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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 65(12)

Optimizing drinking water temperature for water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) during winter: implications for productivity under subtropical climate

Neelam Purohit A , Indu Devi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8346-9020 A * , Divyanshu Singh Tomar A B and Kuldeep Dudi C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Livestock Production Management Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India.

B Assistant Professor, Livestock Production Management, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi 284003, Uttar Pradesh, India.

C CCS Haryana Agricultural University, KVK-Ujha Panipat, Hisar 132104, Haryana, India.

* Correspondence to: indulathwal@gmail.com

Handling Editor: Kieren McCosker

Animal Production Science 65, AN25087 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN25087
Submitted: 12 March 2025  Accepted: 15 July 2025  Published: 5 August 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

The temperature of drinking water during winter plays a vital role in the thermoregulation of dairy buffaloes, which also affects the animal’s physiology and production.

Aims

This study investigated the effects of drinking water temperature on physiological responses, water intake, feed intake, and milk production in lactating buffaloes during the winter season in subtropical India.

Methods

In total, 24 lactating Murrah buffaloes were randomly assigned to three groups based on the temperature of drinking water (n = 8 in each group), viz. ambient temperature (8–12°C, G1), fresh water temperature (20–24°C, G2) and slightly warm water (32–36°C, G3) during the winter season (January–March 2024). The maximum temperature, minimum temperature and mean relative humidity were 25.70 ± 0.49, 4.89 ± 0.52°C and 76.92 ± 2.79% respectively.

Key results

The findings showed that offering fresh and warm water to buffaloes (G1 and G2) had a positive effect on the total water intake, dry-matter intake, and milk yield, compared with cold water consumption (G1). Total water intake increased by 15.4–16.2%, and milk yield improved by 5.3–6.9% in the fresh- and warm-water groups. Intake of warm water reduced respiration rates and supported better thermoregulation, which was indicated by a significant increase in rectal temperature.

Conclusion

Thus, providing warm drinking water helps reduce winter stress, feed efficiency, and productivity in dairy buffaloes under subtropical conditions.

Implications

The study has highlighted a simple yet effective management strategy to improve animal welfare and productivity during harsh winters.

Keywords: drinking water temperature, dry matter intake, feed efficiency, lactating buffaloes, milk yield, physiological responses, water intake, winter stress.

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