Mehsana buffalo is one of the best dairy breed of buffalo in Gujarat state. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of non-genetic factors on Age at first calving (AFC) and Wet average (WA). The data set comprised 12560 records up to three lactations of 7870 Mehsana buffaloes, sired by 200 bulls from 1989 to 2013 under field progeny testing programme of Dudhsagar Research and Development Association (DURDA), Dudhsagar Dairy, Mehsana. The least squares maximum likelihood (LSML) program was used for estimation of various non-genetic factors on AFC and WA. The least squares mean with standard error of AFC and WA were 1383.30+-3.50 days and 7.00+-0.22 lit. Highly significant (P LT 0.01) effect of season and period of birth was recorded on AFC however, effect of clusters on AFC was observed to be non-significant (P LT 0.05). Further, highly significant (P LT= 0.01) effect of all the non-genetic factors (parities, season of calving, clusters, period of calving and age at first calving group) under study was observed on wet average in Mehsana buffaloes. The heritability of AFC and WA were estimated as0.11+-0.02 and 0.34+-0.03 respectively. Heritability of traits are useful for prediction of genetic response to selection and measure for accuracy in selection. Very high and significant estimate of heritability of WA. It was concluded that selection of Mehsana buffaloes may be based on this production trait in the herd.

Data on Egyptian buffalo were analyzed to estimate the effect of age at first calving (AFC, mo) classes on some productive traits [milk yield (MY, kg), milk yield per day, (MY/D, kg), and lactation period (LP, d) and reproductive traits [calving interval (CI, d) and number of services per conception (NSPC, count). Means for AFC were 916+-41, 1143+-72 and 1414+-119 days for early, average and late respectively. Additionally, means of milk yield (MY) for mentioned three levels of AFC were 1780+-774, 1920+-607 and 2040+-812 kg, respectively. Economic evaluations indicated that the profit per buffalo cow during the lifetime production were L.E 62960 (us dollars 3778), L.E 38538 (us dollars 2312) and L.E 3695 (us dollars 222) of early, average and late AFC, respectively. Reducing AFC was a positive influence on lifetime profit per buffalo cow. Lifetime profit rises to about L.E 24400, L.E 59200, and L.E 34800 when AFC decreased to 30 months from (38 months), to 30 months from (55 months) and to 38 months from (55 months), respectively. Heritability estimates for MY, MY/D, LP, CI, NSPC and AFC were 0.39+-0.09, 0.31+-0.07, 0.21+-0.08, 0.15+-0.06, 0.11+-0.07 and 0.57+-0.18, respectively. Genetic correlations between AFC and MY, MY/D, LP, CI, NSPC were -0.146+-0.33, -0.382+-0.30, +0.038+-0.47, +0.530+-0.49 and +0.311+-0.63, successively. The present results revealed that the buffaloes having late AFC were unprofitable during her productive life in the farm, but still needs further investigation of large data with different geographical area and management conditions.

Udder length, width and height are very important parameters to identify good dairy animals. Udder measurements including length, width and height on 437 Nili Ravi buffaloes were recorded before and after miking with 1180 records at 6 Experimental Stations in Punjab, Pakistan. Heritabilities were estimated using Best Linear Unbiased Prediction techniques. Environmental factors viz age of the buffalo at scoring, stage of lactation, parity, herd and season were included in the model. Least square means for udder length, width and height before milking were found as 52.65+-6.87, 53.52+-6.19 and 54.34+-4.99 cm and after milking as 47.08+-6.57, 48.15+-5.79 and 55.39+-5.15 cm, respectively. Heritability estimates for udder length, width and height before milking were found as 0.08+-0.07, 0.22+-0.08 and 0.22+-0.09, while after milking as 0.14+-0.07, 0.20+-0.08 and 0.09+-0.08, respectively. All the factors significantly affected before milking udder length. A significant effect of herd, parity, season of scoring and age on udder width before milking was observed. Herd, stage of lactation, parity and age of the buffalo at scoring significantly affected udder height before milking. Significant effect of herd, parity, stage of lactation and age of the buffaloes at classification on most of the traits suggest that managemental factors are important. Moderate heritability estimates for these udder traits provide a fair scope for improvement through selection and breeding which will help to increase milk yield in Nili Ravi buffaloes.