Reproduction characteristics of local female buffalo in Suka Makmue and Seunagan Districts, Nagan Raya Regency, Aceh Province

This study aims to analyze the reproductive performance of local buffalo in Suka Makmue and Seunagan District, Nagan Raya Regency. The number of samples taken in this study included two districts, namely Suka Makmue and Seunagan. The data needed (1) age at first puberty, (2) first mating, (3) length of gestastion, (4) age at first calving, (5) service period and (6) calving interval. The data obtained from this study are Suka Makmue District, the average age of first puberty is 36.76±0.80 months, first mating occurs at 37.53±0.84 months, length of gestastion is 10.65± 0.20 months, age at first calving 49.48±7.17 months, and calving interval 5.73±0.38 months. Meanwhile, in Seunagan District, the first puberty was 37.46±0.72 months, first mating occurred at 37.67±0.54 months, length of gestastion was 10.73±0.15 months, age at first calving was 48.39±0.53 months, and calving interval 5.86±0.26 months. The data obtained showed that female local buffalo in the Suka Makmue and Seunagan District, Nagan Raya Regency, had bad characteristics.


Introduction
Buffalo is a large ruminant livestock that has long been known and an important part of livestock development to support agriculture in rural communities.Even though buffalo have not received much attention in terms of their maintenance, buffalo are one of the local livestock which have a number of advantages and provide many benefits, especially for farmers and breeders [1].Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) with the special ability to digest low-quality food and survive in marginal areas [2].The aim of breeders in keeping buffalo is as a long-term investment, as a side job and to help breeders in managing agricultural land such as helping in plowing rice fields [3].
The increasing of buffalo population applied by maintaining attention to reproductive management, by looking at the maintenance system for the buffalo, as well as by knowing the reproductive characteristics of the existing buffalo so that it can save genetics and germplasm which have use value and local potential in the area [4].
Reproduction is a biological process to maintain population numbers and produce offspring.In order to ensure the sustainability of the swamp buffalo population, there are factors that really need to be considered, such as environmental factors as a place for livestock to live, efficient maintenance and adequate nutritional intake [5].An important aspect that can be used as a reference for reproductive performance is giving attention to equality of livestock reproductive and populations productivity.The buffalo rearing system in Nagan Raya Regency is still traditional, the buffalo are still released into mountainous areas without continuous supervision.This condition is a concern because if this maintenance continues it is feared that it will reduce the buffalo population in Nagan Raya Regency.

Local female buffalo samples
Survey method was used in this research.The location was applied based on villages that have buffalo populations in Suka Makmue District, namely Lhok Rameuan Village, Krak Tampai and Cot Peradi and Seunagan District, namely Kuta Aceh Village, Blang Murong and Rambong Rayeuk.Respondents selected in this study were breeders who have female buffaloes that have calved twice or more.
The variables observed in this research were the reproductive ability of buffalo in Suka Makmue and Seunagan District which included (a) age at first puberty, (b) first mating, (c) length of gestation, (d) age at first calving, (e) service period and (f) calving interval.Observational data were collected through interviews in the field.The statistical analysis method was carried out descriptively.

Reproductive characteristics
Parameters of reproductive characteristics of female local buffalo that have been studied include age at first puberty, first mating, length of gestation, first calving, service period and calving interval, shows in table 1.

Age of puberty
Sexual maturity in livestock is marked by the female's reproductive organs starting to function and starting to produce ova.In this phase, female buffalo experience their first heat and are ready to mate [6].The average age of first heat for buffalo in Seunagan District was 37.460.72months, while in Suka Makmue District it was 36.760.80months.The value obtained from this research is higher when compared with [7] that the age average of sexual maturity (puberty) for Gayo buffalo in Linge District, Central Aceh Regency is 33.90.63 months (2.8 years).
It can be explained that the buffalo breeding system is carried out by natural mating.Mating could have taken place independently of either in a stable or pasture.This is due to the extensive and semi intensive maintenance of buffalo livestock.The extensive rearing system is a system of keeping livestock released freely to look for food.Farmers will see their livestock twice a week in the morning and evening.Meanwhile, the semi-intensive rearing system is a rearing system that is carried out inside and outside the pen.In the morning the buffalo are taken out of the pen and in the afternoon the buffalo are put back to the pen.According to [8], the age of first puberty is considered the same as the first mating because the marsh buffalo mating system is carried out naturally and there is no special attention to the buffalo's reproductive activities.So that at the time of the first puberty will determine the age of the buffalo ready to be mated for the first time.
In general, buffalo in Indonesia experience slow sexual maturity and slow reproduction and take more time to mate again after calved, this is due to the rearing system being implemented poorly and providing poor quality feed [9].Puberty or sexual maturity can be defined as age when the reproductive organs begin to function and reproduction occurs.Puberty in male animals is marked by the ability to produce sperm, while in female animals it is marked by occurrence of estrus and ovulation.Puberty is influenced by various factors such as internal factors in the form of genetics, growth and weight.While external factors are the year or season of calving, rainy season, feed, ambient temperature, length of sunlight and disease.

First mating
Based on Table 1, the first mating of female buffalo in Suka Makmue District is 37.530.84months, while the average first mating time in Seunagan District is 37.670.54months.It was much slower than the research by [9], that the age average of buffalo in Pampangan, South Sumatera, at first mating was 2.3 years or 27 months.While [10], informed that in Wih Pesam District the age average of first mating was 33 months or 2.75 years.This is influenced by the lack of males in one group, so that when the first heat occurs in the buffalo, it does not immediately result in mating.
The first mating of buffalo in Suka Makmue District, Nagan Raya Regency is faster than the first mating in Seunagan District.This is influenced by the extensive rearing system and no special attention to reproductive activities in buffalo livestock, thus making the age level of the first buffalo mating different in each of these areas.

Length of gestation
The results of the research show that the gestation length average of local buffalo in Suka Makmue District was 10.650.20 months, while the average gestation length in Seunagan District is 10.730.15months, as same as [11] stated that the average length of gestation for buffalo at Malang Regency was 11-12 months and slightly faster than the length of gestation for buffalo at West Sumatera, namely 11.05 ± 0.31 months [12].When compared with the results of [13] the gestation length average of swamp buffalo in Tempursari District, Lumajang Regency, was 10.20 ± 0.80 months.
Female buffaloes at Seunagan District, Nagan Raya Regency have a longer gestation period compared to the results of research carried out by [14] the gestation age of buffalo cattle monitored since have mated then start of gestation in 2005 until calved in 2006 has an average of 311 days (10 months, 11 days).According to the respondents, breeders assume that buffaloes give birth once a year.

Age of first calving
Table 1 shows that the average age of first calving for buffalo in Suka Makmue District, Nagan Raya Regency is 49.48±7.17months, while the average age for first calving in Seunagan District is 48.39±0.53months.This indicate that the first calving age for buffalo in Seunagan District, Nagan Raya Regency was slower than the first calving age in Suka Makmue District.[15] stated that in Brebes, the average age of first calving is 43.2 months.Likewise with buffalo in Malang Regency, the average age of female buffalo at first calving is 45.6 ± 2.0 months (3.5 years) [11].The results of a survey by ) [16] showed that the age of first calving for local buffalo in Aceh Province, West Java, Central Java, West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi were 45.0; 49.6; 47.7; 49.6 and 49,2 months with an average of 47.7 months.

Service period
Based on the results of research conducted in Seunagan District, the average of service period was 5.86±0.26months and Suka Makmue District was 5.73±0.38 months.This was different with [17] which states that the time for livestock to mate again after calved is 6 months, since the day of calving until the swamp the mated.
It shows that female swamp buffalo in Seunagan and Suka Makmue Districts average 5 to 6 months, since the day of calving until the swamp is mated.One of the reasons that mating can occur relatively quickly is due to the natural mating system without any control on buffalo by breeders, so that the female buffalo that have just calved, then come into heat again will mate directly with the males in its group and breeders generally only know when their livestock has become gestation again.Estrus will occur when body weight has reached the ideal weight.Meanwhile, the nutrition of the feed consumed can influence the fertility of both male and female livestock [18].

Calving interval
After calved, the buffalo will experience heat again, then the reproductive cycle will be repeated again until gestation.The distance between two consecutive gestation is called calving interval [14].The results of research conducted in Seunagan District has an average calving interval of 16.59 ± 0.30 months, while in Suka Makmue District the average calving interval is 17.53 ± 9.29 months.
Calving interval is a fertility index that is widely used for buffaloes.In well-managed herds, calving intervals can be achieved at 11-12 months.This report are different from the results of this research because the buffalo rearing system in this research was carried out extensively so the calving interval was slightly longer.Meanwhile, [19] reported that the calving interval for mud buffalo was 20-24 months.According to [11] calving interval is affected by the postpartum estrus and gestation length.