Lactation curve and persistency of Anatolian buffaloes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the lactation curve traits of Anatolian buffaloes raised under different conditions in farms in Tokat Province, Turkey. Wood's gamma curve parameters were employed to identify the lactation curve types, and values for the parameters beginning yield (a), coefficient of rising (b) and coefficient of decreasing (c) were used to determine the shape and type of lactation curve. All parameters in typical lactation curves were positive, and in the event of one parameter being negative, the curve was considered to be an atypical lactation curve. A total of 690 lactation curves were investigated. It was determined that 406 (58.84%) of these curves were typical, while 90 (13.04%) were concave and 194 (28.12%) of a decreasing type. For typical lactation curves, a, b, c, persistency (S), time after parturition until the peak yield occurs (T-max), maximum daily peak yield (Y-max), and coefficient of determination (R-2) were 7.14 +/- 0.008, 0.85 +/- 2.1, 0.40 +/- 0.001, 2.68, 63.6, 6.41 and 76.33, respectively. For concave lactation curves, values for a, b, c, T-max, Y-max and R-2 were 4.94 +/- 0.42, -0.73 +/- 0.016, -0.23 +/- 0.0038, 95.40, 7.41 +/- 0.004 and 71.68, respectively. For decreasing typical lactation curves, values for a, b, c, T-max, and R-2 were 5.31 +/- 0.0041, -0.15 +/- 0.007, 0.039 +/- 0.0023, 3.89 +/- 0.11 and 79.94, respectively. Parameters predicted by the Wood model within the scope of this study have the potential of being useful for breeding programmes. Further breeding/selection activities could be conducted by using the female Anatolian buffaloes with typical lactation curves.