CONTENTS

FOREWORD

PREFACE

List of Contributors

DEDICATION

River and Swamp Buffaloes: History, Distribution and their Characteristics

1. INTRODUCTION

2. HISTORY

3. DISTRIBUTION

Asia

Mediterranean Area

America

Australia

Africa

4. BREEDS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

SWAMP TYPE

RIVER TYPE

DESI

5. GENETIC IMPROVEMENT

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

The Cytogenetics of the Water Buffalo

1. INTRODUCTION

2. ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION

3. CYTOGENETIC INVESTIGATIONS

3.1. G- and R-banding

3.2. C-banding

3.3. Nucleolus Organizer Regions (NORs)

3.4. Sister Chromatid Exchanges (SCEs)

3.5. Pseudoautosomal Regions (PAR) and Pseudoautosomal Boundary Regions (PAB)

4. CLINICAL CYTOGENETIC

4.1. Standard Karyotype

4.2. Autosomal Aberrations

4.3. Sex Chromosome Aberrations

5. MOLECULAR CYTOGENETIC

6. BREEDING OBJECTIVES

CONCLUSION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Molecular Genetics and Selection in Dairy Buffaloes: The Italian Situation

1. INTRODUCTION

2. THE ITALIAN SITUATION

3. MOLECULAR SELECTION IN ITALIAN RIVER BUFFALO

3.1. Oxytocin Gene (OXT)

3.2. The Casein Cluster

3.3. The Stearoly CoA Desaturase Gene (SCD)

CONCLUSION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Animal – Environment Interaction: Buffalo Behavior and Welfare

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BEHAVIOR

2.1. Time Budget in Extensive Conditions

2.2. Time Budget in Intensive Conditions

2.3. Ingestive Behavior

2.4. Mother-Young Relationship

2.5. Social Behavior

2.6. Demeanor

2.7. Human-Animal Relationship

3. WELFARE ISSUES

3.1. Health Indicators

3.2. Behavioral Indicators

4. FUTURE TRENDS

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Thermal Balance in the Buffalo Species

I. FACTORS AFFECTING THERMAL BALANCE OF BUFFALOES

1. INTRODUCTION

2. TYPES OF THERMOREGULATION

A. Core and Skin Surface Temperature

B. Skin Characters

C. Hair

D. Sweat Gland

3. HEAT EXCHANGE

A. Laws of Thermodynamics

B. Physical Basis of Heat Exchange

4. THERMAL BALANCE AND HOMEOSTASIS

A. Thermo Receptors

B. Peripheral Receptors

C. Central Receptors

D. Role of Hypothalamus in Temperature Sensing

5. PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO HEAT

A. Circulatory Adjustment

B. Evaporative Heat Loss

C. Water Vaporization

6. REACTIONS TO EXTREME ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURES

A. Tolerance to Heat and Solar Exposure

B. Heat Stress

C. Panting

D. Water Wallowing

E. Sprinkler System

7. ENDOCRINE FUNCTIONS AND HORMONAL CHANGE DURING HEAT AND COLD

Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3)

Cortisol

Insulin

Estrogen

8. PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO COLD

A. Reduction in Heat Loss

B. Increase in Heat Production

C. Shivering and Non Shivering Thermogenesis (NST)

II. PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ACUTE AND SHORT TERM HEAT EXPOSURE ON CHANGES IN BODILY FUNCTIONS OF SWAMP BUFFALO

9. INTRODUCTION

10. EVAPORATION AND CUTANEOUS HEAT LOSS

11. CARDIORESPIRATORY RESPONSES TO HEAT EXPOSURE

12. WATER TURNOVER AND TOTAL BODY WATER

13. PLASMA, BLOOD VOLUME AND COMPOSITIONS

14. EFFECTS OF HEAT STRESS ASSOCIATED WITH POTASSIUM METABOLISM

15. RUMEN LIQUID FLOW RATE

16. RESPONSES OF RENAL FUNCTIONS

A. Renal Hemodynamics

B. Renal Electrolyte Excretion

17. HORMONAL RESPONSES

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Feed Resources, Rumen Fermentation, Manipulation and Production in Swamp Buffalo: A Review

1. INTRODUCTION

2. SEASONAL FEEDING SYSTEMS FOR RUMINANTS

3. SWAMP BUFFALO PRODUCTION AND FOOD-FEED SYSTEM (FFS)

3.1. Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) and Cowpea (Vigna unculata)

3.2. Cassava and Stylo (Stylosanthes guyanensis)

3.3. Cassava and Phaseolus calcaratus (TUA-MUN)

4. RUMEN ECOLOGY, FERMENTATION AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

5. URINARY PURINE DERIVATIVES IN SWAMP BUFFALOES

6. COMPARATIVE NUTRITIONAL STUDIES BETWEEN BUFFALOES AND CATTLE

7. TREATMENT METHODS OF CROP-RESIDUES AND LOW-QUALITY ROUGHAGES

8. ROLE OF TANNINS AND SAPONINS ON RUMEN FERMENTATION (FIG. 3)

9. USING TROPICAL PLANTS AND HERBS TO IMPROVE RUMEN FERMENTATION AND REDUCE METHANE PRODUCTION

10. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES AND INVESTIGATION ON RUMEN MICROORGANISM POPULATION AND DIVERSITY

CONCLUSION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Protein Digestion and Metabolism in Buffalo

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BUFFALO FEEDING AND PROTEIN DIGESTION

Feeding

Rumen Digestion

Microbial Protein Metabolism in Buffaloes

Urinary Excretion of Purine Derivatives: Causes and Differences in Buffaloes and Cattle

The Physiological Mechanism of Low Purine Derivative Excretion in Urine of Buffaloes

Purine Excretion After 2 Months’ Access to Solid Feed

Purine Excretion From Fasting Solid Feed-Fed Calves

Comparison of Feeding and Fasting PD Excretion from Cattle and Buffaloes in Milk-Fed and Solid Feed-Fed Periods

Glomerular Filtration Rate

Rumen Ammonia

CONCLUSION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Influence of Seasonality on Buffalo Production

1. INTRODUCTION

2. OPTIMIZATION OF THE AGE AT FIRST CALVING

Fertility of Primiparous Buffaloes

Reproductive Seasonality

Reproductive Efficiency

Strategies to Enhance Reproductive Performance

CONCLUSION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Buffalo Dairy Production: A Review

1. INTRODUCTION: WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION, REGIONAL PRODUCTION AND ECONOMY

Worldwide Distribution

Regional Production and Economy

Europe

Asia

Africa

South America

2. DAIRY BREEDS

3. NUTRITION, REPRODUCTION AND SELECTION

Nutrition

Examples of Nutritional Management Strategies in Several Regions/Continents

Reproduction and Selection

4. LACTATION: SEXUAL MATURITY, GESTATION, CALVING INTERVAL, UDDER PHYSIOLOGY, DAYS IN LACTATION AND PRODUCTION BY AGE GROUP

Artificial Calf Rearing

Mastitis

5. MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND HEAT STRESS

CONCLUSION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Buffalo Milk Characteristics and By-Products

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BUFFALO MILK COMPOSITION AND NUTRIENT PROFILE

3. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BUFFALO MILK

3.1. Chemical Constituents

3.2. Physical Properties

4. ELABORATION OF BUBALINE CHEESE AND OTHER BY-PRODUCTS: DESCRIPTION OF MANUFACTURING PROCESS

4.1. Manufacturing Process of White, Bubauno and Yearling Buffalo Cheese (Venezuela) [12]

4.2. Manufacturing Process for Hand-pulled Cheese (Mozzarella and Provolone) [12]

4.3. Production of Criollo (Creole) Cheese (Brazil)

4.4. Provola Affumicata Cheese

4.5. Mozzarella di Bufala Campana

4.5.1. Definition

4.5.2. Production Examples and Aspects of Mozzarella Cheese Production

4.5.3. Liquids Used in Mozzarella Handling and Conservation [13]

4.5.4. Mozzarella Cheese Yield

4.5.6. Other Aspects of the Mozzarella Cheese Production Chain

4.5.7. Process for Reception, Manufacture and Packaging for Mozzarella Cheese

4.5.8. A Slightly Different Production for Mozzarella is Followed in Alagoas, Brazil [21]:

5. PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION OF MILK BY-PRODUCTS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

India, Turkey and Iran

Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Bolivia

Italy

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Parasitological Scenario of Buffalo Farms in Central and Southern Italy: A Review

1. INTRODUCTION

2. PROTOZOA

3. GASTROINTESTINAL AND HEPATIC HELMINTHS

4. CYSTIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS

5. ARTHROPODA

CONCLUSION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Folliculogenesis and Ovarian Physiology Applied to Reproductive Biotechnologies in Buffaloes

1. INTRODUCTION

2. FOLLICULOGENESIS

3. ULTRASTRUCTURE OF PREANTRAL AND ANTRAL FOLLICLES

4. FOLLICULAR DYNAMICS

5. BREEDING SEASON

6. FIXED TIME ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (FTAI)

Synchronization of Ovulation using GnRH and Prostaglandins for FTAI

Synchronization of Ovulation using Progesterone and/or Progestin Plus Estradiol

7. SUPEROVULATION (SO) AND EMBRYO TRANSFER (ET)

8. OVUM PICK-UP (OPU) AND IN VITRO EMBRYO PRODUCTION (IVEP)

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer in the Buffalo Species

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BASIC CONCEPTS ON SUPEROVULATION

3. HORMONAL CONTROL FOR OPTIMIZING SUPEROVULATION

4. UTERINE FLUSHING

5. EMBRYO COLLECTION

6. FACTORS AFFECTING MOET

6.1. Intrinsic Factors

6.1.1. Age of the Donor

6.1.2. Stage of the Estrous Cycle

6.1.3. Progesterone Levels During MOET Treatment

6.1.4. Presence or Absence of Dominant Follicle

6.1.5. Genetic Factors on SO

6.2. Extrinsic Factors

6.2.1. MOET Schedules and Different Types of Gonadotrophins

6.2.2. Influence of the Season

6.2.3. Days Open

6.2.4. Influence of Nutrition

6.2.5. r-BST Priming

6.2.6. Ovum Pick-Up [OPU] Priming

6.2.7. Influence of Interval Between PGF and Estrus

6.2.8. Repeated Superovulation

6.2.9. Utilization of Exogenous LH

6.2.10. Administration of Prostaglandin on the Day of Artificial Insemination

6.2.11. Immunisation Against Inhibin

7. THE APPLICATION OF MOET IN THE BUFFALO SPECIES

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Applied Reproductive Technologies in the Buffalo Species

1. INTRODUCTION

2. OOCYTE SOURCE AND QUALITY

3. IN VITRO MATURATION (IVM)

4. IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF)

5. IN VITRO CULTURE (IVC)

6. EMBRYO CRYOPRESERVATION AND PREGNANCY TO TERM

7. OOCYTE CRYOPRESERVATION

8. SEX PREDETERMINATION: EMBRYO AND SPERM SEXING

CONCLUSION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

Buffalo Cloning and Transgenesis

1. INTRODUCTION

2. SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER

2.1. Oocyte Recovery

2.2. Effect of Donor Cell Types on Efficiency of Embryo Development

2.2.1. Embryo-Derived Donor Cells

2.2.2. Somatic Cells

2.2.3. Stem Cells

2.3. Preparation of Recipient Oocytes

2.4. Enucleation of Oocytes

2.4.1. Zona-Intact Oocytes

2.4.2. Zona-Free Oocytes

2.5. Donor Cell Transfer

2.6. Fusion

2.7. Activation

2.8. In Vitro Culture

2.9. Hand-Made Cloning

2.10. Benefits and Drawbacks of Handmade Cloning

2.10.1. Advantages

2.10.2. Limitations

3. INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS

4. TRANSGENESIS

4.1. Methods for Production of Transgenic Animals

4.1.1. Pronuclear Microinjection

4.1.2. Retrovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer

4.1.3. Embryonic Stem Cell-Mediated Gene Transfer

4.2. Advantages of Scnt in Transgenic Animal Production

4.3. Risk of Transgenic Animal Production

4.4. Application of Transgenesis

4.4.1. Medicine

4.4.2. Agricultural

4.4.3. Industrial

4.5. Transgenesis in Buffalo

CONCLUSION

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

SUBJECT INDEX