BREEDING EFFICIENCY AND OPTIMUM LEVELS OF VARIOUS REPRODUCTIVE TRAITSIN SURTI BUFFALOS

Records pertaining to 893 lactations of Surti buffaloes maintained al University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Kamataka, were utilized. The phenotypic correlations of breeding efficiency (BE) with age at f irst calving (AFC), first service period (FSP). first dry period (FDP) , first lactation milk yield (FLMY), milk yield per lactation length ( MY/FLC) and lifetime milk yield (LTMY) were -0.644, -0.499, -0.262, -0 .363, -0.132 and -0.163, respectively. Phenotypic correlations were hi ghly significant. Three prediction equations for BE obtained consideri ng AFC and CI individually and in combination showed AFC was better de terminant of BE compared to CI. The levels of AFC (1301-1390 days), FS P (61-90 days), FDP (91-150 days) were optimum for more milk productio n.