The objective of this study was to determine the appropriate rates of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers for growth, yield and economic efficiency of red turmeric cultivated on the gray soil in Ho Chi Minh City. The field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Research Station in Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City from December 2020 to October 2021. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replicates. The main plots included four nitrogen rates 60, 90 (control), 120 and 150 kg N/ha. The subplots included four potassium rates 90, 120 (control), 150, and 180 kg K2O/ha. All treatments were basally applied with 500 kg lime, 10 tons cow manure and 60 kg P2O5/ha. The results showed that growth attributes and yield were significantly affected by the rates of nitrogen and potassium. Red turmeric applied with 150 kg N/ha combined with 180 kg K2O/ha obtained the outstanding results in growth, yield and profit, such as the plant height of 43.0 cm, stem diameter of 19.7 mm, a number of leaves of 8.6 (180 DAP), soil plant analysis development index of 42.1 (120 DAP), actual fresh yield of 33.9 tons/ha, the profit of VND 370.17 million/ha and the benefit-cost ratio of 2.68.

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate effects of post-hatch feeding time and two different pre-starter diets on growth performance and relative weight of visceral organs and yolk sac in slow-growing chickens. A total of 480 one-day-old chicks (Luong Phuong breed) were randomly assigned into 4 treatment groups in a completely randomized design of 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 10 chicks per pen. The two factors consisted of post-hatch feeding time (immediate access to feed after hatching (0 h) and delayed access to feed for 30 h after hatching) and pre-starters (Vi-start and Commercial 1). Birds were fed 2 different pre-starter diets from 0 to 7 days of age, and then all birds were fed the same commercial diets from 8 to 56 days of age. The results showed that during 0 - 7 days of age, chicks that were not fed for 30 h after hatch  were significantly lower in body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain and feed efficiency (FE) than those fed immediately right after hatch (P < 0.05). In this period, chicks fed Vi-start had better growth performance and FE than those fed Commercial 1. Over a 56-d study, there were no main effects of post-hatch feeding time or pre-starter feed on growth performance of chickens (P > 0.05). However, the post-hatch feeding time × pre-starter feed interaction was significant for final BW at 56 days of age (P = 0.01), suggesting that within commercial feed,  delayed access to feed for 30 h increased the final BW of chickens as compared with immediate access to feed after hatch. In brief, Vi-start fed to chicks improved the growth performance of chicks during the first week after hatch. Feeding pre-starter feeds to chicks immediately right after hatch would be beneficial.

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of dietary supplementation of a seaweed-originated product (SOP) on milk productivity, milk quality and health of milking cows under Vietnam weather conditions at the dairy farm of One Member Dairy and Beef Joint Stock Company HCMC, Vietnam from October 2019 to February 2020. A total of 40 Holstein Friesian crossbred cows were randomly allotted into 2 treatments in a randomized complete block design. The 2 dietary treatments included (1) cows fed a basal ration without SOP supplementation (control) and (2) control plus 70 g SOP/cow per day (about 0.35% dry matter intake/day). Parity, days in milk, body weight, and milk yield of cows in both treatments were almost equal (P > 0.05). The results showed that the average milk yield of cows over the experimental period was not different between the two treatments (P > 0.05), but the lactation stability curve was better in SOP group. The SOP supplementation also did not improve milk quality indicators (fat, protein, solids not fat, lactose, somatic cell count) as compared with the control (P > 0.05). The blood ketone level of cows in the control group was higher than that of cows in the SOP group (P < 0.05), although there were no differences in the blood levels of AST, ALT, protein, glucose, cholesterol, cortisol (P > 0.05). The SOP supplementation did not affect BW, body condition score, and locomotion score as well as the prevalences of lameness and digestive diseases (P > 0.05). Briefly, these results suggest that the dietary SOP addition of 70 g/cow per day appears not to improve milk productivity, milk quality and health of milking cows.

The objective of this study was to determine the development phases of Toxocara canis eggs outside the host and the migration of larvae in the internal organs of chickens infected by ingestion of embryonated T. canis eggs. Under a microscope observation of T. canis eggs which were incubated in a petri dish containing 5 mL of distilled water at 30 – 33oC with regularly aerated, this study showed the development of T. canis egg through various stages, including one cell, two cells, three cells, four cells, early morula, late morula, blastula, gastrula, tadpole, pre-larva, embryonated larva. In addition, it took approximately 9 days for T. canis eggs to hatch and for infective larvae to develop at 30 - 33oC. A total of 50 chickens were randomly assigned to 3 groups including group I (10 chicks/group) was served as control group without T. canis eggs inoculation; two treatment groups II and III (20 chicks/group) were orally inoculated with 500 or 1000 T. canis eggs, respectively. On 1, 3, 6, 15 and 30 days post inoculation (dpi), two chickens/control group and 4 chickens/treatment group were necropsied. The results showed that the percentage of larvae recovered varied from 14.00 to 33.93% and 13.07 to 32.00% in treatment groups II and III, respectively. After 1, 3, 6, and 30 dpi, the significant differences about the number of larvae recovered in two treatment groups were found (P < 0.05). In both treatment groups, the percentage of larvae recovered from livers was higher than that in lung tissue. For 6 dpi, small white foci on the liver’s surface were seen. Interstitial pneumonia, petechial hemorrhages, dark or gray inflammatory nodules in the lung tissue and the atelectatic area were observed. Histopathology examination revealed infiltrations of leukocytes and eosinophil scattered in the liver and lung tissue.

This study investigated the diversity of ornamental plants with medicinal values at the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden in Ho Chi Minh City. The research was conducted through a comprehensive survey, including questionnaires, observation, taking pictures and notes on each sample. The study identified 223 species of ornamental plants, of which species with medicinal values accounted for 55.6% (124 species). Among the identified families, the Fabaceae and the Zingiberaceae were the most popular families and each had 7 species detected. We  also categorized ornamental plants with medicinal values according to different approaches, including tree morphology, layout in the landscape, shade tolerance and light-loving ability, and medicinal uses for application in the landscaping of townhouses and apartments.