This document summarizes information about various buffalo breeds found in India, including their geographical distribution, physical characteristics, and productivity. It provides details on major breeds like Murrah, Nili Ravi, Jaffarabadi, Mehsana, Bhadawari, Surti, and Banni. These breeds contribute over half of India's total milk production and are well-adapted to local agro-climatic conditions.

1. Buffalo breeds of India

2. • FAO-180 millions in 40 countries.
• Of this 86 million present in India
• Contribute around 54% India and 12% worlds
total milk production.
• Out of 72.6 million tonnes (2003) 97%-Asia
• India and pakistan-92% of Asia's buffalo milk
production.

3. Taxonomical Classification
• Kingdom : Animalia
• Phylum : Chordata
• Class : Mammalia
• Order : Artiodactyls
• Suborder : Ruminentia
• Family : Bovidae
• Subfamily: Bovinae
• Genus : Bubalis
• Species : B.bubalus

4. Group Breeds
• Murrah Murrah, Nili-Ravi, banni
• Gujarat Jaffarabadi, Mehsana & Surti
• U.P. Bhadawari, Tarai
• Central India Jerangi, Kalahandi, Manda,
Nagapuri,
Pandharpuri,Sambalpuri,
Marathwada.
• South India South Kanara, Toda, Godavari

5. Murrah
Female Male

6. • Synonym-Delhi,Kundi,Kali.
• O&B Tract- State District
Haryana Hisar
Rohtak
Gurgaon
Jind
Delhi Delhi

7. • Comment on Breeding Tract-Villatikulam
taluka, parts of Ottapidram and Kovilpatti
talukas of Tuticorin district, and parts of Sattar
Panchayat union area of Virudunagar district.
• Main Use-Food - Milk and Meat; Work –
Draught.

8. • Comment on main use-Males are used both
for breeding as well as draught purpose. This
breed has even formed an important place in
the livestock industry of many developing
countries like
Bulgaria, Philipines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brazil
and Sri Lanka.

9. • Colour-Jet Black.
• Horns Shape and Size-Tightly curved in a spirl
form. Short in size.
• Visible Characteristics-Jet black colour, tightly
curled horns.

10. • Peculiarity of the breed-This breed has spread
to almost all parts of the world and is being
bred either in pure form or is being used for
grading up local buffaloes. It has been
exported to many developing countries and is
bred there.

11. MALE FEMALE
Height(Avg cm) 142 133
Body Length(Avg
cm)
150 148
Heart Girth(Avg cm) 220 202
Weight(Avg Kg) 567 516
Birth Weight(Avg
Kg)
32 30

12. Average Minimum Maximum
Age at first
Parturition(Avg.Mo
nths)
43.4 39.9 54.2
Parturition
Interval(Months)
14.9 14.1 19.9
Milk yield per
lactation(kg)
1752 1003 2057
Milk Fat(%) 7.3 6.9 8.3

13. Nili ravi
Female Male

14. • Synonym-Panch Kalyani
• O&B Tract- State District
Punjab Ferozpur
Amritsar

15. • Comment on Breeding Tract-Nili Ravi buffaloes
are found in Fazilka, Ferozepur, Zira and Makhu
tehsils of Ferozepur district; and Patti and
Khemkaran tehsils of Amritsar district.
• Main UseFood - Milk
• Origin-The name Nili is supposed to have been
derived from the blue water of river Sutlij. Ravi
buffaloes are mostly bred in pakistan around the
river Ravi, after which they are named. After
1960, they were classified into one breed as Nili -
Ravi

16. • Colour-Normaly black.
• Horns Shape and Size-Horns are tightly curved
and circular in cross section, small in size.
• Visible Characteristics-Usually walled eyes and
white markings on forehead, face, muzzle, legs
and tail. The most desired character of female
is the possession of these white markings
knowns as "Panch Kalyani".

17. • Peculiarity of the breed-Similar to Murrah in
almost all respects except for some white
markings on extremities, and walled eyes.

18. MALE FEMALE
Height(Avg cm) 140 134
Body Length(Avg
cm)
160 165
Heart Girth(Avg cm) 230 208
Weight(Avg Kg) 567 454
Birth Weight(Avg
Kg)
35 34

19. Average Minimum Maximum
Age at first
Parturition(Avg.Mo
nths)
45 40 53
Parturition
Interval(Months)
16 10 31
Milk yield per
lactation(kg)
1850 1586 1929
Milk Fat(%) 6.8 5.1 8

20. Jaffarabadi
Female Male

21. • Synonym-Bhavanagri, Gir or Jaffari
• O&B Tract- State District
Gujarat Amreli
Bhavnagar
Jamnagar
Junagadh
Rajkot
Porbandar

22. • Main Use-Food - Milk; Work - Draught and
Transport.
• Comment on main use-The main communities
for rearing and developing these buffaloes are
Rabri, Bhadvad, Aher and Mer. These
buffaloes are the main source of livehood of
Maldhri herdmen.

23. • Origin-It is named after the town of
Jaffarabad.
• Adaptability to Environment-This breed is
known for its ability to fight lions in Gir forest.

24. • Colour-Black but some animals having white
or grey tail switch are also seen.
• Horns Shape and Size-Horns exhibit wide
variation, but usually emerge out by
compressing the head, go downward
sideways, then upward and inward finally
forming a ring like structure. Horn are long.

25. • Visible Characteristics-Horn shape is peculiar
of this breed. It makes eyes to look small -
termed as study eye, especially in males.
• Peculiarity of the breed-Jaffabadi is the
heaviest of all the Indian breeds of Buffaloes.

26. MALE FEMALE
Height(Avg cm) 143 139
Body Length(Avg
cm)
147 157
Heart Girth(Avg cm) 218 223
Weight(Avg Kg) 700 620
Birth Weight(Avg
Kg)
35 34

27. Average Minimum Maximum
Age at first
Parturition(Avg.Mo
nths)
45 41 55
Parturition
Interval(Months)
14.6 0 0
Milk yield per
lactation(kg)
2239 2150 2340
Milk Fat(%) 7.68 6.8 8.5

28. Mehsana
Female Male

29. • Synonym-Mahesani, Mehsani
• O&B Tract- State District
Gujarat Ahmadabad
Banas Kantha
Gandhinagar
Mahesana
Sabar Kantha

30. • Comment on Breeding Tract-Typical animals
are seen in the towns of
Mehsana, Patan, Sidhpur, Vijapur, Kadi, Kalol
and Radhanpura.
• Main Use-Food - Milk.
• Comment on main use-The breed is
considered to be a cross between Surti and
Murrah.
• Origin-Derived from the town of Mehsana in
North Gujarat.

31. • Colour-Mostly black, a few animals are black
brown or brown.
• Horns Shape and Size-Horns are generally
sickle shaped with the curve more upward
then in the Surti breed and less curved then in
the Murrah breed. They are generally bent
downward and then take a curve like the
horns of a ram.

32. • Visible Characteristics-Eyes are very
prominent, black and bright bulging from their
sockets with folds of skin on upper lids.
• Peculiarity of the breed-The breed is known as
persistent milker and regular breeder.

33. MALE FEMALE
Height(Avg cm) 134 128
Body Length(Avg
cm)
154 142
Heart Girth(Avg cm) 201 189
Weight(Avg Kg) 565 484
Birth Weight(Avg
Kg)
29.5 28.5

34. Average Minimum Maximum
Age at first
Parturition(Avg.Mo
nths)
42.83 22 54
Parturition
Interval(Months)
15.64 10 31
Milk yield per
lactation(kg)
1988 598 3597
Milk Fat(%) 6.83 5.2 9.5

35. Bhadawari
Female Male

36. • Synonym-Etawah
• O&B Tract- State District
M.P Bhind
Morena
U.P Agra
Etawah

37. • Comment on Breeding Tract-Bhadawari
buffaloes are found in the ravines of
Yamuna, Chambal and Utangan rivers spread
over in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• The breeding areas are Bah tehsil of Agra;
Chakarnagar and Barhpura blocks of Etawah;
Ambah and Porsa tehsils of Morena; and
Mahangaon tehsil of Bhind district.

38. • Main Use-Food - Milk; Work – Draught.
• Origin-These buffaloes were the proud
possession of Bhadauria clan of the former
Bhadawer state before independance and has
possibly derived its name from that state.

39. • Adaptability to Environment-Bhadawari
buffaloes survive and produce on low quality
feed and fodder resources available in the
ravines of Yaumna, Chambal and Utangan
rivers.

40. • Colour-Blackish copper to light copper. Colour
of legs is usually like wheat straw.
• Horns Shape and Size-Horns are black curling
slightly outward, downward before runing
backward parallel and close to neck and finally
turning upward.

41. • Visible Characteristics-Two white lines
"Chevron" locally called as Kanthy are present
on the lower side of the neck.
• Peculiarity of the breed-This breed is an
efficient converter of coarse feed into
butterfat and is known for its high butter fat
content in the milk.

42. MALE FEMALE
Height(Avg cm) 126 124
Body Length(Avg
cm)
138 134
Heart Girth(Avg cm) 185 184
Weight(Avg Kg) 475 410
Birth Weight(Avg
Kg)
27.6 24.6

43. Average Minimum Maximum
Age at first
Parturition(Avg.Mo
nths)
44.6 0 0
Parturition
Interval(Months)
16 13 21
Milk yield per
lactation(kg)
1294 540 1400
Milk Fat(%) 7.88 6 12.8

44. Surti
Female Male

45. • Synonym-Charotari, Deccani, Gujarati, Nadiadi
and Talabda.
• O&B Tract- State District
Gujarat Vadodara
Bharuch
Kheda
Surat

46. • Main Use-Food - Milk
• Comment on main use-Milk contains high fat
and SNF.
• Origin-Named after place of its origin

47. • Colour-Coat colour varies from rusty brown
through siliver- grey to black. Skin is black or
brown.
• Horns Shape and Size-Horns are flat, sickle
shaped and are directed down ward and
backward, and then turn upward at the the tip
to form a hook. Medium in size.

48. • Visible Characteristics-Medium sized animal, two
white bands below the neck and sickle shaped
horns.
• Peculiarity of the breed-The surti buffalo is lighter
in body weight, as compared to heavy
breeds, consume less feed, thrives well both on
stovers and on limited or no green fodder, and
produce milk with high fat and SNF content. It is
popular with land less, small and marginal
farmers.

49. MALE FEMALE
Height(Avg cm) 133 130
Body Length(Avg
cm)
153 149
Heart Girth(Avg cm) 176 171
Weight(Avg Kg) 435 401
Birth Weight(Avg
Kg)
26.3 24.5

50. Average Minimum Maximum
Age at first
Parturition(Avg.Mo
nths)
44.9 35 58
Parturition
Interval(Months)
14.86 0 0
Milk yield per
lactation(kg)
1667 0 0
Milk Fat(%) 7.02 3.8 8.7

51. Banni
Female Male

52. • Synonym-Kutchi and Kundi
• O&B Tract- State District
Gujarat Kutchchh

53. • Comment on Breeding Tract-Soil of banni area
is highly calcareous, saline and loam
sandy, poor water holding capacity, low
permeability and prone to erosion
• Main Use-Food - Milk
• Origin-Maldharis of banni came from Halieb in
Afganishtan about 500 years ago with their
animals in search of pasture. Named as per
the local area of "Banni" in Kachchh district

54. • Breed Societies-Banni Pashu Ucherak Maldhar
Sangathan.
• Adaptability to Environment-Adapted to local
climatic conditions and traditional extensive
system of night grazing.

55. • Colour-Mainly Black, sometimes Copper
• Horns Shape and Size-Curved. Medium to
large, heavy with 24 to 30 cm diameter in
adult animals
• Visible Characteristics-Horns are vertical and
upward in direction with inverted double/
single coiling

56. MALE FEMALE
Height(Avg cm) 138 137
Body Length(Avg
cm)
144 153
Heart Girth(Avg cm) 214 204
Weight(Avg Kg) 0 0
Birth Weight(Avg
Kg)
0 0

57. Average Minimum Maximum
Age at first
Parturition(Avg.Mo
nths)
40.3 0 0
Parturition
Interval(Months)
12.24 0 0
Milk yield per
lactation(kg)
2857.2 1095 6054
Milk Fat(%) 6.65 4 12.1

58. • References-
– ICAR-Handbook Of Animal Husbandry.
– Dairy Bovine Production by-C.K.Thomas
N.S.R.Sastry
G.Ravikiran.
- Net –Buffalopedia & site of NBAGR
- Previous PowerPoint Presentations.