• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.577-581
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• 2012

The polymorphisms of several genes including Leptin (LEP), beta-lactoglobulin (LGB) and Prolactin receptor (PRLR) have been shown to affect milk composition traits in dairy cattle. But, the effects of these polymorphisms on the milk traits of Philippine water buffalo are still unclear. In the Philippines, buffalo are the major milk producers most of which are the Philippine carabao (PC), the American Murrah Buffalo (AMB) and Bulgarian Murrah Buffalo (BMB). The LEP, LGB and PRLR genes are considered to be associated with milk production traits. The objective of the present study was to identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the LEP, LGB and PRLR genes of PC, AMB and BMB and to investigate the effect of the SNPs on milk production traits in these buffalo. Genetic polymorphisms were screened by DNA sequencing and 12 SNPs were detected in BMB; 5 SNPs were in LEP exon3 region (G14227A, G14343A, T14502C, C14526T, G14603A); 5 SNPs were in LGB exon 2 region (G1861C, A1900G, G1901T, T1948C, G1949A); 2 SNPs were in PRLR exon 6 (T59047C, T59109C). Also, 12 polymorphism sites between cattle and buffalo were identified. Our analysis of the association between SNPs and milk production traits should be useful in future studies of buffalo breeding to improve lactation performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2000

Fasting heat production (FHP) of growing buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) in the body weight range of 76 to 236 kg was determined using open circuit respiration chamber. The details of the chambers, calibration of gas analysers and operation of the systems are described. Animals were fasted for 96 hrs during which only water was provided. FHP was determined during next 24 hrs. The mean oxygen consumed, carbon dioxide and methane produced and urinary N excretion per 24 h was $17.03{\ell}$, $11.70{\ell}$, and $0.12{\ell}$ and 0.35 g respectively. The mean respiratory quotient ranged from 0.68 to 0.71, which indicated that post absorptive stage is reached after 96 hrs in growing buffalo calves previously fed ammoniated straw-based ration. Mean FHP of calves was $331.4kJ/kg\;W^{0.75}$. FHP of calves with range of mean body weights of 167 to 235 kg, although nonsignificant but, was almost 12% higher than of calves having mean body weight of 101 kg. Suitable exponent to body weight to describe FHP of buffalo calves was 0.87.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.478-483
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• 1997

Six adult female Murrah buffaloes of about 12 years were exposed to solar radiation during summer when minimum and maximum ambient temperatures were 27.1 and $44.1^{\circ}C$, respectively. The skin surface temperature at forehead, middle pinna, neck, rump, foreleg, hind legs were recorded using non-contact temperature measuring instrument and respiration rate and rectal temperature were measured throughout the 24 hours starting from 6:30 AM. The diurnal fluctuations and temperature gradients have been reported for buffaloes. During summer when ambient temperature and solar radiation was maximum, adult buffaloes were not able to maintain their thermal balance even after increasing the pulmonary frequency 5 - 6 times. The changes in skin temperature at various sites indicate that the temperature of skin surface not only varies in relation to exposure but also due to water diffusion and evaporation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1060-1068
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• 2009

The buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is an important contributor to milk, meat, power, fuel and leather production in many developing countries. Buffaloes can be categorized into Asian and Mediterranean buffaloes. Asian buffalo includes two subspecies known as Riverine and Swamp types. Riverine (water buffalo) and Swamp buffaloes possess different genetics (50 vs. 48 chromosomes, respectively), morphology (body frame, body weight, horn shape and skin color) and behavior (wallowing in mud or water) and thus, are reared and used for different purposes. Low per head milk yield, poor reproductive performance (seasonal breeding behavior, anestrous, and longer calving interval) and low growth rate in buffaloes have been attributed to insufficient supply of nutrients. In many parts of Asia, where the buffalo is an integral part of the food chain and rural economy, irregular and inadequate availability of quality feedstuffs and their utilization are hampering the performance of this unique animal. Balanced nutrition and better management can enhance buffalo productivity. Many efforts have been made in the last few decades to improve nutrient supply and utilization in buffaloes. Recent research on locally available feed resources such as crop residues, and industrial by-products, dietary addition of micronutrients, use of performance modifiers and use of ruminally protected fat and protein sources have shown significant potential to improve growth, milk yield and reproductive performance of buffaloes. However, a number of issues, including establishment of nutrient requirements for dairy and beef, development of buffalo calf feeding systems, nutritional management of metabolic and reproductive anomalies, and understanding and exploitation of the buffalo gut ecosystem, need to be addressed. Extensive coordinated research and extension efforts are required for improved buffalo nutrition in developing countries.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2012

Anestrus is one of the most important production limiting disorders in dairy buffaloes and its underlying causes have been a current topic of studies. The objectives of this study were to explore the causes of anestrus in buffaloes with the application of ultrasonography. Two examinations were performed by transrectal ultrasonography at 12 days apart in buffalo cows that were not seen in oestrus at 60 or more days postpartum. As high as 54.5% buffaloes had silent ovulation and 45.5% suffered from the true anestrus with ovarian dysfunction. The duration of anestrus after calving was 60~90, 91~120, 121~180 and 181~365 days in 27%, 32%, 18% and 23% buffalo cows, respectively. Treatment with prostaglandin of cyclic buffalo cows with a corpus luteum (72.7%) resulted in higher estrous rate as compared with close observation of estrus (23.1%) by the farmer (p=0.021). Acyclic buffalo cows without any corpus luteum on ovaries were successfully treated with gonadotropin releasing hormone (70%), resulting in higher estrous detection rate than those treated with a vitamin-mineral mixture (20%) (p=0.035). In conclusion, poor heat detection due to silent ovulation is the most important cause of apparent anoestrus in buffaloes; however the percentage of the true anestrous is also quite high in postpartum buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1557-1563
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• 2005

Ovarian follicular fluid contains both stimulatory and inhibitory agents that influence the growth and maturation of oocyte. In the present study, an attempt was made to isolate and study the biological properties of ovarian follicular fluid peptide(s) in buffaloes. Bubaline ovarian follicular was made steroid- and cell-free. A protein fraction was obtained by saturation (30-35% level) of the follicular fluid with ammonium sulfate. The protein fraction was purified with Sephadex-G 50 gel filtration chromatography and a single peak was obtained in the eluant volume, which was lyophilized. SDS-PAGE of the lyophilized fraction revealed a single band and the molecular weight of the peptide was 26.6 kDa. The peptide stimulated the cumulus cell expansion and in vitro maturation rate of oocytes in buffaloes in a dose dependent manner when it was incorporated at different dose levels (0, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 1,000 ng $ml^{-1}$ of maturation medium). The basic culture medium consisted of TCM 199 with Bovine serum albumin (0.3%). The in vitro maturation rates were comparable to those obtained with a positive control medium (TCM 199+20 ng EGF $ml^{-1}$+steer serum (20%)). Further purification and biological assays may throw more light on the nature and functions of this peptide.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 1998

To understand the caused for poor response to superovulation in water buffalo compared to crossbred cows, follicular events, before start of superovulation, during superovulation and after superovulation were compared. Follicular development was monitored a day before start of superovulation, daily upto superestrus and on the day of flushing. A real time B mode diagnostic instrument equipped with a linear array, 5 MHz transducer was used in five crossbred cows and five Murrah buffaloes. Crossbred cows yielded significantly (p < 0.01) higher number of corpora lutea than buffaloes (21 vs 10). The mean number of small size (2 to 5 mm); medium size (6 to 9 mm) and large size $({\geq}10mm)$ follicles, a day before start of superovulation were almost similar or even slightly higher in buffalo. Though initial shift in the mean number of follicles was higher in buffalo than cow, yet, from Day 2 to Day 3 of the treatment, the average increase in medium (3.2 vs 1.2) and large size (5.0 vs 2.0) follicles was higher in cows than buffaloes. The mean number of medium and large size follicles was 9.8 and 14.4 in cows and 6.4 and 7.6 in buffaloes. On the day of flushing, the number of large size follicle was more in buffaloes than cows, indicating the ovulation problem in this species. The major conclusion from this investigation was that, a day before start of superovulatory treatment, the number of small and medium size follicles was slightly higher in buffaloes, even then superovulatory response was better in cows, due to shift, recruitment and passage of follicles from smaller size to larger size from Day 2 of treatment. Ovulation problem in buffaloes was also responsible for lower superovulatory responses as revealed by the presence of higher number of large size follicles on the day of flushing.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.705-712
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• 2006

Influences of urea treated corncobs (UTC) ensiled with or without different additives on ruminal characteristics, in situ digestion kinetics, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen metabolism were examined in a $5{\times}5$ Latin square design using five ruminally cannulated buffalo bulls. Five iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets were formulated to contain 30% dry matter (DM) from concentrate and 70% DM from 5% UTC ensiled without any additive (U) or with 5% enzose (EN), 5% acidified molasses (AM), 5% non-acidified molasses (NM) and 5% acidified water (AW), respectively. These diets were fed to buffalo bulls at 1.5% of their body weight daily. Ruminal $NH_3$-N concentration at 3 hours (h) post feeding was significantly higher in bulls fed U, NM and AW diets, however, at 6, 9 and 12 h post feeding it was significantly higher in bulls fed EN and AM diets. Ruminal total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and acetate concentrations were significantly higher with EM and AM diets compared with other diets at 3, 6, 9 and 12 h post feeding. Ruminal pH at 6 and 9 h post feeding was higher with EN and AM diets; however; it was notably lower with these diets at 3 h post feeding. Total ruminal bacterial and cellulolytic bacterial counts were higher in bulls fed EN and AM diets than in those fed the other diets. In situ ruminal DM and NDF degradabilities and total tract digestibilities were significantly higher with UTC ensiled with enzose and acidified molasses than those ensiled without any additive or other additives. Nitrogen balance was significantly higher in bulls fed EN and AM diets than those fed U, AW and NM diets. The UTC ensiled with enzose or acidified molasses resulted in better digestibility and N utilization than those ensiled without any additive, with non-acidified molasses and acidified water in buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1605-1611
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• 2017

Objective: Following a previous report, an experiment was conducted to determine the effect of increasing level of dried stoned olives pomaces (DSOP) in the diet of lactating buffaloes on milk and mozzarella cheese yield and characteristics. Methods: Sixteen pluriparous buffaloes distributed into two groups were fed an isoenergetic (0.9 milk forage unit/kg) and isoprotein (149 g/kg dry matter [DM] of crude protein) diet, with or without DSOP. Each animal received 17 kg DM/d. Samples of forages and concentrates were weekly collected and used for duplicate chemical analyses. Individual milk samples from each control were analyzed for chemical and coagulating parameters and daily production of mozzarella cheese was estimated. At the end of the trial, bulk milk of each group was processed to produce mozzarella cheese and chemical (fat, protein, ash, pH) composition, fatty acids composition, carotenoids and tocopherols content were determined. A sensory test was also performed. The oxidative stability was measured on mozzarella cheese and on governing liquid. Results: No significant differences were observed, neither for milk yield and body condition score, nor for milk characteristics. The fat was higher (p<0.05) in mozzarella of DSOP fed group but, saturated fatty acids were lower and unsaturated higher (p<0.01). Furthermore, lower atherogenic (p<0.01), and thrombogenic (p<0.05) indices were found in mozzarella cheese of DSOP fed group. In addition, the administration of DSOP did not affect the mozzarella cheese oxidative stability and no negative effect was found in the sensory properties. Conclusion: No contraindications appeared for the inclusion of DSOP in the diet of lactating buffaloes. Besides, important effects on mozzarella cheese quality were obtained, such as a modification of fat content and attributes with an increment in the mono-unsaturated. Additionally, a lower saturated/unsaturated ratio and atherogenic and thrombogenic indices suggest an improvement of dietetic and nutritional characteristics of mozzarella cheese.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.971-980
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• 2013

Dried stoned olive pomace (DSOP) was administered to dairy water buffaloes, and their productive performance and milk composition were analysed. Sixteen pluriparous lactating buffaloes were divided into two uniform groups (control and experimental), taking into consideration the following parameters: milk production (2,192 and 2,102 kg) and duration of lactation (254 and 252 d) of the previous year, distance from calving (51 and 43 d), milk production (9.71 and 10.18 kg/d), body condition score (BCS) (6.44 and 6.31) and weight (617 and 653 kg) at the beginning of the trial. Both diets had the same formulation: second cut alfalfa hay 20%, corn silage 42%, concentrate 38% but the two concentrates differed in their formulation, the experimental one contained 15.50% of DSOP as fed. The employed DSOP showed high amounts of secoiridoids, such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol (3,4-DHPEA) (1.2 g/kg DM), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol-elenolic acid di-aldehyde (3,4-DHPEA-EDA) (12.6 g/kg DM), p-hydroxyphenylethanol-elenolic acid di-aldehyde (p-HPEA-EDA) (5.6 g/kg DM) and lignans, which are known to be powerful bioactive compounds. The control diet had an energy-protein content of 0.86 Milk FU/kg DM and 143.3 g/kg DM of crude protein, whereas the experimental diet of 0.87 Milk FU/kg DM and 146.6 g/kg DM of crude protein. Each animal of the two groups received 17 kg DM/d and each buffalo of the experimental group, by way of the concentrate, ingested 1.05 kg DM/d of DSOP. The trial lasted 40 days. No significant difference was found between the BCS (6.41 and 6.53), live weight (625.93 and 662.50 kg) and milk production (9.69 and 10.08 kg/d) of the two groups, as was the case for fat, protein, lactose, pH and coagulating parameters of the two milks. The milk fat of the experimental group had a significantly higher content of total tocopherols (10.45 vs $8.60{\mu}g/g$, p<0.01) and retinol (3.17 vs $2.54{\mu}g/g$, p<0.01). The content of the reactive substances with tiobarbituric acid (TBARs) was significantly lower in the milk fat of the experimental group (12.09 vs $15.05{\mu}g$ MDA/g, p<0.01). The acid content of the milk fat of the experimental group had a significantly higher content (p<0.05) of C18:0 and of $C18:3{\omega}6$. LC-MS/MS analysis showed the presence of 3,4-DHPEA ($36.0{\mu}g/L$) in the milk of the DSOP-fed buffaloes, while other phenols were not found. DSOP, in the quantity utilized, can be used in the feeding of the lactating buffalo; the dietetic-nutritional characteristics of the milk are improved due to a greater contribution of tocopherols, retinol and the presence of hydroxytyrosol.