Does crossbreeding between Egyptian and Italian buffaloes affect productive and reproductive performance?

Abstract EN

Buffaloes rank universally as the second precious species for milk production.

In the last few decades the worldwide total number of buffaloes has increased from 184 to 201 million heads.

Despite of the recent reduction (17.76 %) of buffalo’s population, Egypt still holding the fifth position for the world regarding buffalo numbers.

Italian buffaloes produce high milk yield (2,250 kg / lactation) and butter fat (8 %), compared to Egyptian buffalo (1850 kg milk / lactation) in conventional herds and 1960 kg milk / lactation in modern dairy herds.

Improving buffalo performance is a significant issue that should be achieved via genetic selection, crossbreeding and good management.

First cross (F1) between Egyptian and Italian buffaloes (50 % Egyptian and 50 % Italian) and backcross (BC) (75 % Egyptian and 25 % Italian) produced higher milk yield than pure Egyptian buffaloes (PE) and BC was the best compared to F1 and PE (2511•59 kg of milk / lactation).

Also, BC showed signs of robustness at the different temperature-humidity index (THI) levels similar to PE.

They had the lowest non-conceived percentage after first insemination, with the best rate of delivering live calves and easy calving at various categories of THI.

BC buffaloes are more tolerant to the challenging Egyptian environmental conditions.

This may be attributable to that BC buffaloes have a higher percentage of the Egyptian blood and consequently are more adaptable to the Egyptian environment.