The buffalo species originated in India. The present day domesticated buffaloes are the descendants of Bos arni found in wild state even today in north-eastern parts of India specially Assam and the surrounding areas. The buffaloes are normally classified into river ad swamp types though both are called Bubalus bublis. Most of the animals in India re river type though swamp type are also found in certain parts of the country specially in eastern parts of India.
India is considered as the home tract of some of the best buffalo breeds. Because of preference of buffaloes for milk, many she buffaloes from the breeding tract are moved to the thickly populated urban and industrial centre for meeting the milk requirements of this population. Here generally they are slaughtered after completion of one or two lactation. Their progenies allowed to die due to neglect and thus no replacement of superior germplasm is possible.
Indian buffaloes are in important source of milk supply today and yield nearly three times as much milk as cows. More than half of the total milk produced (55%) in the country was contributed by the 47.22 million milch buffaloes, where as the 57.0 million cows contribute only 45% of the total milk yield. Indian Buffaloes are water buffaloes.
It is the most important breed of buffaloes whose home is Rohtak, Hisar and Jind of Haryana and Nabha and Patiala districts of Punjab. Synonyms : Delhi, Kundi, Kali The colour is usually jet black with white markings on tail and face and extremities sometimes found.
The tightly curved horn is an important character of this breed. The body size is massive, neck and head are comparatively long.Head of females is short, fine and clear cut. Hips are broad and fore and hind quarters are drooping.
The buffalo cows of this breed are one of the most efficient milk and butter fat producers in India. Butter fat content is 7% Average lactation yield is vary from 1500-2500 kg the average milk yield is 6.8 kg/day.
While a few individual animals yield much as 19.1 kg/day. Age at first calving is 45-50 months and inter calving period is 450-500 days.
