Production characteristics of Nili-Ravi buffaloes

Production and reproduction data of 47 Nili-Ravi buffaloes (162 records) were analyzed with regression techniques. Average lactation milk yield was 2,020.04 +/- 44.59 liters, lactation length 277.42 +/- 5.70 d and calving interval 467.10 +/- 11.58 d. The ranges for these parameters respectively were: 609-3591 lit, 122-614 d and 228-982 d. Year of calving and lactation length had significant effect on total milk yield (p < 0.01), whereas other factors such as month of calving, lactation number and calving interval had no effect on total lactation milk yield. Year of calving had influenced significantly other traits (p < .01) such as calving interval and lactations completed. This indicated considerable environment role in buffalo productivity. Effect of month of calving on total lactation milk yield and other traits was however, found to be non-significant. Nili-Ravi buffaloes produced maximum milk during their first three lactations as compared to subsequent lactations. Regression model explained 40 percent variation in total lactation milk yield due to factors analyzed: animal (dam), year and month of calving, lactation length and calving interval.