The effect of calving season and parity on some reproductive performance in Anatolian buffaloes reared in Bartın province

The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of calving season and parity on the reproductive performances of CI (calving interval) and DP (dry period) in Anatolian buffaloes raised under farm conditions in Bartın province of Turkey between 2015 and 2020. For this purpose, 1251 records of 616 Anatolian buffaloes were evaluated to determine CI and DP from the reproductive performances of Anatolian buffaloes. In the analysis of the data obtained in the study, the effects of calving season and parity, which are environmental factors, on DP and CI, which are reproductive parameters, were calculated by the "Least Squares Method". Statistical significance of mean values was determined by analysis of variance, and statistical differences between means were evaluated using the Tukey test. Within the framework of the study, the values of CI and DP, the reproductive characteristics of Anatolian buffaloes, were determined as 423.84 ± 3.06 days and 149.55 ± 2.81 days, respectively. In the work, the effect of parity and calving season on CI and DP was found to be statistically significant. At the same time, high positive phenotypic correlations were found between CI and DP (r: 0.722, p<0.001). In this study, the highest reproductive performance in Anatolian buffaloes was obtained in the third and fourth parities, with those calving in the spring season. In the study, it was concluded that taking into consideration the CI and DP factors, which are found to be important and affecting productivity in the selection of breeding animals by breeders will contribute to farm efficiency.