SOME FACTORS AFFECTING MILK YIELD AND LACTATION LENGTH IN NILI RAVI BUFFALOES

Abstract

Effects of parity, lactation length, calving season, calf sex and service period on milk yield for 426 records in 134 Nili Ravi buffaloes maintained at the National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad Pakistan during 1988-2004 were evaluted. The effects of parity, calving season, calf sex and service period were also recorded on lactation length of these buffaloes. The overall average milk yield was 1831.6 ± 530.9 litres per lactation and the average lactation length was 273.3 ± 52.8 days. Milk production was lower in first lactation than that in 2nd, 3rd and 4th lactations (P300 days after calving (2045.6 ± 588.5 litres per lactation) was significantly higher than that of the animals conceiving within 31–100 days after calving (1846.1 ± 527.5 liters per lactation). The lactation length was not affected by parity, calving season, calf sex and service period. It is concluded that parity and lactation length significantly affected milk production in Nili Ravi buffalo, however, a service period of <300 days and calf sex did not affect the yield.

Keywords

• Buffalo
• milk yield
• lactation length
• parity
• service period