Morphological characterization of non-descript Buffalo in Konkan Region of Maharashtra State

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Morphological Characterization of Non-Descript Buffalo in Konkan Region of Maharashtra State.” was undertaken with the objectives to study the morphological characteristics, milk production performance, reproductive performance, disease incidence, mortality and morbidity, management practices and feeds and feeding of non-descript buffaloes of the Konkan region. For survey, four districts viz., Thane, Palghar, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg of the Konkan region of Maharashtra were selected. The total sample size of 500 buffalo owners with 850 non-descript buffalo was considered for sample survey. The data were collected by personal interview and by taking measurements of the non-descript buffaloes. The animals were medium in size having coat colours observed were black and brown in proportion of 58.94 and 41.06 per cent and 49.18, 46.94 and 3.88 per cent non-descript buffaloes of the Konkan region had black, brown and white muzzle colour, respectively. Eye colour observed were black, brown and white in 76.47, 22.24 and 1.29 per cent and eyelid colour observed were black and brown in 87.68 and 12.32 per cent. Horn and hooves colour were mainly both brown colour with 63.28 and 65.06 per cent. The shape of horn curved in backward with 24.71 per cent and straight in backward direction in 26.94 per cent was most common. The horn was mostly in sword like orientation having 51.06 per cent and the orientation of ear were having horizontal followed by drooping ear with 78.00 and 22.00 per cent. The udder was medium in size showing different shape like bowl 32.81 per cent, pendulous 18.557 per cent and rounded 48.48 per cent. In non-descript male small sheath flap and medium naval flap in female was mostly observed. The non-descript buffalo were medium sized having average head length, ear length, horn length, circumference at the base of horn, neck length, height at wither, chest girth, body length, body weight, hind leg length, tail length and switch of tail length in adult buffaloes was 47.80±1.69 cm, 24.35±0.20 cm, 54.11±0.23 cm, 23.72±0.75 cm, 46.42±0.14 cm, 127.66±0.15 cm, 185.42 ± 0.28 cm, 127.89±0.14 cm, 3459.6±1.28 kg, 86.65±0.3 cm, 84.08 ± 0.25 cm and 9.38±0.02 cm, respectively.