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Buffalo Information
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Water Buffalo
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One of the most difficult parts of discussing the Water Buffalo with citizens of North America ...or any non-Asian fan of the American cowboy or jungle adventure movie ...is to identify the correct animal. There are many closely related groups within the Order Artiodactyla or even toed animals.
The American Bison ..or American Western Buffalo is not a true buffalo but its own Genus . They are closer to cattle (Bos) than to the water buffalo and will interbreed with cattle.
The African Cape Buffalo
Syncerus caffer is actually only a distant relative. Their reputation for a mean-tempered disposition has tarnished the Water Buffalo, with which they will not interbreed and which is classified in a different genus. Most water buffalo are generally docile and are frequently seen being tended and ridden by small children An apparent exception is the Egyptian male buffalo which can be highly temperamental.
There are two general types of water buffalo..the Swamp(
Bubalus carabanesis)which are found from the Philippines to as far west as India ..and River(
Bubalus bubalis).. which are found farther west from India to Egypt and Europe. NOTE: The genus name
Bubalus is sometimes spelled
Bubalis
The water buffalo has been associated with man from the earliest prehistoric times. Although the water buffalo was originally an Asian animal, it arrived early (about 600 A.D.) in the Near East and North Africa. It was introduced to Europe by crusaders returning in the Middle Ages and outstanding herds still exist in Italy and Bulgaria. In recent times, the water buffalo has prospered in South and Central America. Micronesia and Australia have also introduced them. China and Burma also depends heavily on the water buffalo and its products. India depends upon the water buffalo for meat and milk. In Australia and the US a secondary industry has developed in hunting them as trophies ..evidently as feral animals they can become rather wiley ..however to a reader from Asia or the Near East, I assume that this must sound like someone trophy hunting a Jersey Cow.
Before the mid 1970s, the only water buffaloes in North America were a few animals in zoos. The US imported 50 animals in February 1978. Air freighted from the wilds of Guam, the US posession in he western Pacific, by Mr. Tony Leonards. Prior to that time (in 1974 or 75) four (or five) head of water buffalo were imported to the Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, for study. (See US water buffalo history). Ms. Patricia M. Sorrells has done a interesting analysis of this introduction. Several small herds, totaling about 3500 head, now exist in Florida,Louisiana, Arkansas and even Oregon. They are generally considered to be alternative exotic livestock.
According to the latest FAO statistics, the world buffalo population in 1982 and 1992 were 128 and 148 million, respectively, indicating 1.5% average annual growth rate for the past decade. The buffalo population in Asia was consistently 95-96% of the world total for the last 10 years.
In South Asia, India, a country of the world largest buffalo population, accounted 53% of the world total in 1992 and increased her buffalo population by 880 thousand for the last 10 years with an annual average increase rate of 1.1% In India, water buffaloes make up about 35% of milk animals (other than goats) but produce almost 70% of the milk. In 1995-96 India was estimated to have about 194 million cattle and 82 million water buffalo..a 0.7%increase from 94-95.
Pakistan with the third world largest buffalo population performed well to increase her buffaloes with an average annual increase rate of 4.7% Both Bangladesh and Nepal indicated positive growth of 5.7% and 2.1% respectively, while Sir Lanka recorded negative growth of -0.3%. China, having the second world largest buffalo population only after India, recorded 18.8 million in 1982 and 22.0 million in 1992 with an average growth rate of 1.6%.In Southeast Asia,Thailand held the largest buffalo population but lost a considerable number during the last decade with a negative annual growth rate of -3.4% Also the Philippines and Malaysia indicated the negative growth of -1.3% and -2.3% respectively. Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar did indicate positive growth with annual increase rate of 3.0%, 2.3%, 2.0% and 0.2% respectively. The buffalo number was 78 head per 1000 Asian agricultural population in 1982 while the corresponding figure was 82 in 1992. (0a)
Buffalo butterfat is the major source of cooking oil (ghee)in some Asian countries. In the US, they have been introduced as an "exotic" livestock with developers hoping to build a market for the distinctive mozzarella cheese and low cholesterol meat. A market for leather goods and decorative horn products is also developing.
In Asia, the Middle East and Europe, water buffaloes live on course vegetation on the marginal land traditionally left to the peasants.They help make human survival possible serving as a protein source, tractor and storage of family wealth. In some areas,they also provide recreation at annual racing festivals.
On Taiwan water buffalo are being replaced by western cattle and efforts are being made to protect the germ plasm. In 1980, Sir Lanka sponsored an international workshop on the water buffalo
Breeds size=>
The major genetic divisions of the water buffalo are the Swamp buffalo (
Bubalus carabanensis) of the eastern half of Asia, which are slate gray, droopy necked, and ox-like with massive swept back horns. They wallow in any water or mud puddle they can find or make. And; the River buffalo (
Bubalus bubalus)of the western half of Asia which usually is black or dark gray with tightly curled or drooping straight horns. They prefer to wallow in clean water.
There is also the Mediterranean buffalo, which is of the River type but has been isolated for so long that it has developed some unique characteristics. Although there is only one breed of Swamp buffalo, certain subgroups seem to have specific inherited characteristics. For example, the buffalos of Thailand are noted for their large size, averaging 450-550 kg. and weights of up to 1000 kg. have been observed. Elsewhere Swamp buffaloes range from 250 kg. for some small animals in China to 300 kg in Burma and 500-600 kg in Laos. In Australia, the feral water buffalo has developed a characteristic appearance. In Indonesia a black and white spotted variety is known.
Only in India and Pakistan are there well defined breeds with standard qualities. There are 18 River buffalo breeds in South Asia, which are further classified into 5 major groups designated as the Murrah, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Central Indian and South Indian breeds. Within these groups are breeds. The best known breeds are Murrah, Nili/Ravi, Jafarabadi, Surti, Mehsana,Kundi and Nagpuri. Most of the buffaloes of the Indian subcontinent belong to a nondescript group known as the Desi buffalo. Trinidad imported several breeds from India between 1905 and 1908. Crossbreeding of these animals has produced a Trinidadian type and these animals are the stock that has been imported into the US.
BUFFALO | ______________________________ | | African wild buffalo Asian buffalo Syncerus caffar ____________________________ Subspecies: | | S. caffar caffar Wild buffaloes Domestic buffalo S. c.brachyceros | | S. c.nanus | | | | _____________________________ | | | | | Indian wild Arni Anoa Tamarao | Bubalus arnee Bubalus Bubalus | depressicorais mindorensis | | | _____________________________ | | River Type Swamp Type Indian buffalo Bubalus Bubalus bubalis carabanesisGenetics
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The Swamp buffalo has 48 chromosomes, the River buffalo 50. Some researchers consider it a separate species rather than a "type" on this basis .The chromosomal material is however, similar in the two types and they crossbreed to produce fertile hybrid progeny. Cattle, however have 60 chromosomes.. although mating between cattle and buffalo does occur... hybrids from the union are unlikely. In 1965, a reputed hybrid was born in the old USSR and hybrids have been reported from China. Both reports seem doubtful because despite many attempts no other proven hybrids have ever been produced. Individual buffaloes show large variations in milk yield, conformation, horn shape, color, meat production, temperament, growth rate, and other characteristics. selection for survival under adverse conditions has occurred naturally (those that could not stand adversity died) and farmers have probably tended to select animals of gentle temperament. But systematic genetic improvement has almost never been attempted. It seems likely that further selection could quickly improve their productivity
Unfortunately, the large bulls that would be best for breeding purposes are often being selected as draft animals and castrated, or sent to slaughter, or (as shot by hunters). the result is that the buffalo's overall size in countries such as Thailand and Indonesia has been decreasing as the genes for large size and fast growth are lost.
The buffalo is still largely an animal of the village, and many of it's reported limitations are caused by it's environment rather than by the animal itself. The buffalo has long been considered a poor breeder.. slow to mature and slow to rebreed after calving. Poor management and nutrition has contributed much to this reputation. Their gestation period is about a month longer than that of cows, buffalo estrus is difficult to detect and matings occur mainly at night so that the farmer/producer is likely to encounter more problems breeding buffaloes than cattle. It is also possible that Swamp/River crossbreed hybrids have reduced fertility.
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