Effect of non-genetic factors on reproductive efficiency of Mehsana buffaloes maintained at organized farm

Abstract

The present investigation included the data pertaining to lactation records of 301 Mehsana buffaloes, spread over a period of 30 years (1991 to 2020), collected from the records maintained at Livestock Research Station, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar, District Banaskantha, Gujarat; to evaluate the reproduction performance of Mehsana buffaloes. The data pertaining to different performance traits was collected from the records of the farm and analysed to know the effects of non-genetic factors like- period of calving, season of calving, parity and age at first calving group on these performance traits. The LSM of AFC have been observed 1295.54±11.80 days (N=301), but it was significantly (P≤0.01) affected by the period of birth. Similarly, LSM for SP was calculated 145.72±4.98 days (N=1038) and it was significantly (P≤0.01) affected by period of calving, season of calving and parity, but AFC group did not have any effect on this trait. The LSM of DP was estimated as 213.69±9.17 days (N=869), while it was significantly (P≤0.05) affected by period of calving, but effect of season of calving and parity on this trait was highly significant (P≤0.01). Similarly, LSM of CI was observed 451.97±4.97 days (N=1054), which was significantly (P≤0.01) affected by the period of calving, season of calving and parity. Therefore, based on these observations it was concluded that significant effect of non-genetic factors play an important role to improve the reproduction performance of the Mehsana buffalo herd, therefore emphasis must be given on nutrition, management and health cover practices to improve the performance of the indigenous breed on the farm.