Body Condition Score (BCS) system in Murrah buffaloes

A new body condition score (BCS) system was developed for Murrah buffaloes. The skeletal check points were identified based on the anatomical features and carcass fat reserves. A new BCS chart in a 1-5 scale using 0.5 increments examining eight skeletal check points was developed. The ultrasonography assessment of the precision of BCS system in 10 buffaloes for each point of the 1-5 scale indicated that BCS adequately reflected in the actual fat reserves. The influence of body condition score at calving (BCS) on the reproductive and productive performance studied in 24 (4 x 6 Completely Randomized Design) and 40 (4 x 10 Completely Randomized Design) buffaloes respectively revealed that buffaloes of BCSc group 3.5 - 3.99 showed the best performance among the four BCSc groups with earlier (P < 0.05) resumption of ovarian activity (29.33 days), less (P < 0.01) postpartum estrus period (46.66 days), less (P < 0.05) service period (58.83 days), less number of services per conception (1.50), higher rate of 1st service conception (66.66%) with higher (P < 0.01) breeding efficiency (90.64 per cent). The milk production traits like total milk yield upto 18 weeks of lactation (1658.67 kg), 305 day predicted lactation yield (3187.3 kg), peak milk yield (16.5 kg), milk protein and solids not fat were also higher in BCSc of 3.5 - 3.99 followed by the BCSc groups of 4.0 4.49, 3.0 - 3.49 and 2.5 - 2.99.