Origin and distribution: The Nili and Ravi are two types of buffaloes, there is no essential difference between the two types although for a long time they were treated as different breeds, but closer study indicated that it was a distinction without a difference, and now they are officially treated as one breed. This is considered to be one of the best breeds of buffaloes in India next only to the Murrah. Like the Murrah large number of the animals is exported annually from the breeding areas for milk production in cities. 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.

Physical characteristics: They have a wedge shape, massive frame, small curly horns, and wall eyes. Their color is black, however, one important character of this breed is that, it bears white markings on the forehead, face, muzzle and legs and white switch of tail (buffaloes with such markings highly desired and popularly called "Panj Kalian"). Their horns are small with a high coil. They have a large, strong udder with squarely placed long teats and prominent milk vein. They have pink marking on the udder and brisket. They are generally docile. White markings extending above hock and knee and over the neck and body constitute a serious disqualification.  The average height at withers for male is 137.2 cm and 135.9 cm for female. The length from point of shoulder to pin bone is 158.8 cm in males and 148.6 cm in females as an average for mature adult Murrah buffalo.

Production Parameters:  Average age at maturity of Nili/Ravi buffaloes is 30 months in males and 36 months in females. The average milk yield of this breed is 1800-2000 liters for a period of 250-300 days with a fat percentage of more than 6%. The average age at first calving is about 36 months. Longevity of production is good. Their average weight at maturity is 800 kg for the male and 525 kg for the female. 

Table 1: Nili-Ravi Buffalo production and physical characteristics

Source – Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) - http://cirb.gov.in/buffalo/niliravi.htm

Table 2: Nili-Ravi Buffalo production characteristics in India and Pakistan

Source FAO DAD-IS 2009 (http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.cgi?sid=4cf62fe76d99eba64be35f25b069a41e,reportsreport13_50000020)

References

Afzal, M., M. Anwar and M. A. Mirza 2007. Some factors affecting milk yield and lactation length in nili ravi buffaloes. Pakistan Veterinary Journal 27(3): 113-117.

Borghese, A., M. Rasmussen, C.S. and Thomas 2007: Milking management of dairy buffalo. Ital. J. Anim. Sci. vol. 6, (Suppl. 2), 39-50

CIRB, 2008 Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes: Annual reports http://cirb.gov.in

FAO, 2005 REU Technical series 67: Buffalo Production and Research edited by Antonio Borghese

Ingawale M.V. and R.L. Dhoble 2004: Buffalo Reproduction in India: An Overview. Buffalo Bulletin Vol. 23 (1): 4-9

Pathak, N.N. (2003). Buffalo production systems in India. 4th Asian Buffalo Congress Lead  Papers, 36.

Salah-ud-Din 1989. The genetic analysis of production and reproduction traits in Nili–Ravi buffaloes in Pakistan. Ph.D. Thesis. The Ohio State University, USA.

Web Resource

Breeds of Livestock, Oklahoma State University livestock database http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/other/buffalo/NILI

FAO Domestic Animal Diversity Information System