Effect of Non-Genetic Factors on Milk Production Traits of Indigenous Buffaloes (Bubalusbubalisl.) In The Western Hills of Nepal

Abstract

Understanding the influence of non-genetic factors on the phenotypic expression of milk production traits of buffaloes is important to develop selection/evaluation criteria with better accuracy.A research was carried out in the western villages, Ramjhathati of Parbat district and Faliyagaun of Myagdi districts of Nepal during October to November 2016 with the objective of evaluating the effect of parity on the different milk production traits of the Indigenous Lime and Parkote buffaloes, where breed and parity were considered as non-genetic factors. Altogether 98 buffaloes including 57 Lime and 41 Parkote were considered as the sample population. The milk production traits considered for the evaluation were Day 1 Milk Yield (DMY), Peak Milk Yield (PMY) and Average Daily Milk Yield (AMY). Data were analyzed by Henderson’s Least Square Mixed Model and Maximum Likelihood (LSMMML PC-2) computer program using Harvey-1990 software.  Results indicated that the pooled means for the DMY, PMY and AMY were observed 1.60 liter, 3.31 liter and 2.11 liter, respectively. Results revealed that breed and parity of indigenous buffaloes were not the important sources of variation with respect to the traits under study. However, higher value for the DMY, PMY and AMY were observed in the mid parity (4^th – 6^th) as compared to that of early (1^st -3^rd) and late (above 7^th) parity for both breeds. The peak milk yield in the Mid Parity was recorded higher in the Lime buffaloes  (3.85±0.40 ltr) as compared to that of the Parkote buffaloes (3.32±0.52 ltr). Besides, the correlation  coefficient between DMY and PMY, DMY and AMY, and AMY and PMY was determined 0.622, 0.498, and 0.623 respectively. Regression analysis of DMY, PMY and AMY indicated that PMY of Lime and Parkote buffaloes in this study is fluctuated by +1.0168 liter and +0.829 liter per liter fluctuation of DMY and AMY, respectively. Thusthere is great scope of improving indigenous Lime and Parkote buffaloes through selection within the population. The breed andnumber of parities could be the important non-genetic factors with respect to milk production traits, though they did not found significant in present study.High positive correlation and the results of regression analysis reflected that selection for increased DMY could increase PMY and AMY and vice versa.