Comparative Meat Production Performance Evaluation of Buffalo with Cattle at Different Ages
Pages 66-73
Biplob Kumer Roy, Khan Shahidul Haque and Nazmul Huda

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-520X.2017.06.03.1

Published: 6 December 2017

Abstract: An inquisitive on-station feeding trial was carried out to identify the dexterous species and age for beef production with same plane of nutrition. A 2×3 (2 species × 3 ages) factorial experiment was settled for a period of 105 days with eighteen native buffalo and 18 BCB-1 (BLRI Cattle Breed-1) bulls of three age groups (18 months, 24 months and 30 months) and distributed them randomly in six treatment groups having an equal number (6) of animals in each. Intake of nutrients i.e.: DM, CP of buffalo bulls was significantly (p<0.001) higher than BCB-1 bulls in all the cases. The buffalo bulls had significantly higher digestibility of DM (68.0%, p<0.001), OM (67.9%, p<0.001), CP (66.3%, p<0.05), ADF (59.8%, p<0.001) or NDF (59.6%, p<0.001) than cattle (63.0%, 62.7%, 63.6%, 52.4% & 49.6%, respectively). But, the digestibility of DM, OM, CP, ADF or NDF was not affected significantly (p>0.05) by the age of the bulls with any cases. Buffalo bulls gained body weight more rapidly (p<0.001); 1.11 & 0.88 kg/day, respectively and showed a better FCR (p>0.05; 6.72 & 6.86, respectively) than cattle with low feed cost of per kg gain (US$ 1.62 & US$ 1.69, respectively). ADG (p<0.01), FCR (p<0.05) and estimated feed cost (p<0.05) affected significantly and increased linearly by the age of bulls, where 18 months bulls of buffalo and BCB-1 performed best. In an aggregation, it revealed that, buffalo performed better than BCB-1 cattle and 18 months age of both species was more responsive for profitable meat production.

Keywords: Species, Age, Meat production, Nutrient utilization, Growth performance.

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Considerations on the Breeding and Weaning of Buffalo Calf  - Pages 84-91

Luigi Zicarelli

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-520X.2020.09.11

Published: 05 June 2020

Abstract: The buffalo calf is more challenging to adapt to the transition from breast milk to other substitutes that favor weaning.

Growth in the pre-weaning period is affected by the amount of reconstituted milk consumed. When the quantity of reconstituted milk consumed is low, the weaning weight is also low. The gap between the latter and the optimal weight will never be eliminated because the species cannot perform compensatory growth, such as cattle. There is a delay in reaching an optimal live weight to start puberty. The age at first birth is, in fact, lower in those countries that leave all the milk to the calf for meat production or as happens in Italy where there is a suitable milk substitute.

In Italy, it has been verified that calves taking almost ad libitum quantities of cow's milk weigh more than 140 kg at 4 months and have their first birth at the age of 22-26 months. As adults, they have an almost zero percentage of vaginal or uterine prolapse.

In further experiences on 3672 heifers, it was possible to verify "ex-post" that the calves that had taken a more significant quantity (150 kg vs. 105) of milk substitute had shown age at the first birth in advance of about 6 months (28, 5 versus 34).

Future investigations should verify the effect of weaning birth and not just the cost of weaning.

Age at first birth is not only an economic parameter, but it is useful for an early evaluation of bulls in progeny tests.

Keywords: Buffalo calf, calf breeding, weaning, milk replacer.

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Comparison of Two Different Protocols for the Treatment of Acute Escherichia coli Mastitis in Dairy Cattle
Pages 48-53
Vahideh Hamidi-Sofiani, Hossein Hamali and Katayon Nofouzi

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-520X.2017.06.02.1

Published: 20 July 2017

Abstract: E-coli mastitis is one of the most frequent causes of environmental mastitis in the dairy cattle worldwide. The purpose of this field study was to compare the efficacy of ceftiofur (HCL) in conjunction with supportive measures versus supportive measures alone for treatment of dairy cows affected with naturally occurring acute form of E. coli mastitis. From January 2014 to December 2016 a total number of 100 cows naturally affected by acute E-coli mastitis randomly were allocated into two groups. A milk sample from the affected quarter was collected for bacteriological tests on the first day of treatment. In group A (control), fifty cows received ceftiofur (HCL) 1mg/5kg/BW, flunixin meglumine 2.2mg/kg, calcium borogluconate 40%, 250ml and hypertonic saline (Nacl 7.2 %,) 5ml/kg. In group B (treatment, n=50), cows received the same drugs mentioned for group A, except ceftiofur (HCL) which replaced by placebo. In the group A, 41cows (82%) and in the group B, 2 cows (4%) were survived respectively. The rates of quarter health recovery in the groups A and B were 31.7% and 0% respectively. The differences between two groups were significant (P≤0.01).

In conclusion our results indicated that treatment of cows affected with naturally occurring acute form of E. coli mastitis without application of effective antibiotic(s) such as ceftiofur (HCL) and fluid therapy almost impossible.

Keywords: Dairy cow, E-coli, Mastitis, ceftiofur.

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Current Trends in Buffalo Milk Production - Pages 121-132

Luigi Zicarelli

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-520X.2020.09.14

Published: 13 August 2020

Abstract: Between 1961 and 2018 on the total number of dairy ruminants, the percentage of buffaloes and the quantity of milk produced by them had an increasing trend from 3.7% to 5.2% and from 5.4 to 15.7%, respectively; this value on the world total "cow milk + buffalo milk" rose to 18.64%.

In the Asian continent, buffaloes' incidence on the total number of dairy ruminants increased slightly (from 10.2% to 11.7%) while the percentage of cattle fell from 38% to 26.4%. In the same period, the percentage of buffalo milk decreased from 44.6% to 36.9%, while cow milk shares increased from 55.4% to 63%.

The percentage of milk produced in Pakistan, India, Nepal (after 2010), and especially in Egypt showed a downward trend. In Italy, the trend has always been increasing.

The market price of buffalo milk in developing countries does not compensate for costs which are 15% higher than cow's milk, if only the cost of feeding is considered, and increases to 40% when the difference in kg of milk equivalent between the two species is about 900 kg per lactation. A reduction of the production gap between the two species is difficult to be achieved because the genetic improvement of dairy cattle is performed in industrialized countries with higher financial support. Therefore, a marketing effort is needed to make well-differentiated buffalo products with specific and well-received sensory properties. In this regard, it should also be noted that δ-valerobetaine, a bioactive molecule beneficial for human health, is present in buffalo milk and meat in higher quantities than in cow's milk.

Keywords: Buffalo milk, world buffalo milk, italian buffalo milk.

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