• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.281-283
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• 1989

• 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.27 no.4
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• pp.551-560
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• 2014

Twenty-four male 1-year old swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) were randomly allocated to 4 groups. One group grazed on guinea grass (GG) and another on guinea grass and the legume Stylosanthes guianensis (GL). The other two groups were kept in pens and fed freshly cut guinea grass and concentrate at an amount of 1.5% (GC1.5) and 2.0% (GC2.0) of body weight, respectively. The effect of the different feeding intensities on carcass characteristics and meat quality were assessed. The mean body weight at slaughter was 398 (${\pm}16$) kg. Average daily gain was higher in concentrate-supplemented groups (570 and 540 g/d in GC1.5 and GC2.0, respectively) when compared to GG (316 g/d) and GL (354 g/d) (p<0.01). Likewise, the warm carcass weight was higher in GC1.5 and GC2.0 compared to GG and GL. Dressing percentage was 48.1% and 49.5% in GC1.5 and GC2.0 in comparison to 42.9% and 44.8% observed in GG and GL, respectively. Meat of Longissimus throracis from GC1.5 and GC2.0 was redder in color (p<0.01), while water holding capacity (drip and thawing loss) was improved in pasture-fed groups (p<0.05). Protein and fat content of Longissimus thoracis was higher in animals supplemented with concentrate (p<0.01), as was cholesterol content (p<0.05), whereas PUFA:SFA ratio was higher and n-6/n-3 ratio lower (p<0.01) in pasture-fed buffaloes. Results of the present study showed that the supplementation of pasture with concentrate enhances the growth and carcass characteristics of swamp buffaloes expressed in superior dressing percentage, better muscling, and redder meat with a higher content of protein and fat, whereas animals grazing only on pasture had a more favorable fatty acid profile and water holding capacity. In conclusion, the supplementation of concentrate at a rate of about 1.5% of body weight is recommended to improve the performance and carcass quality of buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1990

During prolonged exposure to the sun for 8 h each day for 10 days in which the highest ambient temperature around 14:00 h was $39^{\circ}C$, buffaloes exposed to the sun without shade increased the turnover of body water by 35% and 76% on day 5 and day 10 of exposure respectively. The total body water markedly decreased on day five and this amount was maintained thereafter. Plasma and blood volumes did not change significantly on day five but markedly decreased on day 10. Packed cell volume significantly decreased on day five and day 10 of the exposure period. The reduction of packed cell volume on day 10 coincided with the decrease in total plasma water. On day 10 of the exposure, an increase in the rate of liquid flow from the rumen was noted. It is concluded that on the fifth day of exposure, the increase in the evaporative cooling process was attributed to initial mobilization of water from the intracellular compartment. The reduction of both plasma and cell volumes occurring from day five to day 10 indicated a loss of body water from both intracellular and extracellular compartments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 1991

Four male swamp buffaloes weighing $460.5{\pm}44.6kg$ were used to study the effects of different cooling techniques on draught capacity. Each animal carted an 882 kg load on the same asphalt road for one hour during four different time periods: 9:00-10:00 A.M., 10:30-11:30 A.M., 2:00-3:00 P.M. and 3:30-4:30 P.M. Simultaneously, all animals were subjected to five different treatments on five days of similar environmental conditions. In Treatment 1, animals were put stationary in a field and did no work; in Treatment 2, animals were worked without any cooling method; in Treatment 3, fifteen-minute wallow was allowed to animals prior to working; in Treatment 4, animals were covered with wetted jute bags while working, and in Treatment 5, two buckets of water were poured over the buffaloes' trunks just prior to working. The experiment was conducted from April to July 1989, when the weather was very hot. It was found that cooling methods and working times did not affect the draught efficiency of buffaloes during the one hour, but did affect physiological traits. The work load had a larger partial effect on physiological responses of buffalo other than respiration rate than did climatic variables except on the respiration rate of the buffaloes. One cooling technique that seemed to slow the increase of body temperature while working was covering the buffalo's back with wetted jute bags. Animals working at different times had significant differences in the increase of physiological traits except pulse rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1517-1522
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• 2002

The effect of post milking teat dipping on somatic cell count (SCC) of milk was determined in 20 Crossbred cows and 20 Murrah buffaloes selected from institute's herd. The animals were divided into two groups of 10 each. Animals of Group I (control) were teat washed with water before the milking while Group II animals were applied teat dipping solution after the completion of milking. The cows were milked 3 times a day while buffaloes were milked twice a day. The milk samples were collected from control and treated animals on day 0, 5, 10, 15, respectively. The milk samples were analyzed for milk constituents like fat, protein, lactose, chloride, IgG, NEFA, pH and EC and total and differential somatic cell counts. The changes in milk composition and somatic cell counts were significantly different (p<0.01) between the animals and between the breeds. However SCC, chloride content (p<0.05) and epithelial cells (p<0.01) varied during different days of study. The alterations in SCC, epithelial cells, TLC, lymphocyte, neutrophil, IgG, and protein content were significantly different (p<0.01) between control and treated groups. The pH, EC, protein, SCC, epithelial cells, lymphocyte and neutrophil cells of milk declined significantly (p<0.05) after the application of teat dipping, the respective values were 6.5 vs 6.40, 2.28 vs 2.37 mhos, 3.33 vs 4.04%, 1.00 vs $0.87{\times}10^5cells/ml$, 0.39 vs 0$0.34{\times}10^5cells/ml$, 0.36 vs $0.31{\times}1,000cells/ml$ and 0.17 vs $0.14{\times}1,000cells/ml$ in cows. However in buffaloes, epithelial cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, EC and SCC declined (p<0.05) after application of teat dipping, the values being 0.37 vs $0.29{\times}10^5cells/ml$, 0.37 vs $0.25{\times}1,000cells/ml$, 0.14 vs $0.11{\times}1,000cells/ml$, 2.56 vs 2.37 mhos and 0.94 vs $0.73{\times}10^5cells/ml$, respectively. The study indicated that post milking teat dipping could be used as an effective method for the lowering of SCC in milk of crossbred cows and 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.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.223-227
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• 2008

Changes in selected blood and serum components and electrocardiography (ECG) were investigated in 20 adults (13 females and 7 males) of water buffaloes suffering from severe theileriosis. The age of all animals used in this study ranged 1.5-5yr. Theileriosis was diagnosed by observation of parasites in the peripheral blood and the presence of schizonts in lymphocytes that were provided from swollen lymph nodes. Statistically significant decreases were observed in the means of RBC, WBC, and packed cell volume (PCV) in blood of infected animals. The means levels of sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium of infected animals were lower than healthy animals, but only the decrease of potassium was significant. The mean serum activities of aspartate transferase and alanine aminotransfrase were significantly higher than in un infected animals. Three cases had atrial premature beat, 2 cases had sinus tachycardia, 2 had sinus arrhythmia, and 1 had first degree of atrioventricular block in ECG. The present study showed that T. annulata infection in cattle is associated with hematological and biochemical, and ECG changes.

• 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.