The present study was carried out to study the effect of Faba Bean (Vicia faba) as protein source on performance of Murrah Buffaloes. For this, eighteen Murrah buffaloes in transition phase were selected and divided into 3 treatment groups having six buffaloes in each group on the basis of milk yield, body weight and parity, following completely randomized design (CRD). Treatment 1 (control) was given concentrate as per ICAR standard 2013 (T0), in treatment 2; 15% of the CP of the concentrate of the control group was replaced with faba bean (T1) and Treatment 3 was given concentrate by replacing 30% of the CP of the control group with faba bean (T2). Production performance parameters were observed. It was reported that replacement of protein source with 15 and 30% faba bean did not have significant effect on average days taken to attain peak yield and persistency period. Overall, it can be concluded that replacement of high cost protein source with faba bean (cheap protein source) upto 30% level does not have any deleterious effect on performance of the animal and also economical to the farmers.

The body conformation traits, which support higher production and longer productive life are very important to breed future dairy buffaloes. Bayesian multiple-trait analysis was performed in biometric traits of Murrah buffaloes to estimate the (co)variance components using an animal model and Gibbs sampling. The model included the fixed effects of parity, season of calving, period of calving, and age group at the time of recording of traits. Random effects included were additive genetic and residual effects. Posterior means of heritability distribution for body length (BL), height at wither (HW), rump width (RW), hip bone distance (HBD), rump slope (RS), brisket distance (BD), navel flap length (NFL) and average skin thickness (AST) were 0.45, 0.56, 0.56, 0.60, 0.48, 0.44, 0.53, and 0.53, respectively. Genetic correlation estimates ranged from -0.64 (RS and NFL) to 0.53 (HDB and HW) and residual correlation estimates ranged from -0.35 (RS and BL) to 0.57 (RS and HW). Results of the current study indicated that all considered linear type traits have a lot of genetic variabilities, which can be used for selection and genetic improvement of Murrah buffaloes in future.

Abstract The present investigation has been undertaken to study the effect of Moringa oleifera supplementation on performance of lactating Murrah buffalo under loose housing system. Eighteen lactating Murrah buffaloes were assigned to three dietary treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3) resulting in six lactating buffaloes per treatment based on parity following factorial completely randomized design. The experiment was conducted for a period for 150 days postpartum (days in milk) to find the effect of supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in following treatments, namely, T1(control)- Feeding of lactating buffaloes as per Indian Council of Agricultural Research standards (2013), T2-75 g MOLM/animal/day in ration,T3- 150 g MOLM/animal/day in ration. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher milk yield (kg), 6% FCM (kg), and lactose (%) were reported in T3 treatment group as compared to T1. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher milk fat (%) and solid Not Fat (%) and total solids (%) were reported in T2 and T3 treatment group as compared to T1 while milk protein (%) remain unchanged. Peak milk yield was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in T3 treatment groups as compared to T1 (control) but Days taken to attain peak milk yield did not differ significantly among different dietary treatments. Persistency period of peak milk yield were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in T3 treatment groups as compared to T1 (control). It is inferred that MOLM supplementation in ration up to 150 grams increases milk production and production traits as well as improved milk composition.

Linear type traits are important in terms of reflecting breed standards and in giving information about the developmental ability of the animals. For data analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) is most important technique when variables are correlated. The aim of present study was to make linear type traits unrelated and reduce their number to the extent which could be used in explaining body conformation in Murrah buffaloes. Measurements were recorded on a total of 81 adult Murrah buffaloes maintained at Buffalo Farm, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar for 11 linear type traits (top wedge angle, rump slope, rump width, hip bone distance, navel flap length, brisket distance, height at wither, body length, skin thickness at neck region, skin thickness at ribs region and skin thickness at rump region). Phenotypic correlations were calculated for considered traits and significant positive correlations varied from 0.26 to 0.67 in the present study. All 11 linear type traits were subjected to varimax rotated PCA with Kaiser Normalization to explain body conformation of Murrah buffaloes. Principal component analysis resulted into four components which described 69.522% of total variation and out of this, first component explained 28.678% variation. The communality ranged from 0.882 (rump slope) to 0.390 (naval flap length) and unique factors ranged from 0.118 to 0.610 for 11 different linear type traits. It was concluded that PCA was effective to reduce the number of variables required to explain the body conformation in Murrah buffaloes.

The present investigation was undertaken to study the impact of anionic supplements on postpartum performance of dairy cows. Forty numbers of cross-bred dairy cows in their third lactation period were selected for the present study (control - 20 cows; Anionic salt supplementation – 20 cows). Reducing DCAD by increasing dietary acidity or employing anionic salts has been efficacious and cost effective in the prophylaxis of hypocalcaemia. The results of this study, based on the data available, suggest that DCAD has a significant effect on a variety of performance indicators including milk production, health status and reproductive performance. A sharp reduction in urinary pH was found after introduction of anionic mineral mix in trial group up to 21 days. A positive role for anionic mineral mixture intake between groups for reducing the risk of retained placenta was identified. A positive role for anionic mineral mixture intake between groups for increased milk yield was identified. Findings of this experiment suggest that feeding of anionic mineral mixture in prefresh period improves the performance of dairy cows with respect to their production and reproductive performance.

Murrah is the world famous milch breed of buffaloes. The aim of present study was to study the variability in body conformation traits as well as to assess the relationship of body conformation traits with production and reproduction performance of Murrah buffaloes. The measurements on 81 lactating Murrah buffaloes maintained at Buffalo Farm, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar were recorded for 11 morphometric traits, viz. top wedge angle, rump slope, rump width, hip bone distance, navel flap length, brisket distance, height at wither, body length, skin thickness at neck region, skin thickness at chest region and skin thickness at flank region and their means along with standard errors were 46.9±0.5 degree, 13.0±0.6 degree, 17.7±0.3 cm, 47.0±0.4 cm, 1.8±0.1 cm, 24.3±0.5 cm, 138.5±0.4 cm, 148.9±0.8 cm, 6.7±0.1 cm, 9.0±0.2 cm and 11.3±0.2 cm, respectively. Additionally, four performance traits namely first lactation milk yield, age at first calving, service period and calving interval were also recorded and their means were found to be 2934.4±95.9 kg, 42.8±0.6 months, 141.7±9.9 days and 446.6±12 days, respectively. The top wedge angularity and hip bone distance had significant positive correlations with first lactation milk yield (0.42 and 0.52 respectively). Highest (0.86) and significant correlation was observed between service period and calving interval. The results suggest that Murrah buffaloes with higher top wedge angularity and wider hip bone distance are better in milk production and these traits can be used for selection of high producing buffaloes in the absence of milk records under field conditions.

A total of 30 Murrah buffaloes of 1st to 5th parity were selected and distributed into three different groups based on their pre-calving BCS (before 2 months of expected date of calving) namely BCS group L (<3.0), BCS group M (3-4) and BCS group H (4.0 and above). Parameters observed during the study period were body condition scores, body measurements (Height at wither, Height at chest from ground, Chest girth, Abdominal girth).Results of this study revealed that body condition score, body measurements were significantly (P<0.05) higher in BCS group H as compared to BCS group L and M throughout the study period (2 months precalving and 6 months postcalving). The results of this study showed that the body measurement (HW, HC, AG, HG) differs significantly among the different BCS groups i.e. highest value exhibited by the animals in BCS group H as compared to group M and L in terms of AG, HG and HW while the HC found to be highest in the group L this might happen due the less fat deposition in the animals of BCS group L. Results of correlation study showed a positive relationship between BCS and AG, HG and HW and a negative correlation with HC.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of phytogenic mixture supplementation on the meat quality and survivability of broilers in winter season. Two hundred eighty eight day-old commercial chicks were subjected to eight dietary treatments consisting of three replicates of twelve chicks in each replicate were reared for a period of 6 weeks in winter season to find the effect of following treatments, namely; T0- Negative control, T1-control, T2-0.5% Amla + 0.5% Ashwagandha + 0.25% Turmeric powder,T3-0.25% Amla + 0.5% Ashwagandha + 0.25%Turmeric powder, T4-0.125% Amla + 0.5% Ashwagandha + 0.25% Turmeric powder, T5- 0.5% Amla + 0.25% Ashwagandha + 0.25% Turmeric powder, T6-0.5% Amla + 0.125% Ashwagandha +0.25% Turmeric powder and T7-0.5% Amla + 0.5% Ashwagandha + 0.125% Turmeric powder. The meat quality and survivability of broilers were studied. Standard managemental practices were followed during the experimental period. Supplementation of phytogenic mixture improved the meat quality and survivability in winter season. Better values were recorded in treatment groups supplemented with 0.5% amla and 0.5% ashwagandha with 0.25% or 0.125% turmeric powder (T2 and T7). Addition of phytogenic mixture consisting of 0.5% amla and 0.5% ashwagandha with 0.25% or 0.125% turmeric powder can be effectively supplemented as an alternative to antibiotics growth promoter in poultry ration in winter for the production of lean and herbal meat with improved effect on the survivability of birds.

AIM:The aim of the study was to correlate the milk yield of Murrah buffaloes with certain body parts measurements.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A total of 70 lactating Murrah buffaloes were selected from Buffalo Farm, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Science, Hisar and were randomly selected in a range from first to fifth parity. Traits studied were 305 days milk yield (MY), body weight (BW), body length (BL), muzzle width (MW), height at wither (HW), abdominal girth (AG), chest girth (CG), body depth fore, body depth rear, hip bone distance (HBD), pin bone distance (PBD), skin thickness (STK), and tail length (TL). Data were collected and statically analyzed by Pearson's correlation method.RESULT:The result of this study showed that Murrah buffaloes had the average 2604.8±39.5 kg for MY, 556.1±4.9 kg for BW, and 152.2±0.8 cm for BL. This study showed that buffaloes had positive significant (p<0.05) correlation between MY and BW (0.26). Highly significant (p<0.01) correlation was observed between MY and AG (0.64), MW (0.42). Significant (p<0.01) negative correlation was observed between MY and STK (-0.79). Different body part measurements (BW, BL, HW, AG, CG, MW, TL, BD, PBD, HBD, STK) were significantly correlated with each other.CONCLUSION:This study can be helpful as a selection tool to enhance and evaluate the production potential by setting standards of Murrah buffalo breed. BW, abdominal growth, muzzle thickness, and STK were found key factors while selecting a dairy Murrah buffalo.