Analysis on the productive and reproductive traits of Murrah buffalo cows maintained in the coastal region of India

Data of 698 Murrah cows sired by 43 bulls maintained at the Central Cattle Breeding Farm, Alamadhi were analysed to study the performance of Murrah buffaloes at the coastal region of Tamil Nadu, India. Least-squares means and genetic parameters were estimated for different first lactation traits. The averages for 305-day and total lactation milk yields were 1616.3 ± 39.6 and 1686.2 ± 44.4 kg, respectively, with heritability estimates of 0.17 ± 0.10 and 0.14 ± 0.10 respectively. The means for lactation length, service period, dry period and calving interval were 312.8 ± 5.7, 253.7 ± 17.3, 250.5 ± 15.9 and 559.6 ± 17.3 days, respectively. The heritability estimates for these traits were 0.01 ± 0.08, 0.10 ± 0.13, 0.16 ± 0.15 and 0.09 ± 0.13, respectively. The low heritability estimates observed for service period, dry period and calving interval suggested improvements in these traits through better management. It is therefore imperative to emphasis improvement in the husbandry practices and the introduction of genetic evaluation programmes at the same time.