MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LOCAL BUFFALO IN SYLHET REGION OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The present research was aimed to study the morphological characteristics of local buffalo in Sylhet region under traditional management conditions. For this purpose, data were collected from randomly selected 125 buffalo cows and 25 bulls. A variety of colors were found in different body parts (body coat, forehead, switch, forelegs and hindlegs) of the buffalo. The color of muzzle, horn, hoof, eye, eyelash, vulva and pigmentation under tail were noticed black. Maximum body coat were found gray to brownish gray color and forehead with black to grayish black color. Forelegs and hindlegs were observed gray with white stocking. About 76.00% buffalo bulls and 65.60% cows had black colored switch. A characteristic chevron marking in dewlap were observed in about 52.00% and 40.80% of buffalo bulls and cows, respectively. Horns of majority buffalo population are flat laterally and directed upward and finally inward without twisting. Majority of the buffalo had crescent shaped horns, long scimitar shaped was found in few buffalo population. The only inclusion criterion for the cows was a cow having at least one parturition and for bulls, aged 2.5 years or more, and during field investigation maximum findings of morphometric parameters in both sexes were - mean body length, height at withers, height at hip, loin length and chine of male and female local buffalo were 135.64±6.41 and 130.48±12.05 cm; 128.90±4.68 and 127.80±7.37 cm; 129.39±4.91 and 129.44±7.43 cm; 37.20±3.75 and 37.96±4.85 cm; 50.69±4.62 and 51.28±6.46 cm, respectively. Mean rump length, rump width, knee length, hock length and tail length up to switch of male and female buffalo were 38.26±2.82 and 37.48±5.50 cm; 48.34±3.56 and 47.80±6.80 cm; 35.86±2.90 and 36.32±4.63 cm; 42.47±4.02 and 42.80±5.04 cm; 78.83±6.72 and 80.84±12.47 cm, respectively. Mean pin bone width, height of pastern, hoof circumference, heart girth and face length of male and female buffalo were 30.35±3.19 and 30.48±4.85 cm; 13.37±0.96 and 13.16±1.34 cm; 45.33±3.55 and 45.84±5.48 cm; 186.86±7.61 and 180.20±15.68 cm; 44.78±1.90 and 44.46±3.16 cm, respectively. Mean ear length, ear breadth, neck length, neck circumference, width of head between horns and eyes of male and female local buffalo were 25.92±2.28 and 26.88±3.85 cm; 26.88±1.89 and 26.68±3.02 cm; 44.29±6.44 and 43.44±6.33 cm; 88.49±6.76 and 92.08±10.63 cm; 21.69±1.53 and 21.44±2.22 cm; 13.86±1.28 and 13.84±1.37 cm, respectively. Mean horn length along greater and smaller curvatures, horn circumference at base, middle and below tip of male and female local buffalo were 60.03±10.16 and 52.72±14.53 cm; 48.96±9.26 and 42.52±11.31 cm; 26.38±2.09 and 27.92±3.96 cm; 22.09±2.10 and 22.24±3.95 cm; 5.76±0.80 and 5.80±1.19 cm, respectively.