This study was carried out to determine the climate adaptation and growth performance for Mediterranean buffalo F1 in China, especially in Guangxi region. 53 Mediterranean crossbred buffalo of early stage (0-12 months) were selected and the growth performance such as body weight, body length, body height, chest circumference and the abdominal circumference, as well as the physiological and biochemical parameters were measured monthly. The results showed that the rectal temperature, respiratory frequency, heart rate and blood biochemical parameters were no significant difference between Mediterranean and Mediterranean F1 (Mediterranean buffalo frozen semen crossbred with Murrah, Nili-Ravi and local buffalo) (P> 0.05). There are also no significant differenence(P> 0.05) among the rectal temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate and blood biochemical parameters and birth body weight for Mediterranean buffalo F1, Murrah and Nili buffalo which introduced into China 70 years ago. The growth rate of one month-old Murrah F1(crossbred with local buffalo) and Nili-Ravi F1(crossbred with local buffalo) were higher than Mediterranean F1 (crossbred with local buffalo), but the difference were not significant (P> 0.05). In addition, the growth rate between Mediterranean * Murrah F1 and Mediterranean* Nili-Ravi F1 during 0-12 months of age were basically the same. The body height, body length, chest circumference and abdominal circumference had the same trends for 1-12 months of Mediterranean * Murrah F1, Mediterranean* Nili-Ravi F1 and Mediterranean* Guangxi Local buffalo F1. Therefore, the Mediterranean buffalo introduced into China, were not only able to fully adapt to the South of China, especially Guangxi environmental climatic conditions, but also showed good growth performance.
Qin, GS; Yang, CY; Tan, ZZ; Huang, J; Li, H; Liang, XW; Yang, BZ
Preliminary Results on the Growth Performance of F1 Mediterranean Buffalo Offspring Crossed In China
Buffalo Bulletin