Vol. 9, Special Issue 7, Part J (2025)

The study was conducted to evaluate the influence of non-genetic factors namely lactation order, lactation stage, level of milk yield, and season on the milk composition traits of Murrah buffaloes under a tropical savanna climate. A total of 798 milk samples were collected from Murrah buffaloes reared at the Post Graduate Research Institute in Animal Sciences, Kattupakkam, Tamil Nadu, between April 2019 and August 2021. The samples were analyzed using an automatic milk analyzer to determine fat, solids-not-fat (SNF), total solids (TS), protein, lactose, and salt concentrations. The data were categorized and analyzed using an appropriate statistical model. The level of milk yield, lactation order, and lactation stage significantly influenced (p<0.01) all milk constituents except salt. Buffaloes in their fourth lactation and at the third lactation stage exhibited higher levels of milk constituents. Milk yield levels of 0-3 litres were associated with the highest concentrations of fat, SNF, TS, and protein. Seasonally, milk collected during the monsoon had significantly higher fat and protein content, followed by summer. Positive correlations were observed among fat, SNF, TS, protein, and lactose, as well as between lactation order/stage and most milk constituents. A negative correlation was noted between season and fat, SNF, TS, and protein. These findings suggest that milk composition in Murrah buffaloes is notably influenced by physiological and environmental factors, with implications for improving milk quality and nutritional value through management strategies tailored to these non-genetic influences.