Environmental factors influencing milk yield and lactation length in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes in Turkiye

Abstract

This preliminary study was conducted to investigate the impact of the fixed effects of calving season, parity, calving age and service period, on the annual average milk yield and lactation length of the Italian Mediterra-nean Buffaloes that were milked by rotary milking parlor. For this purpose the data of 347 buffaloes of a dairy farm (with milking parlor) was used. Their annual average milk yield and lactation length were found to be 1587.55 +/- 33.82 L and 247.66 +/- 4.39 days. It was observed that the prolonged service period had a positive effect on the total milk yield and lactation length. The calving season did not affect the milk yield, but the lactation length was longer in the buffa-loes calving in winter months. The service period had a direct effect on the economic profitability, and it was observed that the service period of buffaloes calving in winter was shorter. It was also determined that milk productivity was positively affected due to the increase of calving age and parity, but there were wide variations in the herd. In conclu-sion, calving age, parity, and service period had a positive effect on the annual average milk yield and lactation length, but, on the other hand, calving season did not affect the annual average milk yield. Further studies on breeding and herd management are required to minimize variations in buffalo herds milked by rotary milking system.