AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE www.arccjournals.com/www.ijaronline.in *Corresponding author’s e-mail: ayilmaz@siirt.edu.tr. 1 Siirt University, Agriculture Faculty, Department of Animal Science, 56000, Siirt, Turkey. 2 Yüzüncü Yil University, Engineering-Architect Faculty, Food Engineering, 65000, Van, Turkey. A research on milk yield, milk composition and body weights of Anatolian buffaloes Ayhan Yilmaz* 1, Elvan Ocak 2 and Senol Kose 2 Siirt University, Agriculture Faculty, Department of Animal Science, 56000, Siirt, Turkey. Received: 31-03-2016 Accepted: 11-06-2016 DOI:10.18805/ijar.11474 ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to define the lactation milk yield and milk composition, and the weights at birth, at 180 and 365 days of age in Anatolian buffaloes reared in Bitlis province of Turkey. The animal material of the study consisted of 1448 Anatolian buffaloes having different ages. The lactation milk yield and lactation length were calculated from monthly milking records during the lactation period. The least squares means for lactation milk yield and lactation length in Anatolian buffaloes were 763.99±18.66 kg and 262.63±8.37 days, respectively. Dry matter, protein, fat, lactose, ash contents and pH value of the milk of Anatolian buffaloes were 16.08 ±1.54%, 3.40 ±0.67%, 7.09±1.38%, 4.57%±0.81, 0.67±0.30%, and 6.68±0.40, respectively. The weights at birth, at 180 and 365 days of age were 29.28±0.56, 97.51±1.56 and 142.16±1.50 kg, respectively. As a result, the values found for the lactation characteristics and the body weights of Anatolian buffaloes were low compared to genotypes raised in intensive production systems, but the potential of genetics of buffaloes reared in traditional production systems can be understood providing of adequate environmental conditions and planning of effective selection programs. Keywords: Anatolian buffalo, Body weight, Lactation, Milk composition. INTRODUCTION The world total buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ) population is mostly widespread in tropical and subtropical countries with hot and humid climate, especially South East Asian countries like India, Pakistan and China. If the other Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are added to these countries, Asia has the 95 % of world buffalo population (FAO, 2014). Despite of high population of buffaloes in these countries, the buffalo breeding has a traditional breeding system and production per cow is low. In Europe, however, buffalo breeding under intensive breeding system especially draws attention in Italy in terms of mozzarella industry. In Turkey, there are about 121,826 buffalo head in Turkey according to FAO data and these animals are reared in different parts of Turkey for different purposes such as milk, meat and draught (FAO 2014). At the same time, buffaloes of Turkey, Anatolian buffaloes, are regarded as an important genetic and cultural source in Turkey. However, population size of Anatolian buffaloes dramatically decreased between 1970 and 2008. It has been thought that we can lose this genetic source, which it is important for both the economic and cultural aspects, if we do not have any conservation program for this animal species in future (Sariözkan 2011). Like the Asian countries, buffalo breeding in Turkey has been performed by traditional methods and production per cow is low in comparison with intensive buffalo production systems, but little is known about variation of production traits. Therefore, it is important to carry out the projects on Anatolian buffaloes for both conserving as a genetic resource and increasing production characteristics. With the projects carried out by General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), Ministry of Food, Agricultural and Livestock Ministry of Turkey, it has been foreseen providing a contribution for restoration of Anatolian buffalo breeding in long term. Recently, there are numerous studies concerning with Anatolian buffaloes to establish databases, which it serves to do projects regarding the improvement of them (Tekerli et al., 2001; Sahin and Ulutas, 2014; Sahin et al., 2014). In this study, we aimed to determine the lactation milk yield and composition, and body weights in different periods such as at birth, at 6 months and yearling age in Anatolian buffaloes reared in traditional production conditions of Bitlis province of the Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS Animals and management: Data obtained from 1448 Anatolian buffalo raised in Güroymak and Mutki regions of Bitlis city (38° 24' 2.048" N 42° 6' 34.207" E). The study was financially supported by General Directorate of Indian J. Anim. Res., 51 (3) 2017 : 564-569 Print ISSN:0367-6722 / Online ISSN:0976-0555