Vol 10 No 2, p 395-398 APPLICABILITY OF MUZZLE DERMATOGLYPHICS IN IDENTIFICATION OF SURTI BUFFALOES Ghorpade PP 1, *, RR Singh 1 , TKS Rao 1 , NB Patel 2 and SS Chaudhary 3 College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Navsari-396 450, Gujarat, INDIA 1 Department of Livestock Production Management, 2 Livestock Research Station, 3 Department of Physiology and Biochemistry *drprernavet@yahoo.co.in Received: 24 September, 2021 Accepted: 20 November, 2021 ABSTRACT The present study was undertaken on 215 true type Surti buffaloes maintained at Livestock Research Station, Navsari, Gujarat to study the muzzle patterns & its applicability for the identification purpose in Surti buffaloes. All 215 buffaloes were classified in 4 different groups based on their age, group 1 (0 to 3 M), group 2 (>3 M to 1Y), group 3 (>1 Y upto 1 st calving) and group 4 (adult buffaloes). Different muzzle printing techniques were tried for muzzle pattern study and the technique described by Mishra et al (1995) with little modification was used in this study. The muzzle prints were further classified into different categories for identification purposes and revealed that muzzle prints can be used efficiently for the identification of an individual animal. It can be one of the methods for breed characterization and differentiation. Keywords: Identification, muzzle printing, Surti buffaloes Muzzle and pattern ridge characteristics may prove very important in identifying the animals uniquely and also indicate the possibility of breed characterization (Mishra, et al, 1994). Over and above the identification, the muzzle print is also suitable for determining the age of dairy animals. The distance measured centrally between the two nostrils (muzzle span) which can be used as the index of age (Pandey, 1982). The research findings by some research workers suggested that muzzle prints of animals, similar to fingerprints in human beings, could be used as a permanent method for identification (Miller and West, 1972; Sisson and Grossman, 1975; Pandey, 1979). It is proved that muzzle prints are obtained easily, need a very short time, economical, not inhumane and stressful to animals and remain constant after 2 to3 years of age (Pandey, 1979; Ravikumar, 1994). The work carried out on this aspect is scanty and there is a tremendous need to work additionally on muzzle prints of bovines and to study its role in identification. Material and Methods The present investigation was conducted on 215 true types of Surti buffaloes maintained at Livestock Research Station (LRS) under Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat. These animals were classified in 4 different groups (Table 1). For muzzle prints, the techniques described by Pandey (1979); Mishra and Dave (1989); Yadav (1991) and Mishra et al (1995) were tried one by one on buffaloes including calves and adults. The muzzle prints obtained were compared for quality, clarity and accuracy. It was found that the technique described by Mishra et al (1995) was very suitable for obtaining quality muzzle prints. Simple stamp pad was used for taking muzzle prints of calves. In adult buffaloes, muzzle prints were tried by using a big stamp pad and stamp pad ink with the help of cotton balls on the surface of the muzzle. After taking several prints of an adult’s muzzle by both the methods, we found big stamp pad leaves more quantity of ink and the impression of the muzzle becomes hazy. Application of stamp pad ink with the cotton ball was easier and gave a uniform thin layer over the muzzle, so the qualities of prints were clear and readable. Therefore, the use of stamp pad ink with cotton balls was done for all adult buffaloes. Hence technique of Mishra et al (1995) with little modification was used in the present study. Studies on muzzle prints 1. Classification of muzzle dermatoglyphics The muzzle print of each animal was examined separately and the coding of the muzzle for classification as described in Table 2. 2. Muzzle characteristics Various characteristics of muzzle prints were as follows Beads: These are circular/round/oval structures spread