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Status of Nili Ravi buffaloes in India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

P.K. Vij
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box 129, Karnal, 132 001 Haryana, India
M.S. Tantia
Affiliation:
National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, P.O. Box 129, Karnal, 132 001 Haryana, India
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Summary

Nili Ravi buffaloes are native to the Ferozepur, Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab. A systematic survey was conducted in this area to study the socio-economic status of the farmers, and the demographic distribution and breed characteristics of Nili Ravi buffaloes. The majority of the farmers surveyed (84%) kept buffaloes. About 34 % of buffalo farmers were landless. Average land holdings were 1.50 hectares. Animals were provided with separate houses. The buffaloes were tied most of the time and fed chaffed fodder. Natural service was mainly practiced for the breeding of animals. Very few buffaloes had typical Nili Ravi characters (all extremities white). Most of the Nili Ravi type buffaloes now available have white markings on the forehead and hind legs only, and some have wall eyes i.e. eyes with a whitish iris. Average daily milk yield was 6.67 kg in a lactation period of 8–9 months. Nili Ravi type buffaloes constituted only 10.8 %, 8.7 % and 14 % of total buffaloes surveyed in Ferozepur, Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts, respectively. The estimated population of these buffaloes was about 0.2 million. The population of Nili Ravi is declining because of the non-availability of typical Nili Ravi bulls and non-marketability of Nili Ravi type (2–3 white extremities) animals.

Resumen

La raza de buffalo Nili Ravi es nativa del Ferozepur, en los distritos de Amritsar y Gurdaspur en la region de Punjab. Se llevó a cabo una encuesta sistemática en la zona para estudiar la situación socio-económica de los granjeros y la distribución demográfica y características de la raza Nili Ravi. La mayoría de los granjeros encuestados (84%) crían búfalos. Alrededor del 34% de estos granjeros no posee tierra. La media de tierra es de 1,5 hectarea. Los animales están atados y alimentados con paja y heno. Los apareamientos son naturals. Pocos animales poseen las características típicas de la raza Nili Ravi (todas las extremidades blancas). La mayoría de los búfalos de tipo Nili Ravi hoy en día poseen solo manchas blancas en la parte frontal y trasera de las patas, y algunos animales presentan ojos con el iris blanquecino. La media diaria de producción de leche es de 6,67 kg en un periodo de lactación de 8–9 meses. El buffalo tipo Nili Ravi representa solo el 10,8%, 8,7% y 14% del total de búfalos existentes en los distritos de Ferozepur, Amritsar y Gurdaspur, respectivamente. La población estimada es de alrededor de 0,2 millones. La población de Nili Ravi está en declino debido a la falta de disponibilidad de machos puros de esta raza y por la falta de mercado de animales del tipo Nili Ravi (2–3 extremidades blancas).

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2005

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References

List of References

Nivsarkar, A.E., Vij, P.K., & Tantia, M.S.. 2000. Animal Genetic Resources of India: Cattle and Buffalo. DIPA, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India.Google Scholar
Livestock Census. 1997. Indian Livestock Census. Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Department of Agriculture & Co-operation, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi, India.Google Scholar