COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE AND DRAUGHTABILITY OF BUFFALOS AND COWS DURING SUMMER AND WINTER

To determine suitability of the female buffaloes and cows for work, 10 crossbred cows and 10 female buffaloes, which included 5 dry non-preg nant (DNP) and 5 lactating non-pregnant (LNP), were used in pairs for ploughing during summer and winter. The ploughing was carried out in l oam soil with a wooden plough and traditional double neck yoke. The av erage width and depth of furrow cut by plough was 18 and 21 cm respect ively. The speed of cows was more than buffaloes. The average working time was longer during winter than summer in both the species. The ave rage horse power (hp) developed by cows was 0.54+/-0.05 and 0.52+/-0.1 2 and by buffaloes 0.47+/-0.04 and 0.47+/-0.12 during summer and winte r respectively. The study concluded that buffaloes and cows may be use d for light to moderate work without any adverse effect on body functi ons.