SUMMARY
Morphological and physiological properties of mammary system are affecting the milk production in dairy animals and the quality and quantity of milk produced by them is dependent on its health particularly the health of its udder. Nili Ravi (Bubalis bubalis) buffalo is a native breed of Pakistan found in irrigated plains of Punjab and is also referred to as black gold because of its vital role in national economics. About two third of the total milk produced nationally comes from the buffalo milk and these animals also contribute to production of meat and draught power. Like for other dairy animals, morphometry of the udder is considered an important tool in the selection of our local buffaloes but the scientific reports regarding the difference of udder morphometric parameters in high and low yielding animals are still lacking. Keeping in mind the importance of this local breed and its huge contributions in fulfilling the daily milk needs of Pakistan, present study was designed to document the differences in the morphometric parameters of udder in two groups of Nili Ravi Buffaloes.
Forty healthy Nili Ravi buffalos having a minimum BCS of 2.5, and in second or above lactation were selected. The animals were housed in a semi closed housing system. Buffalos free from udder pathologies were selected and were hand-milked. These were then equally divided into two groups according to their average daily milk production MP 1 group (4–6.9 liters per day), MP 2 group (7–9.9 liters per day). The morphometry of the udder, teat and milk vein was recorded twice, two hours before and two hours after milking. Teat length, udder depth and udder horizontal circumference were measured with the help of measuring tape. External teat diameter and milk vein diameter were measured with the help of vernier caliper. The external teat diameter and the internal diameter of the milk vein were measured with the help of
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ultrasound. The data thus obtained were statistically analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for Windows version 13.3 and presented as mean ± SE. Normal distribution of the data was checked by Kolmogorov Smirnov test. Statistical differences within the group were analyzed by paired T test. The significance of the parameters among the groups i.e., MP 1 & MP 2 made on the basis of low and high milk yield respectively was studied by Independent T test. All the differences were considered significant at P < 0.05.
Results revealed that ejection of milk did not affect the length of teats within the group for both MP 1 and MP 2 groups except in case of right fore-teats of MP 2 group (showing an increase after milking). When the similar parameter was compared between the groups we could not observe the effects of milking on TL. External teat diameter showed a decrease after milk ejection in both the groups except in right hind teat of the low producing group and teats of left sides in high producing animals. However we could not observe the difference of this external teat diameter between two groups of Buffaloes based on milk production. Teat cistern diameter (TCD) did not differ before and after milking, when compared between the high and low yielding Buffalos and within the group of high yielding animals. The TCD within MP 1 group showed variable results for left and right fore- teats. Depth of the udder and udder horizontal circumference did not show any significant difference before and after milking within as well as between the two groups. Milk vein diameter was greater in both the groups before milking, however, the diameter of the milk vein remained unchanged when compared between the high and low yielding animals. Diameter of the milk vein measured with the help of ultrasound remained statistically same between and within the two groups of buffaloes.
In conclusion, this study showed that most of the morphometric parameters of the udder including teat length, external teat diameter, teat cistern diameter, udder depth and diameter of
the milk vein were not different between the groups of Nili Ravi buffalo selected on the basis of difference in their milk production.