EFFECT OF DIFFERENT HOUSING MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON PRODUCTION AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE OF BUFFALOES DURING DRY HOT SUMMER Authors: U. Younas, M. Abdullah, J. A. Bhatti, T. N. Pasha, N. Ahmad, M. Junaid Journal: Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences (JAPS) ISSN: 1018-7081 (Print), 2309-8694 (Online) Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Pages: 10-16 Year: 2018 DOI: NA URL: https://doi.org/NA Publisher: Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum Abstract:

The current study was conducted with an aim to evaluate the effect of housing strategies on the production and behavioral responses of Nili-Ravi buffaloes during dry hot summer (May and June). The study was conducted at Buffalo Research Institute (BRI), Livestock Experiment Station (LES), Bhunike, Distt. Kasur, Punjab. Nili-Ravi buffaloes (n=20) with similar milk production and stage of lactation were selected from the herds maintained at LES, Pattoki. Buffaloes were divided into four different groups with 5 buffaloes in each group. Group A was kept under roof shade only (control); B was given anti-stress supplement (10gm, dry yeast powder; Saccharomyces cerevisiae); C under fans and group D buffaloes under fans with showers, provided with roof shades. Correspond to the temperature humidity index (THI) for May (85.6) and June (87.6), the daily milk production (MP; liter) was noticed significantly (P≤0.01) high in group D (7.33±0.10) as compared to animals in group A (6.39±0.13), B (6.52±0.09) and C (6.95±0.11). Similarly, dry matter intake (Kg; weekly) was high for group D (15.4±0.16; P≤0.05). However, cost per liter of milk production was lower for group D buffaloes. Group D buffalo’s performance was concluded best in terms of cost per liter of milk production.

Keywords: Buffalo, Milk production, Heat stress