Variation in Test Day Milk Yield and Composition at Day 15 and 60 Postpartum in Surti and Jafarabadi Buffaloes

The study was carried out to study individual test day variability in yield and composition of Surti and Jafarabadi buffaloes milk at day 15 and 60 postpartum (pp). 10 healthy Surti and Jafarabadi buffaloes of each breed were selected at random from Livestock Research Station, Navsari and Cattle Breeding Farm, Junagadh, Gujarat, respectively. Buffaloes were further divided into four different groups for data analysis and comparisons. Overall mean Test day milk yield (TDMY) was found to be steady without any notable significant differences among the four groups of buffaloes. There was increase of 0.88 kg and 0.33 kg in mean Fat and protein corrected test day milk yield (FPCTDMY) with advancement of lactation between day 15 and 60 pp in Surti and Jafarabadi buffaloes, respectively. The mean FPCTDMY of S15 and J15 groups were found to be significantly different (p<0.05), showing 45.07% higher yield in Jafarabadi buffaloes. The mean fat percent of Jafarabadi buffaloes was significantly (p<0.05) higher with magnitude of 28.79% over fat% of Surti buffaloes at day 60 pp. The mean SNF% in milk of Jafarabadi buffaloes was 12.27%, significantly (p<0.05) higher than Surti buffaloes milk at day 15 pp. The mean protein% in milk of Jafarabadi buffaloes was 17.71 and 10.51% significantly (p<0.05) higher than Surti buffaloes milk at day 15 and 60 pp, respectively. The mean lactose% in milk of Jafarabadi buffaloes was 13.39% higher than Surti buffaloes milk at day 15 pp, the difference being statistically significant (p<0.05). As major finding, Jafarabadi buffaloes produced significantly higher milk in terms of FPCTDMY (at day 15 pp) and Fat percent (at day 60 pp) as compared to Surti buffaloes, respectively.