Nili-Ravi buffaloes

Origin and breeding tract:

 

The home tract of Nili-Ravi buffaloes range in the belt between the Sutluj and Ravi rivers of the undivided Punjab Province. Actually Nili & Ravi were two different breeds long before, but due to the passage of time and with intensive crossbreeding, the two breeds converted into single breed named Nili-Ravi. Nili-Ravi buffaloes are found in almost all the districts, with major concentration in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur districts of Indian Punjab and in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faizabad, Okora, Sahiwal, Multan, Bohawalpur and Bahwalnagar districts of Pakistan Punjab. However, due to good dairy characteristics of this breed in Pakistan, Nili-Ravi buffaloes are found in whole of Pakistan with major concentration in buffalo colony at Karachi, where large number of Nili Ravi buffaloes are procured from the breeding tract for supply of fresh milk to city residents.      

                                                             

                                              Distribution of Nili-Ravi in Punjab (India)

 
Population:

The estimated population  of Nili-Ravi type of buffaloes in their breeding tract(Ferozepur, Amritsar and Gurudaspur districts of Punjab) is around 0.2 million(vij and Tantia,2005). The three districts have almost equal number of these animals. Ferozepur district, which is otherwise considered as a breeding tract of Nili-Rvi, now have more than 50% buffaloes of Murrah type. Ferozepur and Amritsar districts have only 10.8% and 8.7% of Nili-Ravi type buffaloes respectively. On the contrary, Gurudaspur district not known earlier as major breeding tract of Nili-Ravi, has the highest proportion 14% of Nili-Ravi type buffaloes. The majority of buffaloes in the breeding tract are now found to be non-descript with 72.6% in Amritsar, 68.7% in Gurudaspur and 36.1% in Ferozepur districts.

Buffaloes are major milk producer of the state of Punjab., India. A breed wise livestock census was first time conducted in Punjab in 2007 and population of different genetic groups of buffaloes is given in table.

Breed / Group	Males	Females	Total	% age of total
Murrah	0.93	8.70	9.63	19.25
Nili-Ravi	0.38	3.09	3.47	6.94
Grade (non-descript)	3.31	31.62	34.93	69.98
Others	0.21	1.78	1.99	3.98
Total	4.83	45.19	50.02	--

 

A perusal of the table reveals that Murrah is predominant buffalo breed (19.25% of total) in the state, while Nili-Ravi breed constitute only 6.94 % of the total buffalo population of Punjab. Graded buffaloes constitute 69.98% of buffalo herd of the state. As per the survey conducted by National Bureau of Animal genetic resources, karnal , most of the Nili-Ravi buffaloes found in Punjab are graded Nili-Ravi buffaloes and only very few are specimens of true breed. Most of the buffaloes having white marking on feet, forehead or walled in one or both eyes are considered Nili-Ravi breed but actually are grade Nili-Ravi buffaloes for which no separate class was envisaged in the livestock census of 2007.

Physical Characteristics  :
Some of the important characteristics is described as follows: - 

Body color	The color is usually black but brown is not uncommon.
Horns	Horns are small, tightly curled but slightly less curled as compared to that of Murrah and circular in cross section.
Marking	White markings are found on hind legs, fore legs and white spots on forehead, muzzle.
Eye	They are usually walled eyes.
Tail	Tail is thick at the base, gradually tapers towards the end and extends below hocks with a white switch.
Body	Nili-Ravi buffaloes are large size and have deep and low set frames.
Head	The head is elongated, bulging at top and is depressed between eyes.
Face
Neck	Neck is long and thin in females while it is thick and powerful in the male.
Ear
Limbs
Skin
Udder	Udder is well shaped,capacious and extends well forward upto naval flap.
Teats	teats are long, even squarely placed.