t 579 ] 



tains but adhere to the swampy portions of the localities they 

 inhabit. The wild buffalo is somewhat larger and plumper 

 than the domesticated buffalo. In wild state they are very 

 powerful but they are not savage nor unapproachable except 

 where they are much hunted. They come to heat in Autumn, 

 gestate for 10 months and produce their young in the hot 

 weather. They usually live in herds. 



968. The domesticated buffalo is also semi-aquatic in its 

 habits. The female buffaloes breed first when they are 3 years 

 old and then once in every 2 or 3 years only and produce 

 6 calves in all. Occasionally they calve annually. They 

 continue to give 6 to 12 seers of milk for about 2 years 

 after parturition. During the third year when they are in 

 calf the yield of milk falls off until they cease giving raillf 

 altogether about 2 months before calving. 



969. Buffaloes are coarse feeders^ subsisting on stable 

 litter and coarse grass, but buffaloes in milk should be given 

 in the cold season (from November to March) 2 or 3 seers of 

 oil-cake mixed with 10 seers of bhusa in the form of sani 

 or jab in addition to grazing. In the hot weather, they 

 should be given green fodder-plants finely chopped up .wjtji 

 the sani unless there is plenty of pasturage. In -the, rainy 

 season, they should get at the time of milking both in ,th$ 

 morning and in the evening 4 seers of dry food consisting 

 of wheat-bran and oil -cake, or barley, gram and wheat. 

 Dry buffaloes and working buffaloes are left entirely on 

 grazing. 



970. The points of a good milking buffalo are: (i) Hind 

 quarters, heavier than the fore quarters ; (2) Skin, thin, 

 smooth and shining; (3) Hair, fine; (4) Abdomen and udder, 

 large ; (5) Fine boned legs. 



971. The points of a good working buffalo are : (i) Well- 

 set, muscular, barrel-shaped form, heavier looking in front 

 than behind; (2) Rough and bony quarters indicating 

 strength ; (3) Straight, strong-boned legs, 



