INDIGENOUS FEEDING PRACTICES TO IMPROVE REPRODUCTION IN BUFFALOES

Zoological sciences

Buffalo contributes significantly to total milk production in India. Health and reproduction in cattle and buffalo are prerequisite for better milk production. Farmers in cuddalore district are feeding their buffaloes with certain plants and medicinal herbs to enhance its reproductive activity. Data regarding this was collected by participatory rural appraisal technique. Traditional feeding practices were followed to treat conditions such as anaestrous,to attain puberty, to improve conception and to avoid retained placenta in buffaloes. Cicer arietinum (Chick pea), Murraya koenigii spreng (curry leaves), aloe vera, musa x paradisiaca (banana) leaves and ocimum sanctum (tulsi) leaves are commonly supplemented to improve reproductive status and to some extent was successful. Although extracts from these plants are widely used in herbal medicines, further studies on isolation of each bio active principles, its dose, mode of action, adverse reactions etc., are essential to make use of it in ethano veterinary practices in a large scale.

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