A Research on Milk Yield, Milk Composition and Body Weights of Anatolian Buffaloes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to define the lactation milk yield and milk composition, and the weights at birth, at 180 and 365 days of age in Anatolian buffaloes reared in Bitlis province of Turkey. The animal material of the study consisted of 1448 Anatolian buffaloes having different ages. The lactation milk yield and lactation length were calculated from monthly milking records during the lactation period. The least squares means for lactation milk yield and lactation length in Anatolian buffaloes were 763.99 +/- 18.66 kg and 262.63 +/- 8.37 days, respectively. Dry matter, protein, fat, lactose, ash contents and pH value of the milk of Anatolian buffaloes were 16.08 +/- 1.54%, 3.40 +/- 0.67%, 7.09 +/- 1.38%, 4.57%+/- 0.81, 0.67 +/- 0.30%, and 6.6810.40, respectively. The weights at birth, at 180 and 365 days of age were 29.28 +/- 0.56, 97.51 +/- 1.56 and 142.16 +/- 1.50 kg, respectively. As a result, the values found for the lactation characteristics and the body weights of Anatolian buffaloes were low compared to genotypes raised in intensive production systems, but the potential of genetics of buffaloes reared in traditional production systems can be understood providing of adequate environmental conditions and planning of effective selection programs.