This study was conducted to determine feeding regimes and some production parameters of Anatolia buffaloes in the Azikheli Delta which one of the Turkey's biggest and most important wetland ecosystem. A total of 59 dairy farms, whose owners were members of the Samsun Provincial Buffalo Breeders Union, were selected for the survey. According to results of the survey, 55.9 percent of the buffalo breeders had above 20 buffaloes. The majority of the farmers produced their own roughage. Most respondents reported that calves were weaned at 5 months of age or older. The investigation revealed that the buffalo feeding system depended on grazing from April to November (summer feeding). During winter feeding, dry forage+silage were used together on the majority of the farms (96.6 percent). All respondents didn’t feed concentrates to their heifers and pregnant buffaloes in the last trimester were fed a special regime by some farmers (16.9 percent). The buffaloes in early lactation were provided a supplementary concentrate mixture by 78 percent of farmers. None of the producers used balanced rations for their animals. Daily milk yield, 69.5 percent of farms, were 3 to 5 L. Mean age at first calving were 31 to 36 months. The survey results showed that the feeding regimes for Anatolian buffaloes adopted by the farmers are deficient and this is probably causing reduced milk yields and reproductive performance. Consequently, in order to improvement milk yield and reproduction potential, it is suggested that buffalo feeding regime should be matched to nutrient requirements and giving information to farmers about feeding techniques.

During the last years buffalo reproductive researchers have been tried to develop and apply fixed timed artificial insemination protocols to increase pregnancy rates to maximize improvement. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the pregnancy rates of different protocols of synchronization (Ovsynch and progesterone implants) and resynchronization of ovulation in a meat water buffalo herd during reproductive season of 2016. 194 mature Mediterranean females, were randomly assigned to four different protocols, ultrasound evaluation were used to determine cyclicity (presence of corpus luteum or follicles GT= 7 mm de diameter). 18 days after insemination all females were resynchronized and at day 25 ultrasound were performed, those nonpregnant females were inseminated 28 days after first insemination. All inseminations were performed by the same technician and only one bull was used. InfoStat software was used, statistical significance was considered when p value was lower than α of the 5 percent. No statistical significance were found within the protocols. Early embryonic dead 50 days after IA was 3.4 percent. Pregnancy rate was 47.9 percent and 53.5 percent for insemination and reinsemination respectively and the final pregnancy rate after the adjust for early pregnancy loss 73.2 percent, during the 28 days of the breeding period. The results obtained allow breeders to choose the best pharmacological option to use FTAI in their herds based on their own needs to improve production without affecting pregnancy rates.

The present study evaluated the impact of once-used intravaginal progesterone inserts (TRIU-B) from day 4 to day 10 post-ovulation on luteal profile (corpus luteum diameter, CL; plasma progesterone) and conception rate in buffalo (n=80) during summer season. The buffaloes were estrus synchronized by Cloprostenol (500 micro g, i.m.) administered 11 days apart, followed by AI during standing estrus. All the buffaloes were equally categorized into control (without TRIU-B) or treatment (pervaginally inserted with once-used TRIU-B) group. From each group, 15 buffaloes were subjected to ovarian ultrasonography for CL diameter measurements on day 4 and day 10 postovulation followed by jugular vein blood collection for plasma progesterone analysis. On day 10 postovulation, the control group buffalo had larger (P LT 0.05) CL diameter (15.2+-0.5 vs. 14.0+-0.3 mm), whereas, plasma progesterone was higher (P LT 0.05) in treatment group (3.4+-0.2 vs. 1.7+-0.1 ng/ml). Conception rates were 55.0 and 37.5 percent in treatment and control groups, respectively (χ2=2.46, P GT 0.05). Moreover, pregnant and non-pregnant buffalo of treatment group exhibited higher (P LT 0.05) plasma progesterone on day 10 post-ovulation compared to their control counterparts. In conclusion, pervaginal insertion of once-used TRIU-B enhanced post-ovulation plasma progesterone but failed to improve conception rate in buffalo.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a causative agent of Johne's disease, a disease with considerable economic impact on dairy buffalo herds. The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of MAP infection in buffaloes and its excretory pattern through buffalo milk. A total of 74 milk samples were collected from apparently healthy buffaloes of organized and unorganized sectors located in Tamil Nadu and subjected to Ziehl-Neelsen staining and Polymerase chain reaction (IS900 and F57 genes). Out of 74 samples, 3 (4.1 percent), 21 (28.4 percent) and 14 (18.9 percent) samples shed MAP organism by Ziehl-Neelsen staining, IS900 PCR and F57 PCR respectively. Besides age of the animal, stage of lactation and herd management were associated with excretion of MAP in milk. These results showed the high prevalence of MAP infection in buffaloes and warrants further studies and necessary actions to delineate the MAP infection in buffalo population.

Animal husbandry is the mainstay of economy of resource poor farmers' in Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP). Average milk yield of indigenous cattle was recorded only 2.75+-0.66 kg/day compared to 7.55+-1.20 kg/day in improved cattle. Accordingly, milk yield was recorded to be 3.06+-0.86 and 5.12+-1.71 kg/day in indigenous and improved buffalo. Rearing of improved livestock resulted into 2-fold higher energy inputs compared to indigenous ones. However, energy output was highest through milk in case of indigenous as well as improved breeds of cattle and buffalo. Economic analysis revealed that cost of human labour was highest (GT 40 percent) for rearing of indigenous livestock, followed by dry fodder (GT 25 percent). In case of improved livestock, cost of concentrate feed had maximum input (GT 30 percent). On average, 2000 to 2100 square m of fodder area is required to feed one unit of improved livestock in EIGP. Net monetary benefit was highest for improved cattle (US Dollar 523.10), followed by improved buffalo (US Dollar 135.68). The data indicated that animal husbandry is an important food production system in EIGP besides food crops and both the systems have been found complimentary to one another through emphasis on resource recycling.

Udder length, width and height are very important parameters to identify good dairy animals. Udder measurements including length, width and height on 437 Nili Ravi buffaloes were recorded before and after miking with 1180 records at 6 Experimental Stations in Punjab, Pakistan. Heritabilities were estimated using Best Linear Unbiased Prediction techniques. Environmental factors viz age of the buffalo at scoring, stage of lactation, parity, herd and season were included in the model. Least square means for udder length, width and height before milking were found as 52.65+-6.87, 53.52+-6.19 and 54.34+-4.99 cm and after milking as 47.08+-6.57, 48.15+-5.79 and 55.39+-5.15 cm, respectively. Heritability estimates for udder length, width and height before milking were found as 0.08+-0.07, 0.22+-0.08 and 0.22+-0.09, while after milking as 0.14+-0.07, 0.20+-0.08 and 0.09+-0.08, respectively. All the factors significantly affected before milking udder length. A significant effect of herd, parity, season of scoring and age on udder width before milking was observed. Herd, stage of lactation, parity and age of the buffalo at scoring significantly affected udder height before milking. Significant effect of herd, parity, stage of lactation and age of the buffaloes at classification on most of the traits suggest that managemental factors are important. Moderate heritability estimates for these udder traits provide a fair scope for improvement through selection and breeding which will help to increase milk yield in Nili Ravi buffaloes.

Meat exports is an important product in the Indian livestock export basket, the predominant form being buffalo meat. An attempt has been done in this paper to analyse performance of buffalo meat export from India for the period 1996 to 2014. The compound growth rates, market concentration and instability indices of the Indian buffalo meat export were analyzed. The quantity and value of buffalo meat export from India increased by 13.61 and 22.48 percent respectively over the period, largely aided by the rapid growth of meat sector. The study concentrates on major markets viz., Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Philippines, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China, Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran), Jordan since more than 75 percent of the buffalo meat exports from India were to these markets. Results showed high and positive growth of Indian buffalo meat export in terms of quantity, value and unit value for the period of study. Slight degree of instability in Indian buffalo meat export was revealed using Coppock's instability index (CII). The study revealed that India's buffalo meat export was concentrated mainly to those countries, which is either less desirable (low growth and high risk) or least desirable (low growth and low risk) which is undesirable from point of economic growth of the country. There was evidence of market diversification of Indian buffalo meat export from traditional importing countries to other countries.

The present study was planned for investigations on epidemiology, clinco-biochemical and radiological aspects and therapeutic management of osteomalacia in buffaloes. Overall hospital incidence of osteomalcia in buffaloes was 8.31 percent with higher incidence during mid lactation in high yielding buffaloes exclusively fed on dry fodder. The characteristic clinical signs observed were progressive loss of body weight, shifting lameness, stiff gait, arching of back as well as difficulty in lifting chest portion and keeping on knee joint for longer time while getting up. Significant decrease in hemoglobin, total erythrocyte count and haematocrit while increase in MCV and granulocyte count was observed in affected buffaloes as compared to healthy buffaloes. Highly significant decrease in mean plasma inorganic phosphorus, significant decrease in calcium and highly significant increase in alkaline phosphatase levels was observed in osteomalacia affected buffaloes. Radiographic examination revealed proliferation of osteophytes in carpal bones, demineralization of canon bones and osteolytic changes indicated by decreased radiographic density in last few coccygeal vertebrae. For evaluating the efficacy of different treatment modalities in osteomalacia, ailing buffaloes were divided in to three groups (n=10). Group I, II and III buffaloes were treated with mineral mixture, buffered phosphorus and buffered phosphorus with mineral mixture respectively. The overall recovery period was significantly lower (27.1+-4.05 days) in Group III compared to Group II (39.2+-4.2 days) and Group I (40.5+-3.72 days) buffaloes. On the basis of recovery period and restoration of biochemical parameters combined treatment with parenteral buffered phosphorus preparation and mineral mixture proved most effective in management of osteomalacia in buffaloes.

To investigate the prevalence of amphistome parasites in buffaloes slaughtered at different abattoirs of Rawalpindi and Peshawar district, Pakistan. The gastro-intestinal tracts and bile ducts were examined during the period of May to December, 2017. Out of 198 buffaloes, 39 (12.8 percent) were infected with multiple species of amphistomes. In present investigation, three species of amphistomes viz Paramphistomum epiclitum, Gastrothylax crumenifer and Gigantocotyle explanatum were identified. The higher infection rate was found in Kundhi breed 13.6 percent than Azi Khali and Nili Ravi. The males buffaloes (15.1 percent) and age group of 2 to 4 years (21.4 percent) had higher infection rate as compared to females and old animals The mixed infection of amphistomes did not show significant (P GT 0.05) association among breed, sex, age, contact with water bodies and grazing management of animals. The present results will contribute to our understanding of the epidemiology of amphistomiasis in Pakistan for control and prevention studies.

Buffaloes presented to the Veterinary College and Research Institute Hospital with achezia were subjected to detailed anamnesis, clinical, haemato-biochemical examinations and ultrasonography. Ten buffaloes with functional ileus were selected by excluding the mechanical obstruction and peritonitis. These animals were administered with neostigmine, azithromycin along with intravenous fluids, streptopenicillin and flunixin meglumine for three days. Improvement in the clinical condition in terms of voiding of dung, resumption of rumination, feed and water intakes were noticed.