Tarai Buffulo

By Nidhi Sukhija

Origin:

• Tarai buffalo breed is the main breed of Uttarakhand.

• This breed is found mainly in Ram Nagar, Sitarganj, Khatima, Nanakmatta areas of Kumaon of Uttarakhand. This breed is also found in Philibhit and Bareilly districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Morphological characteristics:

• Grayish brown to black coat colour

• Horns are backwards and black in colour

• Heart girth of adult animals is 201 cm, while paunch girth is 227 cm, height of the animals is 156 cm. Navel is tight and sheath is non pendulous. Temperament of female is docile, however, that of male is aggressive as usual.

Performance:

Production:

(a)Monthly milk yield: Milk yield on day of recording multiplied by 30 was taken as monthly milk yield. Average milk yield during first month of first lactation was 127.07±4.18kg. while during second lactation it was 125.86±3.39 kg. during second month. Milk yield progressively decline from third month to 12th month of lactation.

(b) Lactation milk yield: Average first lactation milk yield recorded as 1030.04±26.78 kg while that in second lactation it was 1080.09±28.58 kg. Thus, there was an increase in milk production by 4.86% during second lactation over first lactation. Overall average milk yield in both lactations was 1054.08±1957 kg.

(c) Fat Percent: Fat per cent recorded during first lactation was 6.35±0.11 per cent while in second lactation it was 6.67±0.14 with over all fat per cent of 6.58±0.09%. The coefficient of variation observed was between 13.71 to 16.63 per cent.

(d) SNF content: Average SNF calculated during first lactation was 8.56±0.08 per cent while 8.59±0.02 during second lactation. The overall SNF content was 8.57±0.05 based on 47 samples.

(e) Lactation length: Seventy nine per cent of buffaloes completed lactation up to 9 months while only 12.6% of buffaloes remained in lactating upto one year period. Average lactation length was 290.00±4.97 days during first and 292.48±5.32 days during second lactation. The overall lactation length was recorded as 291.19±3.63 days.

Reproduction:

(a) Service Period: Based on sample of 201 buffaloes, service period in Tarai buffalo was recorded 197.07±6.59 days with 47.45% coefficient of variation.

(b) Dry Period: Dry period was observed as 186.92±16.77 days with 46.62 per cent coefficient of variation.

(c) Calving interval: Average calving interval noted under the recording period was 470.62±18.07 days with 19.95 per cent coefficient of variation.

Utility:

This breed performs very well under unfavourable conditions of Tarai climate, the males are very good for ploughing/puddling in the rice fields. Therefore, the value of the Tarai buffalo will improve.

Low milk yield

References:

• Tarai (cirb.res.in)

• Breeds | nddb.coop

By Nidhi Sukhija