Buffalo Milk Production - Chapter 5: Milk production of the buffalo

• Lactation length can range from 230 to 300+ days depending on the breed, management practices and milking frequency
• The average fat content of buffalo milk is usually 7-8%

Milk production of the buffalo

The world’s milk production from buffaloes was according to FAO (1994) 48 million tons, most of which was produced in Asia (46.5 million tons) by many low producing animals. A great part of the milk production goes unrecorded as the buffalo milk is largely handled by the unorganized sector. For comparison, the world’s production of milk from cattle was 459 million tons (FAO, 1994). In India, Pakistan and Egypt, 65% of the milk produced is from buffaloes.

5.1 Lactation and milk yield

The onset of lactation is with the birth of the calf. The initial yield is a reliable indicator of the animal’s genetic potential. The highest yield is reached after five to six weeks of lactation and maintained for some weeks. Thereafter the yield decreases until the end of lactation. The lactation ends as the dry period starts.

In buffaloes, the highest milk yield is seen in the fourth lactation whereafter it declines. The shape of the lactation curve depends on factors such as feed, management, milking frequency, diseases among others. The length of lactation and yield for various breeds is shown in Table 10. The optimum lactation length in the Murrah has been reported to be 262 to 295 days.

In Italy it is recommended to keep a lactation length of 270 days in controlled herds. ICAR recommends a lactation length of 305 days as for controlled cattle.

Lactation length and milk yield

Breed	Lactation (days)	Milk yield (kg/lactation)	Type of herd/ Country
Murrah	297 first lactation	1587 first lactation	Military farm / India
Murrah	294 average	1764 average	Military farm / India
Murrah	294 first lactation	1590	Research Inst. / India
Murrah	385 first lactation	1770±102	University farm / India
Murrah	272 (average)	1004	Research Center / Nepal
Native /Nepal	223 (average)	489	Research Center / Nepal
Nili-Ravi	250-327	1586-1855	Unknown / India
Surti	238-350	1086-2095	Unknown / India
Surti	305 recalculated	1043	University farm / India
Purnathadi	243	1224±306	Household / India
Mediterranean		964-1279	Rumania
Mediterranean	270	2100	Italy / Private farms
Mediterranean	270	2100	Italy / Research Institute
Mediterranean		1488-1700	Bulgaria
Caucasian		1100-1445	Azerbaijan
Iraq	255	1342	Breeding station/ Iraq
Egyptian	217	1227	Egypt
Egyptian	260-360	1507-1939	Breeding station / Egypt
Murrah		945-1113	Brazil
Murrah	237	1573	China
Nili-Ravi	261	1873	China
Swamp	235	441	China
50% Murrah	276	1096	China
75% Murrah	270	1153	China
87.5% Murrah	291	1540	China

5.1.1 Factors affecting lactation and milk yield

Lactation and milk yield depend on both genetic and non-genetic factors. The genetic influence is due to species, breed, and individual. Further, it is affected by ability to reproduce, e.g. fertility and thereby calving interval. Improvement on these may be the result of breeding and selection.

The non-genetic factors are management, amount and quality of feed and skill of the farmer to detect heat and illnesses. Factors which are outside the farmer’s control such as climate, temperature, humidity etc. also influence lactation and milk yield.

Feeding is the most important factor for increasing and sustaining the milk yield. Sufficient amount of energy, protein, minerals and water must be provided in order to achieve maximum yield. See section on Practical feeding of the lactating buffalo.

Calving interval is closely related to lactation length and milk yield. The longer the calving interval, the longer the lactation and the higher the lactation yield. However, total life time yield will be substantially less comparing with a buffalo with short calving intervals. (See section on Breeding).

Milking frequency affects both total milk and fat yield. A study using Murrah buffaloes showed that 31% more milk and 26% more butter fat resulted from milking three times per day as compared to twice a day.

Weight of the heifer seems to affect milk yield. Studies on Murrah indicates that the heifers should weigh at least 500 kg at the time of calving in order to reach a maximum milk yield.

5.1.2 Dry period

The buffalo should be dried off approximately 2 to 3 months before expected calving. The dry period is valuable to the buffalo, she may rest and the udder tissue is repaired.

In a high yielding herd (above 10 kg per day) the buffalo should be dried off when the daily yield falls below 2.5 kg, even if it is still more than 3 months to expected calving. This goes especially for machine milked herds. An alternative to drying off is to use the buffalo as a foster mother to newly born calves. One buffalo may serve one newborn calf or two older calves which receive additional feed. Care should be taken to dry her off completely no later than 2 months before calving.

In herds which are hand milked and where the yield is low, it is difficult to set a lower limit in kg. Instead, the 2 months limit is recommended.

5.2 Milk composition

Milk from buffaloes differs from that from cattle. The biggest difference is with respect to fat. In cattle, the milk contains between 3 to 5 %, depending on feed and breed. In buffalo milk the average fat content is usually 7 to 8% but may be as high as 13% in some breeds (see Table 11).

Composition of buffalo and zebu cattle milk

Breed/Country	Water (%)	Fat (%)	Protein (%)	Lactose (%)	S.N.F. (%)
Egyptian	82.4	7.9	4.2	4.8	9.9
Mediterranian/Italy	81.9	7.9	4.3		10.2
Caucasian	82.7	7.6	4.1	5.0	9.8
Chinese	76.8	12.6	6.0	3.8	10.6
Murrah/ India	82.7	7.1	4.6	3.6	10.2
Murrah /Bulg.	81.8	8.0	4.5	4.8	10.2
Zebu cow	86.6	4.2	3.6	4.9	9.2

Buffalo milk fat has a higher melting point than that of cattle, due to its higher proportion of saturated fatty acids (77:23, saturated:unsaturated) see Table 12. Phospholipids and cholesterol are lower in buffalo milk. It is also more resistant against oxidative changes.

Proportion of fatty acids in normal buffalo milk

Fatty acids	C4:0	C6:0	C8:0	C10:0	C12:0	C14:0	C14:1
%	4.83	2.41	2.41	3.38	2.90	13.21	0.8
	C16:0	C17:0	C18:0	C18:1	C18:2	C18:3
%	32.86	4.82	11.10	20.21	1.0	1.0

The content of protein, lactose and ash is somewhat higher in buffalo milk than in cattle milk. Buffalo milk lacks or only contain traces of ?-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A). This makes the milk look very white, as opposed to cattle milk which has a slight yellow shade. In buffalo milk, vitamin A is present instead of its precursor. The different types of casein found in bovine milk are found in buffalo milk, although in slightly different proportions, see Table 13.

Distribution of casein’s in buffalo and bovine milk, % of total casein amount

The macro- and micro elements in buffalo milk are shown in Table 14.

Macro and micro elements (ppm) in buffalo milk

Sodium	750	317
Potassium	1390	908
Calcium	2030	1880
Magnesium	200	91.9
Iron		0.325
Phosphorus	1290
Zinc		6.26
Copper		0.303

5.2.1 Composition of colostrum

During approximately the first three days of lactation the buffalo secretes colostrum. Colostrum is vital for the newborn calf and its composition reflects the calf’s need (see Table 15 and Table 7). Colostrum contains the important proteins; the immuno globulins, which are the newborn calf’s source of antibodies. The content of iron and copper is markedly higher in the colostrum as compared to normal milk

Composition of colostrum

Water (%)	Fat (%)	Total protein (%)	Lactose (%)	Vitamin A (µg/kg)
68	15	13.6	3.1
73	9.55	9.59	7.54	1.8

5.2.2 Alterations of milk composition

Milk composition can be altered both before and after the milking. If the change occurs inside the udder it is mostly due to a disease or treatment of the disease by antibiotics or other type of medication. Feeding can alter the normal composition, however, these changes are seldom extreme, but within normal intervals. Season can effect the normal milk composition, although these changes are mostly due to differences in feeding during different seasons.

Stage of lactation and milk yield
The fat percentage varies with stage of lactation and with milk yield. A study on Nili-Ravi buffaloes in Pakistan showed that the fat percentage increased steadily from 5.5% in the first month of lactation to 7.5% in the 10th month of lactation.

There is a negative correlation between lactation yield and percentage of total solids, fat and protein. However, the total amount of solids, fat and protein is higher in a high yielding buffalo than in a low yielding one.

Feedstuff
A rule of thumb is that roughage increases fat content in milk, whereas concentrate depresses it. This depends on the differences in VFA production in the rumen from the different carbohydrate sources. Digestion of fiber results in a higher proportion of acetic acid and thereby more milkfat. Digestion of concentrate on the other hand, results in a higher proportion of propionic acid which is unfavorable for milkfat synthesis. If too much concentrate is given, fat depression might occur.

Higher energy diets seem to give better coagulation properties of the milk. Long-chain fatty acids increases when the energy concentration in feed is low.

Glucosinolates in Brassica spp. are hydrolyzed by the ruminal microbes into thiocyanates, iso- thiocyanates and some other products. Thiocyanate is then excreted in the milk. High feeding levels with Brassica spp. may therefore lead to unsatisfactory levels of thiocyanate in the milk. Thiocyanate may cause thyroid enlargement in animals as well as humans ingesting it. A common feed stuff of Brassica spp. is mustard fodder and mustard oil cake. Even 15 days after withdrawal of mustard feed, circulatory high levels of thiocyanate exists and is secreted in milk.

Disease and medication
Mastitis changes the milk composition dramatically. The alterations can sometimes be used as detection of the disease. If antibiotics are used in order to cure for example mastitis, these will be excreted in the milk. Controlling of external parasites with e.g. diazinon affects milk yield as well as composition. The chemical is detected in the milk upto 48 hours after dermal application.

Acknowledgements:

The main author of Buffalo Milk Production is Mikaela Stahl Hogberg, Agr. Lic. Animal Husbandry, Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, SLU, Sweden . For significant and special efforts the following contributors are in particular acknowledged:

• Ole Lind, Delaval, Tumba, Sweden
• Prof. Dr. N.C. Ganguli, former Secretary of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi, India
• Dr.S.C. Chopra, Director of Research, C. G. S. Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar India
• 
  Dr. Saad Alhayani, Director, Dunaya, Cairo, Egypt
• Mr. C. S. Thomas, Officer Buffalo Projects, Alfa Laval Agri, Pune, India
• Mr. G. Cionini, former President, Alfa Laval Agri, Italy
• Mr. G. Merlo, former Marketing Manager Milking, Alfa Laval Agri, Italy
• Mr. E. Crespo, ProductCenter Manager, Buffaloes, Alfa Laval Agri, Sweden
• Dr. K. Svennersten-Sjaunja, L O SjaunjaAB (LOSAB), Uppsala, Sweden

Appendices & Further Reading:

Appendix 1, dairy farm journal
Appendix 2, breeding records
Appendix 3, quality control
Selected references and further reading

Related Links:

An encompassing article on water buffalo including links to additional web sites