Lactation Persistency in Bulgarian Murrah Buffalo Cows
Pages 118-123
P. Penchev and Tz. Peeva

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-520X.2013.02.03.3

Published: 30 November 2013

Abstract: With the objective to establish the lactation persistency and its variability as affected by different factors, the study assigned 953 lactations of 310 Bulgarian Murrah buffalo cows bred on the farm of Agricultural Institute – Shumen within the period 1967-2009. The main method of measurement was the mean post-peak milk yield reduction. The data were processed by the conventional statistical procedure, as well as by the software products LSMLMWandMIXMDL. The persistency of milk yield after reaching peak was established to be relatively high (89.22%). Its variance is to a great extent explained by the factors days in milk (P<0.001) and parity (P<0.001), defining favorable effect of increased lactation length, and adverse effect of advancement in lactation order. The significant effect of season of calving (P<0.001) is expressed in higher lactation persistency in the autumn and winter calvers. The other environmental factor, period, and the genetic factor (individual) are significant at P<0.01, while the effect of productivity level is not. The portion of the peak yield was estimated to be 15.75% of the lactation productivity, the percentage of the greatest yield drop – 11.38%, the persistency ratio between the first and second lactation half – 73.60%.

Light and Electron-Microscopic Studies on the Tubal Tonsil of the Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)  - Pages 60-70

Ibrahim Alhaji Girgiri and Pawan Kumar

DOI: https://doi.org/0.6000/1927-520X.2020.09.08

Published: 05 June 2020

Abstract: The tubal tonsils of 12 adult buffaloes of the local mixed breed were studied using light and electron microscopy. The tonsillar mucosa lined by pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium with goblet cells was modified into lymphoepithelial, due to its association with underlying lymphoid tissue. The lymphoepithelial further modified into follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) characterised by absence of the ciliated cells, goblet cells and the presence of more lymphocytes. The FAE exhibited varying modifications and presented M-cells intimately associated with lymphocytes. At places, the change of the epithelium also showed the presence of specialised M-cell like cells without any association with lymphoid tissue. The lymphoid tissue was in the form of isolated lymphocytes, diffuse aggregations and follicles. The goblet cells of the respiratory epithelium and the glandular acinar cells showed positive activity for the different carbohydrate moieties like acidic and neutral mucopolysaccharides, glycogen, mucins, weakly sulfated acidic mucosubstances, hyaluronic acid and sialomucins. Scanning electron microscopy of the mucosal surface presented a dense mat of cilia, and the FAE exhibited a heterogeneous population of microvillus and M-cells. Transmission electron-microscopy demonstrated the different cell organelles of the various epithelia as well as the cellular profiles of the propria-submucosa, including the high endothelial venules where lymphocytes migration by both inter-endothelial and transvascular routes was also observed. The structural features of the tubal tonsil suggest that new strategies are required to explore this tonsil for targeted delivery of drugs and develop more effective vaccines by the intranasal route.

Keywords: Buffalo, Follicle-associated epithelium, Lymphoepithelium, M-cells, Tubal tonsil.

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Life Cycle Assessment of Dairy Buffalo Calves in an Italian Farm - Pages 58-63

Emilio Sabia, Fabio Napolitano, Giuseppe De Rosa, Matthias Gauly, Ada Braghieri and Corrado Pacelli

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-520X.2018.07.03.4

Published: 31 December 2018

Abstract: The aim of this paper was to examine the environmental consequences of raising buffalo calves, as assessed by life cycle assessment. Life cycle assessment has been widely used to assess the environmental impact of different livestock production systems. The primary data were collected from 32 animals aged 0-90 days. Calves were allowed to uptake colostrum before separation from their mothers within 24-h after birth. After separation, the animals were kept individually (1 x 2 m) for 8 weeks and then housed in groups of 8 in straw-bedded pens (5 x 8 m). According to the results of the analysis, the contributions from all calves to global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, non-renewable energy use was high. In particular, the impact generated from global warm potential was 7 kg CO₂ – eq per day, and the impact of non-renewable energy use was 38 MJ – eq per day. Our results estimated for the first time the environmental impact generated from buffalo calves. We conclude that the strategies to mitigate the effects on the environment impact must start from the birth of the buffalo calves and then continue throughout its life cycle.

Keywords: Life cycle assessment, buffalo calf, global warming potential, environmental sustainability, dairy farming.

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Mesopotamian Buffaloes (The Origin)
Pages 30-33
Jabbar Khliaf Makassar Alsaedy

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-520X.2014.03.01.6

Published: 21 March 2014

Abstract: The aim of this study to throw light on Iraqi Buffalo origin, comparing between past archeological theories based on ivory materials and cylindrical seals findings in Mesopotamia and recent molecular biological studies that based on DNA data.

The highest population density found in Mesopotamian Marshlands between three southern governorates (Basrah, The-qar and Missan), respectively which represented the home tract of buffalo and their typical breeders in Iraq, locally named Ma"dan, well known by their traditional community, and characteristic accent, mainly raising buffalo for production of famous dairy thick butter cream, widely consumed by Iraqis at breakfast, named (GAYMER). There is no justification to classify Iraqi buffaloes to a distinct breed, we have many phenotypes from black, piebald to albinoid, with traditional raising system.

There is no registration of cross breeding, only interbreeding, but latest country Karyotyping survey and body dimensions revealed that our buffaloes were from reverine type in most populations with large size and have good potentials for milk production.

There have been numerous archeological theories around world based on cylindrical seals and archeological materials in determining the origin of buffalo in Mesopotamia and Indus Valley. Developing in molecular genetics studies will appeared to throw light on these archeological evidences, there are three recent DNA basis studies, the most updated Microsatellites markers Iraqi study [1] showed that our buffaloes were originated in Iraq, not imported from India, while the two other studies [2, 3] support the theory that Mesopotamian buffaloes were brought to Iraq from the Indian subcontinent before thousands of years and their breeders (MA''DAN) from Marsh Arabs are descendants of the population Sumerians principals from the region.

According to archeological remains referring to buffalo raising in Mesopotamia before Christ confirming by recent Iraqi molecular studies, these updated data should leading us to register our buffalo as dependant breed in riverine group under the name of (Mesopotamian Buffalo) the home tract that had been raising, with achieving all tools to upgrading and protecting this old National Genetic resource all around country.

We need more phylogenic studies should be achieved on Iraqi buffaloes for confirming when and where originated and domestication was happened.

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