Indian Buffalo Breeds


Most Important Breeds of Buffaloes are as follows:
1. Murrah
• It is the most important breed of buffaloes also called as Delhi, Kundi and Kali.
• Its home is Rohtak, Hisar and Sind of Haryana, Nabha and Patiala districts of Punjab and Southern parts of Delhi.
• Its colour is usually jet black with white marking on tail, face and extremities.
• The averagr milk yield per lactation is 1,500- 2,500 kg.
• The age of first calving is 45-50 months in villages and in good herds it is 36-40 months.
• It is the most efficient milk and butter fat producers in India.




2. Jaffrabadi
• It is the heaviest Indian breed of buffalo.
• It is found in Gir forests, Kutch and Jamnagar districts of Gujarat.
• The colour is usually black with a long body and heavy horns.
• The average milk yield is 1000-1200 kg per lactation.
• The bullocks are heavy and are used for ploughing and carting.

3. Surti
• They are also known as Deccani, Gujarati, Talabda, Charator and Nadiadi.
• Its breeding tract is Kaira and Baroda districts of Gujarat.
• Its colour is either black or brown with a well shaped and medium sized body.
• The peculiarity of it is that it produces very high fat percentage in milk (8-12 percent).
• It has two white collars- one round the jaw and other at the brisket.



4. Nili Ravi
• Its breeding tract is Satluj Valley in Ferozepur district of Punjab and the Sahiwal district of Pakistan.
• Its head is small, elongated, bulging at top and depressed between eyes.
• The peculiarity of this breed is that it has wall eyes. The horns are very small and tightly colied.
• The milk yield is 1,500-1,850 kg per lactation.



5. Bhadawari
• Its breeding tract is Agra and Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh and Gwalior.
• Its body is usually light or copper coloured.
• Two white lines ‘Chevron’ are present at the lower side of the neck.
• The average milk yield is 800-1,000 kg per lactation with a fat content of 6-12.5 percent.



6. Nagpuri
• It is also called as Elitchpuri or Barari.
• Its breeding tract is Nagpur, Akola, Amravati districts of Mahrashtra.
• It has long, flat and curved horns bending backwards on each side of the back.
• These bullocks can be used for heavy work.
• The average milk yield is 700-1,200 kg per lactation.



7. Mehsana
• It is found in Mehsana, Sabarkanda and Banaskanta districts in Gujarat and adjoining Maharashtra.
• It is evolved out of cross-breeding between Surti and Murrah.
• Its colour is usually black to grey and body is longer than Murrah but limbs are lighter.
• These bullocks are good for heavy work but are rather slow.
• The milk yield is 1,200-1,500 kg per lactation.



8.Toda
• It is named after its herdsmen, the Toda tribe of the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu.
• It is found in high rainfall and high humid area.
• The predominant coat colours are fawn and ash grey with long horns which are variable in shape.
• Its thick hair coat is found all over the body.
• The body is long, deep with a deep chest having short and strong legs.
• The average milk yield is 500 kg per lactation with a high fat content of 8 percent.