Abstract
Aim:This study was conducted to find out the relationship of prepartum udder and teat measurements with subsequent milk production traits in primiparous Nili-Ravi buffaloes.Materials and Methods:A total of 12 Nili-Ravi buffalo heifers were selected from Buffalo Farm, Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Regional Station- Bir Dosanjh, Nabha, Patiala, Punjab. The udder length (UL), udder width (UW), udder depth, teat length (TL), teat diameter (TD), and teat distances were measured at fortnightly interval from 60 days prepartum until calving. After calving, 60 days total milk yield (TDMY), peak yield (PY), and days taken to attain PY (DPY) were also recorded. The correlation coefficients of various prepartum udder and teat measurements since 60 days prepartum to calving with 60 days TDMY, PY, and DPY were calculated to find out the relationship between the traits in primiparous Nili-Ravi buffaloes.Results:The result envisaged that all udder and teat measurements were increased gradually toward the date of calving in primiparous buffaloes. The UL, UW, left fore (LF) and right rear (RR)TL, RRTD, and the distance between LF to left rear (LR) teat were positively correlated with 60 days TDMY. The UL and UW depicted positive but nonsignificant correlation with PY. Fore TLs showed positive correlation where as TDs and teat distances had a negative correlation with the DPY in primiparous Nili-Ravi buffaloes.Conclusion:It was concluded that milk production performance could be assessed on the basis of prepartum udder and teat measurements in primiparous Nili-Ravi buffaloes.
Highlights
Morphological characteristics of udder and teats have a direct relation with milk production potential in dairy animals
The udder length (UL), udder width (UW), left fore (LF) and right rear (RR)teat length (TL), RRTD, and the distance between LF to left rear (LR) teat were positively correlated with 60 days TDMY
It was concluded that milk production performance could be assessed on the basis of prepartum udder and teat measurements in primiparous Nili-Ravi buffaloes
Summary
Morphological characteristics of udder and teats have a direct relation with milk production potential in dairy animals. Udder and teat measurements show variation between breeds and individuals in the same herd [1]. This has utmost importance while selecting dairy animals which are to be used for future milk production. In primiparous animals, as the direct performance data are not available, stock persons/livestock owners use to establish the relationships among mammary morphological characteristics. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated
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