Abstract
Limited data are available on the phenotypic factors related to the productive and reproductive performance of Egyptian buffalo cows, based on a large sample size. This study aims to estimate the effect of phenotypic factors on productive and reproductive traits of Egyptian buffaloes. Data were collected from five dairy buffalo stations and include 3787 lactation records. For the analysis of variance, four seasons were considered in each year, and the parity included seven classes. Dry periods were divided into three intervals (< 90, 90–170, and > 170 d). Birth weight was divided into four categories (<25, 25–30, 31–35, and >35 kg). The results indicated that winter-calving buffaloes had the highest total milk yield (TMY) of the whole lactation, with the shortest (p<0.001) lactation length (LL), days open (DO), and calving interval (CI). Both, total milk TMY/kg and LL/days were increased (p<0.001), but the CI was linearly decreased (p<0.001). Overall, buffaloes with age at first mating (AFM<25month), age at first calving (AFC<35 month), and a dry period (DP<90days), produced the highest TMY (p<0.001) and maintained the longest LL (p<0.001). By increasing the body weight at birth (BWB), milk production level significantly increased. Buffaloes of BWB<25kg had the shortest DO (p<0.004; 168.10±3.598 days) and CI (p<0.006; 17.01±.135 months). In conclusion, body weight at birth, season, parity, DO, CI, AFM, AFC, and DP could be used as predictors to improve reproductive and productive traits in buffalo breeding programs. The wide range in milk yield and reproductive traits indicated significant potential in increasing the productive and reproductive performances of Egyptian buffalo cows.
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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information file.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the staff members of the Buffalo Farm of Mahallet Mousa, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, for facilitating and offering the raw data related to this research. Authors are thankful to Dr. Thobela Louis Tyasi from the University of Limpopo, South Africa, and Katarina Medejova for their valuable linguistic corrections.
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Mohammed Eldawy, conceptualization, validation, and original draft writing; Mohamed Lashen, supervision; Hussein Badr, supervision; Mohammed Farouk, conceptualization, software, formal analysis, writing—review and editing, and supervision.
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Eldawy, M.H., Lashen, M.ES., Badr, H.M. et al. Milk production potential and reproductive performance of Egyptian buffalo cows. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 282 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02722-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02722-2