Transition of Milk Production and Reproduction of Dairy Buffaloes in Nepal

Consumption of buffalo milk has been increasing in Nepal. Thus, further development of dairy buffalo is required for efficient production. However, the transition of milk production and reproduction of buffaloes in the country remains obscure. Hence, the study is conducted for identifying the changes of dairy production and reproduction of the animals. The records of daily milk yield from July 1997 to July 2012 were collected at Livestock Development Farm, Nepal. Total milk production per lactation, days in milk, daily milk yield, calving interval days and days in dry were calculated. The results were summarized every 5 years (Period 1: July 1997-July 2002, Period 2: July 2002-July 2007, Period 3: July 2007-July 2012). The total milk production per lactation was lowest in Period 1. The days in milk had no significant difference among the periods. The daily milk yield was lowest in Period 1. The milk production was assumed to improve from Period 1 to Period 2. The calving interval days were longer in Period 3 than in Period 2. The variance of the calving interval days tended to be longer in Period 3 than in Period 1. The days in dry were longest in Period 3. The variance of drying days tended to be longer in Period 3 than in the other periods. The efficiency of buffalo reproduction during the last five years assumed to be declined. The deterioration of reproduction possibly has been caused by changes in nutritional and environmental condition during the surveyed period.