Buffaloe

The study objective was to characterize and classify buffalo dairy production systems in Egypt. Ten governorates having high buffalo population density were selected as the study area. The data were collected from 1811 dairy buffalo farms using survey. Buffalo holders were face to face interviewed by constructed questionnaire. The survey was applied in two years (2010 and 2011). Two-Step Cluster procedure (CA) was used and analysis was repeated several times until the cluster quality came good (average silhouette ≥0.5). The algorithm selected the number of clusters, after calculating the Akaike's information criterion (AIC). Statistics of CA showed that the numbers of farm in each cluster were 43 (2.4%) in cluster1 (CL1), 1364 (75.3%) in cluster2 (CL2) and 404 (22.3%) in cluster3 (CL3). CL1 farms had a good availability of facilities. The management practices were the higher in comparison with the farms in the other clusters. Management and feeding systems practices in CL1 ranged from medium to high. CL2 was the largest, with 1364 farms located in all the ten governorates. The availability of facilities and equipment were low or lacking. The management practices were the lowest in comparison with farms in other clusters. CL3 facilities availability were low to medium. The management practices were medium when compared with the farms in the other clusters. The results of the current study demonstrate the existence of a large variability among buffalo dairy production systems in Egypt. These systems variability should be taken into consideration for sustainable system development.

The objective of the study was to find out the mortality pattern of Nili-Ravi buffaloes under organised herd in tropical climate. An investigation was carried out on post mortem findings of 318 Nili-Ravi buffaloes maintained at Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Regional Station-Bir Dosanjh, Nabha, Patiala, Punjab over a period of 16 years (1994-95 to 2009-10). Each year was divided into three seasons i.e. hot-dry (March-June), hot-humid (July-October) and cold (November to February). Sex of animals was divided into male and female group. The age of animals were grouped into eight categories viz. up-to 30 days (d), 31-60 d, 61-90 d, 91-180 d, 181-365 d, 366-1095 d, 1096-3650 d and more than 3651 d. The causes of mortality, based on post-mortem findings, were classified into twelve classes e.g. major respiratory diseases (MARD), minor respiratory diseases (MIRD), major digestive disorders (MADD), minor digestive disorders (MIDD), cardiovascular diseases (CVD), parasitic diseases (PAD), infectious diseases (ID), musculoskeletal diseases (MSD), urogenital/reproductive diseases (UGD/RD), neurological disorders (ND), nutritional/metabolic/production diseases (NMD) and miscellaneous disorders (MD). Majority of the buffaloes died in the months of July to October. About two third of the buffalo deaths occurred before one year of their age. MARD followed by MAAD and CVD were the predominant causes of buffalo death under organised herd. This information will be beneficial in reducing buffalo mortality through adopting proper herd health programme of organized buffalo herd.

The dynamics of gastrointestinal helminthiasis was studied in buffalo calves naturally exposed to helminth infection at two farms in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The effect of helminthiasis was evaluated with respect to weight gain of naturally infected untreated calves versus those which received anthelmintic treatment either with fenbendazole or ivermectin. The treated animals had significantly (p≤0.05) higher weight gain. Strongyloides papillosus was diagnosed from 30 to 60 days after birth, and Toxocara vitulorum from 60 to 90 days. During spring, there was a rise in the eggs per gram (EPG) count of Trichostrongylidae. Severe infection of Paracooperia nodulosa was detected in few 9-month-old buffalo calves.The results of this study indicate efficacy of fenbendazole and ivermectin in different age group calves for better health and reduced probability of helminth resistance. This study also indicates the necessity for good nutritional management of buffalo calves to improve the efficacy of parasite control.

This study has developed algorithms for predicting the amount of peak milk yield by using negative energy balance indicators (NEBI) as predictors. Equations using four selected independent variables (Body weight (BW), Body Condition Score (BCS), Serum Glucose (SG) and Serum Non esterified fatty acid (SNEFA)) gave 'R ' values ranging from 0.459 to 0.803. Further, the preciseness of the equations was increased by using the four parameters, instead of serum metabolites (SG and SNEFA) or physical indicators (BW and BCS) alone. The Pearson correlation (R) between the predicted peak milk yield and actual peak yield values was highest in the equation obtained by plotting the NEBI at 90 d postpartum indicating that 90 d serum metabolites are better predictors of milk yield. The patterns followed by the predictors during the experimental study were normal without any deviation. Both BW (kg) and BCS (5 score points scale) showed an increased (P<0.01) trend from the day of drying to calving, followed by a decreased pattern from calving to 90 d postpartum. The SNEFA (μ moles/lt) and SG (mg/dl) concentrations followed completely opposite pattern, during the entire study, with the respective peak values at 60 days postpartum and drying. It could be concluded that the NEBI could be used as indicators to predict total milk yield, and high correlations among the indicators and 6% fat corrected milk yield (FCMY) aids in developing better prediction equations which helps in prevention of various metabolic disorders apart having other managemental advantages.

Higher serum Non Esterified Fatty acid (SNEFA) concentration associated with negative energy balance (NEB) around calving has been used to predict dairy animals at risk for metabolic disorders. The aim of the study was to investigate the SNEFA, Altered Non Esterified Fatty Acid percentage (ANEFAP) levels and Service period (SP) in forty eight dairy buffaloes allotted to three dry period lengths (&gt; 60 d (n=16); 46 to 60 d (n=16); and 30 to 45 d (n=16)). The serum NEFA and ANEFAP levels were influenced by length of dry period and pre and postpartum periods of the entire experimental study. The NEFA concentration showed an increased trend from the time of drying to 60 days postpartum, followed by a decreased trend from 60 to 90 days postpartum, irrespective of the groups. The NEFA concentration has increased (P&gt;0.05) with higher postpartum ANEFAP levels (P&gt;0.05), either pre or postpartum in the buffaloes allotted to traditional dry period group. SNEFA concentration was negativ...

Livestock is an integral part for the most rural livelihoods in Nepal. A very high proportion of poor and marginalized farmers depend on livestock as main or supplemental resources for their income. Cattle and buffalo contribute to more than 70% of the livestock sector. The Lime, Parkote and Gaddi are the indigenous buffalo breeds of Nepal. The productive and reproductive performances of indigenous buffalo breeds, Lime and Parkote, were studied in Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Lumle in Nepal. The lactation data of the indigenous buffaloes recorded by RARS livestock farm for 14 years (from 2000 to 2014) was collected and analyzed to assess the production and reproduction traits. The productive performance was 964.0±33.0 litre/lactation in Lime and 878.5±66.3 litre/lactation in Parkote, while a daily milk yield of Lime was 3.2±0.1 litre/day and that of Parkote was 2.9±0.2 litre/day. The milk constituents of Lime were 9.0% fat, 9.2% solids not fat (SNF) and 3.8% protein. The milk contents of Parkote were 8.9% fat, 9.8% SNF and 4.0% protein. The maximum mating was found in October (30%), while the minimum mating was in June (1%) in both the breeds. The calving time of Lime and Parkote was maximum in September (36%). The Lime and Parkote buffaloes are high potential milking animals in the western hills of Nepal. Furthermore, the value chain and organic production approaches would be very useful for the conservation and utilization of these indigenous buffaloes.