The effects of birth weight and growth traits on first lactation milk and reproduction traits in Anatolian buffaloes

This study aimed to reveal the effects of birth weight, 6th and 12th month weights of Anatolian water buffalo bred in Amasya province on the first lactation milk and reproductive traits and to determine the environmental factors affecting these traits. For this purpose, 202 head Anatolian buffaloes born between 2014-2018 and calved between 2017-2021 years formed the material of this study. In the study, birth weight (<26.82 kg and ≥26.82 kg), 6th month weight (<88.00 kg and ≥88.00 kg) and 12th month weight (<138.47 kg and ≥138.47 kg) were divided into two groups. The effect of birth year on birth weight (P<0.05), 6th month (P<0.001) and 12th month (P<0.001) weights was found to be statistically significant. While there was no significant effect of birth season on birth weight and 6th month weight (P>0.05), 12th month weights were affected by birth season (P<0.001). The effect of maternal age on weight at 6th month was significant (P<0.05), while its effect on birth weight and 12th month weight was insignificant (P>0.05). Lactation milk yield (P<0.001), lactation period (P<0.001), average daily milk yield (P<0.01) and age at first calving (P<0.001). Effect of calving year on lactation milk yield (P<0.001), lactation period (P<0.001), average daily milk yield (P<0.01) and first calving age (P<0.001) was found to be statistically significant except for dry period and calving interval (P>0.05). The effect of calving season on milk and reproduction traits only on daily average milk yield was found to be significant (P<0.05). In the study, only the birth weight groups had a significant effect on the lactation period (P<0.01), while the other growth traits did not had a statistically significant effect on all milk yield traits (P>0.05). The effect of growth traits on the first calving age of the 12th month weight group was significant (P<0.05), and it was determined that the calving interval was not affected by any the growth traits (P>0.05). Although it is not statistically significant, it can be said that calves with higher weight in terms of birth and growth traits had higher first lactation milk yield, earlier first calving age and shorter calving interval. As a result, due to the limited number of studies on birth weight and growth traits and milk and reproductive traits in buffaloes, more studies are needed to discuss the relationships between these traits. Keywords: Anatolian buffalo, Birth weight, Growth traits, Milk yield, Reproduction