Author(s): S. S. Kamble, B. R. Bhise and D. S. Chauhan

Abstract: The impact of climatic parameters on milk production in Murrah buffaloes were investigated using monthly milk production record of 379 lactations of Murrah buffaloes in Dairy Farm, College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani during the years from 1985-2009. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to investigate various sources of variation for milk yield. The calving of Murrah buffaloes were not equally distributed in all seasons of the year. However the maximum number of calving occurred in winter season (44.59 per cent) followed by rainy season (31.40 per cent) and summer season (24.01 per cent). The influence of environmental factors on peak milk yield was significant (P< 0.01). It was observed that peak milk yield was highest (7.801 + 0.16 lit.) among the buffaloes calved during winter season as compared to rainy (7.35 + 0.14 lit.) and summer season (6.51 + 0.12 lit.).The influences of season of calving on lactation milk yield and lactation length were also significant. The highest milk yield and lactation length were also significant. The highest milk yield (1257.15 + 29.55 lit.) and longer lactation length (310.65 + 2.25 days) were observed among buffaloes calved during winter season. The buffaloes calved during winter, rainy and summer season had lactation yield of 1257.15 + 29.55 lit., 1088.00 + 18.41 lit. and 982.42 + 15.56 lit., respectively. It was also observed that buffaloes calved during winter season had longest lactation length (310.65 + 2.25 days). On the other hand rainy and summer calved buffaloes showed shorter lactation length (301.52 + 1.97 days) and (293.12 + 2.35 days) respectively....

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