Effects of Breed, Body Condition Score (BCS) and Lactation on Milk Yield in Malaysian Dairy Buffaloes

Abstract

Milk yield is very important for economic sustainability in dairy buffalo farming. This study evaluated the effects of breed, body condition score (BCS), and parity on milk production in 12 dairy buffaloes in Malaysia (6 Murrah, 6 Nili-Ravi), aged 3 to 15 years, for 7 weeks. Data on breed, number of lactations, and milk yield were obtained from farm records, while BCS was rated on a scale of 1 to 5. The results showed that Nili-Ravi buffaloes had a higher milk yield (10.19 L/day) compared to Murrah buffaloes (9.05 L/day, p<0.05), with breed emerging as a significant determinant (p=0.009). However, BCS and parity did not show a statistically significant effect on milk yield (p>0.05). These findings emphasize the importance of breed in increasing milk yield, suggesting that appropriate breed selection can increase production. Further studies with larger sample sizes and additional variables are recommended to better understand the factors affecting milk yield.