Studies on the Relationship Between Certain Morphometric Characteristics With Milking Traits, Milk Quality and Lactation Milk Yield in Murrah Buffaloes

Abstract

The study was conducted on 30 Murrah buffaloes maintained at livestock research centre, SVPUAT, Meerut under existing farm conditions. These animals were observed for different morphometric traits and milking traits in trial period. The overall mean lactation milk yieldobserved in the present study for different morphometric traits were 2265.1 0±182.56 kg. Similarly, the overall mean daily milk yield observed in the present study for different morphometric traits was 6.44±0.18 kg.Significant differences were observed in milk yield based on tail length and colour of switch in Murrah buffaloes. Similarly, daily milk yield of animals having thin skin fold in dewlap, flank and udder were significantly greater than thick and moderately thick skin fold thicknesses. The daily milk production was also found to be significantly higher for animals having short udder length (P<0.05) and moderate udder width and depth (P<O.Ol).The oyerall mean milk let down time, actual milking time and milk flow rate observed in the present study for different morphometric traits was 122.25±6.77 sec, 271.90±6.03 sec, 23.87±0.45gm/sec, respectively. Significant differences in milking time was observed based on skin fold thickness of neck, chest, abdomen and flank regions (P<O.Ol). Similarly, the skin thicknesses of all body regions were also found to affect the flow rate significantly (P<O.Ol). The results of correlation between various morphometric traits with milking traits showed a varying degree of correlation. The daily milk yield was found to be negatively correlated with skin fold thicknesses and significant correlations were found with skin fold thickness of dewlap, flank and udder regions. However, for milk yield during entire lactation of Murrah buffalo, no significant relation was found among these traits. The milk let down time was found to be negatively correlated with all traits, except horn pattern. Significant correlation was found with hair diamete~, s~n fold thickness of abdomen and udder. The actual milking time was found to be s1gmficantly correlated with tail length, skin fold of neck, dewlap, chest, abdome?, fl~ and. udder. The milk flow rates also showed a varying degree of correlatiOn w1th d1fferent morphometric traits, although the results were significant for horn pattern, tail length, skin fold of abdomen and udder