Estimation of Economic Value for Production, Reproductive and Survival Traits of Buffaloes of Khuzestan Province in Two Milk Sale Conditions

In this study, production, population and economic parameters of 30 buffalo herds of Khuzestan province in two sale conditions during 2016-2017 were used to estimate the economic value for production, reproductive and survival traits. Economic value of the traits were estimated by one unit increase for each trait using the maximum profit trend. The average annual revenue, cost and profit per head of buffalo for milk and local cream condition were 60480817, 59270944 and 1209873 Rials, respectively, and for just milk sale condition were 59220881, 59270944, and -50062.7 Rials, respectively. In the milk and local cream sale condition, as a proper sale, the economic value of production traits including milk yield, fat percentage, fattening male calf weight and weaning weight were 16774, 178011, 16051 and -46070 Rials, respectively, the economic value of reproductive traits including conception rate, live birth rate, calving interval, buffalo heifer weight and age at first calving were 476142, 527296, 9504, -36668 and -76743 Rials, respectively, and the economic value of survival traits including survival rate of buffalo cow, survival rate of calf from birth to 4 months of age, survival rate of buffalo heifer from 4 months to parturition and longevity were 364946, 216406, 143588 and 72030 Rials, respectively, per head of buffalo in a year. According to the results, selection for increasing the average milk yield, fat percentage and fattening male calf weight would improve the economic condition of buffalo breeder. Considering the negative economic value of calving interval and the age at first calving, breeding in order to shorten them can increase the economic efficiency of the herd. Also, due to the superiority of milk and local cream sale condition compared to milk sale as well as taking into account that due to the lower milk production in buffalo raw milk selling was unprofitable, dairy products selling along with milk can be regarded to improve the economic efficiency.