Factors affecting some reproductive traits of Egyptian buffaloes [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

Data obtained from 3568 records relevant to 731 dairy buffaloes raised at Mehallet Mousa Experimental Station, Kafer EI-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt between 1970-1993 were utilized in this investigation to study the effects of sire, age at first calving, season and year of calving and parity on some reproductive traits of a buffalo dairy herd. The least squares analyses with unequal subclass numbers indicated that the overall least square means of age at first calving, gestation period, days open. Calving interval and breeding efficiency were 36.1 months, 317.8 days, 203.5 days, 521.3 days and 73.2 %, respectively. Sire had highly significant effect on all studied traits except gestation period which was not significantly affected. Age at first calving had significant influence on gestation period and had highly significant influence on all other traits. Season of calving had highly significant effect on day’s open, calving interval and breeding efficiency, but had no significant effect on age at first calving and gestation period. Year of calving had significant influence on day’s open and calving interval and had highly significant influence on age at first calving and breeding efficiency, but had nonsignificant effect on gestation period. Parity had highly significant effect on all studied traits except gestation period which was not affected significantly. The results of this investigation in general show that sire, managerial systems and appropriate environmental conditions have positive effects on reproductive traits of this herd of Egyptian buffaloes.

Summary in Arabic.

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