Many alternative substances have been investigated for their potential to replace antibiotics as growth promoters. Probiotics and phytobiotics are some of the products that can be used as growth promoters in broiler. The present study was designed to investigate either single or combined effect of a probiotic and phytobiotic on serum bio-chemistry and growth performances in broilers. A total of 50 Cobb-500 day old chicks were divided into five groups (10 birds each). The birds of Group A were offered a basal diet (corn-soya based), Group B basal diet + 0.10% Renamycin 100®, Group C basal diet + 0.15% probiotic (Bio-Top®), Group D basal diet + 0.10% phytobiotic (Galibiotic) and Group E basal diet + 0.15% Bio-Top® + 0.10% Galibiotic. Body weight, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and serum bio-chemistry (Triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, ALT, AST, creatinine) were recorded. Serum biochemical values differed significantly (P<0.05) among the groups. The average final live weight gain was 665grams, 686grams, 1095grams, 780grams and 1065grams in groups A, B, C, D and E, respectively. The feed conversion ratio was 2.1, 1.96, 1.72, 1.83, and 1.75 in A, B, C, D and E group, respectively. The present study revealed that supplementation of probiotic and phytobiotic in feed significantly reduced triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL values compared to value of control group (P<0.05). Probiotic or its’ combination with phytobiotic has the potential to be exemplary alternatives to antibiotic as growth promoters.

Marketing of fish and fishery products in the three markets of Gazipur district were studied during the period from November 2014 to April 2015. Data were collected from three different markets. A total of 45 traders (retailers), 15 from each market were interviewed at the market center. A survey questionnaire was developed, pre-tested and finally used for collection of data. Data were collected from the three different fish markets through questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions. Three types of marketing channel were found to be operated in the selected markets. The market chain from fishermen to consumer passes through a number of intermediaries: local traders, agents/suppliers, retailers and consumers. The shorter marketing chain which included the fish farmers, retailers and consumers was found to be more beneficial to the fish producers. There are some fish species available in three different markets, such as Indian major carps i.e. rui, catla, mrigal and Exotic fish i.e. silver carp, grass and common carp, tilapia, pangas etc. The price of fish depended on size, weight, season, availability, species quality and size of fishes. Different types of dried and salted fish were available in the markets. A number of constraints for fish marketing were reported by the retailers, the constraints were lack of storage facilities, poor supply of ice, exploitation by middlemen, lack of money and lack of infrastructure.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) has wide reputation as spice and culinary herb. An experiment was carried out to promote off-season organic coriander leaf cultivation in Bangladesh. The study was conducted at the horticulture farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, replicated thrice with two factors; variety (V1Green aroma, V2 Green giant and V3 Indian variety) and organic nutrient source (T0  Control, T1  Cowdung @ 10 t ha-1, T2 Vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1), repeated over five months (March, April, May, June and July) in Randomized Block Design. Data were recorded on several growth and yield parameters. March sown seeds were recorded for highest plant height (19.0 cm), fresh weight of plants per m2 (1359.67 g) and leaf yield (13.6 t ha-1). Results revealed that treatment combination, V2T1 performed better in terms of foliage yield with its best performance (12.17 t ha-1) in March. It was also the best performer for sowing time April (5.14 tha-1), May (3.92 t ha-1) and July (3.16 t ha-1).

This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in milch animals by different field diagnostic tests. A total of 100 milk samples (40 cow, 40 buffalo and 20 goat) were culled to pursue this study which were subjected to physical assay and subsequently screened for subclinical mastitis by using 5 different field diagnostic tests viz. California Mastitis Test (CMT), White Side Test (WST), White Side + Dye Test (WSDT), Surf Test (ST) and Surf + Dye Test (SDT). Overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) found in this study was 42.5%, 32.5% and 35% in cow, buffalo and goat respectively. Higher prevalence of SCM was detected in cow (47.06%) and buffalo (53.85%) aged between 3 to 5 years whereas in goat (57.15%), 2 to 3 years of age. In aspect of breed, crossbred cow (50%), Murrah buffalo (40%) and Jamunapari goat (50%) were found more affected with SCM. The prevalence of SCM was higher in cows of 3rd parity (41.18%), buffaloes of both 2nd and 3rd parity (30.77%) and goats of 2nd parity (42.86%). Animals being in mid lactation gave more positive cases (46.67% cow, 46.67% buffalo and 42.85% goat). SCM was found in higher prevalence in high yielding animals and in animals that were not being subjected to hygienic milking practice. Among the 5 diagnostic tests, SCM detection efficacy in comparison was higher by CMT. So as SCM has been found to be a major ascending risk in the area, the hygienic milk production activity in this area as a whole requires an intervention including further investigation on the etiological agents associated with prevalence of mastitis to undertake measurable control options of mastitis in the area.

The main purpose of the study was to understand the extent of awareness of farmers on use of ICT in farm practices. At the same time, important factors were identified those could contribute to farmers‟ awareness on use of ICT. The study was conducted in the existing CIG of Ishwarganj upazila in Mymensingh district. Data were collected from 110 CIG farmers in the selected upazila during the period from 03 October to 05 November, 2018 by using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Farmers‟ awareness was measured by checking extent of their extent of awareness of seven selected ICT services as cell phone, smart phone, personal computer, services from AICC, services from UDC, Krishi Call Centre and mobile apps. A number of characteristics of the farmers were selected as the factors for explaining farmers‟ awareness on use of ICT. Appropriate scales were developed and used in order to measure the concerned variables. Correlation test was used to ascertain the relationships between the concerned variables, while multiple regression (enter method) analysis was also used to determine the contributions of the farmers' selected characteristics to their opinion on selected ICT based facilities. Results showed that 23.7 percent farmers had “moderate awareness” on use of ICT in farm practices while 60 percent and 12.7 percent of the farmers had “low” and “very low awareness” on use of ICT based facilities in their farm practices. Farmers' characteristics such as education, knowledge about ICTs, ability to use ICTs, access to ICT facilities, attitude towards ICT had significant positive relationship with their awareness on use of ICT; while age, household size and annual income had significant negative relationship with the awareness on use of ICT. Results of multiple regression analysis revealed that the influential factors on the farmers‟ awareness on use of ICT were household size, knowledge about ICT, ability to use ICT and attitude towards ICT. The R2 value indicated that, four explanatory variables together explained 80.0 percent variation infarmers‟ awareness on use of ICT. The study also identified some constraints faced by the farmers while using ICT services in receiving agricultural information. The study revealed that an overwhelming majority of the farmers (97.3 percent) had high level problems in using ICTs while only 2.7 percent faced medium problems. Lack of training facilities on ICT, cost of using ICT services, low knowledge on availability of ICT based facilities, lack of operational knowledge of computer, low bandwidth speed of internet, limited availability of ICT services, poor level of education/ illiteracy, and so on were identified as the major constraints faced by the farmers.

An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from February to June 2018 with a view to study the effect of mulch and organic amendments on growth and yield performance of BRRI dhan58 under dry direct seeded boro rice production system. The experiment included two set of treatments. A. Mulch (M1=rice straw mulch @ 7 t ha-1 and M2=No mulch) and B. Organic amendments (T1=Trico-compost (TC) @ 5 t ha-1, T2 =Farm Yard Manure (FYM) @ 5 t ha-1, T3 =Mustard Oil Cake (MOC) @ 0.5 t ha-1, T4= Trico-compost (TC) @ 5 t ha-1 + Mustard Oil Cake (MOC) @ 0.5 t ha-1, T5 = Farm Yard Manure (FYM) @ 5 t ha-1 + Mustard Oil Cake (MOC) @ 0.5 t ha-1, T6=Control). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with mulch in the main plot and organic amendments in the sub-plot. The treatments were replicated three times. The higher plant height (95.90 cm), no. of effective tillers hill-1 (11.48), 1000-grains weight (24.75 g), grain yield (5.34 t ha-1), and straw yield (7.38 t ha1) were found from rice straw mulch plots. The highest plant height (103.40 cm), panicle length (23.24 cm), no. of grain panicle-1 (118.79), 1000-grain weight (25.23 g), grain yield (5.67 t ha-1), straw yield (7.80 t ha-1), biological yield (13.47 t ha-1) and harvest index (42.06%) were found from treatment T4 (Tricho compost+Muatard Oil Cake). The crop grown with recommended rate of fertilizers (T6) gave the worst performance. The interaction between mulch and organic amendments were not significant for grain yield. Thus the study concludes that rice straw mulching gives better yield than no mulch plots and the organic amendment is better than recommended inorganic fertilizer application.

Respiratory bacterial infections in cattle are very common all over Bangladesh causing high economic loss. This research was performed with a view to proper control of respiratory bacterial infections of cattle in Bangladesh. A total of 100 nasal samples were collected on the basis of clinical signs. From the collected samples isolation, identification and characterization of the bacterial agents was done using cultural, biochemical and molecular techniques. Antibiogram profiles of the isolated agents were studied by disc diffusion method. Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were successfully isolated and identified from the collected samples. The isolated Pasteurella multocida produced small, round, opaque colonies on blood agar; Staphylococcus aureus produced golden yellow colony in mannitol salt agar; E. coli produced black color colonies with metallic sheen on EMB agar. Pasteurella multocida showed Gram negative, bipolar rods. Staphylococcus aureus showed Gram positive, cocci shaped and E. coli showed Gram negative, small rod shaped. Among 100 nasal samples 16 were found to be positive for Pasteurella multocida, 21 for Staphylococcus aureus and 13 for E. coli on the basis of cultural and biochemical characteristics. The antibiogram study reflected that ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol should be first choice of treatment of respiratory bacterial infections caused by the isolated 3 bacteria. Pasteurella multocida was further characterized by PCR where 16 isolates showed positive band at 460 bp and Pasteurella multocida type A at 1044 bp. The present research work covering antibiogram study is a preliminary report in the context of Bangladesh.

The present study was carried out with retrospective data collected from the nucleus herd of USDA funded Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) project at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and community herd at Char Jailkhana, Mymensingh during 2005 to 2011. The 15 days test interval daily milk yield records of 141 lactations taken from 52 cows from two different herds were collected to estimate multiplicative ratio factors (RF), simple regression from last test day milk yield record (SRLTD) and last test day along with average daily milk yield from known lactation part at any duration (SRLTAD) for prediction of standard 300 days milk yield. The correlations among 300 day milk yields estimated by three different extension models were also investigated and were found no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) with significantly (P<0.01) highly correlated with each other. The results revealed the accuracy of prediction of ratio factors and regression coefficients for three different models and may be adopted any of those models to extend standardized milk production (300 day) for RCC in Bangladesh.