Mycobacterium orygis (M. orygis), a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, has emerged as an important cause of animal and human tuberculosis in South Asia. Despite the widespread prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in India and the major role of over 100million Indian water buffaloes in dairy production, the pathological and epidemiological features of M. orygis infection in buffaloes are largely unexplored. A closed herd of 279 female water buffaloes in Haryana, India, was screened for bTB by single intradermal cervical tuberculin skin (SCT) test, the comparative cervical tuberculin (CCT) test, and the interferon gamma release assay (IGRA). Detailed post-mortem examinations, cultural isolation, Polymerase Chain Reaction, and Whole Genome Sequencing were methodically performed on reactor buffaloes. The screening identified 26 animals as reactors by SCT. Of these, 20 were confirmed positive for bTB with both CCT and IGRA. Among the 15 reactor animals examined, gross pathological lesions suggestive of bTB were observed in 13 animals, while histopathological lesions in 14 animals. Molecular analyses confirmed the presence of MTBC in nine animals, with eight identified as M. orygis infections and one with mixed infection. Notably, two genetically distinct clusters of M. orygis suggestive multiple introductions into the herd. The study reveals significant pathological and microbiological complexities in bTB infections by M. orygis in Indian water buffaloes. It underscores a need for expanded research, improved surveillance, and introduction of targeted control measures to eliminate bTB in this major farmed animal species.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is one of the most important zoonotic diseases of veterinary and public health concern, with significant economic, productive, and sanitary implications. In the Campania region, characterized by a high density of cattle and buffalo farms and a complex diversity of production systems, understanding the risk factors that influence the persistence and spread of the disease is essential for designing effective control and eradication strategies. This retrospective longitudinal observational cohort study analyzed a seven-year period (2017–2023) with the aim of identifying the main structural, management, and environmental variables associated with the occurrence of bTB outbreaks in cattle and buffalo herds across Campania. Data were integrated from national information systems (SANAN, SIMAN, and BDN) and analyzed using Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon test, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. The covariates considered included herd size, animal movements, previous history of infection, territorial characteristics (farm density, outbreak proximity, presence of pasture), and the presence of other domestic species. In the buffalo cohort (n = 892), 13% of farms reported at least one positive case. Independent risk factors identified were previous infection (OR = 3.14; 95% CI: 1.61–5.92), introduction of animals from outside the region (OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.19–0.85), and the number of outbreaks within a 2 km radius (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.07–1.33). In the cattle cohort (n = 4,467), the prevalence of positivity was 3%. Significant predictors included previous infection (OR = 8.98; 95% CI: 4.18–17.76), presence of pasture within 2 km (OR = 2.65; 95% CI: 1.62–4.19), animal movements (OR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.11–3.57), and the number of outbreaks within a 2 km buffer (OR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.28–1.58). The findings highlight the crucial role of herd-level (size and movements), historical (previous infection), and spatial (outbreak proximity, pasture presence) factors in the transmission dynamics of bTB. The integration of epidemiological and spatial analytical approaches provides a comprehensive understanding of the regional risk landscape, offering valuable insights for improving biosecurity, surveillance, and control strategies aimed at reducing the burden of bovine tuberculosis in both cattle and buffalo populations.

Brucellosis in water buffalo remains endemic in southern Italy, particularly in areas of the province of Caserta characterized by high animal density. This retrospective cohort study (2016-2021) assessed the effectiveness of stamping out (whole-herd depopulation) versus selective culling in counteracting brucellosis in water buffalo herds. Data from 222 outbreaks were analyzed using Cox regression, incorporating herd size, buffalo density, eradication method, and co-infection with Mycobacterium bovis. Stamping out reduced reinfection risk by 80% (HR = 0.2; p < 0.001), especially in municipalities exceeding 200 buffaloes/km2. Co-infection with M. bovis was not statistically associated with reinfection. These results indicate that control strategies should prioritize stamping out, coupled with reinforced structural and operational biosecurity measures, even in high-density settings, to achieve disease-free status. Integrated surveillance and education, in line with One Health principles, are essential for sustainable eradication and protection of the buffalo dairy sector.

Water buffalo are ideal for grazing in restored wetlands due to their anatomical and behavioural adaptations. Unlike cattle or sheep, the water buffalo thrive in such habitats, feeding on rushes and reeds while helping maintain open landscapes. However, these moist environments also harbor risks, particularly parasitic infections by liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica) and the recently widespread rumen flukes, which require aquatic snails as intermediate hosts. For the present study faecal samples were taken once a year from 2016 to 2024 and monthly in two 12-month periods (2019/20 and 2022/23) from a water buffalo herd established in 2014 on a southern German farm and examined for fluke eggs with a sedimentation technique. In addition, climate data were obtained from a nearby weather station to analyse the impact of rainfall and sunshine hours on the fluke prevalence. To test whether blood samples can be used to detect infection with F. hepatica, residual quantities of blood samples from disease surveillance were tested for F. hepatica antibodies using a commercially available ELISA test. Copromicroscopical results showed that fluke prevalence rose significantly within a few years, with F. hepatica prevalence being always higher than C. daubneyi prevalence. Co-infections were common and seasonal patterns inconsistent. Fluke prevalence increased with rainfall and sunshine hours. In the herd, older water buffalo were more prone to liver flukes. The ELISA test for fascioliasis failed even though F. hepatica eggs were present in the faeces. The findings of the study highlight that extensively reared water buffalo are at high risk of trematode infection, which spreads rapidly throughout the herd and reaches high prevalence rates. The specific wallowing behaviour of water buffalo and favourable climatic conditions for parasite development may contribute to this development.

Buffaloes play a pivotal role in sustaining rural livelihoods, milk production, and nutritional security in South Asia, where genetic improvement remains a critical pathway to enhance productivity and profitability. Despite decades of breeding efforts, limited empirical evidence exists on the socio-economic impact of disseminating superior germplasm under structured progeny testing programs. This study employed a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effects of the Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) Murrah superior germplasm disseminated under the Field Progeny Testing (FPT) program of the Network Project on Buffalo Improvement (NPBI) in Hisar district, Haryana, India. Treatment households were defined as adopters of CIRB superior germplasm, while non-adopters from comparable control villages, located approximately 40–50 km away to avoid spill-over, served as the control group. A total of 200 respondents (100 treatment and 100 control) were selected through a combination of purposive and random sampling. Data were collected using key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and structured household surveys, and analysed using doubly robust econometric approaches, including Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA), Propensity Score Matching (PSM), and Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM). Our findings suggest that calf birth weight, age at first calving, dry period, average daily milk yield, and cost of artificial insemination significantly influence the net income of buffalo-rearing households. Adoption of CIRB Murrah superior germplasm through the FPT program led to a significant higher annual net income by $405.94 per buffalo, average daily milk yield by 1.53 kg, and calf birth weight by 5.53 kg, while reducing Age at First Calving (AFC) by 2.94 months and shortening dry periods by 1.83 months in comparison with control group. The study further indicates that efficient reproductive management and affordable AI services are critical for realizing the full economic potential of buffalo herds. Consequently, the findings emphasize that targeted dissemination of superior germplasm combined with technical guidance on feeding, breeding, and health management is essential for enhancing productivity and profitability in dairy systems.

Background: Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS), caused by Pasteurella multocida serotype B:2, is a fatal bacterial disease of water buffaloes, particularly threatening in ecologically vulnerable coastal regions such as Bhola, Bangladesh. Objectives: This study reports an HS outbreak on Meghna River Island from March 17 to April 6, 2023, focusing on epidemiological patterns, clinical manifestations, and molecular diagnostics. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study that was conducted on a herd of buffaloes on a farm in Vabanipur Char (Island), Bangladesh, that exhibited sudden illness characterized by high fever, respiratory distress, and lethargy. Among 200 buffaloes, 51 developed clinical signs and 19 died. During the field visits, blood samples were collected from four clinically affected live buffaloes for bacteriological analysis. Additionally, three blood and three lung tissue samples were obtained from the deceased animals for comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. Results: The outbreak exhibited a morbidity rate of 25.5%, a mortality rate of 9.5%, and a case fatality rate of 37.3%. Males showed 100% morbidity, whereas females had the highest case fatality rate (46.7%). Predominant clinical signs included high fever, respiratory distress, bloat, and swallowing difficulties—strongly associated with fatal outcomes. Postmortem findings revealed marked subcutaneous edema and visceral organ congestion. Molecular detection using quantitative real-time PCR targeting the Kmt1 gene confirmed P. multocida in all tested samples. Conclusion: The findings underscore the impact of climatic stressors on HS emergence and highlight the urgent need for robust vaccination programs, timely diagnosis, and effective disease surveillance systems in coastal livestock populations. Future studies should focus on genetic characterization and long-term control strategies in climate-sensitive zones.

The Murrah buffalo, a highly productive dairy breed, significantly contributes to India’s milk production. This study assesses the genetic gain and economic impact of transmission of superior genetics to daughters through selected sires in the Network Project on Buffalo Improvement (NPBI) that implements a progeny testing program for genetic improvement of milk yield in Murrah buffalo herds. Data from 4300 daughters of 214 sires recorded under the NPBI since its inception, collected from 1992 to 2018, were analysed for breeding value estimation and genetic trend assessment. The economic gain from the genetic gain in the herd was estimated by calculating cumulative gain through progenies over the years. The study finds an annual genetic gain of 1.29 kg/animal/year, resulting in a significant increase in milk production and economic benefits for smallholder farmers. The economic gain from the genetic improvement in the herd is estimated at 449.92 billion INR, demonstrating the program’s success in improving buffalo productivity and contributing to India’s agrarian economy. The present study highlights the success of national-level coordinated progeny testing program. The realized genetic gain is substantial and presents an opportunity for a wider expansion and implementation of similar programs for other livestock species as well.

Simple SummaryIn Italy, buffalo farming has gained increasing importance in recent years, with a steady rise in the number of animals reared. To optimize herd management and extract meaningful insights from available datasets, the use of Machine Learning techniques has become increasingly valuable. Among these, unsupervised learning provides a relatively straightforward and efficient approach for analyzing unlabeled data. In this study, we applied two unsupervised algorithms to routine buffalo production data to assess their performance and to evaluate their potential with the aim of improving herd management practices. Our findings suggest that, despite certain limitations, clustering analysis can offer substantial advantages in understanding herd structure, consistency and management.This study investigated the use of K-means and hierarchical clustering, to group Italian Mediterranean buffalo using routinely collected test-day records. The analysis was first conducted on a combined dataset comprising three buffalo herds and subsequently on each herd individually. The main objective was to determine whether data-driven groupings could be implemented to support improvements in general herd management strategies. Results indicated that K-means consistently outperformed hierarchical clustering across all datasets, as reflected by average silhouette scores (0.17–0.18 vs. 0.10–0.12 for K-means and hierarchical, respectively), favorable Davies–Bouldin Index (DBI; 2.05–2.16 vs. 2.11–2.5 for K-means and hierarchical, respectively) and Calinski–Harabasz Index values (CHI; 1034–3877 vs. 729–2109 for K-means and hierarchical, respectively). K-means identified two clusters in the combined dataset and in two of the three herds, while three clusters were identified in the remaining herd. Cluster composition analysis revealed that days in milk and milk yield were the main discriminating factors when two clusters were formed. When three clusters emerged, K-means also identified a subgroup of animals that differed from the others in both age and lactation stage. These findings were supported by the analysis of variance (ANOVA), which showed statistically significant differences among most of the evaluated variables.

Oedematous Skin Disease (OSD) is a significant and endemic bacterial infection affecting Egyptian buffaloes, leading to substantial economic losses due to reduced milk yield, hide damage, and occasional mortality. The disease is caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (serotype II), with its primary virulence factor being the exotoxin Phospholipase D (PLD). This toxin induces severe local inflammation, edema, and systemic toxemia.Epidemiologically, OSD exhibits a distinct seasonal pattern, with outbreaks predominantly occurring during the hot and humid summer months (April-August). The insect Hippobosca equina (the horse fly) is identified as a key mechanical vector in disease transmission. Morbidity rates in buffalo herds are notably high, reported at 26.1% to 30%, while mortality rates are lower, ranging from 4% to 4.5%. Case fatality rates can be significant, reaching up to 13.3%, particularly in severe forms of the disease.Clinically, the disease manifests primarily in two forms: a cutaneous form and a more severe mixed (cutaneous-renal) form. The cutaneous form is characterized by hot, painful, edematous swellings, typically on the limbs, which may progress to ulceration, crust formation, and lameness. Systemic signs include fever, anorexia, and depression. The mixed form involves renal damage, evidenced by hemoglobinuria ("coffee-colored" urine), and is often fatal due to shock and organ failure.Diagnosis is confirmed through bacteriological isolation of C. pseudotuberculosis, Gram staining revealing characteristic rods, and serological tests like Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) and ELISA that detect antibodies against the PLD toxin.Treatment strategies show varying efficacy. A medicinal approach combining antibiotics (e.g., Penicillin-Streptomycin) and anti-inflammatory drugs has a success rate of approximately 66.6%. In contrast, surgical intervention for abscessated lesions is highly effective, with a 100% success rate. However, treatment often fails in advanced or mixed-form cases due to the intracellular nature of the bacterium and the profound systemic effects of the toxin.In conclusion, OSD remains a major challenge for the Egyptian buffalo industry. Effective control measures should focus on developing immunization strategies against C. pseudotuberculosis and its toxins, coupled with rigorous control of the Hippobosca equina vector population

In this study, we present an overview of 348 Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) breakdowns reported in Italy between January 2022 and December 2023, and declared resolved between January 2022 and February 2025. The main objective of this study is to investigate the most probable sources of these bTB breakdowns using decision tree analysis, and to compare the findings with conclusions drawn by official veterinarians. Most of the studied breakdowns (332; 95.4%) involved cattle herds only, 11 (3.1%) involved water buffalo herds only, and five (1.4%) involved multiple species. bTB was primarily detected in beef herds (82.8%), while mixed and dairy herds represented 10.3 and 6.9% of the breakdowns, respectively. In half of the breakdowns, the number of reactors was four or fewer. We also collected genotype data for 268 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates from 191 (54.9%) different breakdowns. M. bovis (255 isolates; 95.1%) came from 180 (94.2%) breakdowns, showing wide genetic variability. M. caprae (13 isolates; 4.9%) came from 11 (5.8%) breakdowns. Finally, we investigated the probable sources of infection, considering the five most frequently proposed sources of bTB breakdowns: (i) residual infection; (ii) introduction of infected cattle from other herds; (iii) sharing of pastures with infected herds; (iv) contiguous spread from infected neighboring herds; and (v) interaction with wildlife reservoirs. For each source, a decision tree was developed, and a likelihood of infection was assigned to each end node of the trees. The analysis identified residual infection (11.2%) as the most frequent source of bTB breakdowns, followed by sharing of pastures (10.9%) and interaction with wildlife (7.2%). The introduction of infected cattle and contiguous spread from infected neighboring herds were identified as less relevant sources. These tools allowed us to identify a likely source of infection in about 26% of cases. The results of our study, although based on scientific criteria, showed poor agreement with the conclusions of the veterinary officers who conducted the breakdown investigations in the field. In our opinion, these tools, when added to the “classic” investigation methodologies, should improve their effectiveness in identifying sources of infection in bTB breakdowns in Italy, supporting the eradication of this zoonotic disease.

Evaluation of Genetic Variance For Growth and Feeding Efficiency Traits in A Small Herd of Egyptian Buffalo

Murrah buffalo a high producing milch breed, significantly contributes to India's dairy industry, making it world's leading milk producing country, however receives a narrow focus in genetic improvement programs due to lack of sufficient information on the genetic architecture of its population. The present study aimed at analysing the pedigree and population structure of the Murrah buffalo herd maintained at the ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (ICAR-CIRB), Hisar, India. The herd serves as a nucleus population for genetic improvement programs, with systematic sire selection based on progeny testing. Pedigree analysis of 1,850 buffaloes revealed a mean equivalent complete generation (ECG) of 1.36 with a maximum of 5 generations traced. Pedigree completeness exceeded 50% up to two generations back, reflecting challenges in retrieving older data. The effective population size ( ) was 281 ± 91, indicating high genetic diversity (GD = 0.996) and narrower bottlenecks ( ). Overall inbreeding in the herd was found to be low, with only 0.32% of the population exhibiting an inbreeding coefficient above 12.5%. The generation interval averaged 4.9years, with the longest interval observed in the dam-to-son pathway. These findings highlight the genetic variability and low inbreeding in the herd, making it suitable for future advanced selection programs aimed at enhancing genetic gains without significant loss of diversity.

This study represents the first investigation of buffalo teat sonography in Iraq, which was conducted in Abu Ghraib district. The study included 10 buffaloes (5 primiparous and 5 multiparous) obtained from three buffalo breeding herds at Abu Gharib district and subjected to ultrasound. The SAS program was used for statistical analysis. The research assessed four key traits: teat canal length (TCL), teat diameter (TD), teat cistern diameter (TCD), and teat wall thickness (TWT). These traits were measured both before and after morning and evening milking using an ultrasound device (CHISON ECO3 EXPERT VET) equipped with a macro convex transducer (5-7.5 MHz), with measurements recorded in millimeters (mm). The findings revealed significant differences in TCL among primiparous buffaloes in both morning and evening. TCL increased from 7.78 mm to 10.04 mm in morning milking and from 8.22 mm to 10.22 mm in evening milking. The TD showed a significant decrease from 36.86 mm to 26.58 mm in the morning and from 35.10 mm to 25.68 mm in the evening, although the time of milking (morning or evening) did not yield statistically significant differences. A noticeable reduction in TCD was observed, with values dropping from 23.40 mm to 17.28 mm before and after morning milking, and from 20.90 mm to 17.36 mm in evening milking. Among multiparous buffaloes, significant differences were noted for TCL, TD, and TCD, though TWT remained unchanged between morning and evening milking. These findings underscore the feasibility of implementing milking machines for buffaloes in the future.

Brazil has the largest buffalo herd outside the Asian continent, with more than 1.5 million head. As buffalo farming has become an economically important activity, studies on the occurrence of pathogens shared between cattle and buffalo are necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular occurrence of piroplasmids and bacterial agents (Anaplasmataceae and Coxiellaceae) potentially transmitted by vectors in buffaloes in southeastern Brazil using molecular methods. DNA was extracted from blood samples of 81 buffaloes, 165 Rhipicephalus microplus ticks, and 92 Haematopinus tuberculatus lice collected from buffaloes in the municipality of Passos, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. These samples were subjected to conventional PCR (cPCR) assays based on three endogenous genes, namely gapdh from mammals, 16S rRNA from ticks, and cox-1 from lice. Positive samples from these PCR assays were then submitted to a real-time PCR (qPCR) assay targeting IS1111 of Coxiella burnetii, cPCR for Ehrlichia spp. (dsb gene), and nested-PCR assays targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Piroplasmida, sbp-2 of Babesia bovis, and rap-1α of Babesia bigemina. All buffalo and ectoparasite DNA samples tested positive in the PCR assays for the endogenous genes. All samples were negative in the qPCR for C. burnetii and nested PCR for B. bigemina (rap-1α). For Ehrlichia spp., 6/257 (2.3%) ectoparasites (five ticks and one louse) tested positive, with BLASTn analysis showing 88.04% to 100% identity with Ehrlichia minasensis. In the nPCR for piroplasmids (18S rRNA), 8/81 (9.9%) buffaloes and one tick (0.7%) tested positive, with BLASTn analysis showing > 99.9% identity with B. bovis and B. bigemina. In the nPCR for B. bovis (sbp-2), 1/81 buffalo (1.2%) was positive. This study demonstrated, for the first time, the occurrence and co-infection of tick-borne hemoparasites in buffaloes and associated ectoparasites in southeastern Brazil. The lack of positivity for E. minasensis and low molecular occurrence for B. bovis and B. bigemina among buffaloes sampled may be associated with the higher resistance of this ruminant species to R. microplus ticks and vectored pathogens.

BackgroundIn recent years automatic milking systems (AMS) have emerged as a technology that can improve traditional milking routine. AMS offer several benefits, such as regular milking routine, health of the mammary glands and labour efficiency, higher milk yield (MY), and quality. In contrast with dairy cows, the application of AMS in dairy buffalo herds remains underexplored. This study aimed to extend the current knowledge regarding AMS and evaluate for the first time the efficiency of new AMS models in buffalo species on a wide dataset, by focusing on MY and quality. Two sources of data were analysed: data collected at each milking by the AMS software for a duration of 22 months, and monthly milk yields and quality traits. The statistical analysis was performed through the R software. A mixed model for repeated measures was adopted, using days in milk (DIM) and parity as fixed factors and the visit/day of sampling as repeated measure. A linear regression model was also used to study the relationship between the number of milking per buffalo per day (as independent variable), lactation persistency, DIM, parity, somatic cell score (SCS), and MY (as dependent variables).ResultsThe effects of parity, DIM and their interaction were significant for all milk quality traits (monthly recordings), except for their interaction on somatic cell count (SCC) and SCS. An average of 2.35 milkings/buffalo was recorded, with a mean milking duration of 7.36 min. The average MY was 9.15 kg/day, with 7.97% and 4.81% fat and protein content, respectively and the lactation peak occurred at 38.17 ± 1.31 DIM. The difference between multiparous and primiparous was clear in terms of both MY and energy-corrected milk (ECM). Also, parity and DIM significantly influenced both average milk flow rate (1.49 kg/min on average) and peak milk flow rate (2.68 kg/min on average): these showed a comparable trend describing higher values during the first days in milk followed by a decrease throughout the lactation, along with a decreased milk production.ConclusionsThe present study was the first to investigate new model of AMS in buffalo species in a large dataset providing insight into the new model of AMS as an effective milking system for buffalo species. Still, further research is encouraged to confirm these findings, as well as to compare the performances of different automatic milking systems, possibly under different management practices and environmental conditions.

In a private 1972 report to the Director of the National Park Service, Jack Anderson, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, confessed that “we are apprehensive that their proposal would ultimately end up with the complete slaughter of all bison, as occurred on the Crow Indian Reservation.”1 For decades, livestock producers at the local and national level pressured park officials to eliminate a specific disease—brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus—from Yellowstone’s buffalo herds. Following World War II, governments targeted this bacterial contagion in American domestic and wild animal populations to improve public health and livestock producers’ profits. Symptoms of brucellosis, which humans can catch from other mammalian hosts, vary across species. For domestic cattle, it can cause spontaneous abortions and, in rare cases, death. Buffalo seem largely unaffected by brucellosis but for humans, the bacterial infection can cause a plethora of chronic and debilitating symptoms.2

This study evaluated the effect of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on ovarian vascularisation and plasma progesterone (P4) levels in Murrah buffaloes during an ovulation synchronisation protocol. Twenty buffaloes were divided into two groups: with eCG (n = 20) and without eCG (control, n = 20) in a crossover design. A 1.0 g progesterone intravaginal device (DIB) was inserted and 2 mg oestradiol benzoate was administered intramuscularly on Day 0. On Day 9, DIB was removed, PGF2α was administered to all animals and eCG was given to half. GnRH was administered on Day 11. Daily Doppler ultrasounds assessed follicular and luteal development and vascularisation from D9 to D16 and on Days 20, 24, 28 and 32. Blood samples were collected before each ultrasound to analyse plasma P4. Ovulation occurred on Day 13.42 ± 1.17 in the eCG group (19/20) and 13.53 ± 0.19 (14/20) in the control (p = 0.34). The ovulation rate was higher in the eCG group (95%) than in the control (70%). eCG increased the vascularised follicle perimeter on Days 11 (p = 0.018) and 12 (p = 0.03) and enhanced corpus luteum (CL) diameter on Day 16 (p < 0.001). A larger vascularised area was observed on Days 14-16, 20 and 24 (p < 0.05). P4 concentrations were higher in the eCG group on Days 15, 16, 20 and 24 (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between CL size, vascularisation and P4 concentration (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). In conclusion, eCG improves ovarian vascularisation, ovulation rates and plasma P4 levels, supporting its use to enhance reproductive performance in buffalo herds.

Despite buffalo milk being an important food worldwide, not much is known about factors that influence its quality on Brazilian buffalo milk farms. It ranks second in total volume of milk production, with cow milk in first place, but a lack of minimum legal parameters for buffalo milk is another problem faced by some countries as it happens in Brazil, where the buffalo population represents less than 1% of dairy cows, even though the Brazilian buffalo herd is one of the largest in Latin America, with a successful dairy processing chain. This study investigated the composition and SCC of buffalo milk produced in a high-altitude tropical region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, where buffalo calving naturally happens from February to May. A total of 2,211 samples of raw milk were analyzed for compositional parameters (fat, protein, lactose, TS, and SNF) using Fourier-transform infrared spectra and for SCC using flow cytometry. Official climatological data were also collected. Descriptive, multivariate statistics and principal component analysis were used. The highest fat, protein, solids nonfat, and total solids concentrations were recorded during the summer and spring seasons, 6.01 and 6.31 g/100 g for fat, 4.23 and 4.18 g/100 g for protein, 9.93 and 9.92 g/100 g for SNF, and 15.95 and 16.23 g/100 g for TS, respectively. Lactose, however, had the lowest concentration observed in the same seasons, 4.76 and 4.75 g/100 g, respectively. The component with the highest correlation to SCC was lactose, with the highest SCC values during spring, which was similar to the SCC during the fall. The concentrations of buffalo milk components were influenced by the season, with an opposite trend when compared with cow milk. However, buffalo milk SCC was usually lower than the counts reported for cow milk in the same region. Upcoming studies must include data as well as weighted averages to estimate the financial effect of this oscillation during the year and for milk quality payment.

Prevalence and herd-level risk factors associated with Brucella infection in smallholders keeping large ruminants.

This study was to compare the seminal plasma proteins profiles of Gir bull and Murrah buffalo bull to examine the reproductive performance in terms of seminal plasma polypeptide properties as well as semen concentration, Mass and Individual motility and shape of spermatozoa. Purification and immuno-biochemical characterization of fertility associated proteins in Murrah and Gir bulls are major immuno-dominant proteins that have a significant impact in fertility. Seminal plasma was collected from evidently normal semen comprising viable sperm for extraction. The Murrah buffalo and Gir cattle herds contribute the most to India&#39;s milk production, hence it is important to comprehend the proteomics of Gir bull seminal plasma proteins and to compare them to those of buffalo bulls in order to better understand their molecular characteristics. Therefore, this research compares and contrasts our existing understanding of the expanding field.