eChapters

Economy consideration: Economy consideration suggests that some tradeoff which is needed between the ideal research project and that which the budget can afford. The length of measuring tool is an important area where economic pressures are quickly felt. Even though more items give superior reliability, but in the interest of limiting the interview or observation time, the research worker is to take only a few items for his study purpose.

Factor analysis: Factor analysis is the most commonly employed multivariate procedure in the research studies when there is a systematic interdependence among a set of observed or manifest variables and the research worker is interested in finding out something more fundamental or latent which creates this commonality.

Illuminative evaluation: The primary concern of illuminative or holistic evaluation is a description and interpretation rather than measurement and prediction of the totality of a phenomenon. It fits with the social–anthropological paradigm. The aim is to study a programme in all its aspects: how it operates, how it is influenced by various contexts, how it is applied, how those directly involved view its strengths and weaknesses, and what the experiences are of those who are affected by it.

Matching: The matching is a technique that is used to form two groups of subjects to set up an experiment–control study to test the effectiveness of a treatment. From a pool of subjects, two subjects with identical predetermined attributes, characteristics or conditions are matched and then randomly placed in either the experimental or control group.

Narratives: The narrative technique of gathering information has even less structure than the focus group. Narratives have almost no predetermined contents except that the research worker seeks to hear the personal experience of a person with an incident or happening in his life. Essentially, the person tells his story about an incident or situation and the research worker, listen passively, occasionally encouraging the respondent.

Objective- oriented evaluation: The objective- oriented evaluation is the evaluation when it is designed to ascertain whether or not a programme or a service is achieving its objectives or goals.

Table of random numbers: Most books on research methodology and statistics have tables that contain randomly generated numbers. There is a specific way of selecting a random sample using these tables.

Agricultural policies in the past have witnessed a series of iterative changes following the economic reforms during the 1990s that marked a Division of Agricultural Economics. Though many of the reform processes were not initiated to directly affect the agriculture sector, it was affected indirectly (Chand, 2004). The mounting stock of food grains has partly been due to the weak purchasing power of the poor in the country. Nevertheless, the problem associated with buffer stock management and degradation of natural resources in some regions has triggered a debate to redefine the agricultural policies. As a remedial measure, it has been suggested that India should diversify its agriculture and get a foothold in the world market (Radhakrishna and Reddy, 2004).

1. Village market is based on the classification of ________________

a) Volume of transaction

b) Location

c) Time span

d) Area coverage

2. Regional Markets are based on ___________

a) Location

b) Time span

c) Area coverage

d) Volume of transaction

3. The prices of commodities are controlled mainly by the extent of demand for the commodity rather than the supply of the commodity.

1. At times of distress sales

a) Marketed surplus < Marketable surplus

b) Marketed surplus > Marketable surplus

c) Marketed surplus = Marketable surplus

d) Zero marketed surplus

2. For durable goods, under normal pricing conditions

a) Marketed surplus < Marketable surplus

b) Marketed surplus > Marketable surplus

c) Marketed surplus = Marketable surplus

d) Zero marketed surplus

The animals are mostly social ones and prefer living in herds. In each species there are certain rules for group survival, cohesion, defence and also for propagation. The basic patterns of male sexual behaviour appear to be innate in nature. Kids of both sexes are very often seen exhibiting sexual display during play and mounting is seen most commonly. In females the sexual receptivity is restricted to few hours or days near the estrous phase of the estrous cycle, while in males the sexual receptivity is grossly permanent. The physiological signals for arousal of sexual motivations originate from gonadal steroid balance. However, the secretion of gonadal steroids is not permanent. In males the androgen secretion is in the form of several peaks within 24 hours reflecting the pulsatile release of pituitary gonadotropins. However, the total amount of androgen in males is almost constant practically for day to day. In females the secretions of estrogens are restricted only during few days (follicular phase) of the estrous cycle.

Hygienic collection of semen is an integral part of the artificial insemination process. Semen collection implies mounting a teaser doe or a dummy. Therefore, proper semen collection deserves the utmost attention. Sexual efficiency is measured by the percentage or successful semen collections among attempted collections. When males are allowed to female teaser, the male exhibits characteristic behavioural symptoms such as sniffing, nudging or mounting at that time it is necessary for the operator to attempt an approach. This approach has to be done quietly to avoid a fear reflex in the male. The male, even if it mounts the female, deviation of its penis into the receptacle. Under the circumstances, the operator should not more from his squatting position, so that the male does not associate the two events. The animal generally comes back by itself to attempt remounting the female and will serve the artificial vagina. The operator should also stimulate the male by voice.

1.0. Objectives

• To describe communication, its type and process
• To illustrate the methods to make listening effectively
• To impart knowledge of effective communication skills
• To impart tips to improve their verbal and non-verbal communication

1.0. Objectives

• To make out the definition of verb and its kinds
• To enable the students to show the correct usage of verbs
• To train learners to identify appropriate verbs for subjects
• To practise to use different types of verbs suitable, in sentence, to express the intension

2.0 What is a Verb

“A verb is a word that implies an action, state of being”. It is a very important part of a sentence as it operates sentences in particular tense. It is called the soul of the English language.

3.0 Kinds of Verb

To understand the kinds of the verb see the chart given below-

1.0. Objectives

• To impart knowledge about voices
• To differentiate between active and passive voices
• To escribe rules of transferring from active to passive and Vice versa
• To provide the knowledge of making communication and writing more effective with the inclusion of voice

Active Voice is used when the subject of the sentence is prime and emphasis is on that.

E.g. Teacher elected him CR of the class.

1.0. Objectives

• To impart the concept of word formation
• To train to use and change words in various category
• To provide the knowledge of affixation, conversion and compounding

2.0. Word Formation

The term ‘word formation’ does not impart an exact, universally endorsed usage. It focuses on all processes associated to changing the form of the word by, for example, affixation basically refers to morphology. In broad sense word formation depicts the processes of forming new lexical units. These changes can be noticed and understood easily, sometimes it becomes complex too.

1.0. Objectives

• To increase communication skills of learners
• To enable to develop of genuine and original dialogue in various situations
• To inculcate the habit to handle an unknown situation
• To polish behaviou in line of dialogue

2.0. Situational Dialogues and Role Play blend together

They are introduced to generating speech among the students. Taking one situation, one has to write dialogues. Dialogue is nothing other than writing a conversation between two persons or more than two persons in a particular situation. One person has to take a situation and create characters and feel as other characters and build a dialogue.

1.0. Objectives

• Identifying the subject and verb of a sentence
• Understand the rules of correct writing
• Illustration of the significance of the forms of verbs according to the subject in sentences
• The practice of choosing a verb that goes with the subject of a sentence

1.0. Objectives

• To provide knowledge of the correct structure and content of the formal letter
• To show the letter-writing etiquette
• To impart knowledge of different types of letters
• To make out how to develop ideas in a formal and informal letter
• To make them practice writing letters

A. Triglycerides Clinical significance To form lipoproteins, triglycerides combine with cholesterol, phospholipids, and plasma proteins. To determine whether hypertriglyceridemia may be present, the serum triglyceride concentration is measured (increased blood and serum levels of triglycerides). Chylomicrons and very low density lipoprotein (VLDLs), which cause the extensive lipaemia frequently observed in serum or plasma samples, are both mostly composed of glycerides.

Calcium Clinical Significance Calcium is an essential mineral which is involved in many body systems. These include the skeleton, enzyme activation, muscle metabolism, blood coagulation and osmoregulation. In the blood calcium exists as 50% ionized, 40% protein bound and 10% complexes with anions such as citrate and phosphate. Only ionized calcium is biologically active in bone formation, neuromuscular activity, cellular biochemical processes and blood coagulation. Factors governing the total plasma concentration are complex and include interaction with other chemical moieties, proteins and hormones. Calcium, phosphorus and albumin metabolism are interdependent.

Creatinine Clinical significance Creatinine is produced at a steady rate due to muscle catabolism and is not reabsorbed by the kidney tubules after filtration. Its measurement provides an indirect assessment of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Unlike urea it is not markedly affected by diet or any aspect of liver function and therefore the test is more specific for renal dysfunction

Purpose of study An essential component of the diagnostic process in the evaluation of the disease process is the laboratory diagnosis of any parasitic infection. Sometimes, this confirms the presumptive clinical diagnosis, and other times, it provides evidence that the clinician may have ignored. A sufficient specimen must be used for the examination to achieve a satisfactory diagnosis. Internal parasite testing needs to be done often. Regular inspection typically enables early parasitism identification, preventing gross infection. The majority of the parasites can be accurately identified by doing a detailed examination of the faeces. Faecal sample collection and delivery for parasite identificatio

A. Intestinal protozoa Fresh faeces must be used as a sample. The sample must be examined immediately and without refrigeration. Methods of examination 1. Direct smear examination A thin smear of faeces mixed with either water or normal saline (recommended for Trophozoites since they stay intact and motile longer). Select blood-tinged mucus or tiny tissue bits if the faeces are dysenteric. One to two percent of an aqueous eosin solution can be used in place of saline or water, but the oocyst still resist the stain. The viability is examined using the eosin solution. It is possible to employ an iodine solution (which kills protozoa), which allows for the identification and differentiation of the protozoa. It is possible

The essential database for all skin diseases consists skin scrapings. Skin scrapings fall into two main categories: superficial and deep. Superficial scrapings give information from the epidermis’s surface without causing capillary bleeding. Capillary haemorrhage is a sign that the sampling was deep enough to gather material from the hair follicle. Deep skin scrapings are used for this purpose. The main purpose of skin scrapings is to detect the presence or absence of mites. A skin-scraping spatula, which is a thin metal weighing spatula, is recommended for use while scraping the skin. These spatulas are safe and can be used again. Scrapings from active lesions at several places are to be submitted. Scraping from active lesions at several places is to be submitted. Generally, the periphery of the lesion contains more parasites than the centre. Skin scrapings are used to identify ectoparasites and fungal diseases.

Abstract

Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extended term for information technology (IT) which stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information.

The term ICT is also used to refer to the convergence of audio-visual and telephone networks with computer networks through a single cabling or link system. There are large CoymeBoang incentives (huge cost savings due to elimination of the telephone network) to merge the telephone network with the computer network system using a single unified system of cabling, signal distribution and management.

However, ICT has no universal definition, as “the concepts, methods and applications involved in ICT are constantly evolving on an almost daily basis.” The broadness of ICT covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit or receive information electronically in a digital form, e.g. personal computers, digital television, email, robots. For clarity, Zuppo provided an ICT hierarchy where all levels of the hierarchy “contain some degree of commonality in that they are related to technologies that facilitate the transfer of information and various types of electronically mediated communications.” Skills Framework for the Information Age is one of many models for describing and managing competencies for ICT professionals for the 21st century.

Keywords: ICT Tools, Gadgets, Software, Apps, Networking Technologies.

Over the time, the concept of extension education transformed from an educational system to an empowerment tool. It is a programme and a process of helping village people to help themselves in view to increase production and raise their general standard of living. As a science, Extension education deals with the creation, transmission and application of knowledge designed to bring about planned changes in the behaviour-complex of people. This particular branch of agricultural science is devoted to bring changes in perception and attitude towards scientific farming techniques, adoption of hi-tech horticulture, precision farming, improved machineries of pre and post-harvest management etc. through vocational training, capacity building, participatory approaches and through many other approaches. A proper planning of extension strategy will help to popularize livestock-based system of production, processing and economics associated with it.

Abstract

Bioinformatics is an important interdisciplinary field that brings together several areas of science, including molecular biology, biostatistics, and computer science (vis-a-vis information technology). With the rapid increase in the sequencing of DNA/RNA/protein molecules, as well as the growing understanding of the interconnections between different areas of biological science, the importance of bioinformatics is only increasing. This chapter seems to provide a thorough introduction to the definition, concept, and importance of bioinformatics. It also appears to highlight the relevance and potential scope of the subject for students interested in pursuing a career in the field. As bioinformatics continues to evolve and expand, it is likely to become an increasingly important area of research and development in the life sciences.

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief overview of the key milestones in the development of bioinformatics that would help to understand the historical context and evolution of a subject. As an interdisciplinary field, bioinformatics has grown gradually from molecular biology, with the development of various algorithms, databases, and other important tools that have helped to advance computational biology. Some important events in the history of bioinformatics might include the development of the first algorithms for sequence alignment and comparison, the creation of early databases such as GenBank and Swiss- Prot, and the development of software tools for molecular modeling and drug design. Other key milestones might include the sequencing of the first genomes, the development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, and the emergence of new areas of research such as systems biology and synthetic biology. By understanding the historical context of bioinformatics, students and researchers can gain a deeper appreciation for the current state of the field and the ongoing efforts to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie life.

Abstract

Biological databases that are composed of a large collection of digital nucleic acid sequences, protein sequences, or other polymer sequences stored on a computer, which is made available to the research community worldwide using web servers. The vast amount of information generated in molecular biology is analyzed, curated, tabulated, and arranged in databases. There are different types of biological databases, based on their contents. Besides, the database management system, a program to manage the databases, can be of two types: distributed DBMS and relational DBMS. This chapter briefly narrates the importance and purpose of biological databases.

Abstract

Molecular phylogeny is an important method for understanding the evolutionary relationships between different organisms. Molecular phylogeny is based on the idea that organisms that share a more recent common ancestor will have more similarities in their DNA or protein sequences. The chapter seems to cover the basic concepts and terminology used in molecular phylogeny, including the difference between rooted and unrooted trees, as well as various methods used for constructing phylogenetic trees. Further, chapter also covers some common tools and software used for analyzing molecular data and constructing phylogenetic trees. Overall, this chapter provides a useful introduction to molecular phylogeny and the methods used for understanding the evolutionary relationships between different organisms. Understanding these concepts is important for many areas of biological research, including evolutionary biology, ecology, and biotechnology.

Abstract

PCR primer design is a crucial skill for molecular biologists, as it enables the study of gene expression, gene amplification, and molecular markers. Primer3 is an online tool widely used for designing optimal PCR primers, which are pairs of short oligonucleotides that initiate DNA synthesis in vitro using a thermocycler. This tool uses a range of parameters to generate high- quality primers, including target sequence length, melting temperature, GC content, specificity, and product size. Understanding and effectively utilizing these parameters is essential for achieving accurate and reliable PCR results. In this chapter, the practical aspect of primer designing using the online tool Primer3 has been discussed. The parameters and the purpose of their usage have been given in a tabulated manner.

Abstract

The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, or BLAST, is an online tool provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) that allows users to search for matches between their query sequences and the sequences stored in NCBI databases. BLAST can be used to search for nucleotide sequences against nucleotide sequences, protein sequences against protein sequences, and protein sequences against translated nucleotide sequences in the databases. BLAST is widely used to study sequence similarity, identify target sequences, analyze the functional aspects of molecular sequences, and investigate evolutionary relationships. This chapter details on the BLAST and its applications.

Abstract

Proteins are complex molecules composed of one or more polypeptide chains made up of amino acid residues. These molecules perform a variety of essential functions in living organisms, including DNA replication, molecule transport, catalyzing metabolic processes, and providing structural support to cells. In this chapter, we explore the four levels of protein structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. Primary structure refers to the specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain, while secondary structure describes the folding of the chain into alpha-helices, beta-sheets, or other patterns. Tertiary structure is the three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain, and quaternary structure refers to the interactions between multiple polypeptide chains to form a larger protein complex. Additionally, this chapter covers various methods used to predict protein structure, including homology modeling, ab initio prediction, and threading algorithms.

Abstract

When only sequence data is available, homology modeling has become a useful tool for predicting protein structure. Protein structure is often more important than sequence data when evaluating protein function. Homology modeling, also known as comparative modeling, is based on the principle that two sequences that exhibit a high degree of identity or similarity will also share similar structures. This chapter explores the steps involved in homology modeling, including template selection, alignment, model building, refinement, and validation. The Ramachandran plot is a valuable tool for assessing the conformation and bond angles in a protein model, and we discuss its significance in the context of homology modeling. Ultimately, homology modeling is an effective method for predicting protein structure and has numerous applications in protein engineering, drug discovery, and other fields.

Abstract

Systems biology is an interdisciplinary field that combines computer and mathematical analysis with biological research to understand the complex interactions within biological systems. This chapter explores the history and evolution of systems biology and its significant impact on modern biology. Systems biology uses a holistic approach to analyze biological systems at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels, providing a better understanding of biological processes and the interactions between genes, proteins, and other molecules. Systems biology has immense potential in improving human health, agriculture, and the environment, and this chapter explores the ongoing efforts to translate systems biology research into practical applications.

Successful artificial insemination (AI) is necessary to maximise productivity on any pig farm. There are two types of breeding methods viz. natural mating and artificial insemination. Natural mating involves mating with a boar of superior breed qualities. On the field, only a few farmers have their own boar, and they are employed without regard for genetic merit, breed, or superiority of boar. Only the best quality breeding boar available in the area should be used to produce better piglets with larger litter sizes. Artificial insemination involves artificially collecting sperm from a proven boar, evaluating it for perfection, and depositing it into the cervix of a receptive sow. Artificial means are used for both collection and insemination. This expertise offers an extraordinary opportunity for the genetic upgrading of the animal species to which it is applied. Furthermore, it provides the most cost-effective approach of preserving genetic diversity in a population.

The selection of individual animals from a group is very important in a livestock farming business. While creating a herd, every farmer should buy animals from a trustworthy disease-free herd and learn as much as they can about the animals. Once the herd is established, the selection of gilts and boars for replacement in the breeding herd should be based on type and performance. The following are important criteria to consider while creating a healthy sow herd:

• Size of litters
• Strength and vigour of litters
• Milking ability
• Temperament

The house should provide adequate protection from direct sunlight and rain. Pigs are extremely sensitive to heat and cold. In rural locations, simple low-cost dwellings built with locally accessible materials are preferred. It is also possible to construct adaptable pens that may be used for all types of pigs. Adequate pig housing is critical for disease prevention, parasite control, and labour savings.

The vital points about the pig house are as follows:

• Build the shed on a dry and adequately raised site.
• Avoid locations that are flooded, swampy, or have a lot of rain.
• The shed’s side walls should be 4-5 feet tall, with the remaining height supported by GI pipes or wooden poles.
• Plastering the walls will make them damp proof.

The digestive mechanism of a pig is ideally adapted to full concentrate-based meals. The digestive organs are quite simple, with a continuous musculomembanous tube from the mouth to the anus. However, this system includes multiple sophisticated interaction functions.

Mouth

The mouth is necessary not only for food consumption, but also for first partial size reduction by grinding. While teeth are the major means of reducing meal size and increasing surface area, when feed is mixed with saliva, the first step in the chemical breakdown of food occurs. The three primary salivary glands are the parotid, mandibular, and sublingual glands. Saliva secretion is a reflex activity that occurs when there is food in the mouth. The amount of mucus in saliva is determined by the wetness or dryness of the meal consumed. As a result, on a dry diet, more saliva mucus is secreted, whereas on a moist diet, only enough is secreted to aid in swallowing. Amylase, the enzyme that hydrolyzes starch to maltose, is present in saliva in very low amounts. Salivary digestive enzymes provide a minor effect. Food is chewed and mixed with saliva before going to the stomach via the mouth, throat, and oesophagus. Oesophageal movement involves muscle peristalsis, or the contraction and relaxation of muscles to move food.

Quantitative traits are governed by many genes or polygenes genes with small individual effects. They are often described by their gene action rather than by the number of genes by which they are governed. There are four types of gene action: additive, dominance, epistasis, and overdominance. Because gene effects do not always fall into clear-cut categories, and it should be pointed out that gene action is conceptually the same for major genes as well as minor genes, the essential difference being that the action of a minor gene is small and significantly influenced by the environment. A general way of distinguishing between these types of gene action based on interaction among alleles is as follows:

While dealing with polygenic traits and the continuous variation in plant breeding programs, it is important to know as to what extent the phenotype is decided by the genotype and to what extent by the environment. It is well known fact that what we observe i.e. phenotype is the result of genotype, environment and interaction between the genotype and the environment. The total variance is phenotypic variance or the variance of phenotypic values and various components of variance are as shown in Table 6.1.

The response to selection (R) or selection advance or genetic gain is the difference between the mean phenotypic value of the offspring of the selected parents and the whole of the parental generation before selection. The response to selection is simply the change of population mean between generations following selection. Similarly, the selection differential (S) is the mean phenotypic value of the individuals selected as parents expressed as a deviation from the population mean (i.e., from the mean phenotypic value of all the individuals in the parental generation before selection). Response to selection is related to heritability by the following equation:

Random Mating

Random mating occurs when each female gamete has an equal chance of being fertilized by any male gamete of the same plant or with any other plant of the population and, furthermore, there is an equal chance for seed production. It is not possible to achieve true random mating in plant breeding because selection is involved. Consequently, it is more realistic to describe the system of mating as random mating with selection. Whereas true random mating does not change gene frequencies, existing variability in the population or genetic correlation between close relatives, random mating with selection changes gene frequencies and the mean of the population, with little or no effect on homozygosity, population variance, or genetic correlation between close relatives in a large population.

To start with let the self-incompatibility be defined.

• Self-incompatibility is the mechanism by which plant can prevent selffertilization.
• Self-incompatibility is defined as inability of a plant producing functional gamete to achieve self-fertilization.
• Self-incompatibility is a genetically based mechanism which controls mating within angiosperm species by imposing a ‘barrier’ between pollination and fertilization.
• The term incompatibility is used to describe the failure of pollen tube to penetrate the full length of the style and to effect fertilization.

A line homozygous at all loci, ordinarily obtained by successive self-fertilizations in plant breeding is called a pure line. This concept was proposed by Danish biologist, W.L. Johannsen in 1903 while conducting a series of selection experiments for seed weight in common bean, which is strictly self-pollinated species. This is applied in self-pollinated crops, like wheat, rice, pulses, several vegetable crops, namely, tomato, chilli, eggplant, okra, cucurbits, etc. This is also applied to develop inbred parental lines in maize and several other cross-pollinated crops. However, ultimately these parental lines are used in development of new hybrids. This could be summarized as follows:

• Lines that are genetically different may be successfully isolated from within a population of mixed genetic types.
• Any variation that occurs within a pure line is not heritable but due to environmental factors only. Consequently, as Johansen’s bean study showed, further selection within the line is not effective.

A variety produced by crossing inter se a number of genotypes selected for good general combining ability in all hybrid combinations with subsequent maintenance of the variety by open-pollination. Synthetics development is common in cross- pollinated crops in the early phases of breeding. The synthetic method of breeding is suitable for improving cross-fertilized crops. It is widely used to breed forage species. Successful synthetic cultivars have been bred for corn, sugar beets, and other species like cauliflower in India. The suitability of forage species for this method of breeding stems from several biological factors. Forages have perfect flowers, making it difficult to produce hybrid seed for commercial use. The use of male sterility may facilitate controlled cross-pollination, which is difficult to achieve in most forage species. To test individual plants for use in producing the commercial seed, it is essential to obtain sufficient seed from these plants. The amount of seed obtained from single plants of these species is often inadequate for a progeny test. Furthermore, forage species often exhibit self-incompatibility, a condition that inhibits the production of selfed seed. Synthetic cultivars are also used as gene pools in breeding progeny. Synthetic cultivars are advantageous in agricultural production systems where farmers routinely save seed for planting. One of the well-known and widely used synthetic has been the Iowa stiff- stalk synthetic (BSSS) of maize.

Composites defined as advanced generation populations maintained by random mating in the material constituted through mixing of equal quantity of seeds of crosses showing less inbreeding depression in F2 over F1. The components of composites inbreds, open-pollinated populations, locally available open-pollinated cultivars, hybrids, advanced generation lines, improved populations. Mixing the seeds of several phenotypically outstanding lines produces a composite variety and encouraging open pollination to produce crosses in all combinations among, the mixed lines. The lines used to produce a composite variety are rarely or not tested for combining ability with each other like as done in case of synthetics where the combining ability of the component lines is invariably tested for GCA. Composite are commercial varieties and are maintained by open - pollination in isolation. While mixing the seeds of various genotypes, care should be taken that the component lines are similar in maturity height, seed size, colour, etc. so that the composite maintained through random mating in isolation manifests a reasonable degree of phenotypic uniformity. The variety is maintained by open pollination. Farmers can use their own seed for 3 to 4 years.

Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is one type of indigenous poultry species, reared traditionally by the poor farmers for their livelihood. Maximum numbers of duck flocks concentrate in the paddy (Oryza sativa) growing and watershed areas of the state like Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, and Tripura. Ducks rise on the free-range system with readily available fallen grains in paddy fields, insects, snails, earthworms, small fishes, and other aquatic materials. 

Ducks are prone to several external parasites and are also affected by external parasites found in other poultry birds. Birds are plagued by an remarkable range of ectoparasites, ranging from feather-feeding lice, to feather degrading bacteria and many of these ectoparasites have severe harmful effects on host health. External parasites can make ducks very uncomfortable, transmits several diseases and can be fatal in untreated cases. Among the ectoparasites lice is most commonly found in ducks. Ectoparasites infested birds become restless and the feeding and sleeping is disturbed resulting in decreased growth rate and egg production.

Common ectoparasites present on ducks-