltines, bivoltines are more vulnerable to various stresses i.e. hot climatic conditions of tropics, poor leaf quality and improper management during summer which are not conducive for bivoltine rearing. Therefore, attempt has been made in this study to develop promising bivoltine breeds tolerant to high temperature and high humidity conditions of the tropics. In the present study, by utilizing temperature tolerant breeds six breeding lines were made and at every generation the 5th instar larvae were exposed to high temperature and high humidity and the survived ones were back crossed with the breeds moderately tolerant to diseases were made to improve the quantitative traits. From F6 generations, alternate rearing in normal temperature and high temperature were conducted. At the end of F12 generation, it was possible to isolate three dumbbell breeds viz., HH8, HH10 and HH12 with improvement in quantitative traits. The methodologies followed for the development are discussed.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2003

The present paper deals with the mulberry cultivation technology with package of practices for successful sericulture in Indian sub-tropics. The information on leaf nutritional quality in trained and untrained trees is provided. Besides, the current status of sericultural practices is discussed based on the problems faced by the industry and intensive field surveys undertaken in different areas of one of the most potential sericultural provinces.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.660-664
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• 2003

An attempt was made to evaluate the effects of total mixed rations (TMR) containing 17.5% forage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from paragrass, paragrass+cassava chips and corn silages on the performance of dairy cows in the tropics. Experimental dietary treatments contained a similar content of total NDF, total non-fiber carbohydrates, crude protein and energy. Maximum and minimum temperature humidity index during the experimental period were 79.1-80.6 and 66.8-68.6, respectively. Among silage sources, there were no differences (p>0.05) in concentrations of acetic and propionic acids and butyric acid was undetectable. Concentration of lactic acid was higher (p<0.01) in corn silage but its pH was lower (p<0.01) than in paragrass and paragrass+cassava silages. Dairy cows on TMR containing corn silage not only gained more weight (161 and 46 vs. -189 g/d) but also consumed more feed (18.47, 15.84 and 14.49 kg/d), and produced more milk (23.89, 22.03 and 20.83 kg/d), 4% fat corrected milk (25.47, 24.05 and 22.02 kg/d), solids-not-fat (1.99, 18.3 and 1.73 kg/d) and total solid (3.10, 2.85 and 2.64 kg/d) compared with those on TMR containing paragrass+cassava and paragrass silages, respectively (p<0.01). Dairy cows on TMR containing paragrass+cassava silage were better in these respects (p<0.01). These results suggest that in formulating diets on an equal NDF basis for different forage qualities, diets higher in forage quality can stimulate higher DMI for dairy cows in the tropics and thus improve productivity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.637-647
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• 2019

Objective: The study aimed at quantifying seasonal and spatial variations in availability and nutritive value of herbaceous vegetation on native pastures and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in Western Kenya. Methods: Samples of herbaceous pasture vegetation (n = 75) and local supplement feedstuffs (n = 46) for cattle, sheep, and goats were collected in 20 villages of three geographic zones (Highlands, Mid-slopes, Lowlands) in Lower Nyando, Western Kenya, over four seasons of one year. Concentrations of dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), gross energy (GE), and minerals were determined. Apparent total tract organic matter digestibility (dOM) was estimated from in vitro gas production and proximate nutrient concentrations or chemical composition alone using published prediction equations. Results: Nutrient, energy, and mineral concentrations were 52 to 168 g CA, 367 to 741 g NDF, 32 to 140 g CP, 6 to 45 g EE, 14.5 to 18.8 MJ GE, 7.0 to 54.2 g potassium, 0.01 to 0.47 g sodium, 136 to 1825 mg iron, and 0.07 to 0.52 mg selenium/kg DM. The dOM was 416 to 650 g/kg organic matter but differed depending on the estimation method. Nutritive value of pasture herbage was superior to most supplement feedstuffs, but its value strongly declined in the driest season. Biomass yields and concentrations of CP and potassium in pasture herbage were highest in the Highlands amongst the three zones. Conclusion: Availability and nutritive value of pasture herbage and supplement feedstuffs greatly vary between seasons and geographical zones, suggesting need for season- and region-specific feeding strategies. Local supplement feedstuffs partly compensate for nutritional deficiencies. However, equations to accurately predict dOM and improved knowledge on nutritional characteristics of tropical ruminant feedstuffs are needed to enhance livestock production in this and similar environments.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.12
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• pp.41.1-41.7
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• 2016

Background: Over two decades of observations in the field in South East Asia and Hawai'i suggest that majority of the commercial dairy herds are of black hair coat. Hence a simple study to determine the accuracy of the observation was conducted with two large dairy herds in Hawaii in the mid-1990s. Methods: A retrospective study on longevity of Holstein cattle in the tropics was conducted using DairyComp-305 lactation information coupled with phenotypic evaluation of hair coat color in two large dairy farms. Cows were classified into 3 groups: a) black (B, >90%); b) black/white (BW, 50:50) and c) white (W, >90%). Cows with other hair coat distribution were excluded from the study. In farm A, 211 out of 970 cows were identified having 4 or more lactations. In farm B, 690 out of 1,350 cows were identified with 2 or more lactations for the study. Results: The regression analyses and the Wilcoxon-Log-rank test for survival probability showed that Holstein cattle with 90% black hair coat had greater longevity compared to Holstein cattle with 90% white hair coat. Conclusions: This study suggests that longevity of Holstein cattle in tropical regions was influenced by hair coat color and characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.967-972
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• 2004

Four Holstein$\times$Indigenous cows with ruminal canulas were used in a 4$\times$4 Latin square design with 28 d periods to determine the effect of replacing nonforage fiber source (NFFS) from cassava residues for non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) on ruminal fermentation characteristics and milk production. Dietary treatments contained 17% forage neutral detergent fiber (FNDF) from corn silage and 0, 3, 6 and 9% nonforage NDF from cassava residues and 11% nonforage NDF from other NFFS, so that levels of nonforage NDF were 11, 14, 17 and 20% dry matter (DM). Intakes of DM and net energy for lactation, average daily gain and milk fat percentage were not different (p>0.05). Ruminal pH, ammonia concentrations, acetate to propionate ratios, 24 h in sacco fiber digestibility significantly increased with increasing contents of nonforage NDF from cassava residues. Concentrations of VFA, urinary excretion of purine derivatives, milk protein percentage, production of milk and 4% FCM significantly decreased. These results suggest that NFC in diets is one of the limiting factors affecting productivity of dairy cows in the tropics and thus NFFS is better used as partial replacements for FNDF.