Phenotypic characteristics of Sambalpuri buffaloes of India

Abstract

Sambalpuri buffalo is one of the lesser known breeds of India. Phenotypic information on conformation, production and reproduction traits at farmers' level was collected through a questionnaire. A total of 198 adult animals (67 male, 131 female) were measured from eleven villages of its native tract. These data were subjected to least squares analysis and Duncan’s multiple range test. The overall least square means for body length, heart girth, height at withers, paunch girth, head length, horn length, tail length, body weight were found to be 132.54±0.72 cm, 177.90±0.71 cm, 125.50±0.46 cm, 189.06±0.82 cm, 50.73±0.36 cm, 55.29±0.55 cm, 81.33±0.90 cm and 411.47±5.34 kg respectively. The overall least square means for age at first calving, calving interval, gestation period, average daily milk yield, lactation length, dry period and lactation yield were 1488.42±3.24 days, 533.92±2.12 days, 314.19±0.55 days, 2.95±0.08 litres, 282.26±2.69 days, 251.15±3.46 days and 809.57±18.75 litres respectively. Horn length difference was found to be significant (P<0.01) among localities but, between sex it was non-significant. All other conformation traits were found to be non-significant among localities. However, there exists a significant difference between two sexes (P<0.01) in relation to all conformation traits except horn length and tail length. The effect of localities were significant (P<0.01) on all the production and reproduction traits except for gestation period.