The SAC team comprising of Dr. Md. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director SAC and Dr. Md. Younus Ali, Senior Programme Specialist (livestock) visited National Buffalo Breeding Farm, Bagerhat, on 13 December, 2024 to witness the performance of Nili Ravi buffalo calves born through artificial insemination of pedigreed buffalo semen under the initiative on “High Yielding Dairy Breed Development in SAARC Countries”.
About 33 calves were born during the period of 2018 as a result of successful artificial insemination of she-buffaloes. Out of the 33 calves, twenty-eight are surviving. The birth weight of new borne calves’ ranges from 25 to 41 kg; with an average body weight of 33.6±1.63 kg. Out of those calves born, eighteen were male and seventeen were female; representing 50% male and 50% female. Considering the male calves only, the average birth weight was 36.28 kg, while it was 31.25 kg in case of female buffalo calves. All the calves born through artificial insemination sound healthy and growing well with the dietary schedule adopted by the management of farm. The mature body weight of the buffalo was found around 400 kg. The male calves were sold out in the local areas that are using as breeding as well as meat purpose. Only few calves were also sold at community level that buffalo’s performance were found higher than farm level. In terms of milk production, first generation of Nili Ravi Buffalo was found 5-8 litter and second generation was 8-9 litter. The calf mortality was found 10% at farm level.
Currently, the management is culling all Nilli Ravi buffalos from farm through bidding process due to low performance. The team returned to Dhaka on 13th December, 2024.
Observation:
In terms of production, Murrah is better than Nilli Ravi. So, Bangladesh Government is trying to promote Murrah breed to develop high yielding dairy buffalo in Bangladesh.