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.

The Present study was conducted to retrospectively analyze the pattern of calf mortality (0 to 1 year age) from 1992 to 1993 to 2015 to 2016 in an organized Murrah buffalo herd maintained at Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB), Hisar, Haryana. During the study period, highest calf mortality (8.35 percent) was observed inperiod P1 (1992 to 1995), while lowest mortality (2.64 percent) was observed in P7 (2010 to 2013) with an overall mortality rate of 4.94 percent from1992 1993 to 2015 to 2016 over the period of twenty five years.The overallage-specific mortality (9.5 percent) was observed highest in Group I: birth to three months age,while lowest mortality (2.5 percent) was observed in Group 3: 6 to 12 months age. There was no significant difference in overall sex-specific mortality (P LT= 0.01) over the period of twenty four years. Highest proportionate mortality rate (37.6 percent) was observed during winter season and greatest losses in terms of proportionate mortality rate (30.7 percent) were attributed to gastrointestinal plus pneumonia causes of mortality. Chi square test depicted statistically significant association of period, age group, season and cause of deathwith the calf mortality at P LT = 0.01. Retrospective investigation indicates that overall calf mortality rate from birth to one year of age was much lesser during the recent period (P7: 2.6 percent, P8: 3.1 percent) possibly attributed to good husbandry conditions including routine vaccination schedule, optimum colostrum feeding and improved nutritional management as contributing factors here for a steady improvement in the management and health status of calves through time. Based on findings of the highest mortality up to 3 months age (9.5 percent) in the present study, proper hygienic conditions in calf sheds, adequate healthcare, appropriate colostrum feeding and good husbandry conditions during this critical period are recommended to minimise the calf exposure to new infections.

Present investigation was carried out on randomly selected 120 she buffaloes in dairy farms and local farmers of different places, villages of Surajpur, with the objective to study the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in she buffaloes at adjoining areas of Surajpur. The prevalence of the subclinical mastitis was studied by screening of she buffaloes correlated with age, breed, stage of lactation and quarter wise distribution. The overall prevalence rate was 68.33 percent. The rate of prevalence of SCM was the highest between the age group of 9 and 11 years (90.32 percent). Breed wise prevalence of SCM was found maximum in crossbred (72.30 percent) followed by indigenous (65.62 percent) and nondescript (47.23 percent) breed. The prevalence of SCM was found to be the highest in mid lactation (76.47 percent) followed by early (67.27 percent) and late (61.29 percent) lactation. Quarter wise study revealed that the left hind quarters (30.83 percent) were found to be the most prone for sub clinical infection followed by right fore (19.16 percent), left fore (10 percent) and the least affected was right hind quarter (8.33 percent).

A retrospective analysis was conducted to examine the effect of season and climatic factors on age at puberty, service period and successful mating of Nili-Ravi buffalo maintained at a Public Sector Dairy Farm in Okara, Pakistan. Records, spread over a period of 13 years (2000 to 2012), for 583 buffaloes were analyzed for this purpose. Age at puberty was calculated by subtracting date of birth from date of first fruitful service. Average age at puberty and service period were 1056.87+-83.11 and 193.81+-47.32 days respectively. Season of birth had a significant effect (P LT 0.05) on age at puberty. Calves born in winter had a shorter age at puberty (962.09+-9.81) compared with those born in other three seasons (spring, summer and autumn). Effect of calving season on service period was significant (P LT 0.05). Autumn calvers had the shortest service period (193.81+-47.32). Service period did not differ with calving year (P GT 0.05). Month of the year and successful mating (r = 0.67) were positively correlated with each other (P LT 0.05). Maximum and minimum number of successful mating were recorded in October (21.75 percent) and June (3.88 percent). The correlation between individual climatic factors (i.e. daily temperature, rain fall, sunshine hours, relative humidity) and successful mating was non-significant (P GT 0.05). It was concluded that climatic factors did affect the reproductive activities but their individual effect was non- significant in buffalo. However, season, a combination of climatic factors, had significant effect on reproductive activities.

A total of 200 cattle of all age groups and sex were examined from various villages of Taunsa Sharif District Dera Ghazi Khan. The prevalence of babesiosis in cattle was investigated. The association between age, gender, season and prevalence rate are investigated by regression analysis. Blood samples were collected from tail vein of cattle in a tube containing EDTA. The collected samples were dispatched to Civil Veterinary Hospital, Taunsa Sharif for microscopic examination. Thin and thick blood smears were prepared and smears were stained by using Giemsa's staning technique. The smears were examined under microscope for the identification of Babesia. Out of these 200 samples, 70 samples were identified as positive for Babesiosis. Overall prevalence of babesiosis in these areas was recorded as 35 percent. The study was conducted during summer months (May 01, 2014 to August 29, 2014).

The incidence of twinning in Nili-Ravi buffaloes was observed in 1,340 calvings at the Livestock Experiment Station, Bakadurmagar district, Okara, during a period of 9 1/2 years. The twinning rate was found to be 0.298 % and the incidence of twin birth had no adverse effect on subsequent post-partum productive and reproductive performance. However, twinning in buffalo is undesirable due to reduction in female progeny