Dr. Ram Avtar Legha, born in 1966, did his graduation in Agriculture in
1987 followed by M.Sc. Dairying and Ph. D. in Livestock Production and Management
from National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal in 1990 and 1995, respectively.
He then joined Indian Council of Agricultural Research as Scientist in 1997
at National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar.
As researcher, he conducted experiment on French donkey stallions to study
the effect of exercise on sexual behaviour and seminal characteristics.
The behavioural parameters studied were behavioural temperament, libido,
erection time, intensity of thrust, reaction time, total time taken for
successful mounts and flehmen response etc. Similarly, semen evaluation
was carried out during experiment. Parameters studied were ejaculate volume,
colour, pH, sperm motility and sperm concentration. The study indicated
that twenty to thirty minutes' daily exercise is useful to keep the breeding
stallions in good health and better reproduction.
Survey of nutritional an managemental practices of equines in various parts
of Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat States was conducted to study the feeding
and management practices of equines followed by farmers and to generate
base-line data/ information of the feed/fodder offered to various species
of equids.
He conducted a study on evaluation, characterization and cryopreservation
of jack's semen. The macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of jack's semen
was done. The parameters studied were colour, consistency, appearance, volume
of semen, volume of gel, sperm motility, live and dead counts and sperm
concentration. Different semen extenders/dilutors were tried for cryopreservation
of jack's semen. The technique of cryopreservation is standardized.
A research project on molecular characterization for studying genetic diversity
among indigenous breeds of equids was submitted and got approved. In this
project, the genomic DNA was successfully isolated and checked for its purity.
The PCR-RAPD and RFLP techniques were standardized. The research work on
studying genetic diversity using micro satellite technique is in progress.
The other aspect of studying genetic characterization using genetic polymorphism
using protein/ enzyme polymorphic studies have been initiated for haemoglobin,
transferrin, albumin, amylase and alkaline phosphatase polymorphism, about
30 blood/ serum samples have been subjected to the study.
- Cryopreservation of stallion semen and perfection of AI in Marwari horses.
- Superior
mule production in the field through frozen semen of exotic Jacks.
-
Performance
evaluation of Marwari horses under different type of shelters .
