This communication reports a case of dystocia due to homozygotic twins suffering from ascites in a primiparous buffalo. Both the dead female fetuses were delivered successfully one by one by manual traction. The dam recovered eventfully without any post obstetrical complications.

A seven years old, ten months pregnant she-buffalo weighing 401 kg was presented to TVCC, COVAS, Udgir with a history of dysphagia, repeated regurgitation and swelling at ventral cervical region since the day before the animal was admitted to the clinic. The animal was suspected for oesophageal obstruction. Endoscopy done by naso-gastric route and X Ray showed oesophageal obstruction with a foreign body situated 100 cm distal from the nasal opening. The animal was cast in right lateral recumbency. The site of incision was shaved, cleaned and scrubbed using liq. 5 percent providine iodine and surgical spirit. The animal was sedated using Xylazine*. Linear infiltration was done using 2 percent lignocaine hydrochloride. A linear incision was taken at the surgical site. The overlying muscles were dissected and the esophagus was exposed. An oesophageal incision of sufficient length was taken and an impacted leather mass was removed. The oesophageal mucosa was closed with simple interrupted suture. Submucosa and muscularis part of esophagus were closed with simple continues manner. The muscles and skin were sutured with simple interrupted sutures. The animal was maintained only on fluid therapy for first 3 days. The day after surgery, the animal was seen lying prostrate with lateral deviation of neck and showing slight vaginal prolapse. The blood sample was analyzed for serum Ca level which revealed a level of 3.9 mg percent indicating severe hypocalcaemia. Calcium therapy was initiated. The animal assumed a standing posture. A day later, the animal delivered a normal female fetus. Three days later serum Ca level was re-estimated to be 8.5 mg percent. The animal resumed normal feeding and rumination after which the animal was given discharge. Sutures were removed after 15 days post operatively. Female buffalo calf and mother buffalo are healthy.

peer reviewed

2x2x2 factorial design with the factors of breeds; Murrah x swamp crossbreds and swamp buffaloes, non and feed supplementation, and work and non-work, was used in this study. Sixteen Murrah x swamp crossbreds and 16 swamp buffaloes were randomly allotted into 8 treatment combinations. The study period was 6 nonths; however, the animals in the working groups only started plowing at the beginning of week 5 and finished at the end of the experimental period. It was found that the average daily gain of Murrah x swamp crossbreds was not significantly different from that of swamp buffaloes. With out regard to other factors, the feed supplemented group gained more weight than the non-feed supplemented (P0.01), while the working and non-working groups were not statistically different in growth rate. No interaction among factors was found. For plowing ability, the crossbreds, the non-supplemented and supplemented groups could plow an area of 0.23 rai (0.09 acre) per hour while swamp buffaloes, the non-supplemented and supplemented groups, could plow 0.24 rai (0.10 acre) and 0.30 rai, (0.12 acre) respectively (P0.01). For the speed of plowing, the crossbreds, the non-supplemented and supplemented groups, could travel 40.71 and 48.42 metres per minute, respectively (P0.05) while the swamp buffaloes, the non-supplemented and supplemented groups, could travel at a speed of 43.86 and 53.32 metres per minute, respectively (P0.05). Within the non-feed supplemented groups, crossbred and swamp buffaloes could plow the area of 0.23 rai (0.09 acre) and 0.24 rai (0.10 acre) per hour, respectively (P0.05). Within the feed supplemented groups, the crossbred and swamp buffalo could plow the area of 0.23 rai (0.09 acre) and 0.30 rai (0.12 acre) per hour, respectively (P0.01). As for the speed of plowing, the performance of all the groups was not significantly different, i.e. 40.71, 48.42, 43.86 and 53.32 m/min for crossbred non-supplemented, crossbred supplemented, swamp non-supplemented and swamp supplemented groups, respectively (P0.05). However, the supplemented groups could plow faster than the non-supplemented ones (P0.05).

Seventeen male buffalo calves of similar age and body weight were distributed in three groups. There were five animals in group 1 and six each in groups 2 and 3. The calves were supplied three concentrate mixtures, prepared from locally available ration ingredients, along with wheat bhoosa ad libitum and a small quantity of green fodder so as to provide 100, 80 and 60 percent DCP and 106 percent DE (NRC, 1976) in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The actual levels of DCP consumed by the animals, however, worked out to 107.5 +- 0.50, 87.00+-1.63 and 66.00+-2.00 percent of the level recommended by the NRC (1976) in groups 1,2 and 3 respectively. Experimental feeding of animals lasted for a period of about four months and towards the end, when animals had attained an average age of about 24 months, a metabolism trial was conducted. There was no significant difference in the dry matter intake and digestibility of various organic nutrients except crude protein and crude fibre (P0.05). Animals in all the groups showed a high positive retention of nitrogen. The average growth rate recorded in groups 1,2 and 3 was 568.81+-18.37, 489.30+-65.01 and 507.65+-5.79 g per day respectively. Daily growth rate and carcass characteristics did not differ significantly between different groups.

The study examined changes in the body-weight of mature buffaloes at the Surin Buffalo Breeding Center due to seasonal fluctuation in feed supplies. It also investigated the effect of parturition on buffalo cow body-weight. The effect of feed scarcity started to show in January when the buffalo body-weight began to decline, and continued to decline to the lowest average in April, the hottest and dryest month of the year. The monthly weight change of the mature buffaloes could well be explained by the annual rainfall pattern. The data on monthly records of the body-weight of buffalo cows during the five months before calving and the four months after indicated that the animals gained 33.1 kg during the five-month pre-partum and lost 34.5 kg from one month after, with the average calf birth weigth of 30.8 kg. The nursing cows continued to lose weight during the four-month post-partum. The cows calved from May to October and regained their body-weight faster than those calved from November to April