Abstract
Data. on 355 Nili.-Ravi buffaloes kipt at tho Government Live. stook Farm, Rakh Grhulaman, Bhakhar were analysed. The age at first calving (AFC). first lactation 305-day milk yield (FLMY) and first calving interval (FCI) averaged 57.4 + 0.5 =oaths, 1553.7 4- 22.1 kg and 563.9 + 8_8 days, respectively. There wail a wide klcaps to improve AFC, for only 4_8% of- the buffaloes could calve for the firsr time upto the age of 42 m.ontlig, The regression analysis indicated significant effect of AFC a the PLMY and per. The FLMIT. imireased by 5.3 ± 4,4 kg while the Fel decreased by + 1.7 day.g for each month in.creaae in AFC. The beneficial effecte Of delayed breeding, however, do not c..ptut-weigh the advan-tage of reduced. AFC, reflected in twice the number of completed %citations during the life time by early calkers compared with the late calvers.
INTRODUCTION
Pakistani buffaloes are second to none in the world as producers of milk and meat. They are, however, leas economical compared to the dairy cattle of the temperate region which may be attributed mainly to their late age at first calving and long calving intervals. Thus, to improve the economic prospects of buffaloes, a reduction in thesa traits is imperative.
A desirable correlated response for milk yield and calving interval due to reduced age at first calving would accelerate the improvement. flowerer, an undesirable correlation would impede. the improvement, The first lacta-tion milk yield in buffaloes was reported to increase significantly with inoreued age at fret calving (butt, 1965; Kanaujia and Balaine. 1975; Singh abd Prasad, 1983) and such a trend is not desirable. The milk yield in bnffalon Wag not inlet:tented significantly by the age at first calving (Mohan, 1077; *University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
