EFFECT OF LIVE WEIGHT AND BODY CONDITION SCORE ON CALVING INTERVAL OF SWAMP BUFFALO (Bubalus bubalis) Fatmawati Fatmawati, Yunober Mberato, Mirajuddin Mirajuddin and Rusdi Rusdi
UNIVERSITAS TADULAKO
Abstract
Two series of study were conducted to justify the effect of live weight and body condition score on calving interval (CI) of swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Firstly, this was conducted to identify the factors, controlling the CI on 170 of swamp buffalo using multiple regression analysis. As independent variables were Live Body Weight (X1), body condition score (BCS) prepartum (X2), BCS postpartum ( X3), age of buffalo cow (X4) and parity (X5) and the dependent variable was calving interval (y). Secondly, study to evaluate the dominant factor that affect calving interval by controlling live body weight (LBW) and BCS. The data both of LBW and BCS (preliminary study) was divided into two groups. LBW were first group as heavy category (mean + SD- ≥- 522 kg) and second group was light category (mean -SD-≤- 358.91 kg). BCS were first group as fat category (means- score ≥- 4) and second group as thin category (mean-SD- score ≤- 2,5). There were 25 buffalo cow for each category. Based on the multivariate test in the preliminary study, proved that X1 and X2 as independent produce a significant effect on CI (P<0.01) with the value of r2: 0.49. Further regression test of X1 and X2 together through backward regression method by removing the variable had no significant effect, with value of r2: 0.51. In contrast, the regression test of X1 and X2 on calving interval (y) separately turns out the r2 values respectively are 0.38 and 0.40, this means that the most ideal model in this test is the test of two variables (X1 and X2). In the second stage of the study, it was found that LBW and BCS factors and their interaction had a significant effect (P <0.01) on CI. Therefore, in conclusion LBW and BCS and their interactions were affecting CI of buffalo cow.
Keywords: Body weight- body condition score- calving interval- swamp buffalo
