Non-genetic factors affecting growth and reproduction traits of buffaloes under dry management housing (in sub-tropical environment) in Egypt

I F M Marai*, A H Daader, A M Soliman and S M S El-Menshawy 

Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

ifmmarai@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract

A trial was conducted to raise buffaloes in open sheds under routine managerial practice, in dry management housing in the sub-tropical environment of Egypt.

The  mean body weights of heifers at birth, weaning and first service, together with the high pre-weaning daily gain showed that the desert housing conditions did not exert adverse effects on their  growth. The mean calving interval (402.6±2.6 days) was near the ideal calving interval which permits nearly a calf every year. Total milk yield per lactation averaged 1590±11 kg. Such results indicated that the Egyptian buffaloes responded well to good managerial procedures. Year of  birth affected significantly (P<0.001) first service weight, average daily gain during the periods between weaning and first service and between birth and first service, days open and  lactation period. Season of birth and parity effects were significant (P<0.001, 0.01 or 0.05) on most of the traits studied. There were no important interactions between season of birth and parity on the traits studied. Strong phenotypic correlations were shown between total milk yield and lactation length (r= 0.77) and between dry period and calving interval (r=0.60). Repeatability values on lactation length, dry period, calving interval and total milk yield were 0.2±0.03, 0.2±0.04, 0.2±0.03 and 0.3±0.03, respectively. Adaptability of buffalo cows to dry management housing under desert conditions was calculated as 89.6%.

Keywords: adaptability, buffalo cows, dry management housing

Abbreviation: THI = Temperature Humidity Index

Introduction

The buffalo is a milk producing species as well as an economically important source of meat in Egypt. Recently, many livestock farms have been established under dry management housing. However, the suitability of such a practice for buffaloes was in doubt due to the assumption that buffaloes are shade and water-loving animals, adapted to living in hot and humid climates by inhabiting areas containing streams and muddy terrain.

The aim of the present investigation was to study the growth, reproductive and productive  traits of buffaloes raised in sheds (dry management) in newly reclaimed desert land in the sub-tropical environment of Egypt as affected by  non-genetic factors. Adaptability of the buffaloes to the new environment was also estimated.

Materials and methods 

The  study was carried out by the Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. Buffaloes were reared at Khattara Provincial Buffalo Farm. The farm is located in the east desert (30°60'N 32°E), about 100 km north-east of Cairo, Egypt.

Materials

The buffaloes were housed in open sheds similar to those used for cattle. Maximum and minimum ambient air temperatures in the sheds during the period of the study (five years) were 21.9±1.1 and 9.8±0.4 in winter, 33.1±1.4 and 22.8±0.4 in spring, 34.2±5.9 and 23.8±0.8 in summer and 28.2±4.1 and 17.4±3.0 in autumn and relative humidity percentages were 65.1±1.4, 56.4±2.4, 66.3±0.8 and 58.8±5.0, in the same seasons, respectively.

Animals were kept under a regular system of feeding recommended by Animal Production Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt. Feeds were offered according to the requirements of body weight, reproductive status and milk production. A concentrate mixture, green fodder [Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) during winter and spring or Pioneer maize plants during summer and autumn], in addition to Egyptian clover hay, rice or wheat straw,  were provided.

Females and males were weaned at about 4.5 and 6.0 months of age, respectively. Heifers being added to the breeding stock received first service when they reached a body weight of 330 kg. Calving in Egypt is preferred to be during August, September and October months, due to the availability of green fodder (Egyptian clover) in abundance and the mild weather that prevails during the following months. Pluriparous cows were mated two months after calving. Matings were performed naturally at random under group breeding (one bull with 50 buffalo cows). Lactating animals were hand milked twice daily at 7.00 and 19.00 h. Approximately two months before the expected calving dates, buffalo cows, if they had not gone dry, were dried off.

All animals were healthy and clinically free of external and internal parasites and were kept, maintained and treated in adherence to accepted standards for the humane treatment of animals.

Methods

Data of body and gain weights were obtained on female calves born during two years and these of lactation records were collected on dams born during five years. Both procedures were begun at the same time. Body weights were studied on 175 buffalo female calves, from birth to first service.

Milk yield and related traits were studied on milking animals in the farm, during nine consecutive parities.  The number of lactations used in the study was 1419 pertaining to 732 buffalo cows. Only records of lactations that continued for at least 150 days were considered normal and were used in the analysis of milk production traits, while those lasting for a period less than 150 days and/or those of cows affected by mastitis or other udder disorders, as well as those of doubtful information, were excluded.

The temperature-humidity index (THI) was estimated (during the five years of collecting the data) according to Marai et al (2000) using the following formula:
 

THI= db°C - {(0.31 - 0.31 RH) (db°C - 14.4)},

where db°C = dry bulb temperature in Celsius and RH = RH% / 100. The  values obtained were classified as follows: < 22.2 = absence of heat stress, 22.2 to < 23.3 = moderate heat stress, 23.3 to < 25.6 = severe heat stress and 25.6 and above = very severe heat stress (Marai et al. 2000).

"Adaptability" was estimated according to Marai et al (2006) as follows:
 

"Adaptability" to the climatic conditions = 100 - the mean relative deviations in all the traits studied.

The mean relative deviations in all the traits were calculated by dividing mean of deviations in all the traits studied due to heat stress (regardless  minus or plus signs) relatively to the mean of all the same traits under normal (mild) conditions. The relative deviation in each trait was estimated as: [the difference in the values of the trait in the hot and mild conditions (normal; control) divided by the value of the same trait in the mild conditions] x 100.

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed using the least squares and maximum likelihood described by Harvey (1987). Traits and mixed and fixed models used in the analysis are presented in Tables 1 and 2.

Distribution of records in classes according to various fixed effects are presented in Table 3.

Estimate of repeatability or intra class correlation (t) was calculated as follows:

t = 6²c / (6²c +6²e),

where 6²c and 6²e are the variance components of cow and remainder, respectively. The standard errors of repeatability estimates were obtained by computer program PC-1 version (Harvey 1987).

Results

Only the main factors are reported, since no important interactions between season and parity were detected for any of the traits studied.

Performance of cow traits in dry management housing in sub-tropical conditions

Growth

Mean body weights of buffalo heifers were 42.0±0.5, 134.8±0.4 and 371.2±2.0 kg at birth, weaning and first service, respectively (Tables 4 and 5).

Averages of daily weight gain were 0.667±0.01, 0.587±0.01 and 0.610±0.01 kg between birth and weaning, weaning and first service and birth and first service, respectively (Tables 4 and 6).

Reproductive traits

Age at first calving averaged 25.1±0.7 months (Table 4). Frequency distribution of the heifers according to their age at first calving showed that 70.3% calved when they were 25 to 28 months of age, 26.3% at younger (21 to 23 months) and 3.4% at an older age (29 months). Averages of days open, lactation length, dry period and calving interval were 91.8±1.3 days, 244.1±1.2 days, 148.7±2.0 days and 402.6±2.6 days, respectively (Tables 4 and 7). Total milk yield per lactation averaged 1590±11 kg.

Effects of non-genetic factors

Temperature-humidity index (THI) calculated for maximum temperature during winter was 21.1,  ranged between 21.6 and 30.6 during spring, 22.8 and 32.1 during summer and 17.0 and 26.4 during autumn, indicating absence of heat stress during winter and exposure to very severe heat stress during the other seasons, with the highest Temperature Humidity Index value during summer.

Season of birth affected birth weight (P<0.001), weight at first service (P<0.05) and average daily gain from birth to weaning (P<0.05) and from weaning to first service (P<0.001) (Tables 5 and 6). Birth weight was the heaviest in winter, spring and autumn and the lightest in summer. Weight at first service was the heaviest in winter, and the lightest in spring (Table 5). Daily weight gain between birth and weaning was the highest in spring and the lowest in summer, and gain in weight between weaning and first service was the highest in summer and autumn and the lowest in spring and winter births (Table 6). Days open, calving interval and lactation length were affected (P<0.001 or 0.01) by season of birth (Tables 7 and 8).

The lowest length of each of days open and calving interval was during summer and autumn and that of lactation length was in summer calvers (Tables 7 and 8). The peak of milk production was reached in the fourth and fifth parities (Table 8).

Parity effects were significant on growth traits. These traits were daily weight gain from birth to weaning (P<0.05) and from birth to first service (P<0.01).  Similar effects were detected on reproductive traits. These traits were  days open (P<0.001), lactation length (P<0.001), dry period (P<0.001), calving interval (P<0.001 and total milk yield (P<0.001) (Tables 6, 7 and 8). In general, days open, dry period and calving interval decreased, while lactation length increased with advancement of parity (Tables 7 and 8).

Strong phenotypic correlations were observed between total milk yield and lactation length (r= 0.77) and between dry period and calving interval (r= 0.60)."

Repeatability

Repeatability estimates were 0.3±0.03, 0.2±0.03, 0.2±0.04 and 0.2±0.04 for milk yield, lactation length, dry period and calving interval, respectively.

Discussion 

Performance of cow traits in dry management housing in sub-tropical conditions

Growth

The preference for calving during August, September and October months in the present study, is in accordance with the traditional practice followed in Egypt. Availability of green fodder (Egyptian clover) is in abundance and the mild weather that prevails during the following months, were the reasons for following such practice. Most of the performance traits studied showed more favorable trends than those commonly known up till now, although these buffalo cows were raised in dry management housing in newly reclaimed desert land.

The average body weights at birth, weaning and first service were higher than that recorded in the Nile Valley (Tantawy 1984) or under similar newly reclaimed desert conditions (Mohamed 2000). The high average weights, together with the higher pre-weaning daily gain than that reported by Mohamed (2000) indicated that the desert conditions did not exert adverse effects on the growth of calves.

Reproductive traits

Age at first calving (25.1±0.7 months) was lower than that reported for the same species by Zeidan (1990) in the Nile Valley and by Misra et al. (1986) in Indian buffaloes (38.0, 48.7 months, respectively). At the same time, it was very close to the values estimated for Friesian heifers by Moharram (1988) (25.7 months). The low age at first calving suggested that raising buffalo heifers under adequate managerial conditions resulted in early onset of puberty and consequently an early age at first calving. From another  point of view, this phenomenon is probably due to that buffaloes are characterized by big  conformation and heavy bones (compared to local cattle) and it is known with a noticeable quick natural increase in its size when reaching puberty phase.

Length of days open (91.8±1.3 days) was much lower than that recorded by Roy Choudhury (1971) in Italian buffaloes (range 97-316 days), El-Wishy (1979) in Iraqi buffaloes, Govindaiah and Rai (1987) in Indian buffaloes and Eid (1988) in Egyptian buffaloes. Such phenomenon may be attributed to serving the cows at the suitable time, in addition to the adequate plane of nutrition offered in the present study.

Lactation length (244.1±1.2 days) was longer than the value recorded by Zaki (1988) (195 days), but shorter than that reported by Zeidan (1990) (286 days) and by Mohamed (2000) (269.8 days), in Egyptian buffaloes.

Dry period (148.7±2.0 days) was lower than that recorded by Mourad (1978) (248 days), Mohamed (2000) (194.5 days) in Egyptian buffaloes and by Siddiquee et al (1984) in Indian buffaloes.

The average length of calving interval (402.6±2.6 days) was very near to the ideal calving interval that permits nearly a calf each year. This indicated that Egyptian buffaloes responded well to good managerial procedures. Mohamed (2000) reported the calving interval of 464.3 days, under newly reclaimed desert .

The average total milk yield per lactation (1590±11 kg) was higher than that recorded by Mohamed (2000) under similar newly reclaimed desert conditions (1171 kg).  The peak of milk production was reached in the fourth and fifth parities similar to that reported by El-Menshawy (1994).

Effects of non-genetic factors

Effect of season of birth

The effect of season of birth on birth weight in the present study was similar to the results of Eid (1988) and Zaki (1988) who reported that the heaviest calf weights at birth were produced by either spring or winter calvers. The lowest birth weight and average daily gain  between birth and weaning of summer-born calves may be attributed to suffering of the foetei from the adverse effects resulting from exposure of their dams during late pregnancy to moderate to very severe heat stress (THI= 22.8 to 32.8 during summer).

The significant effects of season of calving on days open, calving interval and lactation length were similar to that reported by Alim and Taher (1979). The lowest estimates shown in days open and calving interval during autumn and in lactation length during summer, were similar to that reported by El-Khaschab et al (1984).

The non-significantly high milk yield produced by spring calvers (1609 kg) was different from that found by by Ayyat et al. (1996) who reported that spring calvers had significantly higher (P<0.001) actual milk yield and longer lactation length. The non-significant difference in total milk yield due to season of calving in the present study may be an evidence of the availability of adequate managerial conditions all the year round.

The unfavorable effects on the studied traits during summer may be due to the exposure to heat stress that evokes a series of drastic changes in the biological functions. Such changes result in depression of live body weight, growth rate and total body solids and daily body solids gain weight averages and impairment of production and reproduction (Marai and Habeeb 1998, Marai et al 2007).

Effect of parity

The significant effect of parity on days open was similar to the findings of Mostageer et al (1981) and different from those of Mohamed (1974). The tendency of the length of days open to decrease from the first parity onwards may be a result  of culling buffaloes with lower fertility.

The decrease in calving interval with advancement of parity was similar to that reported by Mourad (1978). Such a trend may be a reflection of the same practice of culling buffalo cows that show lower fertility in their early parities. The highly significant effect (P<0.001) of parity on calving interval in buffaloes was similar to that reported by El-Menshawy (1994) in Egyptian buffaloes.

Repeatability

Repeatability estimated for milk yield (0.3±0.03) was higher than that obtained (0.22) by Soliman (1976) and was lower than the values estimated (more than 0.36) for Egyptian buffaloes (Zeidan 1990, Khalil 1993), as well as for the Murrah buffaloes (0.39) (Singh and Singh 1977). Therefore, selection could be practiced for such traits after the end of the first lactation. Due to low repeatability values of the other traits, culling of buffalo cows for these traits should be practiced according to several records, along with improvement of the environmental conditions.

Adaptability

Buffalo’s adaptability to the desert sub-tropical environment of Egypt was estimated as 89.6% according to Marai and Habeeb (1998) and Marai et al (2006). Application of the same method (Marai et al 2006) on the lactating buffaloes data of El-Masry and Marai (1991) confirmed these results in which the adaptability = 89.1%. Adaptability estimation for Friesian cows on the same bases in the same work (El-Masry and Marai, 1991) indicated that it was 82.9%.

Conclusions

• Averages of female buffalo growth and reproductive performance traits obtained in the present study indicated that the desert conditions did not exert adverse effects on the traits, and buffaloes responded well to the good managerial procedures, without wallowing. Summer season of birth affected adversely most of the traits studied.

References

Alim K A and Taher A 1979 The performance of Friesian and buffalo calves. World Review of Animal Production 1: 71--80

Ayyat M S, Marai I F M and El-Shafei O M 1996 Factors affecting adjusted milk yield for lactation length in Egyptian buffaloes and their pattern of inheritance. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences  66:  607-613

Eid N .L 1988 Environmental influence on the productive and reproductive performance of the Egyptian Water buffaloes. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Ain-Shams, Cairo, Egypt.

El-Khaschab S, El-Danasoury M. S and Omar S 1984 Studies on some reproductive and productive traits of buffaloes in Egypt. Minufiya Journal of Agricultural Research 9: 211-

El-Masry K A and Marai I F M 1991 Comparison between Friesians and water buffaloes in growth rate, milk production and some blood constituents, during winter and summer conditions of  Egypt. Animal Production 53: 39--43

El-Menshawy S M S  1994  Studies on productive and reproductive efficiency of Egyptian buffaloes. Ph.D. Thesis, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.

El-Wishy A B 1979 Reproductive performance of Iraqi buffaloes. 1. Pattern of female reproduction. Beitrage Zur Tropischen Landuirtschaft und Veterinarmedizin 17: 77--83

Govindaiah M G and Rai A V 1987  Productive and reproductive traits of medium size buffaloes. Indian Journal of Dairy Science  40: 333--339

Harvey W R 1987 User's Guide for Mixed Model  Least Squares and Maximum Likelihood Computer Program. PC-1 Version, Ohio State University, Columbia USA (Mimeograph).

Khalil M H 1993 Days open adjustment factors and genetic evaluation for lactation traits in Egyptian buffaloes. Annals of Agriculture Science, Moushtohor  31 (2): 865--884

Marai I F M, Asker A A and Bahgat L B 2006 Tolerance of New Zealand White and Californian doe rabbits at first parity to sub-tropical environment of Egypt. Livestock Science 104: 165--172.

Marai I F M, Bahgat L B, Shalaby T H and Abdel‑Hafez M A M. 2000 Fattening performance, some behavioral traits and physiological reactions of male lambs fed concentrates mixture alone with or without natural clay under hot summer of Egypt. Annals of Arid Zone 39: 449-‑460

Marai  I F M, El-Darawany A A, Fadiel A and Abdel-Hafez M A M  2007 Physiological traits as affected by heat stress in sheep – A review. Small Ruminant Research 71(1-3): 1-12

Marai I F M and Habeeb  A A M 1998 Adaptation of Bos taurus under hot arid conditions. Annals of Arid Zone 37(3): 253--281

Misra RC, Kushwaha N S and Singh  R 1986 Study on age at first calving in Murrah and Bhadawari buffaloes. Indian Veterinary Medicine Journal 10(1): 13--15

Mohamed  A A 1974  Physiological changes in the reproductive organs of buffaloes from parturition to conception. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Ain-Shams, Cairo, Egypt.

Mohamed  I A S 2000 The performance of Egyptian buffaloes under newly reclaimed desert  lands.. M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.

Moharram  A A 1988 Reproduction and dairy performance of Holstein Friesian cattle in Egypt. Revue d'elevage et de Mėdicine Vėtėrinaire des Pays Tropicauxiliary 11: 209--213

Mostageer  A, Morsy M A and Sadek  R R 1981 The production characteristics of a herd of Egyptian buffaloes. Sonderdruk aus Zeits-Churuft fur Tierzuchtung and Zuchtungsbiologie  98: 220--236

Mourad K A 1978 Some productive and reproductive characteristics of the Egyptian buffalo. M.Sc. Thesis, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Roy Choudhury P N 1971  Service period, calving interval and dry period in Italian buffaloes. Zentralbatt fur Veterinas Medizin  A 17: 284--287

Siddiquee  G M, Rajane  K R and Pande  M S 1984 Effect of year and parity on some of the reproductive traits in Mehsana buffaloes. Livestock Advisor  9(10): 23--25

Singh  H P and Singh R 1977 Statistical studies of some economic traits of Indian buffaloes. Indian Veterinary Medicine  Journal  54: 823--833

Soliman A M A 1976 The genetics of the lactation curve. M.Sc.. Thesis, University of Ain-Shams, Cairo, Egypt.

Tantawy M A M 1984 Studies on some traits in Egyptian buffaloes. M.Sc. Thesis, Moshtohor, Zagazig University, Egypt.

Zaki H O 1988 Productive and reproductive performance of primiparous buffaloes. M.Sc. Thesis, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Zeidan S M 1990 Study of productive performance of Egyptian buffaloes. M.Sc. Thesis, Moshtohor, Zagazig University, Egypt.

Received 28 January 2008; Accepted 15 April 2008; Published 10 March 2009

Go to top