Non-genetic factors affecting phenotypic parameters of milk production and reproductive performance in lactating Egyptian buffaloes

Improving productive and reproductive performance in Egyptian buffaloes requires knowledge of the influence of environmental and genetic factors on phenotypic traits. This study aims to estimate the effect of some environmental factors on the productive and reproductive traits of Egyptian buffaloes. Egyptian buffalo data were obtained from the database of Bani Sanad station belonging to the Livestock development project under the administration of Assiut governorate, Egypt. 2,149 records were collected on the dairy Menoufi buffalo, covering the period from 1999 to 2018. For the analysis of variance, the general linear model GLM (SAS) was used to analyze the variance in milk production and reproductive traits. The effect of year of calving was significantly higher (P<0.001) on TMY, LL and DP, milk traits affected significantly by calving season, likewise, Parity had a highly significant (P<0.0001) effect on TMY, LL and DP. The highest milk production has been recorded at 4th and 5th parity and then decreased thereafter. The year of calving had a highly significant (P<0.001) effect on all reproductive traits. The calving season had a highly significant (P<0.001) effect on most reproductive traits in Egyptian buffaloes, as there were a significant difference in DO, CI, NSC and GL, while there were no statistically significant (P>0.05) differences in AFC between seasons. All reproductive traits (DO, CI, NSC, GL and AFC) were significantly (P<0.001) affected by parity. In conclusion, these results are very useful in selection and breeding programs for Egyptian buffaloes, also knowing the unsuitable environmental conditions and overcoming them to improve the productivity of buffalo.