Productive characteristics in dairy buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the Eastern Amazon

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine factors affecting phenotypic characteristics related to milk production and reproductive efficiency of dairy buffalo. Phenotypic records of 2,459 Murrah, Mediterranean and crossbred buffaloes from the Embrapa Eastern Amazônia herd, from 1969 to 2013 were used. Traits included: total milk production during lactation (TMP), milk production corrected for 305 days (P305); cow weight at calving (CW), fat milk percentage (F), age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), calf birth weight (BW), as well as lactation (LP) and service periods (SP). Most traits were affected by genetic group as well as year and season or interaction between them. Genetic group affected F, CI, SP and CW. Very young and older cows showed poorer production traits. There was interaction between season and year for F, CI and CW. Correlations traits were generally medium to low. The principal component analysis showed that higher fat milk percentage was associated with higher percentage of Murrah breed, longer lactation period and older cows. Phenotypic characteristics in buffaloes reared in the Brazilian Amazon were significantly affected by genetic and management factors. This information can be used to help build sustainable production systems for the region and guide farmer decisions.

摘要
本研究旨在明确影响奶水牛产奶性能与繁殖效率的相关表型性状因素。本研究使用了1969年至2013年间，来自巴西农牧业研究公司（Embrapa）东亚马逊牛群的2459头摩拉水牛（Murrah）、地中海水牛（Mediterranean）及其杂交后代的表型记录。所考察的性状包括：泌乳期总产奶量（total milk production during lactation, TMP）、305天校正产奶量（milk production corrected for 305 days, P305）、产犊时母牛体重（cow weight at calving, CW）、乳脂率（fat milk percentage, F）、首产犊年龄（age at first calving, AFC）、产犊间隔（calving interval, CI）、犊牛初生重（calf birth weight, BW）、泌乳期（lactation period, LP）与配种期（service periods, SP）。多数性状受遗传群体、年份与季节，或三者间交互效应的影响。遗传群体对乳脂率、产犊间隔、配种期与产犊体重存在影响。青年母牛与高龄母牛的产奶性能表现较差。乳脂率、产犊间隔与产犊体重存在季节与年份的交互效应。各性状间的相关性总体处于中等至较低水平。主成分分析结果显示，乳脂率较高的个体往往伴随更高的摩拉水牛血统占比、更长的泌乳期以及更年长的母牛。巴西亚马逊地区饲养的水牛的表型性状显著受遗传与管理因素的影响。本研究结果可为该地区构建可持续养殖体系提供参考，并为养殖户的生产决策提供指导。