Muzzle measurements and its relationship with body weight and age in Surti buffaloes

Abstract

Present investigation entitled, ‘Muzzle measurements & its relationship with body weight and age in Surti buffaloes’ was carried out on 215 Surti buffaloes during January to April, 2021, at Livestock Research Station, Navsari, Gujarat. These animals were classified in 4 different groups based on their age viz. group1 (0 to 3 months), group 2 (> 3 months to 1 year), group 3 (> 1 year up to 1st calving) and group 4 (Adult buffaloes). The objective of this study was to find out the applicability of muzzle measurements for prediction of body weight and age in Surti buffaloes. The muzzle measurements like basal length (X1), upper length (X2), central length (X3), distance between nostrils (X4), muzzle length (X5) and muzzle area (X6) were taken for prediction of body weight and age. The live body weight was recorded on the same day of muzzle measurements taken. The least squares’ mean and standard error (LSM±SE) for live body weight and age (in days) were 47.29±2.35, 86.5±3.03, 271.24±9.19, 422.77±5.95 kg and 50.25±5.05, 169.15±6.12, 864.41±37.88 and 2682.6±122.51 days in group 1,2,3 and 4, respectively. Muzzle measurements like UL(X2), CL(X3), DBN(X4), ML(X5) and MA (X6) had progressive growing trend from group 2 to group 4 animals. There was positive and significant (p<0.01) correlation of age with all muzzle measurements in group 3 viz. 28 months age. In overall Surti buffaloes irrespective of their age a positive and significant (p<0.01) correlation was seen between age and various muzzle measurements. The average age in overall Surti buffaloes was 41 months which indicates that from 28 to 41 months of age there was highest increasing trend of all muzzle measurements with advancement of age in Surti buffaloes. Statistical analysis of muzzle measurements and growth data were carried out by using SAS 4.3.