Nili-Ravi Buffalo date back to the Indus River Valley civilizations when they were two different buffalo; Nili and Ravi. However, due to coincidental standards, both breeds looked very similar and it became hard to distinguish the two. So, in 1950 the two breeds became one, Nili-Ravi.

 

The Nili-Ravi buffalo is a milk type of buffalo breed. They are found mainly in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Multan and Bahawal Nagar districts in Punjab Province. Their color is black and their average weight at maturity is 800 kg for the male and 525 kg for the female.

 

They have a wedge shape, massive frame, small curly horns, and wall eyes. They often have white markings on the forehead, face, muzzle and legs and white switch of tail (buffaloes with such markings high desired and popularly called "Panj Kalian"). They have a large, strong udder and are generally docile. Average age at maturity is 30 months in males and 36 months in females. Longevity of production is good. White markings extending above hock and knee and over the neck and body, constitute a serious disqualification.

 

 

References

Muhammad Tahir, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Breeding & Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

 

Moioli, Bianca, and Antonio Borghese. BUFFALO BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, n.d. PDF. Istituo Sperimentale per la Zootecnia (Animal Production Research Institute) Via Salaria 31, 00016 Monterotondo (Rome), Italy