FACTORS AFFECTING GESTATION PERIOD AND BIRTH WEIGHT IN SWAMP BUFFALOES OF ASSAM

摘要

A total of 537 lactation records of 181 swamp buffaloes of Assam were utilized in the present study. The overall least-squares means of gestation period and birth weight were 324.40-0.21 days and 32.33-0.12 kg respectively. The effect season of calving on the length of gestation period was highly significant (p < 0.01). Sex of calf born also showed highly significant (p< 0.01) effect on gestation period and birth weight. Buffaloes calving during 'most calving season' had significantly longer gestation period (324.92 +- 0.24 days) than those calving during 'least calving season' (323.88 +- 0.33 days). The gestation period was significantly longer when the sex of the calf born was male. Males were significantly heavier than females at birth.