Effect of spray and evaporative cooling on certain galactopoietic responses in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Nine normal lactating Murrah buffaloes from Punjab Agricultural University Dairy herd were used to assess the effect of spray and evaporative cooling on certain galactopoietic responses in buffaloes in three equal groups of control (Group I), showers (Group II) and evaporative cooling (Group III). At 10.30, 12.30, 14.30 and 16.30 h daily the animals in Group II were given showers for fifteen minutes while the animals of Group III were kept on evaporative cooling system from 07.00 to 21.00 h daily. All the animals of Groups I, II and III were given showers by splashing water on their bodies with buckets once a day as a general routine being practised in the farm. Physical parameters included were dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, maximum and minimum temperature, light intensity, % R. H., total day length and cooling power of air. The various galactopoietic responses recorded were the let down time, the milking time, the milk yield, the average flow rate, the fat and lactose percentages. The results of this study revealed that the showers amd the evaporative cooling were responsible for increasing the galactopoietic responses, i. e. the milk yield, the milking time, the the average flow rate and decreasing the let down time in both the periods. This may be attributed to the added comfort to such animals.