Original Scientific Article EFFECT OF WATER AND FEEDING FREQUENCIES ON MILK PRODUCTION AND COMPOSITION OF AZIKHELI BUFFALO IN NORTHERN PAKISTAN The study aimed to determine the effect of water and feeding frequency on feed intake, weight gain, milk production, and composition of Azikheli buffalo in climate conditions of Northern Pakistan. Forty multiparous Azikheli buffaloes with similar live body weight, third lactation stage were selected and randomly divided into four groups with ten replicates in each group: GP-1 (water and feed once daily), GP-2 (water and feed twice daily), GP-3 (water-adlib + feed thrice daily), and GP-4 (water-adlib + adlib feed). The basic feed consisted of maize fodder, wild grass, wheat straw. The concentrate feed (2 kg) was supplemented to all groups. Individual access to watering and feed were provided for each animal. The feed samples were analyzed for their chemical composition, and digestibility. The data mean was calculated using repeated-measures ANOVA. Different water frequencies have a statistically significant effect on water intake, dry matter intake, milk production, and milk composition. The average daily water intake in GP1, GP2, GP3, and GP4 was 28.00, 44.00, 56.00 and 67.30 liters, respectively. The average intake of dry matter was 10.20, 11.15, 12.40 and 12.97 kg, respectively. Daily milk yield was 6.90, 7.44, 8.10 and 8.38 liters, respectively. Dry matter intake and milk production were significantly influenced by the frequency of water consumption and nutritional balance. A balanced diet and unrestricted access to water increased milk production by 1.90 liters per animal per day. It was determined that a balanced diet and ad libitum water consumption increased the feed intake and milk production in Azikheli buffaloes and could yield higher profitability of dairy farms. https://macvetrev.mk/LoadArticlePdf/361 2025-01-15 i vii https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2025-0012 water consumption feed intake milk composition Azikheli buffalo Bakhtawara Bibi false 1 Department of Animal Sciences (Zoology), University of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan AUTHOR Nadar Khan nadar73vet@aup.edu.pk false 2 Livestock and Dairy Development (Research) Department, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 25120, Pakistan LEAD_AUTHOR Nikola Adamov false 3 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine–Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia AUTHOR Hanfa Shahid false 4 Department of Animal Sciences, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Changshan, China AUTHOR Khalil Ahmad false 5 School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand AUTHOR M.N.M. Ibrahaim false 6 ILRI Office, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan AUTHOR Economic survey of Pakistan. (2023-2-24). Economic Advisor Wing, Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad 1 Khan, N., Samiullah, K., Muhmmad, I., Mian, G.H., Ibrahim, M.N.M., Nazir, A.K. (2022). Comparing Azikheli buffaloes with Nili Ravi buffaloes for morphometry, productivity and reproductivity. Pak J Agri Sci. 59(4): 693-701. 2 Khan, M.S., Ahmad, N., Khan, M.A. (2007). Genetic resources and diversity in dairy buffaloes of Pakistan. Pak Vet J. 27(4): 201-207. 3 Jabbar, M.A., Fiaz, M., Iqbal, T., Abdullah, M., Marghazani, I.B. (2013). 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