Breeds of buffaloes - Pakistan, India and Bangladesh

1: Neili Ravi

Neili and Ravi were two different best breeds of Pakistan until 1960’s and home track of this breed is  Sutluj and Ravi rivers. Due to lack of modern breeding techniques these two breeds are mixed because of intensive cross breeding and now it is merged into one breed called neil ravi and other name of this breed is Panj Kalyan. Daily milk production is from 9 to 15 litters but up to 24 litters has also been recorded during peak period. Dry period of Neili Ravi is round about two months and lactation period is in between 290 and 322 days. This breed is very popular in all over Pakistan and in other countries.

Below some of the important physical  characteristics of this breed

White spots- White marking on forehead, lower part of legs, udder, teats, tail and lips is very common in this breed that is why it is also called Panj Kalyan.

Body, Color and skin- Mostly heavy, wedge-shaped and large in size, usually in black color but could also be found in brown. Usually soft skin with light hairs.

Horn, Neck and Ears- Horn mostly curly, small and circular in cross section. Neck usually little long and thin in female and thick and strong in male. Medium size ears.

Eyes and Head- Eyes of this breed are mostly walled and head well build  at the top and depressed between the eyes.

Tail- Normally long and tail switch is mostly white.

Udder and Teats – Udder of this breed is large, strong and very well shaped with prominent milk vein. Teats are usually  long, equally large and squarely placed.

2: Murrah

Murah is also very popular breed specially in india and home tract murah is north west region of India and stretches around the southern parts of Harryana including the districts of rohttak, Jind, Hissar, Jhajjhar, Fatehabad and Gurrgaon. Name murah is selected because of curly horns, murah means curled. Daily milk production of this breed is from 8 to 14 litres but up to 22  litres has also been recorded. Dry period of murah breed is round about three months and Lactation period  is from 290 days to 310 days. This breed is very poplar all over India and in other countries.

Below some of the important physical  characteristics of this breed

Body, Color and Skin- Usually heavy body, large in size and wedge shaped. Jet black in  color also found with white marks on head and tail switch in rare cases.Soft and smooth skin with light hairs.

Horn, Neck and Ears- Horn mostly curly, short  and tight. Mostly truing backwards and spirally curving. Neck usually long  similar to Neili Ravi. Ears are small and thin.

Eyes and Head- Eyes of this breed are black and must not be walled (cornea must not have whiteness). Head is small normally in black color but could also be found with white marking but it is not preferred.

Tail- Normally long tail same like Neili Ravi. Tail switch usually in black color but could also be found in white color.

Udder and Teats- Udder well developed and doping. Teats are equally distributed over udder and hind teats are little longer than fore teats.

3: Kundhi

Kundi is another best breed of Pakistan, origin of this breed is Sindh particularly on both side indus river. Daily milk production is from 9 litres to 14 litres but up to 22 litres has also been recorded during peak period. Dry period of this breed is round about three months and lactation period is from 280 days up to 310 days.

Below some of the important physical  characteristics of this breed

Body and Color- Solid  and heavy body with jet black color. White marks are not preferred.

Horn and Neck- Very tight and curly horns, tight enough that you might not see even little gap between curves. that is why its called kundi.

Head and Ears- Usually broad forehead and medium size ears.

Tail- Black and medium size tail.

Udder and Teats- Udder well developed and doping. Teats are equally distributed over udder and hind teats are little longer than fore teats.

4: Azi-Kheli 

This is third popular and important breed of PAKISTAN. Home track of this breed is Madyan Bahrain (upper Sawat) and Khwazakhela. Mainly found in Swat valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the North West Frontier Province.  The name Azi-Kheli is derived from local tribe Aziz Khell. These buffaloes keeps very friendly behaviour.

Average milk yield of this breed is 1800 litres to 2000 litres in single lactation period (7.5 litres per day).Age during first calving normally between 40 to 45 months.

Below some of the important physical characteristics of this breed.

Color-Color of this breed is quite pronounced, varying from complete albino to piebald to even black but the normally most of the animals have a brownish coat color.

Body-Mostly having small stature which makes this breed suitable for the hilly areas, average weight of this breed is 350 KG to 450 KG. 

Forehead and Eyes-This breed is having white marking on forehead or could be completely white with tapering face. Eyes normally walled, shiny and with blue or black color.

Horns and Neck- Normally small and sickle to semi-sickle in shape and brown in color. Neck normally thick and long in buffaloes and thick in bulls.

Udder- Fairly large and well developed during lactation period.

Tail- Fairly short and thin.