BUFFALO BREEDS OF INDIA

              More than half of the total milk produced (55%) in the country was contributed by the 47.22 million milch buffaloes, where as the 57 million cows was contribute only 45% of the total milk yield. Still now, 15 buffalo breeds were recognized in India. 

BARGUR

  Native :Tamil Nadu

  Characteristics : 

• Coat colour - black to light brown or brownish black.
• Adapted to grazing the hilly region.
• Milk yield - 1.5 to 2 lit/day
  

BHADAWARI

  Native : Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh

  Characteristics : 

• The body is medium sized and wedge shaped. The head is comparatively small, the legs are short and stout, and the hooves are black.
• The body is usually light or copper colored. Eye lids are copper or light brown colour.
• Horns are black curling slightly outward, downward before running backward parallel and close to neck, and finally running upward.
• Two white lines 'Chevron' are present at the lower side of the neck.  
  

GODAVARI  

  Native :  Andhra Pradesh

  Characteristics : 

• Godavari is a result of crossing of native buffaloes with Murrah bulls.
• The animals are of medium stature with compact body. The colour is predominantly black with a sparse coat of coarse brown hair.
• Godavari buffaloes are reputed for high fat with daily average milk yield of 5-8 litres and lactation yield of 1200-1500 litres.
  

 JAFFARABADI

  Native : Gujarat

  Characteristics : 

• The head and neck are massive. The forehead is very prominent, wide with a slight depression in the middle.
• The colour is usually black.
• The horns are heavy, inclined to droop at each side of the neck and then turning up at point, but less tightly curved than in Murrah (drooping horns).
• The average milk yield is 100 to 1200 kg. These animals are mostly maintained by traditional breeders called Maldharis, who are nomads.
  

  MEHSANA

  Native : Gujarat

  Characteristics : 

• Body is mostly black; a few animals are black- brown in colour.
• The breed is supposed to have been evolved out of crossbreeding between the Surti and the Murrah.
• The head is longer and heavier.
• The horns are usually are less curved at the end compared to Murrah breed but are longer and could be of irregular shape.

 MURRAH

  Other name : Delhi, kundi, kali

  Native : Punjab and Haryana

  Characteristics : 

• The tightly curved horn is an important character of this breed.
• The colour is usually jet black with white markings on tail.
• The body size is massive, neck and head are comparatively long. Head of female is short, fine and clear cut. Hips are board and fore and hind quarters and drooping.
• The buffalo cows of this breed are one of the most efficient milk and butter fat producers in India, Butter fat content is 7% Average lactation yield varies from 1500-2500 kg the average milk yield is 6.8 kg/ day. While a few individual animals yield much as 19.1 kg/day.

 NAGPURI

  Other name : Ellichpuri, Berari, Gaorani, Puranthadi, Varhadi, Gaolavi, Arvi, Gaolaogan, Gangauri, Shahi and Chanda.

  Native : Maharashtra

  Characteristics : 

• These are black coloured animals with white patches on face, legs and tail. 
• The Horns are long, flat and curved, bending backward on each side of the back almost to shoulder (sword shaped horns). Horns of this type have a distinct advantage that they help the animals to protect themselves from wild animals and also easy to move in the forest.
• The face is long and thin. The neck is somewhat long.
  

NILIRAVI

  Native : Punjab

  Characteristics : 

• The head is elongate, bulging at top and depressed between eyes. The muzzle is fine. The frame is medium sized.
• Usually the colour is black with white markings on forehead, face, muzzle, legs and tail. The most desired character of the female is the possession of white markings.
• The peculiarity of the breed is the wall eyes.
• The horns are small and coiled tightly. The neck is long, thin and fine.
• The milk yield is 1500-1850 kg per lactation and the inter calving period is 500-550 days.
  

PANDHARPURI

 Other name :  Dharwari

 Native : Maharashtra

  Characteristics : 

• Body colour varies from light black to deep black. 
• It is medium sized animal having long narrow face, very prominent and straight nasal bone, comparatively narrow frontal bone and long compact body.
• Typical characteristic of this breed is its horns which are very long, curved backward, upward and usually twisted outwards.
• The horns are very long extending beyond shoulder blade, sometimes up to pin bones.
  

SURTI

  Native : Gujarat

  Characteristics : 

• Coat colour varies from rusty brown to silver-grey. Skin is black or brown.
• The body is well shaped and medium sized; the barrel is wedge shaped.
• The head is long with prominent eyes.
• The horns are sickle shaped, moderately long and flat.
• The colour is black or brown.
• The peculiarity of the breed is two white collars, one round the jaw and the other at the brisket.
• The milk yield ranges from 900 to 1300 kg. 
  

TODA

  Native : Tamil Nadu

  Characteristics :

• Coat colour of the calf is generally fawn at birth. In adult the predominant coat colours are fawn and ash-grey.
• These buffaloes are quite distinct from other breeds and are indigenous to Nilgiri hills.
• The animals have long body, deep and broad chest, and short legs.
• The head is heavy with horns set well apart, curving inward outward and forward.
• Thick hair coat is found all over the body. They are gregarious in nature.