The present study was conducted to determine the effect of increasing temperature humidity index (THI) on lactating Murrah buffalo. The study was conducted on six lactating buffaloes which were offered the same basal diet and were blocked by days in milk, milk yield and parity. The study was conducted during May, June and July with average THI of 79.88, 80.57 and 85.36, respectively. Milk yield was recorded twice a day at 06:00 and 18:00 h and physiological parameters were recorded and blood was sampled on 30th day of each month at 14:30 h. The results showed a significant decrease (P LT 0.05) in milk yield in buffaloes only at a THI of 85.36 as compared to THI up to 80.57. The rectal temperature (RT) did not change (P=0.580) with increasing THI up to 85.36, however, the respiration rate (RR) and pulse rate (PR) changed (P LT 0.05) progressively with increasing THI. Leucocytopnoea, lymphocytopnoea and neutrophilia; and alteration in serum urea, alkaline phosphatase activity, reactive oxygen species and phosphorus concentration were observed only at a THI of 85.36 as compared to THI up to 80.57. Similarly, significant (P LT 0.05) alteration in serum T4, cortisol and prolactin levels were observed at a THI of 85.36 as compared to THI up to 80.57. It can be concluded that lactating buffaloes experienced mild heat stress up to a THI of 80.57 (May and June) and a moderate type of heat stress at a THI 85.36 (July).

This research examined the effects of storage temperature and storage time on the somatic cell count (SCC) of milk from Anatolian buffaloes, which was measured with the DeLaval cell counter (DCC). Storage temperature and time are among the different factors that potentially affect the SCC of Anatolian buffalo milk. In this context, 20 milk samples were collected from Anatolian Buffaloes and analyzed. The milk samples were divided into two groups according to their measured level of SCC. These two groups were the low score (LT= 3.16 cell/ml) group and the high score (GT 3.16 cell/ml) group. The mean logSCC values of the low score and the high score groups were determined as 2.27+-0.045 and 4.06+-0.019 cells/ml, respectively. In this research, the effects of storage temperature (4 deg C, 21 deg C) and storage time (fresh milk, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 24 h) on logSCC were determined to be statistically significant (P LT 0.01). Thus, increases in storage temperature and storage time were associated with an increase in the logSCC of the milk samples. In this study, the effects of storage temperature (4 deg C, 21 deg C) and storage time (fresh milk, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 24 hours) on logSCC were determined to be statistically significant (P LT 0.01). Thus, increases in storage temperature and storage time were associated with an increase in the logSCC of the milk samples.

Habitat analysis, include biophysics environmental conditions of swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) has been conducted in June until December 2017 in Rambutan (Banyuasin) and Ogan Ilir (Indralaya) district, South Sumatra and the laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Sriwijaya, Indralaya. The purpose of research is to know swamp buffalo habitat characteristics at the district of Rambutan (Banyuasin) and Indralaya (Ogan Ilir) by physical, chemical, soil and vegetation conditions in the habitat of buffalo. The sampling method of buffalo was used purposive sampling method wheareas vegetation sampling using the quadrant method or plot. Data analysis techniques used are in qualitative and quantitative. The data is then presented in the form of tables and diagrams and narratives to interpret the data. Based on identification and field observations of vegetation conditions, Rambutan vegetation was consist of 15 species and Indralaya vegetation was consist of 9 species for swamp buffalo food. Temperature inside and outside of cage in Indralaya is 22.3 to 31.3 deg C while temperature in Rambutan is 23.2 to 32.8 deg C. Potential of hydrogen soil is 5.10 to 5.60 and always inundated by water. It can be concluded that the form of lowland biophysics environmental. Conditions of swamp buffalo dominated by grasses belonging to the family of Cyperaceae, Graminae, Fabaceae and Poaceae as the main source of food, while the state of the temperature is very supportive for buffalo habitat.

Thirty-six healthy Tarai buffaloes (280-350+-10 kg body weight, 2nd to 4th parity) were selected to investigate their milk composition. The selected animals were divided into four groups having nine buffaloes in each group as, each group from early, mid and late lactation and another group of dry buffaloes. The study carried out in four seasons and climatic variants of temperature and relative humidity were recorded for each month where temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated. Results of milk composition with advancing in lactation stage showed significantly (P LT 0.05) higher values for milk fat, urea and total solids. In season-wise, milk constituents of fat, protein and total solids were found significantly (P LT 0.05) higher during winter season except higher milk urea in summer season. Other milk constituents include lactose, SNF and pH were remain unaffected throughout the lactation period and seasons. Milk somatic cell count (SCC) is affected by both lactation period and seasons but the variations stood non-significant. Calculated THI in tarai region was found higher (79 LT THI LT 84) during summer and rainy seasons. It may be concluded that Tarai buffalo performances are affected by seasonal variations and lactation period as indicated in milk composition variations. Thus, Tarai buffalo could perform better if improvement in their management system of housing and feeding of quality nutrients.

Total of nine swamp buffalo embryos at the stages of two-cell embryo, 16-cell embryo, compacted morula, blastocyst and hatched blastocyst were frozen to -196 deg. Celsius by manual and automatic methods. The embryos were cooled slowly from room temperature to -7 deg. Celsius at the rate of 1.0 deg. Celsius/min from -7 deg. Celsius to -15 deg. Celsius or -30 deg. Celsius at the rate 0.3 deg. Celsius/min before plunging into liquid nitrogen. The post-thawed morphology showed undamaged embryos (grade A) could be obtained after both manual and automatic freezing, and also partially damaged (grade B) and totally damaged embryos (grade C). The percentage of each group was 22.2 % (2/9), and 55.6 % (5/9), respectively. This was the first report on cryopreservation of swamp buffalo embryos. Further studies on biabiliity after transfer should follow