title: [The fertility of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalus)].
abstract: In the present study the conception- and calving-frequencies of Nili-Ravi milk buffaloes were calculated over a year's period in the Punjab region of Pakistan. The results show prominent fluctuations throughout the year with a minimum calving-frequency of 1.6% in March and a minimum conception-frequency of 1.8% in May and maximum calving frequencies of 15.2% in November. This distribution occurs in association with unsuitable and suitable climatic conditions respectively, and also in association with the feeding situation which is better in autumn than in spring (Nothelle, 1992). Thibault and Levasseur (1974) believe that there is an inborn seasonal nature of sexual activity for nearly all mammals. This principle surely applies to the milk buffaloes, although it is confirmed that the buffalo cow is a poly-oestrous animal with a regular sexual cycle all over the year. Through breeding-, feeding-, animal husbandry- and management practice it is possible to compensate the fluctuations of conception- and calving frequencies over the whole year.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Tierphysiologie und Tierenährung, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: TerMeulen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nothelle
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000502:physiology*; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005306:Fertilization; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D012621:Seasons
vernacular_title: Zur Fruchtbarkeit des Wasserbüffels (Bubalus bubalus).