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.

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).

Study was undertaken to investigate the fertility of frozen semen from three Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls using three different extenders. Semen was extended in milk-yolk-glycerol, lactose-yolk-glycerol and fructose-lactose-yolk-glycerol, kept in 0.5 ml straws and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Only normal cyclic buffaloes were inseminated with the post-thaw semen. Fertility was based on pregnancy test through rectal palpation at 45 to 50 days post insemination. Milk-yolk-glycerol extender showed the best fertility result (49.82 percent) among all the extenders (45.68 percent for lactose-yolk-glycerol and 39.01 % for fructose-lactose-yolk-glycerol)

Study was carried out to find out the association between physical traits and production characteristics in 25 Surti buffaloes. Out of the six traits studied only height at withers (r=-0.446) and distance between pin-bones (r=+0.455) were found to be significantly related the milk yield but their regression coefficient was of little practical value. None of the other characters studied showed any association with milk yield or fat percent in Surti buffaloes.

Occurrence of two different types of symmetrical conjoined twin monsters described as syncephalus tetrapus tetrabrachius and dicephalus dipus tetrabrachius among riverine buffaloes of India is reported.

Total of 1189 records of Egyptian buffaloes at Mehallet Mousa farm belonging to Ministry of Agriculture were used to study the influence of year and season of calving and parity on each of days open, calving interval and dry period were studied. The estimate of the phenotypic and genetic parameters of these traits were also investigated. Least squares analysis of variance showed a highly significant effect of year and season of calving and parity on all traits (P

The distribution and urinary excretion of sulfamethoxazole were investigated in healthy buffalo calves. After a single iv dose (100 mg/kg), the blood level peaked at 103.8+-4.3 ug ml-1 at 15 min and declined to 12 ug ml-1 at 24 h. The minimum inhibitory concentration of drug (25 ug ml-1) was maintained up to 12 h. The extent of penetration of sulfamethoxazole in erythrocytes was calculated to be 19-35 %. Fulfamethoxazole rapidly distributed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid, with concentrations of 8.1-40.7 ug/ml and 11.8-64.7 ug/ml from 15 to 720 min of administration, respectively.

The hematologic parameters (total red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, relative and absolute differential white blood cell count) were examined in three (3) castrated male Swamp buffaloes 3-5 years old harnessed to loads of 100 kg, 200 kg, 300 kg and allowed to travel 1,000 meters over an asphalt road for a period of 30 days per load. Blood samples were collected and examined every seventh day of the test period. Except for blood hemoglobin concentration, no significant alterations in the values of most blood parameters examined were observed. The hemoglobin concentration of the animals under test were significantly decreased after harnessing to 100 kg and 200 kg but did not significantly differ from the pre-test values obtained after harnessing to the 300 kg load.

In the present investigation, plasma levels and pharmacokinetics of cephaloridine were investigated in buffalo calves following intramuscular administration (10 mg/kg) 6 h after its iv injection (10 mg/kg). The appreciable plasma concentration of 2.78+-0.28 ug ml-1 was recorded at 1 min and the peak plasma level (31.6+-1.50 ug ml-1) was measured at 30 min. The absorption half-life and elimination half-life were 0.037+-0.011 and 2.24+-0.30 h, respectively. In general the disposition behaviour of cephaloridine when given by repeated administration did not vary significantly from its single intramuscular dose.

Dry matter requirement was estimated on 24 growing Indian buffalo calves fed concentrate and wheat straw to supply two levels (75 and 100 %) of protein and three levels (90, 100 and 110 %) of energy as per NRC (1976) for 500 g daily gain in a 2x3 factorial design. The dry matter intake (DMI) recorded at about 100 kg and 250 kg mean body weight was used for deriving multiple regression using DMI (Y) an independent variable and body weight or metabolic body weight (X1) and average daily gain (X2) as dependent variables. The prediction equations were: 1) Y= -0.9956+0.1036 X1 +0.0015 X2, 2. Y= -0.0489+0.02344 X1 +0.0015 X2, 3) Y= -4.9946+0.1315 X1 +0.002665 X2 and 4) Y= -1.782+0.019 X1 +0.00355 X2. There was positive correlation between DMI with body weight or metabolic body weight and ADG for all the 4 equations and R2 was 0.32; 0.32; 0.66 and 0.56 respectively. In spite of great differences in correlation coefficients, equations 2, 3 and 4 were found to be useful for predicting dry matter requirement from 100 to 400 kg body weight and from zero to 750 g ADG. However, equation 1 may be useful for 100 to 200 kg body weight