Abstract:
The objective of the study was to evaluate the production
capacity and reproduction parameters of Nili-Ravi buffaloes at the National
Livestock Development Board farm, Nikaweratiya, Sri Lanka. Data on age at
first calving, lactation length, dry period, total milk yield, calving interval,
gestation length, lactation number, birth weight and calving to service
period were collected for the period of 1990–2010 and analyzed using the
statistical package SAS 6.12. The estimated LS mean value for production
traits of lactation milk yield, lactation length, calving interval and birth
weight were 1612.54 kg/lac, 288.46 days, 12.94 months and 30.29 Kg,
respectively. The raw means of age at first calving, calving to service period,
gestation period and dry period were 49.27±08.14 months, 138.32±54.46 days,
309.92±25.37 days and 77.97±29.24 days, respectively. Milk yield was
significantly influenced by age at first calving, lactation length, birth weight
and season of calving. The lactation length was significantly influenced only
by lactation number. Calving interval was significantly influenced by season
of calving, dry period and lactation length. But birth weight was
significantly influenced only by sex of calves.
