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.

Data on 4971 test-day milk yield traits [milk (TDMY), fat (TDFY) and protein (TDPY)] for 691 Egyptian buffalo cows, daughters of 120 sires and 532 dams were used for fitting the lactation curve parameters of milk, fat and protein yields using multiple-trait animal model. The random effects included in the model were direct additive genetic, permanent environment and error, while the fixed effects were herd test-day, year and season of calving and parity as well as days in milk as a covariable. The means for TDMY, TDFY, TDPY and lactation curve parameters [initial (a), ascending slope (b), descending slope (c), persistency (P), and maximum milk production during lactation (Ymax) and the peak test-day (PY)] were estimated. Heritabilities of TDMY, a, b, c, P, PY and Ymax were 0.22, 0.37, 0.38, 0.39, 0.37, 0.37 and 0.38, respectively. The corresponding heritabilities for TDFY and fat curve parameters were 0.21, 0.41, 0.40, 0.39, 0.38, 0.36 and 0.42, while the estimates for TDPY and protein curve parameters were 0.22, 0.38, 0.40, 0.40, 0.38, 0.40 and 0.43, respectively. Genetic correlations among TDMY and curve parameters of a, b, c, P, PY and Ymax were 0.31, -0.23, -0.34, 0.52, 0.48 and 0.87, respectively. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between milk yield traits were high (mostly of 0.83 and 0.99), like the correlations between curve parameter in milk, fat and protein (from 0.71 to 0.96). In practice, genetic selection for lactation curve parameters (a, P and Ymax) in the Egyptian buffalo would improve total milk yield traits.

This study was conducted to determine feeding regimes and some production parameters of Anatolia buffaloes in the Azikheli Delta which one of the Turkey's biggest and most important wetland ecosystem. A total of 59 dairy farms, whose owners were members of the Samsun Provincial Buffalo Breeders Union, were selected for the survey. According to results of the survey, 55.9 percent of the buffalo breeders had above 20 buffaloes. The majority of the farmers produced their own roughage. Most respondents reported that calves were weaned at 5 months of age or older. The investigation revealed that the buffalo feeding system depended on grazing from April to November (summer feeding). During winter feeding, dry forage+silage were used together on the majority of the farms (96.6 percent). All respondents didn’t feed concentrates to their heifers and pregnant buffaloes in the last trimester were fed a special regime by some farmers (16.9 percent). The buffaloes in early lactation were provided a supplementary concentrate mixture by 78 percent of farmers. None of the producers used balanced rations for their animals. Daily milk yield, 69.5 percent of farms, were 3 to 5 L. Mean age at first calving were 31 to 36 months. The survey results showed that the feeding regimes for Anatolian buffaloes adopted by the farmers are deficient and this is probably causing reduced milk yields and reproductive performance. Consequently, in order to improvement milk yield and reproduction potential, it is suggested that buffalo feeding regime should be matched to nutrient requirements and giving information to farmers about feeding techniques.

This study was conducted to analyze the consequence of prill fat and rumen protected choline (RPC) supplementation on performance of lactating Murrah buffaloes. Murrah buffaloes (n=18) were distributed into three groups (Control, T1 and T2) having six buffaloes in each, based on milk yield, fat per cent and stage of lactation. During the experimental period of 90 days, buffaloes in all the three groups were fed same basal diet, containing green fodder (Berseem), wheat straw and concentrate mixture to meet their requirements for maintenance and milk production. Buffaloes in Group T1 were daily supplemented with prill fat 2.5 percent of total DMI whereas; buffaloes in Group T2 were daily supplemented with 54 g rumen protected choline along with same quantity of prill fat fed as in Group T1. In contrast to the control group, overall milk yield (kg) of lactating Murrah buffaloes was significantly (P LT 0.01) increased by 0.99 and 1.78 kg in Group T1 and T2. The average 4 percent FCM (kg/d), ECM (kg/d) and fat yield (kg/d) was significantly (P LT 0.01) higher in Group T2 followed by Group T1 and Group control. There was no significant difference in milk composition of buffaloes except milk fat (percent) and total solids (percent) which were improved significantly (P LT 0.01) in supplemented groups. It was observed that prill fat supplementation in the ration helped to make better performance of early lactating Murrah buffaloes by enhanced milk yield and fat percent which can be further increased by supplementing the ration with rumen protected choline. Overall milk yield (kg) of lactating Murrah buffaloes was significantly (p LT 0.01) increased by 0.99 and 1.78 kg in T1 and T2 groups, as compared to the control group. The average 4 percent FCM (kg/d), ECM (kg/d) and fat yield (kg/d) was significantly (p LT 0.01) higher in T2 group followed by T1 and control group. There was no significant difference in milk composition of buffaloes except milk fat (percent) and total solids (percent) which were improved significantly (p LT 0.01) in supplemented groups. It was concluded that prill fat supplementation in the ration helped in improving performance of early lactating Murrah buffaloes by increasing milk yield and fat percent which can be further enhanced by supplementing the ration with rumen protected choline.

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.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of De-oiled mahua seed cake (DMSC) on the performance (milk yield, fat percent, nutrient intake, net income and body weight change) of lactating buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Mandla district of Chhattisgarh Hills Region of Central India. Eighteen lactating buffaloes were selected nd divided into three groups (T1, T2 and T3) on the basis of body weight, milk yield, parity and stage of lactation, containing 0, 5 and 10 percent DMSC in replacement of conventional de-oiled seed cakes in the concentrate mixture. The milk yield (kg/day), fat percent, 6 percent FCM yield (kg), DM intake (kg/day) and body weight gain (g/day) was comparable among the groups. However, net income (Rs./animal/day) and B:C ratio was higher in the groups containing DMSC. Thus, from the experiment it was concluded that conventional cake can be replaced with 10 percent DMSC economically without any adverse affect on milk yield, fat percent, nutrient intake and body weight.