Effect of Body Condition Score at Calving on Postpartum Performance of Murrah Buffaloes

Background: Body condition score (BCS) system is a subjective method to assess the body fat reserves particularly over the bony prominences like back and pelvic region. It is based on evaluation of the outer appearance of the animal that interacts with its body fat reserves and therefore is directly influenced by energy balance. Studies on the relationship between BCS and postpartum performance were meager in buffaloes. Hence, the present work was carried out to study the relationship between BCS at calving and postpartum performance in Murrah buffaloes. Methods: The effect of body condition score at calving (BCSc) on the postpartum performance was studied in 24 Murrah buffaloes grouped based on BCS, maintained at Buffalo Research Station during 2018-19. Result: The study showed that buffaloes of BCSc above 3.5 with significantly (P less than 0.01) higher body weights showed better reproductive performance compared to buffaloes of BCSc groups below 3.5 with less body weights. The prepartum and weekly postpartum changes in BCS studied showed that the buffaloes gained a BCS of 0.57 from 3 months prepartum to one week prepartum, lost 0.17 BCS due to calving, further showed a decline in BCS up to 9 weeks of postpartum and then started regaining BCS gradually until 18 weeks postpartum. The mean LBCS over the period of 18 weeks postpartum was comparatively higher (0.75±0.05) than BCS restored in the early lactation which was shown as GBCS (0.34±0.02). Buffaloes of BCSc group 3.5-3.99 showed the best reproduction performance among the four BCSc groups with less postpartum estrus period (46.66 days), service period (58.83 days), number of service per conception (1.50) and high rate of 1st service conception (66.66%).

Livestock Holding and Time Spent by Farm Women in Dairying Activities in Andhra Pradesh

A study was conducted to investigate the involvement of women in dairying activities in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. The study involved a total of 225 respondents covering 75 villages. The result revealed that small farm women possessed significantly (P≤0.05) more graded Murrah buffaloes (3.68±0.28), whereas women under medium farm category possessed significantly (P≤0.05) more number of local cows (0.28±0.07), Murrah buffaloes (0.45±0.21) as well as more (P≤0.01) buffalo heifers (1.22±0.14). The milk production (litres per day) (13.25±0.80), consumption (1.48±0.06) and milk consumption by women (0.16±0.07) was observed to be high in medium women dairy farmers in the study area. Milk sale per day was observed to be significantly (P≤0.05) high in small farmers (14.20±1.90). Small farm women (587.00±81.70) obtained more income (rupees/day) through dairying followed by medium (516.34±54.35) and landless (385.66±32.39) farm women. It was observed that women are spending more time on dairy activities in the study area compared to men. The time spent was more on feeding activities.

Changes in Hematological and Biochemical Parameters of Periparturient Murrah Buffaloes during Summer and Winter Season: A Study to Assess Seasonal and Transitional Stress

Background: Environmental stress and transition period in buffaloes imposes significant changes in hemato-biochemical parameters. On this background the present study was attempted to evaluate biochemical parameters in transition buffaloes during summer and winter seasons. Methods: Thirty six advanced pregnant and non-pregnant Murrah buffaloes of around 5 years of age were randomly selected. Whole blood was collected from twelve buffaloes each in their transition period during winter and summer season for a period of five weeks and six non pregnant buffaloes for each season served as control. Haematological, biochemical parameters were estimated and THI was calculated in both the seasons. Result: The mean THI, TEC, Hb, MCH, MCHC, SOD activity and MDA levels were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in summer compared to winter, while MCV and GSH activity was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in winter compared to summer. No significant (p greater than 0.05) difference between seasons was observed with respect to TLC, monocyte and lymphocyte per cent. Moreover, Hb, SOD, GSH and MDA concentration differed significantly (p less than 0.05) throughout the transition period during summer and winter seasons, while TEC, MCV, MCH and MCV concentration did not change (p greater than 0.05) with transition period in both the seasons. The present study indicated that summer season had profound effect on hemato-biochemical parameters. While SOD, GSH and MDA could be used as markers of transitional stress in Murrah buffaloes.

Single nucleotide polymorphism in STAT5A could not endorse variation in milk production traits in Indian bovine population

The Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5A (STAT5A) gene involved in activating the transcription of milk protein genes was predicted to be influencing milk production traits. The present study was undertaken to investigate the suitability of the polymorphism of STAT5A as a marker for milk traits in Ongole, crossbred cattle and Murrah buffaloes from Southern India. Blood samples (n = 502) for DNA isolation and milk samples (n = 222) from different genetic groups were collected from various farms. The gene variants upon polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) on the exon 7 region of STAT5A were subjected to GLM analysis to evaluate their association with milk production traits. The frequencies of C and T alleles at the STAT5A/AvaI locus were 0.98 and 0.02 (Jersey crossbred), 0.94 and 0.06 [Holstein-Friesian (HF) crossbred], 0.97 and 0.03 (Ongole). T allele was not observed in Murrah buffaloes. The least squares mean lactation milk yield of CC and CT genotypes of STAT5A were 2,096.90 ± 48.63 and 2,294.41 ± 215.85 kg in Jersey crossbred, 2,312.92 ± 91.01 and 2,392.82 ± 207.66 kg in HF crossbred and 528.40 ± 22.10 and 396.37 ± 76.17 kg in Ongole cattle, respectively. The milk fat content of the CC genotype was higher (P > 0.05) in Jersey crossbred cattle. The CT genotypes of Ongole and HF crossbred cattle recorded a higher fat per cent than the CC genotypes. Significant associations were not observed in support of STAT5A as a marker for milk production traits in either Ongole or crossbred cattle of indicine admixture and no reason could be found to consider this locus as universal markers for milk production traits in indicine cattle and buffaloes. Considering the monomorphic nature of the gene in buffaloes and their higher milk fat content as compared to bovine milk, much remains to be explored regarding the underlying differences across the bovine and the bubaline species.

Non Genetic Factors Affecting Production and Reproduction Traits of Graded Murrah Buffaloes

Background: Environmental factors play a major role and influence the economically important traits in dairy animals. The present investigation was undertaken to study the influence of season on production and reproduction traits of graded Murrah buffaloes reared under farm conditions. Methods: The data pertaining to 164 graded Murrah buffaloes was utilized to study influence of seasons on various climatic factors like maximum, minimum and mean temperature, relative humidity (morning and evening), rainfall, sunshine, wind speed, evaporation and production and reproduction traits like lactation length, lactation yield, days to attain peak yield, persistency, calving interval, birth weight and number of lactations. Result: The present investigation revealed significant effect of season on all the meteorological parameters, production and reproduction parameters studied. The correlations among meteorological parameters and production and reproduction traits were also significant.