Buffaloes were screened for theileriosis by routine microscopic examination and also subjected for characterisation by PCR technique. Blood samples were collected from lactating buffaloes in post partum period from endemic areas of Athagarh block of Cuttack district, Odisha, India. Genomic DNA of Theileria piroplasm was isolated and genus specific primers were used for amplification of small subunit ribosomal RNA sequences. The amplified PCR products of Theileria spp. were sequenced. Out of 86 cases examined, 21 and 31 samples were found positive by Giemsa stained blood smear method and PCR technique respectively. The PCR product was sequenced and analysed for homology. The identified nucleotide sequence had close sequence homology with Theileria orientalis and Theileria buffeli. These findings also support the fact that 18S small subunit rRNA gene is hyper variable among the species. The nucleotide sequence was submitted to NCBI and a new accession number (MN262069) was assigned.

This study focused on finding the critical controlling points in the swamp buffalo milking and storage processes in an intensive farm setting over a 12 months period (between June 2018 and July 2019). The raw milk and pasteurized milk samples were randomly collected once a month for laboratory testing by standard plate count (SPC) and total coliform count (TCC). The model for the investigation and implementation of this study was taken from the dairy cattle industry-which involves similar, though not identical, problems and issues. The first phase of this study was the problem finding phase. The collected raw milk samples showed that both the SPC and the TCC were higher than standard values and both contained environmental bacterial contamination. Escherichia coli contamination was found to be caused by improper hygienic conditions i.e. poor personal hygiene, inadequate techniques and procedures to clean and disinfect the milking equipment and milking area or from after milking issues such as high temperatures during milk storage and transportation. In the problem solving phase, protocols of good hygiene throughout the milking process were suggested and implemented. The collected raw milk and pasteurized milk samples for SPC and TCC decreased to the standard values after hygienic improvements were implemented. The hygiene of the milk workers (such as the hand washing), the lack of staff duty separation and the failure to properly regulate the temperature during, and duration of, the raw milk storage were found to be the critical controlling points of this study. In the follow up phase, the SPC and TCC of the raw and pasteurized milk tested in the standard value range throughout the monitoring period. Our finding suggested that client education and monitoring at least once a month might be necessary in swamp buffalo dairy farms in order to ensure good practices in the milking process. This study could provide guidelines for the development of a hygienic swamp buffalo milk production protocols for private and government farms and as a prototype for future developments in this industry.

The aim of experiment was to evaluate whether biostimulation by mature intact bull to anoestrus buffalo alters breeding performance associated with CIDR based oestrus synchronization protocol during low breeding season. Anoestrus buffalo that had calved 170.0+-10.6 (132 to 208) days before the start of the trial, were either exposed to bull (n=30, BE) or not exposed to bull (n=10, BN) for 12 days after CIDR placement (day 0). Animals received PGF 2 alpha on day 9, CIDR was removed on day 10 and Timed AI (TAI) was performed with frozen thawed semen at 48 and 60 h after CIDR removal. Buffalo were observed for oestrus detection twice daily for three days after CIDR removal. Blood sampling was done on day 9, 12 and 20 of the experiment to monitor the progesterone and cortisol levels (5 per group). Pregnancy test was done 60 days after insemination. Oestrus expression was noted in 68.97 percent (BE) and 60 percent (BN) animals (P GT 0.05). Progesterone rise above 1 ng/ml on day 20 was recorded in 4/5 (80 percent) in BE group and 2/5 (40 percent) in BN group (P GT 0.05). Conception rate was 37.9 percent (11/29) and 30 percent, (3/10) in BE and BN groups respectively (P GT 0.05). It is concluded that CIDR and fixed time artificial insemination can be used to overcome partially the problem of anoestrus and seasonality in buffalo. However, biostimulation in CIDR treated anoestrus buffalo did not increase the number of ovulating/oestrus buffalo during low breeding season probably due to a shorter exposure period (only 12 days) to bull.

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.

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.

This study was conducted to evaluate health care and management practices for calves less than or equal to 12 months of age in smallholder production system. Data was collected using household survey technique in Lodhran district, Punjab, Pakistan. 14 villages were selected using stratified proportionate random sampling method and 10 calf keeping households from each village were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Calves were not allowed to free range therefore all farmers practiced stall feeding. Housing facilities were of poor quality in half of farms (50.7 percent). Farmers were not using modern technologies of milk replacer, urea treated wheat straw and urea molasses blocks. All farmers offered colostrum however timings of offering differed. 75.7 percent farmers performed navel cord cutting and disinfection. All farmers offered treatment but majority (87.1 percent) practiced self-medication first. Vaccination rate was good at 94.3 percent. Almost all farmers performed drenching and dipping on their calves but there were vast differences in when and on what conditions they will be performed. Calf mortality rate for the last 12 months was 18.78 percent. Weaning age was high from modern calf rearing perspective. These findings suggest that there have been marked improvements in some parameters but farmers are still following traditional methods and practices of calf rearing due to severe lack of training related to calf rearing. There is a need for improvement in various aspects related to calf rearing including feed, housing, weaning and training.

The current study was conducted to find out the factors affecting to swamp buffalo production in Songkhram wet land area (consisting of 3 districts: Si Songkhram, Tha Uthen, and Na Wa Districts), Nakhon Phanom province, Thailand. The data were collected from 370 farmers and analyzed by using Chi-square to test association of the studied factors between farm groups (Group I: farmers who produced the swamp for fancy buffaloes and showing, and Group II: farmers who produced the buffaloes for power work and meat production) in the study population. The results showed that many factors that affected to buffalo production, such as source of knowledge used for buffalo production, patterns of buffalo production, kinds of land, objectives for buffalo production, record keeping, types of roughage, person who suggest to select buffalo, mating systems, changing sire, information for considering for replacement dams selection, age at first mating, and problem and obstacle related to the achievement of swamp buffalo production (P LT 0.01) excepted for gender of farmers, educational level and type of labor for buffalo production (P GT 0.05). This information implied the need of increasing efficiency of buffalo production, and also improvement of knowledge, understanding and chance in sire selection of the farmers.

Meat is the main source of animal protein. One type of meat that is most consumed by people is beef. The increasing price of beef due to the scarcity of beef in Indonesia, encourages the government to issue a policy of buffalo meat importation, in order to cope with the void of Indonesian meat stock. The problem is that this policy has many pros and cons from various parties. There are parties who support and there are also those who strongly oppose. Those who oppose this policy are governments in several regions and organizations that feel disadvantaged by the buffalo meat importation policy. Based on the phenomenon that occurs with the import of buffalo, in this study the authors are interested in analyzing Policy Implication of Buffalo Meat Importation to Beef Marketing: Case of Bogor, Indonesia. The method used is a Structural Equation Models (SEM) with 150 respondents. The result of this research is respondents were willing to buy and consume buffalo meat as long as the quality, health and halal were guaranteed.

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.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of soluble carbohydrate and protein supplementation on feed digestibility and rumen characteristics of swamp buffaloes fed total mixed fiber (TMF) silage by using an in vitro technique. A completely randomized design with 3 treatments (soluble carbohydrate (SCH) and protein ratio) and 6 replicates was used. Treatments consisted of total mixed fiber silage rations with SCH: protein ratio of 300 g : 300 g (1 : 1) (A1), SCH : protein ratio of 600 g : 300 g (2 : 1) (A2), and SCH : protein ratio of 900 g : 300 g (3 : 1) (A3). Measurements were taken on nutrient digestibility rates (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and crude fiber), fiber digestibility rates (NDF, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose), and rumen fermentation condition (concentrations of RAN, total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and methane and pH). Results showed that significant effects (P LT 0.05) of treatments were found on nutrient digestibility rates (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fiber, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose), rumen fermentation conditions (concentrations of RAN, total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and CH4). Meanwhile, no effects (P GT 0.05) of treatments were found on NDF digestibility and pH levels. It was concluded that TMF silage ration supplemented with SCH and protein ratio of 3 : 1 (900 g : 300 g) gave the best results in terms of nutrient digestibility rates and rumen fermentation condition of swamp buffaloes.