Status of Nili Ravi buffaloes in India

Abstract

SummaryNili 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.

​Study on Housing Management Practices Followed by Dairy Farmers in Northern Telangana State of India

“…Majority (74.58%) of the farmers in the entire study area housed their animals nearby their dwellings, whereas few farmers (13.75%) kept their animals attached to their home. These findings are similar to the findings of Vij and Tantia (2005) and Dhaliwal and Dhillon (2017). Availability of land for shed, convenience and hygiene could be the reasons for deciding the location of the shed.…”

Socio-economic Determinants Influence on NiliRavi Buffalo Farmers Choice of Milk Marketing Channels in Punjab

“…A NiliRavi breed is more adaptive to adverse climatic conditions and converts poor roughages into nutritious and quality food (Ismal et al, 2020). Despite good qualities of the breed, NiliRavi buffalo population is declining drastically and breed characters have been diluted as a result of mixing with other breeds in the country (Vij & Tantia, 2005). The NiliRavi breeding tract is found in Amritsar, Firozpur and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab (Kathiravan et al, 2007).…”

Number of pregnancies and season of calving influence the production and reproduction traits in Nili-Ravi buffalo

“…It is interesting to note that while a population of pure Nili breed has been decreasing, despite the fact that its milk production is not lower than that of the Murrah. The quality of milk production and reproduction traits in Nili-Ravi are thought to be similar to an average breed of Murrah buffalo and is regarded to be superior in reproduction than Murrah (Vij and Tantia, 2005).…”