Eureka! Institutional Repository

During the period from May to August 2016, body measurements were made in 19 male (20-25 months of age) and 86 female (>35 months of age) mature animals of the Greek buffalo breed (Bubalus bubalis), from 3 farms located in proximity to Lake Kerkini, Central Macedonia, Greece, in order to record the morphologic characteristics of the breed and to establish a database that can be used in future genetic improvement schemes for the breed. The body measurements were performed by applying the classical method, using a metal measuring stick, held beside the animal, a tape and a metal caliper, and included the following 15 traits: height at withers, height at back, height at rump, height at tailhead, horizontal body length, diagonal body length (distance from the point of the shoulder (lateral tuberosity of the humerus) to the pin bone (tuber ischii)), back width, chest depth, heart girth, chest width, rump length, width at hook bones, width at thurls (distance between the lateral surfaces of the greater trochanter of the femur), width at pin bones and cannon bone circumference.