Longevity of buffalo cows and reasons for their culling

Abstract

Subject of investigation were 565 buffalo cows from the Bulgarian Murrah breed, raised at the Agricultural Institute - Shumen for the period 1989-2003. The reasons for culling included: sclerosis of ovary, nymphomania, tumors of uterus, occlusion of cervix, concrescence of uterus, endometrites, low productivity (below 200 kg for 120 lactation days), gastrointestinal disorders, old age (over 12 years), short lactation period (below 120 days), respiratory diseases, prolepses and upset metabolism. It was established that the average longevity of buffaloes was 2636 days. The part of buffalo cows culled for gynecological reasons was the biggest -41 %, followed by low productivity -19 %, prolapses -11 %, short lactations -7 % and old age -9%. The most animals were culled at first lactation -25.9 %.