Vol. 7, Issue 7, Part A (2025)

The present investigation dealt with detailed study on mortality and morbidity, its pattern and associated factors during a period of 20 years (2001 to 2020), in 5-decade old Jaffarabadi buffalo herd in its home tract. In south-saurashtra region, an established buffalo herd with 72.17±0.78 milch Jaffarabadi buffaloes (with more than 50-70 births per year) and more than 200 total heads showed overall mortality of 11.5%. Based on strength of animals at risk, maximum, mortality (12.3%) occurs in birth to 1-month age group and significantly (P<0.05) higher deaths took place during September-October (15%) followed by July-August and November-December (10.5 to 12.0%) as compared to rest of the periods of the year. Colibacillosis and pneumonia were the major reasons which accounted for 50.7±6.8 and 14.7±4.1% of death in calves below 6 months of age. Colibacillosis, bovine ephemeral fever, mastitis and gastro-enteritis were major health disorders in buffalo herd and their incidences are respectively, 18.3±1.7, 12.1±1.3, 12.1±1.3 and 9.5±1.0%. The results indicated that for successful dairy farming, all possible care and precautions during the relevant age group and periods are utmost needed to keep incidences of these ailments minimum possible in the herd to reduce mortality and maintain an optimum replacement rate.