Dear dairy research peers,
Please suggest the difference between dairy cow and buffaloes in drying off, and the duration of ideal dry period for optimum production in ensuing lactation. Also, how to categorise 'far-off' and 'close-up' dry period for dairy buffaloes?
Literature references supporting your opinion would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi
this link can help you
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_should_be_the_ideal_dry_period_for_dairy_water_buffaloes
The dry period of dairy buffaloes is between 60 to 150 days in some breeds and 90 to 200 days in some breeds. Please read the article in attached file. Hope it will help you.
The correct dry period depends on the nutrition status of the mother, food disponibility, If the mother has permanently the calf or not. Each animal has a particular date into her own file card.
Dry period of buffaloes and cows depend on breed, feeding and nutrition and also management & environment. Dry periods usually varies from 60 and 120 days. You will get lots of literature regarding this parameter. Some of our followers also provided many references, those you can consult with those.
Dry period of Mediterranean Buffalo depends on the production level too. In our experience (average 2800 litres for lactation ) it varies from 90-120 days. A lot of buffaloes at 270 GIM produce still 7-8 litre/day.
Dear Dr Qassim,
Thank you for your answer.
After these discussion it seems logical to conclude that in buffalo management, unlike high merit dairy cows, dry period is not critically limiting production due to their natural dry off. Moreover, coupling better selection with management tools, non-lactating days should be minimised for dairy buffaloes.
In Venezuela, It varies between 80 and 200 days, but I consider that this should be less than 90 days, this implies drying the buffaloes with about 210 days of gestation.
Now this implies asking other questions: what is the optimal calving-to-conception interval? What should be the optimal lactation length? What is the optimal gestation age at the time of drying?
Should we make a genetic selection for a longer lactation?
at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325148012_Shortened_dry_period_in_dairy_Buffaloes_Influence_on_milk_yield_milk_components_and_reproductive_performance , the authors working with high production Murrahs found that service periods between 30 and 60 days did not compromise milk production up to 90 days, increased solids content and reduced the service period.
In our personal experience in Braz, the average dry period of our Murrah buffaloes with an average production of 3,300 kg in lactation is around 100 days, however 1/3 of the females have a dry period of less than 60 days (the average duration of lactation in the herd is than 300 days), without compromising production or reproduction.
Dear M. S. Mahesh . The buffalo should be dried off approximately 2 to 3 months before expected calving. See the following useful link : https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/animal_husbandry/animhus_buffalo%20milking.html#:~:text=maximum%20milk%20yield.-,Dry%20period,3%20months%20before%20expected%20calving.
Kindly see also the following useful RG link: Article Effects of shortening the dry period of dairy cows on milk p...
Also check please the following useful link: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/drying-dairy-cows
The following RG link is also very useful: Article Shortened dry period in dairy Buffaloes: Influence on milk y...
Visit kindly the following useful link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/buffaloes
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