Vetreckon - is digital magazine on veterinary education

1. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER Issue 1
VetReckon
- Veterinary Science Newsletter
Nov 15, 2016
EXCLUSIVE NEWSLETTER FOR VETERINARY SCIENCE STUDENTS IN THIS ISSUE
Veterinary education in India starts transforming when VCI change the
curriculum few years back. Although there was little change in academic
syllabus but it mainly emphasizes active participation of students in
practical activities. It is really welcoming step for veterinary sector in India
because of central importance of veterinary services in rural economy. Our
government since its inception greatly stress on skill development among
our Indian youth. I personally realize and experience that in the past
veterinary science didn’t seen from this perspective of skill development.
Nobody can oppose this view that teaching in class cannot completely
substitute the use of books. Considering this there are 3 pillars for
comprehensive veterinary skill development among students i.e. teaching
– knowledge interface whether it would be paper book or paperless
electronic medium and third is inclusive practical exposure of students to
variety of new cases. First pillar i.e. teaching is considerably strong in India
and authorities overemphasize its need every time, but still there is scope
for developing numerous innovative teaching techniques. For second pillar
we have to work upon knowledge bank sort of thing like common
knowledge repository which provide filtered information to the students. It
is necessary because students are over relied upon internet which have
considerable junk information for new students. To strengthen 2nd
pillar we
must introduce latest technology to keep veterinary knowledge up to date
and streamlined on internet based repository. 3rd
is last but not the least as
it is the foundation of the performance which will be given by students in
field conditions. As we know vet have to face variety of cases from mice to
elephants and people expect that they treat any animal successfully so we
have to look into such expectations and hence we need to developed a vet
at least on B.V.Sc level who should be jack of all traits.
Future of Veterinary Education in India by Dr. Ibne Ali
Breed of the month
MURRAH
In Focus
Changing needs with changing times

2. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 2
MURRAH – PRIDE OF PUNJAB
Punjab is known as milk capital of India and main
contributor of this production is murrah buffalo which
utilizes favorable environmental conditions and feed
resources available in state
CONTACT
axonvet@gmail.com
Breed of the month - MURRAH
by Sachin
Origin & Breeding Tract
Its home tract stretches around the southern
parts of Haryana comprising the districts of
rohtak, Jind, Hisar, Jhajhar, Fatehabad,
Gurgaon and the Union Territory of Delhi.
However, this breed has spread to almost all
parts of the country and is being bred either
in pure form or is being used as improver
breed for grading up local buffaloes. In fact,
this breed has even found and important
place in the livestock industry of many
developing countries like Bulgaria,
Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, China,
Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, former
USSR, Myanmar, Vietnam, Brazil and Shri
Lanka.
Population
Murrah females in India (20.48 million i. e. about 20 % of country buffalo
population). Buffalo in Haryana increased from 3.37 million in 1982 to 6.03 million
in 2003 – an increase of about 80% in a period of 20 years (Statistical Abstract
of Haryana). But decline in the buffalo population during 2003 (6.06 millions) to
2007 (5.95 millions) in Haryana has also been noticed @ 0.34 percent per year.
Physical Characters
The color is jet black. Rarely white markings on face and leg extremities may be
there, but are not preferred. It has short, characteristic tightly curled horns, turning
backward and upward and finally spirally curving inward. Eyes are black, active
and prominent in females but slightly shrunken in males and should not be walled
i.e. cornea should not have whiteness. Neck is long and thin in females and thick
and massive in males. Ears are short, thin and alert.
Udders are fully developed, drooping with equally distributed teats over the
udder. Teats are long, and places uniformly wide apart but hind teats are longer
than fore teats.

3. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER Issue 1
Biometry
Averages of length, height and heart girth of adult males are 150, 142 and 220 cm, and of females
148,133 and 202cm respectively. Average birth weight of male calves is 31.7 kg and that of female
calves is 30kg. Adult body weight ranges from 450 to 800kg (average 567 kg) in males and from 350 to
700 kg (average 516kg) in females.
Production Traits
Lactation Milk Yield
Milk yield varies from place to place depending upon the management practices and environmental
conditions under which animals are reared. Recorded milk yield varies between 1067.32±60.12 and
2014.00±52.00. Large herds have shown average yields as 1800 kg.
Lactation Length
Buffaloes with longer lactation length are generally high milk producers provided they are given
sufficient dry period for replenishment before subsequent calving. Lactation length varies between
366.00±18.00 and 274.60±12.60.
Peak Yield
Similar to other traits, there is variation in peak yield as well but minimum peak yield of herds is more
than 7 kg.
Lifetime Milk Yield
Buffaloes are not kept in the herd until their natural death, so calculation of milk production for whole
life is not feasible in practice. Different criteria had been used for estimating lifetime milk production
by different authors. Murrah buffaloes are known for their longevity and persistent yield even in later
lactations. It varies between 9187.1±101.40, up to 5 lactations and 4474.61,up to 5 lactations (Mahdy,
1993).
Reproduction Traits
Average age at first calving is 1,319 days and dry period averages are 187.6 days
in the first lactation and 154.8days for overall lactations. Service period averages
177.1 days in first parity and 136.3 days in overall parities. First calving interval
varies from 455 to 632 days (averages 488.1days), and overall calving interval
varies from 430 to 604 days (average 452.9 days). Number of service per
conception varies from 1.75 to 2.159 averages (1.93). Even though a period of
60 days is allowed as post-partum rest, Murrah in general has a long service
period of 5-6 months.

4. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 4
Site of Predilection
Predilection site of adult Toxocara vitulorum is
the small intestine. Migrating larvae can be
found in numerous organs: lungs, trachea,
bronchi, liver, kidneys, mammary glands, etc.
How it looks alike?
Adult Toxocara vitulorum are the largest
worms that infect cattle. They can be up to
40 cm long and 7 mm thick, whereby females
are larger than males. They have a whitish
color and a translucent aspect, and look very
much like cooked spaghetti. As in other
roundworms, the body of these worms is
covered with a cuticle, which is flexible but
rather tough. It forms two characteristic wing-
like projections (alae) in the anterior end. The
female ovaries are large and the uteri end in
an opening called the vulva. Males have a
copulatory bursa with two short spicules for
attaching to the female during copulation.
The eggs are almost spherical, about 70x80
micrometers, have a thick and pitted
membrane and contain a single cell.
Life cycle of Toxocara vitulorum
Toxocara vitulorum has a direct life cycle, i.e.
there are no intermediate hosts involved.
Adult females lay eggs in the small intestine of
the host that are shed with the feces.
Once in the environment L2-larvae develop
inside the eggs in about 7 to 15 days at 27°C to
30°C, the ideal temperature. Development
stops below 12°C but can resume when
temperature rises again (It is apparently
visible that toxocara infestations are less seen
in winters). These eggs are infective and
contaminate the pastures. They can survive
for months and possibly years, but are
sensitive to sunlight.
Adult livestock becomes infected after
ingesting embryonated eggs  Larvae
emerge from the eggs in the gut,  penetrate
the gut's wall and  migrate through the
bloodstream either to the liver, lungs,
trachea, mouth, esophagus and back to the
small intestine where they complete
development to adult worms and begin
producing eggs; or they migrate to other
tissues, including the mammary glands and
the placenta of pregnant cows from where
they can be transmitted to the calves or to
unborn embryos, respectively. Larvae can
survive on tissues for up to 5 months. Larvae
that reach the mammary glands remain
dormant until about 3 weeks before
Science of Parasites
TOXOCARIASIS
Toxocara vitulorum is a species of parasitic roundworms that infects cattle, buffaloes, bisons
and other bovids. It is also called Neoascaris vitulorum.
It is found worldwide, including Europe, but is more abundant in regions with humid tropical
or subtropical climate in Africa, America and Asia. Up to 100% of the calves can be
infected in endemic regions with poor control measures. Water buffaloes seem to be
particularly susceptible to Toxocara vitulorum infections. In one particular study conducted in
India, it have been found that the prevalence was highest in calves ≤30 days old (42.5%),
followed by those 30-60 days old (33.00%), and those 60-90 days old (27.27%).These worms
do not affect sheep, goats, pigs, horses, dogs or cats.Related species are Ascaris suum that
infects swine, Toxocara canis, that infects dogs and Toxocara cati that infects cats.The
disease caused by Toxocara vitulorum is called toxocariasis or toxocariosis.
Is livestock infected with Toxocara vitulorum contagious for humans?
NO, There is still no evidence that Toxocara vitulorum can infect humans. However, eggs ingested by paratenic hosts can migrate
to various tissues, and they could do so in humans as well. Human toxocariasis due to Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati is usually
diagnosed through ELISA tests that are mostly incapable of distinguishing between these species and Toxocara vitulorum.
Toxocara vitulorum egg, double
layer showing pitted surface

5. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 5
parturition when they are re-activated and
passed to the sucklings with the milk during
the first 3 weeks after parturition (lactogenic
transmission). Transmission through the milk
seems to be the most frequent infection way
in calves.
In infected calves, larvae that reach the
intestine do not migrate but develop directly
to adult worms in about three weeks after
birth or after being ingested with the milk.
Maximum egg output occurs in calves up to 3
months old, and ends quickly after.
The prepatent period (time between infection
and first eggs shed) is 3 to 4 weeks in calves.
In adult cows it is longer, depends on the
migration and dormancy periods. However, it
seems that most larvae do not complete
development and lay eggs in adult cows but
are perinatally transmitted to the offspring.
Pathology and Losses in Production
Toxocara vitulorum is usually not pathogenic
for adult cattle. But it can be very harmful to
calves in tropical and subtropical regions with
high mortality rates if left untreated.
Migrating larvae can seriously damage
numerous organs in adult cattle, particularly
the lungs, where they can cause infections
with secondary bacteria and subsequent
pneumonia. In calves, the adult worms in the
small intestine compete for nutrients with the
host, and can cause diarrhea (often putrid),
colic, enteritis, loss of appetite and weight.
Due to the large size of the worms massive
infections can obstruct the gut and even
perforate it. Fatalities are not infrequent.
Occasionally worms may also migrate
through the bile duct and obstruct it causing
cholangitis.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on detection of typical
eggs in the feces. However, pregnant cows
without any detectable eggs in their feces
may be infected with dormant larvae in the
tissues that will be passed to their offspring. In
some countries immunoassay (e.g. ELISA) are
available for serological diagnosis.
Prevention and control
Sound Management of Calves: Since calves
are more susceptible against these worms
and most infections are acquired perinatally
from infected dams, it is essential to try to
prevent the infection of pregnant cows. In
Indian conditions calves are kept with dams
and heaps of manure often keep besides
shed, under such conditions it is inevitable to
escape from Toxocara infestations. It better
to keep this manure away from shed and
timely treat animals with appropriate
anthelmintics. Following hygienic practices
along with disinfection of calf places is highly
recommended. So far no true vaccine is
available against Toxocara vitulorum.
Biological control of Toxocara vitulorum (i.e.
using its natural enemies) is so far not
feasible.
Chemotherapeutics
Numerous broad spectrum anthelmintics are
effective against adult worms and larvae in
the gut, e.g. several benzimidazoles
(albendazole, febantel, fenbendazole,
oxfendazole, etc.), levamisole, as well as
several macrocyclic lactones (e.g. abamectin,
doramectin, eprinomectin, ivermectin,
moxidectin). But not all of them are effective
against migrating larvae and/or arrested
larvae in the tissues. These anthelmintics are
available for oral administration as drenches,
feed additives and/or tablets. Levamisole and
most macrocyclic lactones are usually also
available as injectable.
A few other narrow-spectrum anthelmintics
such as tetrahydropyrimidines (e.g. morantel,
pyrantel) and piperazine derivatives are
effective against adult worms but may not
control larvae and other roundworm species
that often infect livestock simultaneously
with Toxocara vitulorum worms.
So far there are no reports on resistance of
Toxocara vitulorum to the
most common anthelmintics
(benzimidazoles,
macrocyclic
lactones,
levamisole,
tetrahydropyrimidines,
etc.) in contrast with many other
gastrointestinal roundworms (e.g.
Haemonchus spp, Cooperia spp, Ostertagia
spp, Trichostrongylus spp), etc.
Ingestion of
embryonatedeggs;
penetratedgut wall
Migrate through blood
streamthrough
various organs & back
to intestine
Sometimesthey
migrated to placenta &
transmittedto unborn
calves
They also transmitted
to calvesthrough milk
(most frequentway of
infection)
In calvesthey become
mature and start
laying eggs; they wont
migrate in calves

6. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 6
Brainstorming
discussions in
international symposium
at veterinary varsity
Source: TOI
LUDHIANA: Various technicalsessionswere held
on Friday in the on-going international
symposium and 7th Conference of Indian Meat
Science Association at Guru Angad Dev
Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
(GADVASU), here. ST Joo from Republic of
Korea stressed on the food safety issues related
with the different cooking techniques. He
stressed that the cooking time at temperature
should be selected with the eating quality
parameters and killing of pathogens.
GADVASU spokesperson said that there was a
consensus that rampant slaughter of animals in
lanes and bylanes of the city should be banned
immediately. He added that the animal welfare
should be considered and Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations
should be followed in true spirit while
transporting the animals. "Effective utilization of
slaughter house by products will reduce the cost
of meat effectively, simultaneously benefiting
the animal producers and processors in getting
more profits by getting higher price for his
produce. More emphasis was given on reduction
of environmental pollution", he said.
Manish Kumar Chatli, organising secretary
stressed on the development of valuable
products from animal industry waste including
biodegradable films, high value low volume
processed by products such as bone
morphogenic proteins (BMP), collagen sheets
etc. BMP increases the healing of fracture by 40-
50% faster. Collagen sheets are being used in
plastic surgery. V.V. Kulkarni, Director, National
Research Centre (Meat) and President of society
congratulated A.S. Nanda, Vice-Chancellor,
GADVASU and Manish K. Chatli organizing
secretary of IMSACON-VII for the grand
organization of IMSACON-VII. NRCM has signed
MoU with GADVASU, which will give the new
avenue for research and entrepreneurs
exchange, share knowledge and facilities.
Elephant Sidda stands
again
Source: TOI
A joint rescue operation by the Indian Army,
Wildlife SOS and the Karnataka forest
department resulted in successful moving the
downed elephant 'Sidda' into a specially
designed structure where the Wildlife SOS
veterinarians can provide long term treatment to
the ailing elephant.
Two weeks ago, when Sidda had painfully
extracted himself from the water and then
collapsed, saving this 35-year old wild elephant
with a fractured foreleg seemed well-nigh
impossible. At 3 am Thursday, the Sappers from
the MEG of the Indian Army and the field teams
from wildlife conservation NGO Wildlife SOS and
theforest departmentcouldfinallystandback with
immense pride as Sidda was gently eased into the
giant improvised structure created by the army in
record time on the request of Wildlife SOS. The
severely injured elephant, who had been down on
his side for a fortnight, was finally standing again.
Robotic canine helps train
veterinary students
Source : NBCI4
ITHACA (NBC News) Cornell University has
developed an innovative way to teach veterinary
students to care for animals in emergency
situations. Robo Jerry 2 is the creation of
veterinary medicine Professor Dr. Daniel Fletcher.
The technology is similar to human simulators
used in medical schools across the country and is
meant to bridge the gap between the classroom
and the emergency room, but Robo Jerry 2 is
unique to Cornell and gives veterinary students an
opportunity to try managing a patient in real time.
“It’s remarkable how much they engage in that
process, so they tend to get nervous. They get very
worked up about it. They get very emotionally
invested,” Dr. Fletcher says. Cornell is also
designing simulator parts to be used in robo-cats
and possibly someday robo-horses. “When that
real patient comes in that looks similar to that case
they managed in simulation, they’re much more
likely to jump in and then be involved because now
they feel confident,” Dr. Fletcher says. He hopes
that’s a confidence that will carry them into clinic.
One lakh ducks to be culled
in Kerala
Source : TOI
ALAPPUZHA (Kerala): Kerala Animal Husbandry
Minister K Raju on Wednesday said that one lakh
ducks will be culled after avian flu (H5N1 virus) was
reported in certain areas of the state's Alappuzha
district.
"Earlier what used to be done was all the poultry
birds in a one square kilometre radius where such
birds have been affected would be culled, but this
time we have decided to only cull the ducks in
areas where affected birds have been identified,"
said Raju at a meeting with stake holders and
officials.
Last week, the presence of the virus was detected
in four villages of this district, following which
around 38,000 ducks have been culled and the
remaining would be done in the coming days.
Veterinary around the globe

7. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 7
1. The network of interrelated catabolic
and anabolic pathways in cells is referred
to as ______________
2. A system that exchanges both energy
and material with its surrounding is said
to be ______________
3. ________________ is a type of weak
interaction that stabilizes the native
conformation of a biomolecule or
supramolecular complex.
4. The monomeric subunits of ________
are ribonucleotides.
5. The stretching and breaking of bonds
that occurs during the conversion of a
reactant to a product creates a
____________ state.
6. ____________ is a measure of
randomness.
7. Enzymes enhance the rate of chemical
reactions by lowering the __________
energy that constitutes an energy
barrier between reactants and products.
8. mRNA molecules with two or more
attached ribosomes are called
____________
9. ______________ is a component of
eukaryotic cells consisting of
microtubules, actin filaments, and
intermediate filaments.
10. _____________ and
_______________ are the two groups of
extant prokaryotes.
11. The role of _____________ is to
produce large number of ribosomes
needed by the cell and have DNA that
contain many copies of ribosomal RNA
coding genes.
12. ________________ helps in the
condensation of DNA molecule.
13. ____________,
_______________ and
__________ are three
classes of cytoskeletal
proteins.
14. ________________ is a
complex of RNA and
protein.
15. ______________ are
molecular complexes of
DNA plus associated
histone and nonhistone proteins.
MEMORISING TRICKS
Certain important things in veterinary
sciences are necessary to remember in all
circumstances. One can always expect
these things from veterinary doctor. We
try to provide you some memory tricks
which will help you to remember
veterinary science in an interesting way.
1.Remember Extrinsic Pathway of
Blood Coagulation
Save ExPorT Too OFTEN
Save – Factor Seven
Ex – Extrinsic Pathway
PorT – Prothrombin time is affected
Too – Factor Two
O – Factor One
F – Factor Five
TEN – Factor Ten
Summary - extrinsic pathway involves
factor 1,2,5,7,10 and derangement cause
prolong Prothrombin Time.
2. Potassium: causes of potassium
leaving cells ASSES
Acidosis: H+ ions move in.
Starvation: catabolism of cells.
Stress: catabolism of cells (postoperative).
Exercise: catabolism of cells.
Sodium chloride lost: K+ replaces it and is
then excreted.
3. Heart valves: placement of valves
on standard heart anterior view
"Try before you Buy":
When read across the page, the tricuspid
valve comes before the bicuspid valve.
Also, the lunar valves are near the top (in
the sky), like the moon.
4.Hormones of Anterior Pituitary
FLAGTOP
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Luteinizing Hormone
ACTH
Growth Hormone
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
MelatOnin Stimulating Hormone
Prolactin
5. Krebs Cycle
Cindrella Is Kinky So She Fools More
Often
Citric acid
Isocitric acid
Ketoglutaric acid
Succinyl CoA
Succinic acid
Fumaric acid
Malic acid
Oxaloacetic acid

8. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 8
ifficult terrains, compromised
infrastructure and wide distribution
of backyard and smallholder
livestock keepers in tribal areas are critical
factors in poor animal healthcare product and
service delivery in tribal areas. Government
and non-government organizations are
working on these challenging aspects while
animal healthcare industry maintains its
distance from this unorganized smallholder
sector and emphasizing more on low-hanging
fruits in fast-growing dairy and commercial
poultry dominated organized livestock
sector.
Lack of awareness about prophylactic
measures and basic husbandry practices
make livestock vulnerable to many diseases in
smallholder sector eg. Newcastle (Ranikhet)
disease in poultry and PPR in goats. These
diseases are easily preventable with vaccines
and basic husbandry practices. Affordability
and accessibility of customized packs of
animal healthcare products for smallholder
livestock keepers is required.
These customized products should be
provided by quality human resource in tribal
areas. Awareness creation among
underserved livestock keepers is another
important area to be undertaken by well-
trained human resource. As per recent
surveys conducted in field suggests that
vaccinating chicken leads to better nutrition
and broaden economic avenues for poor
households.
A need of collaboration among government,
non-government organizations and private
organization has been realized in Odisha. To
address this need, the Global Alliance for
Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed)
has collaborated with Hester Biosciences
Limited (to develop and distribute
customised livestock vaccines and health care
products), Professional Assistance for
Development Action (PRADAN) and Pathe
Pathsahala (to strengthen animal health care
services with quality community animal
health workers) in Odisha (INDIA).
(https://www.galvmed.org/en/voices-from-the-
field/vaccinating-chickens-leads-better-nutrition-
communities-jharkhand-india/)
(https://www.galvmed.org/en/diseases/chicken-
vaccine-broadening-economic-avenues-
jharkhand-india/)
Kamdhenu scheme
could change
farmers’ fortune in
Uttar Pradesh
by Dr Ibne Ali, Axonvet-Livestock
Solutions, Delhi
Nearly three years back enthusiastic and bold
chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Akhilesh
Yadav, brought kamdhenu scheme with
holistic vision to improve milk production in
the state. He believes that this scheme can
change the fortune of dairy industry in UP and
bring this looming sector into the new
dimensions of growing food market.
As we know UP is vast state and occupy nearly
9% of county’s land and carry 16% of
country’s population faces many challenges
on different fronts of development. Dairy
scheme which was launch in 2013 had very
good potential to uplift UP economically as
well as solve growing unemployment
problem. If we look from dairy development
perspective we can see that UP is number one
milk producing state with 17% of total
national production but its per animal
productivity is seriously down trodden to
approx.. 4lit per animal. Nearly half of the
animals are non-milking which didn’t receive
much care. Possible reason for this is well
developed and deeply penetrated buffalo
meat market due to which farmers seldom
bother to make their animals pregnant. They
believe that selling animals after milking is
more beneficial than getting them pregnant.
Basically these rates of non-milking animals
forces farmers to keep low producing animals
with them.
Kamdhenu scheme was structured to
increase the productivity of animals. It was
stated that buffaloes purchased to start the
dairy must be brought from outside the UP.
Of course scheme holders went to Punjab and
Haryana to purchase the animals. No doubt
dairy animals in Punjab and Haryana are
highly productive which is partly due to
feeding and environment and partly due to
genetic potential. But when these animals
brought in UP their productivity goes down,
which is mainly due to less scientific feeding
practices and pre occupied notion that we
could sell animal if it goes out of milk.
Genetics of animals seldom identified and
therefore matters because except crossbred
cows whose genetic potential could be find
out through pedigreed exotic bulls’ semen
buffalo genetics cannot be determined
successfully due to non-availability of
pedigree records. In this scenario only
feeding practices along with certain housing
requirement can affect milk production of
new animals.
So considering this fact of underfeeding
which might be due to lack of knowledge of
importance of scientific feeding cause
decreased in the productivity of imported
animals. Government before dispensing loan
to beneficiaries should conduct
comprehensive training program under the
guidance of dairy production experts and
keep dairy nutritionist consultant with whom
new farmers can ask their problems. Some
mobile app should also be launched if
government is serious to make this scheme
successful for farmers
D
Is it possible to
deliver animal
healthcare product
and services in
remote tribal areas
of India?
by Dr Rahul Srivastava, Marketing
Officer, GALVMed
Infocus
Changing needs with changing times

9. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 9
Benefits of Goat Milk
an emerging nutraceutical
Herding of goats is thought to have evolved
about 10,000 years ago in the mountains of
Iran, making goats one of the oldest
domesticated animals. Goat milk, and the
cheese made from it was venerated in ancient
Egypt with some Pharaohs supposedly
placing these foods among the other
treasures in their burial tombs (makbare). It is
estimated that over 80% of the world’s goat
population is located in Asia and Africa. By
deduction, it is probable that more people in
the world drink milk from goats than from any
other animal.nNew markets and uses for goat
milk are also being pursued, for example, as a
basis for medicinal and infant foods. It is
imperativethat qualityandsafetyofgoatmilk
are optimised to ensure consumer confidence
owing to the growing interest in existing and
new goat dairy products worldwide.
Two characteristics of goat milk fat have
important consequences for manufacturing.
One is the smaller size of the fat globules in
goat milk in comparison to those in cow milk.
In both species the fat globules range from 1
to 10 micron, but the number of fat globules
smaller than 5 micron is ∼60% in cow milk
whereas it is ∼80% in goat milk.
Medicinal value of goat milk:
Goat milk contains a higher proportion of
medium-chain fatty acids, i.e., caproic (C6:0),
caprylic (C8:0) and capric (C10:0), which are
partly responsible for the characteristic
“goaty” odour of goat milk.
In addition to contributing to the specific
“goaty” flavour, the higher proportion of
medium-chain fatty acids in goat milk are
known to:
(i) be anti-bacterial, (ii) be antiviral, (iii) inhibit
development and dissolve cholesterol
deposits, and (iv) be absorbed rapidly from
the intestine. As human milk lacks s1-casein,
the low levels of s1- casein in some goat milks
and higher proportion of -casein means that
goat milk casein profile is closer to human
milk than that of cow milk.
Goat milk is reported to form a finer curd than
cow milk following acidification, which
mimics the conditions in the stomach,
suggesting it would be more readily digested
concentrations of methionine and cysteine
(sulfer amino acids), when added together,
are equivalent in goat and human milk protein
Taurine is particularly high in goat milk, being
20–40- times higher than cow milk (good for
kidney health). Taurine is also beneficial for
adults, helping to regulate blood pressure and
possibly to alleviate other cardiovascular
ailments (heart problems). Taurine alleviates
muscle fatigue in strenuous workouts and
raises exercise capacity (important for body
builders)
Most oligosaccharides (>95%) from human
milk are resistant to digestion suggest that
their main target of biological functions is the
intestine of the new born baby.
Cow milk allergy is considered a common
disease with a prevalence of 2.5% in children
during the first 3 years of life even as high as
20% in some areas (Nestle, 1987) Treatment
with goat milk resolved between 30 and 40%
of the problem cases, and in one particular
study 49 of 55 treated children benefited from
treatment with goat milk.
Goat milk typically contains between 250 and
300 mg/L oligosaccharides, 4–5 times higher
than the content in cow milk.
The oligosaccharides in goat milk are
complex, with a profile most similar to human
milk, in comparison to cows and sheep.
Selenium (Se) is the main component of goat
milk. Deficiency of Selenium and decrease in
platelet count are the main complications of
dengue fever. Goat milk as well as milk
products are richest source of Selenium (Se)
as comparison to cow and sheep milk.
Goat population in India is second
highest in the world after china.
Indian is having 135 millions of
goats mainly concentrated in arid
and semi-arid areas of the
country. It was estimated by
CIRG that around 41% of the total
goats slaughtered for meat every
year and 5% disease mortality
rate. This fact tells us that goats
are mainly reared for meat in
India. But milk contribution is
also cannot be ignored, as goats
contributes nearly 4% of total
milk production. During season
of viral fever goat milk demand
rises exponentially and it sold at
soaring prices. No doubt that
goats have many nutrients which
are beneficial in combating viral
fever.
One factor in the uptick in goat
milk sales are its purported
health benefits. Though it’s not
substantially different,
chemically speaking, from cow
milk, it has some advantages:
more calcium, magnesium,
potassium and Vitamin C, for
example. Though goat milk still
has lactose, it has less than cow
milk, and its proteins are a bit
different. In fact, it’s actually
more similar to the structure of
breast milk than cow’s milk is,
which is one theorized reason
why it might be easier on the
tummy.
India is growing goat milk market
due to extra health consciousness
which is started in India.
GOAT MILK IN INDIA &
FUTURE OF ITS
MARKETING

10. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 10
Identify the Conditions &
Recommended Treatment
1 You are presented with two 15-month-
old dairy heifers which have been housed
for 2 weeks and fed the remains of last
year’s silage clamp before the new clamp
is opened. The heifers are very weak and
unable to rise (1a). The farmer had noted
that one heifer in the group of 84 was
unsteady on its hind legs the previous
evening. None of the other heifers show
any abnormal clinical signs. Both heifers
appear dull and depressed and are unable
to rise. There is profoundweakness of the
limb muscles. The rectal temperature is
normal for each heifer. The heifers do not
eat but can swallow. There are ruminal
move ments but only scant mucus-
coated faeces are passed.
i. What conditions would you
suspect? (Most likely first.)
ii. What treatments would you
administer?
iii. What control measures could be
adopted?
1 i. The most likely conditions to consider include: botulism; lead poisoning;
listeriosis; blackleg; re - cumbency and en dotoxaemia associated with
septicaemia. There is no readily available diagnostic test for botu linum toxin.
There was no access to poultry waste/carcasses, the most common source of
botulinum toxin, but the farmer often shot a large number of feral pigeons in the
shed that may have resulted in carcass contamination of the clamp silage which
was not sheeted.
ii. There is no specific treatment although cattle displaying only pelvic limb
weakness may recover over 7–14 days. In this problem, one heifer deteriorated
rapidly overnight (paralysis of tongue and masticatory muscles, head averted
against chest) and was euthanased for welfare reasons. The other recumbent
heifer was destroyed for welfare reasons 2 days later.
iii. To control this problem the old silage was discarded and the new silage pit
opened. No further cases of botulism were reported in this group. Other control
measures include preventing access to potentially contaminated feedstuffs
especially poultry waste. Poultry manure is often used as a fertilizer applied
directly to pasture (1b). Several recent outbreaks of botulism have been
tentatively linked to feeding bakery waste to cattle.
For all types of livestock and poultry consultancy contact
Axonvet – Livestock & Poultry Solutions
www.axonvet.com | +91-9557907955

11. VETRECKON - VETERINARY SCIENCE NEWSLETTER | Issue 1 11
VetReckon
- Veterinary
Science
Newsletter
NFC, Okhla, New Delhi
Delhi – 110025
Dear Readers,
This is our first issue with
the sole aim to serve the
veterinary education in
India. With time and
your precious
suggestions we will
improve in future. For
the same, your articles,
suggestions & ads are
invited. Please write us
on following address
ibnester@gmail.com
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