Breeds of Buffalo:

-Black Gold,Black Diamond

Murrah group: Gujarat group: Uttar Pradesh group:

1.Murrah 1.Surti 1.Tarai

2.Nili-ravi 2.Jaffarbadi 2.Bhadawari

3.Kundi 3.Mehsana

4.Godavari

Central India group: South India group:

1.Nagpuri 1.Toda

2.Pandarpuri 2.South Karana

3.Jerangi

4.Manda

5.Sambalpuri

6.Kalahandi

Note: Underlined breeds are Un-Registered Breeds

S.no Breed Home Tract Characteristics Production

1. Murrah Haryana,UP, -Tightly curled -Maximum
Delhi buffalo Real breeding Tract horns(Kundlini horns) Lactation yield
Kali Rohtak-Punjab -Jet black colour -1500-2500kg
-Most efficient producer -Heritability 0.2-
-ICAR have pedigree 0.3
record -Fat 6-9%
-Age at first
calving 36-40
Months
2. Nili Ravi Sutlej Valley-Punjab -Head elongate,Bulging at -Milk yield 1500-
Nili top depression between 1850kg
eyes, -Lactation length
-Wall eyes,Pancha kalyani 250 days
-Horns small with high -Heritability 0.2-
coil(‘J’ shaped) 0.3
-Tail is long almost -Minimum Fat
touching the ground Percentage(4%)
-Best producer next to
murrah(Economic milk
producer)
-Bullock best for trotting
work
-Pink mark in udder
3. Kundi North Sindh,Karachi, -Geographical type of
Fish wook-sindhi Hydrabad-Pakisthan murrah
-85% Jet black
-Moderate tight curly
horns
-Mammary gland are
capacious with prominent
milk vein and teats
squarly placed
4. Godavari Godavari Deltaic, -Colour predominantly -Milk yield 1200-
Native breed and Krishna Deltaic area black with a sparse coat 1500kg with
Murrah (Grading Up) of coarse of brown hair, high fat %
-Resistance to disease -Short calving
interval
compare to
murrah
5. Surti Gujarat -Convex shape head, -Milk yield 900-
Charotar, Anand milk union -Sickle shaped Horn, 1300kg with 8-
Deccani, Limited -Two chevron on ear and 12% fat,
Talabda brisket(Peculiarity two -Heritability 0.2-
white collars one round 0.3
the jaw& at brisket, -Age at first
-Barrel wedge shaped, calving 40-50
-Unique straight back Months,
6. Jaffarabadi Gujarat -Forehead very -Milk yield
Bhavanagri predominant, 2300kg with 9-
Gir -Sleepy eye appearance, 10% Fat
-Heaviest buffalo breed,
-Maintained by
Traditional
breeder(Maldhairs)
7. Mehsana Gujarat -Colour black to grey with -Longest
Murrah and Surti white marking on lactation
face,legs or tail tips period(325 days)
-Depression of forehead
between eyes,
-Curled horns,
 -Dewlap absent
-Black switch on tail
-Have good persistency
-Bullock good for heavy
work
8. Tarai Uttar Pradesh -White blaze on
Forehead,
-Predominent nasal bone,
-White switch on tail,
-Well adapted to difficult
poor environment and
nutrition
9. Bhadawari Uttar Pradesh and -Copper colour body -Highest Fat
Madhya Pradesh -Wedge shaped body Content
-Eyes are (10-12%)
prominent,active&bright,
-Have least developed
udder
10. Nagpuri Maharashtra -Lightest breed of buffalo, -Milk yield 700-
Elitchpuri,Barari, -Horns are 1200kg with 7-
Marathwada,Varad, long,flat,curved almost to 8.5% Fat
Gaulani,Gauli shoulder(Sward shaped
horn)
-Bullock are good for
heavy trotting work,
-Navel flap absent
11. Pandharpuri Maharashtra -Straight nasal
Pandharpur bone&frontal bone
Dharwari -Horns are
long,curved,backward,
Upwardand usually
twisted outward to
Pinbone,
-Whitish switch on tail
12. Jerangi Orissa -Dwarf buffalo breed
Height does not exceed 4
feet
13. Manda Orissa and Andhra -Colour brown or grey
Parlakhemundi Pradesh with Yellowish Tuft of hair
Ganjam on the
Knees&fetlock(Albinism)
-Horns are sickle shaped
unswept(Semi circle)
14. Sambalpuri Madhya Pradesh -Coat colour black varying
Kimedi brown to ash grey,
Gowdoo(Herdman) -Hump are rudimentary
15. Kalahandi Orissa -Forehead slightly
Peddakimedi protuberant,
-Due to light colour it
tolerates sun heat better
than dark colour
buffaloes,
-Excellent in Draught
tolerance
-Half circle horn with
broad base
16. Toda Tamilnadu -Head heavy with horns -Milk typical well
set wide apart,curving flavoured taste,
inward,outwar&foreward, -Fat 7%
-Hump and dewlap -Resistance to
absent, mastitis
-Gregarious in nature,
-Most violent buffalo
breed,
-Mane present,
Resemble bison
17. South Karana -Used for agricultural
operation&racing at
Festival occasions
18. Banni Gujarat -Black colour,
-Horns orientation is
vertical,inverted double
coiling or single coiling,
-Dewlap absent
19. Chilika Orissa -Brownish black or black
colour,
-Curved horns
-Excellent Draught,
-Good heat tolerance
20. Marathwadi Maharashtra -Black colour,
-Larger built & long flat
horns,
-Maintained by
Traditional
breeder(Maldharis)

Note:

1.Mehsana,Bhadawari,Toda,Banni – Dewlap absent

2.Age at first Calving

Murrah – 40 Months

Niliravi - 44 Months

Surti,Bhadawari,Nagpuri – 46-54 Months

3.Intercalving period

S.no Breeds Age at first calving Intercalving period

1. Murrah 40 months 15-17 months
2. Nili ravi 44 months
3. Surti,Bhadawari,Nagpuri 46-54 months 15-18 months

4.Endangered Buffalo Species – Toda and Bhadawari