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Murrah buffalo

Murrah is the highest-yielding Indian buffalo breed, originating in the Rohtak, Hisar and Jind tracts of Haryana and registered with the ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR). It is the foundation breed of commercial buffalo dairying across north and south India and is widely used to upgrade non-descript buffalo populations through artificial insemination (Artificial Insemination Cattle).

Origin and distribution

The breed evolved in the semi-arid plains of Haryana and adjoining Punjab. Through state and private breeding programmes, Murrah has spread into Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra, where it is the dominant buffalo breed in peri-urban dairying.

Morphology

Animals are jet black with a characteristic tightly curled, short horn. The body is massive and wedge-shaped, with a heavy, drooping udder and prominent milk veins. Adult bulls weigh about 550 kg and cows about 450 kg.

Performance

Lactation yield averages 1,500-2,500 kg over a standard 300-day lactation, with elite animals producing 18 litres or more per day. A peak yield of 31.5 kg/day has been recorded in All-India Milk Yield competitions. Murrah milk typically carries 7% or higher fat, which underpins its premium in fat-and-SNF-based pricing systems (Milk Fat Snf Pricing). Compared with crossbred cattle such as Holstein-Friesian (Holstein Friesian Crossbred Cow) and Jersey (Jersey Crossbred Cow) crossbreds, Murrah delivers richer milk but generally fewer total litres per lactation.

Management

Murrah requires good-quality green fodder (typically maize, hybrid napier and lucerne), a balanced concentrate ration and adequate cooling. Wallow tanks or sprinklers are commonly provided in summer because buffaloes have limited heat tolerance. Standard dairy shed design with non-slip flooring and clean cubicles helps prevent foot problems and mastitis (Mastitis Dairy, Dairy Shed Design).

See also: Jaffrabadi Buffalo, Sahiwal Cow, Ongole Cattle, Concentrate Feed Mix Dairy.

References

  1. Murrah Buffalo — NBAGR breed profile. ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources.
  2. Murrah — Dairy Knowledge Portal. National Dairy Development Board.