Eighteen apparently healthy pregnant buffaloes divided into three groups according to gestational stages, i.e. early, mid and late gestation were selected and blood samples were collected. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin and A: G ratio were estimated along with IL-1 beta. The concentration of IL-1 beta increased from early gestation to mid gestation and declined towards late gestation. Concentration of serum total protein, albumin, globulin and A: G was highest during late gestation (8.23+-0.26 g/dl), mid-gestation (3.95+-0.10 g/dl/), late gestation (4.68+-0.21 g/dl/) and early gestation (0.84+-0.12). Concentration of IL-1 beta, serum total proteins, albumin, globulin and A: G was statistically non-significant during all three stages of gestation.

Present study was designed to decipher the haemato-biochemical and hormonal profile following bypass nutrient supplementation in Murrah buffaloes during early lactation. Forty Murrah buffaloes just after parturition divided randomly into four equal groups and fed basal diet constituting common green fodder and wheat straw, while two different types of concentrates mixture (CM) having 25 (CM1, for group fed control or bypass fat, BPF diet) and 40 percent (CM2 for group fed bypass protein, BPP and BPP with BPF, BPPF diet) of BPP using variable feed ingredients in CM. Animals of group BPF and BPPF additionally fed 15 g bypass fat (long chain fatty acid of calcium salt) for each kg of milk produced for initial 90 days of lactation. Blood sampling was carried out at 0 day (before starting supplementation) and thereafter at an interval of one month, till 120th day after parturition, to find out the effect of supplementation as well is after effects. Significant reduction (P LT 0.05) in serum urea on day 60 was observed in bypass protein fed groups (BPP and BPPF) remains indicative of efficient nitrogen utilization. Thus overall mean total protein in bypass protein fed groups (BPP and BPPF) was higher (P LT 0.05) than control group. Values of albumin also on day 90 (P LT 0.01), 120 (P LT 0.05) as well as overall mean remained higher (P LT 0.001) in group fed CM high in rumen protected protein (BPP and BPPF) than groups fed low bypass protein CM (control and BPF). Supplementation of BPPF improved (P LT 0.05) overall mean cholesterol level as compared to control. Reduction (P LT 0.05) in low density lipoprotein values was observed on day 60 in BPF group as compared to others, while overall mean high density lipoprotein (HDL) in bypass protein fed groups (BPP and BPPF) was found to be higher (P LT 0.01) as compared to others. IGF-1and BHBA showed non-significant difference in all treated groups at different intervals in addition of haematological parameters. It may be concluded that feeding of bypass protein (BPP and BPPF) improved serum overall total protein, albumin, cholesterol and HDL in post-parturient Murrah buffaloes during early lactation.

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.

The Myxovirus resistance protein 2 of Homo sapiens is well characterized in terms of structure and function but very little is known about myxovirus resistance protein 2 (Mx2) of Bubalus bubalis. Although a few functions of buffalo Mx2 protein are known, its structural characteristics have still remained unclear. In the present study, buffalo Mx2 protein was characterized by defining its possible structure and functions using several online and offline computational tools. Besides the physico-chemical characteristics, various post translational modifications, localization, possible domains and interactions with other probable proteins were predicted using its amino acid sequence. In addition to the secondary structure, the three-dimensional structure was predicted using I-TASSER homology modelling server and a refined model was constructed in Modeller. The refined model manifested acceptable quality and stereochemistry on validation with different programs. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis of the protein was done and Mx2 protein of buffalo was found to have a common ancestry with that of other bovidae family members. These curated observations might provide a sound foundation for further structural and functional characterization of buffalo Mx2 protein.