Advances in dairy Research
Open Access

Abstract

Effect of Pregnancy and Dry Period on Raw Milk Quality of Water Buffalo in Chitwan, Nepal

Sagar Regmi*, Sachin Regmi, Saroj Bista, Utsav Lamichhane, Anil Kumar Tiwary and Rajendra Bashyal

One hundred and fifty four water buffaloes of Chitwan district were used to determine the variations in the composition of raw milk and milk yield due to pregnancy and dry period. Primary data for the study was collected using a well-designed questionnaire. Effect of dry period length and pregnancy were taken under consideration that determines the lactational efficiency. Effect of pregnancy on various milk components was also studied. The components analyzed in milk were fat, protein, SNF, density, lactose, total solid and salt. For better understanding the effect of pregnancy, the data obtained were categorized into two classes: pregnant and non-pregnant. The data thus obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 24. Fresh milk samples were collected and analyzed using milk analyzer in the laboratory. Results of present study unveiled that the salt, protein, lactose and SNF content in milk of non-pregnant buffalo is significantly lower (p<0.01) than that of pregnant one. But fat, density and total solid content of milk of pregnant buffalo had no significant difference (p>0.05) than that of non-pregnant one. Results also revealed that the length of dry period has significant effect on milk components and total yield. Among all other milk components, salt content in milk shows higher level of significance (p<0.05). The significant effect (p<0.05) of pregnancy on milk yield is generally observed after the 5th month of gestation.

Published Date: 2020-03-25; Received Date: 2020-01-16