Perinatal physiology and welfare in water buffalo: calving, mother-calf bonding, lactation, and postpartum disorders.

The peripartum period is a critical biological stage characterized by coordinated endocrine, physiological, and behavioral adaptations that determine successful parturition, neonatal survival, and productive efficiency in water buffaloes. This review aims to discuss the changes that buffalo cows show at calving onset, as well as the implications of the mother-calf bond, lactation, and postpartum pathologies, highlighting their relevance to animal welfare and neonate viability. As in other ruminants, parturition is initiated by the activation of the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, triggering hormonal changes that manifest as non-invasive, field-applicable physiological and behavioral indicators useful for the early identification of the onset of parturition. After birth, the mother-calf bond is established during a brief (within the first 6 h), sensitive period through multisensory stimulation, primarily regulated by a complex neurological network modulated by glucocorticoids, hormones (e.g., oxytocin, prolactin), opioids, among others, which ensures selective maternal care and effective suckling. Lactation and immunoglobulin transfer through colostrum consumption are essential for neonatal survival, compensating for the minimal transplacental immunity. During the post-calving period, the dam's health can be compromised by reproductive disorders such as placental retention or those related to the mammary gland (e.g., mastitis). A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms supports strategies to optimize reproductive management, welfare, and neonatal viability and survival in buffalo production systems.