Growth curves of swamp buffaloes (Bubalus b. carabanensis) under rearing in cow house

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth curve of 525 monthly body weight data of 19 males (n=313) and 8 females (n=212) swamp buffaloes (Bubalus b. carabanensis), from birth to slaughter age (25 months). The nonlinear models used were: logistic, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy and Brody. The parameters were estimated by NLIN procedure, and the criteria used to evaluate the adjustment given by the models were Akaike’s information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and coefficient of determination (R2). The results indicated that the better fit of Brody model than the Logistic, Gompertz, and Von Bertalanffy models to our data. The parameters estimate for Brody model [WT = α * (1-βe-k*AGE)] were α = 902.00±45.9912, β = 0,9727±0.0089, k = 0.0483±0.0044, R2 = 0.9748. The estimation of birth and slaughter weights were 24.6596±8.8367 and 639.6467 6.4019 kg, respectively as well as the maturation rate (k) to achieve the mature weigh (α) of 902.00±45.9912 kg was 0.0483±0.0044. Growth curve of weight vs. age of swamp buffalo rearing under intensive system from birth to 25 months old adjusted to the Brody nonlinear model showed growth in a sigmoid-curve model and more accurate in expecting the birth weight of these animals.