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Surti buffalo Photo: Darshan Dave · Pexels License · source ↗

Surti buffalo

Surti is a medium-sized, high-fat dairy buffalo of south Gujarat, registered with NBAGR. Although yields are lower than Murrah, the breed's exceptional fat percentage and feed efficiency make it the most profitable buffalo in many Gujarat smallholder herds where milk is paid on a fat-and-SNF basis (Milk Fat Snf Pricing).

Origin and distribution

The home tract is Kheda, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari and Anand districts of south-central Gujarat. The Charotar tract around Anand — birthplace of the cooperative dairy movement — selected Surti for centuries on milk fat. Today the breed is also reared in adjoining Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh.

Morphology

Surti is smaller and more compact than Murrah or Mehsana. Colour is typically rusty brown to silvery-grey, with two prominent white "chevron" lines across the lower jaw and brisket — a recognised breed marker. Horns are sickle-shaped, flat and curve downward and then outward. Adult cows weigh 400-410 kg and bulls about 500 kg. The udder is well-developed but smaller than Murrah's, with cylindrical teats.

Productivity

Lactation yield averages 1,400-1,800 kg over 290-310 days, with elite animals exceeding 2,500 kg. The standout trait is milk fat — routinely 7.5-8.5% and occasionally above 10%, the highest among Indian buffalo breeds. SNF averages 9.2-9.6%. On a fat-corrected milk (FCM) basis, Surti is competitive with Murrah and Mehsana on much less feed.

Surti is also markedly heat-tolerant and disease-resistant compared with high-yielding Murrah, and tolerates low-quality roughage better. Inter-calving interval is 14-16 months under reasonable feeding.

Management

Surti is well-suited to smallholders with 1-3 animals and limited green-fodder area. A daily ration of 20-25 kg green fodder, 4-5 kg paddy/wheat straw and 3-4 kg concentrate sustains a 6-8 kg/day yield. The breed responds well to artificial insemination from proven Surti bulls; cross-breeding with Murrah is discouraged because it dilutes the fat advantage. Standard hygiene — clean teats, dry bedding, dipping after milking — keeps mastitis (Mastitis Dairy) low.

See also: Murrah buffalo, Mehsana buffalo, Jaffarabadi buffalo, Banni buffalo, Milk fat & SNF pricing.

Sources

  1. Surti buffalo — NBAGR breed profile. ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal.
  2. Surti — Dairy Knowledge Portal. National Dairy Development Board.