Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), a large‐sized member of the Bovidae family, is considered as an important livestock species throughout Southeast Asia. In order to better understand the molecular basis of buffalo improvement and breeding, we sequenced and assembled the genome (2n=50) of a river buffalo species Bubalus bubalis from Bangladesh. Its genome size is 2.77 Gb, with a contig N50 of 25 kb and the scaffold N50 of 6.9 Mbp. Based on the assembled genome, we annotated 24,613 genes for future functional genomics studies. Phylogenetic tree analysis of cattle and water buffalo lineages showed that they diverged about 5.8–9.8 million years ago. Our findings provide an insight into the water buffalo genome which will contribute in further research on buffalo such as molecular breeding, understanding complex traits, conservation, and biodiversity.

This survey study was conducted in Tangail, Jamalpur, Bogra, Sirajganj, Pabna and Thakurgaon districts for household farming, and in Bhola, Noakhali, Lakshmipur and Patuakhali districts for to undertake an assessment on the management factors in household and identifying the potentiality and constraints in milk production questionnaire was used for data collection by direct interviewing of buffalo farmers. From this study, it was revealed that 82% of the farmers have 1 to 3 buffalo per household and 73% of the farmers have 51 to 200 buffalo per bathan. Buffaloes were raised in homestead and approximately 5 grazes per day in household farming. Small quantity of concentrate feeds were offered to buffalo by the rich farmers during dry season. On the other hand, in buffalo on grazing at public land. In household, the average daily milk production was 3 to 8 liters and total milk yield was 799 liters in a lactation length of 270 days. In production was 1 to 2 liters and total milk yield was 435 liters in a lactation length of 215 days. The average age of first calving, service per conception, gestation period and calving interval were 39 months, 1.9 numbers, 310 days and 490 days, respectively in hou first calving, service per conception, gestation period and calving interval were 40 months, 2.1 numbers, 315 days and 530 days, respectively in the buffalo nutrition in the bathan

The tandem repeats, conserved short segments of DNA, which are found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes, are called microsatellites. It is also known as variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs), simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and short tandem repeats (STRs). Microsatellites present in both coding and non-coding regions of a genome. The high polymorphism of microsatellites makes them powerful genetic markers for genome mapping of many organisms. It is also suitable for ancient and forensic DNA studies for population genetics and conservation of biological resources. The major disadvantage of microsatellites is that for the first time they need to be isolated de novo from most species being examined. The task of microsatellite isolation is quite cumbersome involving in terms of effort and time, because it traditionally involves screening of genomic libraries. Cross-species amplification, Mining microsatellites from nucleotide sequenced data and Genomic library- based method are general methods of microsatellite isolation.  Cross-species method may not effective for all species, Data mining is not applicable if there is no or limited data of DNA sequence. Genomic library based method is the best choice. Traditional protocol, primer extension protocol, selective hybridization, and Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences containing repeats (FIASCO) are the protocols of microsatellite development based on genomic library.  FIASCO is the best protocol ever developed.The Agriculturists 2015; 13(1) 152-172

This study was planned to clarify the variation of body weight and average daily gain traits in both indigenous and F1 crossbreed (Local×Mediterranean) buffalo at weaning (sixth month) and yearling stages (twelfth month). Data were collected from 33 indigenous and 35 F1 crossbred buffalo progeny during the period of 2011 to 2014 with intensive management system at Research and Development farm of Lal Teer Livestock Limited in Bangladesh. The gathered data were analyzed using general linear model (GLM) and independent sample t test. The effect of parity, sex, season and breeding year on body weight and average daily gain were observed where significant values found in breeding period (p <0.01) of crossbred buffalo for body weight. It might be the reason of crossbreeding to indigenous buffalo cows using imported semen with better genetic merit. The parity (p <0.05), season (p <0.05) and breeding period (p <0.01) were also significant for average daily gain measurement which suggesting environmental adaptability beside additive genetic effects. Body weights were measured at weaning and yearling stages for both local (113 to 195 kg) and F1 crossbred (144 to 220 kg) buffalo progeny to screen the elite offspring for the Genetic Farm and Bull station. Similarly, average daily gain observed 469 to 457 g and 600 to 506 g at the previously mentioned two stages for both local and F1 buffalos, respectively. It was observed that studied traits were comparatively better in F1 buffalo progeny than indigenous. The comparison of average daily weight gains between indigenous and F1 buffalos at weaning and yearling periods showed significant differences for body weight (p <0.001) and average daily gain (p <0.05), respectively. It is concluded that genetic gain might be possible in local buffalo population by grading up process which could switch the traditional buffalo rearing to commercial level as well as meeting the nutritional demand of country people.