EFFECT OF GESTATION STAGE ON MILK PRODUCTION IN DAIRY BUFFALO

Dairy buffalo is the major source of milk production kept under peri-urban, low input production system. There is no practice of feeding animals according to requirements; exposing them to nutritional deficiency with the onset of pregnancy. It leads to a decline in milk yield, which compels the farmers to keep the animals un-bred. The present work was conducted to document, the post-conception decline in yield. This study comprised analysis of 30912 weekly milk yield records for 48 weeks of lactation pertaining to 465 pregnant and 179 non-pregnant buffaloes from three locations. Gestation contributed to the reduction in milk yield by 1.4% per month. Post conception reduction in milk yield was effected by location, conception season, lactation week, gestation month and parity. Parity 3 showed the least reduction followed by parity 2, 4, 1, 5, and 6, indicating parity 3 as the best phase for milk production in dairy buffaloes. It may be concluded that the onset of pregnancy in dairy buffaloes results in drastic decline in yield at an early stage as compared to those conceived later. The buffaloes conceiving at an early stage of lactation were also good milk producer in comparison to their non-pregnant counterparts