Abstract
This study was planned to clarify the variation of body weight and average daily gain traits in both indigenous and F1 crossbreed (Local×Mediterranean) buffalo at weaning (sixth month) and yearling stages (twelfth month). Data were collected from 33 indigenous and 35 F1 crossbred buffalo progeny during the period of 2011 to 2014 with intensive management system at Research and Development farm of Lal Teer Livestock Limited in Bangladesh. The gathered data were analyzed using general linear model (GLM) and independent sample t test. The effect of parity, sex, season and breeding year on body weight and average daily gain were observed where significant values found in breeding period (p <0.01) of crossbred buffalo for body weight. It might be the reason of crossbreeding to indigenous buffalo cows using imported semen with better genetic merit. The parity (p <0.05), season (p <0.05) and breeding period (p <0.01) were also significant for average daily gain measurement which suggesting environmental adaptability beside additive genetic effects. Body weights were measured at weaning and yearling stages for both local (113 to 195 kg) and F1 crossbred (144 to 220 kg) buffalo progeny to screen the elite offspring for the Genetic Farm and Bull station. Similarly, average daily gain observed 469 to 457 g and 600 to 506 g at the previously mentioned two stages for both local and F1 buffalos, respectively. It was observed that studied traits were comparatively better in F1 buffalo progeny than indigenous. The comparison of average daily weight gains between indigenous and F1 buffalos at weaning and yearling periods showed significant differences for body weight (p <0.001) and average daily gain (p <0.05), respectively. It is concluded that genetic gain might be possible in local buffalo population by grading up process which could switch the traditional buffalo rearing to commercial level as well as meeting the nutritional demand of country people.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2017, 3(4): 499-503
Highlights
Buffalo production is not very frequent in Bangladesh because of its lower acceptance to the people due to least milk production and rearing or management difficulties compare to cattle
The weaning (66 kg) and yearling (146 kg) weights were much lower than our findings either in crossbred and native progeny (Pandya et al, 2015) which indicating the effect of breed with better management in stall feeding
The study of Zaba and Clevañer (2001) and Rodas-González et al (2001) found 201 and 235 kg of weaning weight in buffalo progeny of Argentina and Venezuela, respectively. These results were much higher than our findings either in local and F1 crossbred; that could be the result of a beef breeding programme while planned breeding strategy of this study has focused on developing a dual purpose buffalo breed
Summary
Buffalo production is not very frequent in Bangladesh because of its lower acceptance to the people due to least milk production and rearing or management difficulties compare to cattle. Huque and Borghese (2012) reported that 96.40 % buffalos of the world are available in Asia. Based on the report of DLS (2015) about 1.64 million buffalo are existed in Bangladesh of which 40 % are found in the coastal regions (Faruque et al, 1990). Hasnath (1985) observed that average live weight of buffalo was 320 kg with 44% dressing percentage. In-depth studies on buffalo growth traits are scanty in Bangladesh. This study was aimed to reveal the differences between indigenous and crossbred buffalo progenies regarding body weight and average daily gain
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