Morphological characterization of the Azikheli buffalo in Pakistan

Abstract

This study aims to characterize Azikheli, an undocumented buffalo breed, in its home tract (Khwazakhela, Swat, Pakistan) under traditional farming conditions. For this purpose, 108 buffalo cows and 27 bulls were randomly selected. Mean, standard error, Student's t test and Chi-square test were used for various comparisons. The results show that the majority of animals have a brown coat colour. Cows have significantly higher heart girths, longer horns, longer necks and wider faces at the level of the eyes than bulls, whereas bulls have significantly longer bodies, longer ears, thicker horns, thicker necks and larger hooves than cows. Horns are flat laterally, directed backwards and then slightly upwards without twisting, leading to a sickle to semi-sickle appearance. Owing to its small body size and brown coat colour, the breed is well adapted to mountain slope grazing and thrives well away from swamps. Its adaptation to mountainous ecosystems warrants its in situ conservation.

On-farm husbandry practices and phenotypic characteristics of indigenous Assamese buffaloes of India

“…Under farm conditions the body length in swamp buffalo was little higher as reported by Goswami (2009). Khan et al (2013) reported body length to be 140.39+0.94 and 147.89±2.60 cm respectively in Azikheli buffalo cows and bulls of Pakistan, similar findings (147.3±7.2 cm) were reported by in adult Nili-Ravi buffalo cows in commercial farms of Pakistan. Siddique et al (2010) observed the body length of swamp buffalo calves and adult females in Trishal sub district of Bangladesh being 53.11±1.05 cm and 126.22±7.10 cm respectively which is lower than the present findings.…”

“…The average body height at wither observed in the present study for 2-3 years male and 4 years and above female swamp buffaloes were lower than the findings of Gurkan et al (2011) in Anatolian water buffaloes of Turkey. In another study Khan et al (2013) reported wither height of Azikheli buffalo cows and bulls of Pakistan as 131.35+0.57 cm and 130.01+20.78 cm, respectively which were lower than the observations of present study, whereas (2000) and Kalita et al(2010) in swamp buffaloes of Assam, whereas Vohra et al (2015) reported higher chest girth (195.91±0.67 cm) in Gojri buffaloes of Northern Himalayan India than the present study under field conditions. Goswami (2009) and reported the heart girth little higher in Assamese buffaloes under farm conditions in India and Nili-Ravi buffaloes in Pakistan respectively.…”

“…Gurkan et al (2011) measured the heart girth of Anatolian water buffaloes of Turkey and found 201.3±1.4 cm in 4 years and older female animals and 174.7±4.7 cm in 3 years male animals. Khan et al (2013) studied in adults Azikheli buffalo cows and bulls of Pakistan and found heart girth to be 191.36+1.26 cm and 177.68+3.76 cm respectively. In a similar study Siddique et al (2010) observed the heart girth of swamp buffalo calves and adult females in Trishal sub district of Bangladesh as 85.42±17.77 cm and 179.00±6.61 cm respectively.…”

Body morphometric measurements in Murrah crossbred buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

“…The average BL in this study was 143.07 cm (Table 1), while the average BL recorded was 142 cm in Murrah buffaloes (Andréa et al 2010), 140 cm in Nili Ravi buffaloes (Ahmad et al 2013), 140 cm in Azikheli buffaloes (Khan et al 2013) and 146 cm in Nili Ravi buffaloes (Kocaman et al 2017). However, longer BL averages were reported in Murrah buffaloes by Dhillod In this study, the average FH recorded was 130.05 cm and the average HH was 130.80 cm (Table 1), indicating that the studied buffaloes have medium stature and medium size.…”

“…However, longer BL averages were reported in Murrah buffaloes by Dhillod In this study, the average FH recorded was 130.05 cm and the average HH was 130.80 cm (Table 1), indicating that the studied buffaloes have medium stature and medium size. In Pakistan, Khan et al (2013) registered a higher average FH of 131.35 and an average HH of 123.41 cm in Azikheli buffaloes. In India, Vohra et al (2015) registered an average FH of 128.66 cm in Gojri buffaloes.…”