Pregnancy depresses milk yield in Dairy Buffaloes

Abstract

This paper reports the decline in milk production of buffaloes after getting conceived. The experimental buffaloes were selected in NWF province of Pakistan. Complete milk yield records for 48 weeks of lactation were obtained for 465 pregnant and 179 non-pregnant buffaloes. Model-1 to 3 were used to find out the factors affecting milk yield reduction due to pregnancy. Model 4 was used to modulate milk yield reduction with the onset of pregnancy at medium sized private farms comprising lactation records of 40 buffaloes. The data indicate that post-conception reduction in milk yield was earlier in the buffaloes that conceived during 11-28 weeks of lactation, followed by those conceived during 29-36 and 37-48 weeks of lactation respectively. Noticeable reduction in milk yield was found during 3rd, 5th and 6th month of pregnancy in the animals conceiving at earlier, mid or later stages of lactation. Initially the milk yield in pregnant animals increased up to 2 months post-conception and then decreased at an almost constant rate. The reduction was visible after 5th week post-conception. The decline in milk with advancement pregnancy was slight up to a point which we declared as joining point; thereafter the decline was much greater.