BUFFALOES

An option in theProduction Systemstriple purpose

Content
Buffaloes.
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................1
2. The buffalo in triple-purpose production systems.........................................................1
3. Socioeconomic Importance of the Buffalo
The female as a triple purpose animal: offspring-milk-work.................................................2
5. Classification
6. Hundred classificationtfika............................................................3

7. Races and world population..............................................................4

8. Production aspects...........................................................................................................4
9. Milk Production:................................................................................................................4
10. Meat Production..............................................................................................................5
12. Performance of the buffalo in Colombia..........................................................8
13. Conclusions and contributions..........................................................................................8

1. Introduction
Trying to get more benefits from animal resources and improvequality of
liferepresented in the human factor that contributes its labor and in the conservation of
los resources naturalthat sustain theproductiony they help a to maintain
theresourcesgenetic conditions favorable.
The buffalo is an underutilized genetic resource.India70% of theproductionmilky is
from buffalo, and in the Philippines, 77% of the working energy for farming). The ignorance
from the environment in which it develops, that is, its interactionswater, groundplant, animal
it negatively influences how it could well be expressed in the buffalo as an animal that
also benefiting theconsumerend of theproductsmeatmilk) y in the
conservation of thenatural resources(soilanimal traction vs. agricultural machinery.
Given that this animal has the potential to produce meat-milkand also energy
muscular for work, its operation is similar to asystemof a single entry and 3
outputs (products).
In all forms of buffalo production, it is necessary to find modalities.
culturally viable, that strengthen in thetimewith theeconomy, theagriculture,
theresourcesnatural and therefore thequalityof life.

2. The buffalo in thesystemsof production

triple purpose.
The Buffalo is a multipurpose bovine capable of adapting to a wide variety of environments.
transformplantsundervaluenutritious in first-rate meat and milk qualityPolished
(1997). It also represents highprofitabilityeconomic especially in environments
unfavorable conditions where not even a native cattle or a rustic Bos indicus would survive
(ASOBUFALO, 1997).

3. Socioeconomic Importance of
Buffalo.
With the momentum that is being given in other countries such asVenezuela, Philippines to the
associations of buffalo herders, seeks to promote better performance of this species, moving to
to use it solely at the level of animal traction and to a lesser extentscaleto the production of
meat, to a newsystemof triple purpose or use. Offspring – milk – work. With the
associations of buffalo breeders ofVenezuela(A.V.C.B), andBrazil(ABCB); wanted
to takedevelopmentto marginal areas, where the only abundant thing is low-quality forage
quality. In these places, the buffalo is almost exclusively kept to produce energy from
traction and meat, represented in the number of offspring/female, functioning as a
dual purpose system.
Thesystemsmilk-creation-work, contrary to what Galindo expresses, 1994.
Withstatisticsof 4 Colombian departments, in tropical and subtropical areas the
buffaloes have great importance at the level ofEgypt, IndiaPakistan, this last country being the
largest producer of buffalo milk.
Contributing 60% of the total milk produced. In the area of animal traction, the buffaloes
From the Far East contribute 30% of the total, horses 12% and oxen 12%. Silva et
Al, 1990. Cited by (Pulido, 1997). As a meat producer in the SouthAmericais called to
to be the main producer of buffalo meat not in the immediate future, but in the medium term
deadline (AVCB).
It is evident that the trend of theproduction systemsof buffalo is to maintain the line
monopurpose. And eventually, it progresses to double-purpose productions.
It is undeniable that managing productive lines (buffalo line for meat, buffalo line
for milk and buffalo traction lines) would indicate an increase in production due to
line. More noticeable than an increase in the production of the three lines. However the
apparent benefits of specialization would imply greatercostson the other hand
animal genetic resource would be exploited fractionally, a situation that is not favorable
for the conditions of tropical and subtropical countries, in the case of beef cattle farming
The production trend is dual [Link] option has been analyzed
with various criteria and particularly see the double purpose greater possibilities
ofdevelopmentand growth of the livestock sector.

4. The female as a triple animal

purpose: breeding-milk-work
InColombiathe use of females asanimalswork is a very uncommon habit
common. Only haverecordsfrom this practice in the north of the Boyacá department
where, according to local farmers, the "oxen cows" have been plowing their fields for
a lottime(Galindo, 1994). Maintain males to work 50 hours/year on farms
where the area does not exceed 10,000 square meters is uneconomical. The buffaloes
They work better than the males as they perform more [Link] workand they obey the
orders as expressed by farmers from the hillside area of the department of Cauca.
But besides preparingfloorsmultipurpose females can perform other roles
tasks in the field. In aessaywhere cows (Holstein x Cebú) and buffaloes were used
(Murrah mestizos) for sugarcane juice extraction (guarapo) was demonstrated that the
potential to use females to activate sugar mills or traps, being able to reach
replace 60-70% of the males of their species.
Table 1 presents a comparison between a buffalo and a cow working in a yoke for 3
hours/day for their abilities to work in a sugar cane mill.
Table 1. Capacity of a mill in 3 hours/round working in pairs.

Buffalo Cows

Caña (kg) 397.4 375.1

Juice (kg) 191.0 /lac (kg) 169.0

Extraccion (%) 48 45

Brix degrees 16.2 17.5

Source: IDEADE, 1994.

Regarding milk production of theanimalsfrom the study, this is comparable to the
obtained with dual-purpose livestock inecosystemsColombians.
Table 2.
Milk production in Kg/lactation in two different agroecosystems.

Costa Foothill Cows Buffalos*

Pn de leche /lac (Kg) 749 672 749 717

Duration of the lac/ida <270 240 210 240

Source: adapted from Arango 1986

Lactation production of all animals used in the experiment.

5. Classification.
The Buffalo belongs to the subfamily of Bovines, withinthe familyof the bovids, which to
It is also of the order Artiodactyla. The Asian buffalo is named Bubalis.
bubalis, and the tamarao of Bubalus mindorensis. The anoas are classified as Anoa anoa -
Anoa depessicornis. The Cape Buffalo is classified scientifically as Syncerus caffer.
caffer, and the one of the Forest Buffalo with Syncerus caffer nanus.

6. Scientific classification.
The water buffalo or ami, is native to India and other parts of Southeast Asia. It measures
up to 1.8 meters in height at the withers and has solid horns that are curved downwards
back and outward, which can have a maximum wingspan of 1.2 m. A large part of the
the body is devoid of hair and has a tender, shiny and lustrous appearance, although in some
areas are covered by short, stiff, and sparse hair. The Buffalo is capable of living in areas
in marshes, in rivers and in lakes thanks to the broad and extensible hooves it possesses, which
allows you to spend most of the day immersed inthe water, that is why it is called
water buffalo. It has been used for a long time as a draft animal;
ondistributionas a domestic animal, it is linked to rice cultivation. Both its milk, rich
inmatterfat, as its meat and leather are highly valued.

Species

Domestic bovine or cattle B. Taurus or B. Indicus

Water buffalos Bubalus bubalis

African wild buffalo African buffalo

American bison Bison bison

Species: bubalus bubalis

Subspecies:
Swamp buffalo Carabao
River dairy buffalo
Demi-mestizos

7. Races andpopulationworldwide
In the course of theevolutiontwo different types of buffalos have been developedwaterwhat
they differ from each other morphologically and physiologically in the same way that theirbehavior,
they are: Swamp buffalo, which is a classic working animal, and river buffalo, which is the
dairy type. Both types are used for meat, when they are not very strong forthe
work.
Thepopulationthe global population of water buffaloes stands at 150 million heads. Polished,
(1997).

8. Aspects of production
Characteristics.
Buffalo milk has a peculiar flavor, slightly sweetened andcolorvery white, due to
due to the absence of carotene in the fat, it is an excellent protein supplement, vitamin,
salesminerals, and other valuable nutrients as well as the heatdays. When compared to the
vaccine and human, bufalin shows greatervalueenergy drink.

9. Milk production:
Buffalo milk.
In the world, it represents more than 7% of the total milk produced worldwide, in India.
second most populous country in the world, with 30% of the cattle production, the buffaloes
they produce 70% of all the milk consumed Alexiev, 1987 cited by Pulido (1997).
After analyzing buffalo milk production in different countries around the world in the
the period 76-86 saw an increase of 31%. Comparing with the increase in the
bovine milk production in the same period Sethi, 1988 cited by Pulido, (1997) reports
that bovine milk production only surpasses buffalo milk production by 9%.
Table 3. Presents the main components of buffalo milk and the vaccine.
Table [Link] the main components of buffalo and cow milk.

Species Water Grasa Sol total Prot. Total Lactosa Calorias/100g

Buffalo 83.23 7.45 16.77 3.76 4.9 100

Holstein 87.85 3.50 12.15 3.25 4.6 62

Guernsey 86.25 4.65 13.75 3.65 4.7 75

Source: Kay, (1974) cited by Pulido, (1997)

Buffalo milk has great industrial potential because of its owncharacterfeatures in the
manufacturing of hard, soft, semi-soft, and aged cheeses, made from recombined milk
concentrated, evaporated, powdered UTH, skimmed, fermentable products
coagulated, frozen, butter, cream, sweets, acidic products, formulas for children
infants, etc.
Comparing thecharacterCharacteristics of cow's milk compared to buffalo's milk.
Buffalo milk has:
o Water in smaller quantity.
o Major proteins; Casein major, albumin and
slightly higher globulin.
o Total solids higher.
o Phosphorus twice as much.
o Decrease in salesmineralslike Na, Cl, and K.
o Cholesterol (17-24%) less.
o Slightly higher lactose.

The physical characteristics are:

The freezing point, surface tension, electrical conductivity, stability
toheat, coagulation time NAP (1981) cited by ASOBUFALO, (1997). As
An important microbiological characteristic of buffalo meat after that of humans is the
What else inhibits microbial growth is attributed to the high lecithin content.
Among the main dairy breeds originating in India, researchers agree that
report the Murrah, Surti, Jafarabadi, and from Pakistan the Nili-ravi.
The average global milk production is 1134 kg/lactation FAO, (1991) per
below this, is the Carabao for not being a specialized dairy animal and the average of
theChinaAll other averages (1160-1998) are above the world average. AVCB,
(1998).

10. Meat Production.

Traditional buffalo meat can be considered aproductaccessory obtained
after many years of work and milk production; the two types of buffaloes: of
marsh for work and the river ones for milk, both are used in
secondary form used for meat production. In India, the buffalo after its
Long productive life still provides profits like slaughter cattle. Cockill, (1976),
cited by Arias, (1983).
Water buffalo meat is preferred because it contains little fat, the fatty tissue is
finds around the kidneys; in the mesentery but not in the meat itself. Another of the
good characteristics of the buffalo is its high rate of reproduction (under conditions where the
the less heat can dissipate), which is influenced by the rhythm of agricultural work. It
they expect two cubs in 3 years; although under conditions similar to those managed in the
national dual-purpose ranches for criollo cattle, it is possible to reach up to one offspring
every 12-13 months. Arias, (1983).
The Brazilian Buffalo Breeders Association (ABCB) in one of its most recent
The publication presents in a simple way all the advantages of preferring buffalo meat over
beef. Clarifying that it is not about typical animals that work for years,
or animals under similar management to the fattening steers, that are released
to themarketen un sistema semi intensivo con poca suplementacion.

Table 4 presents an approximation of these advantages over beef.

Cuadro 4. Carne de búfalo Vs. Carne de Vacuno (VENTAJAS*)

BUFALO Bovine

Calorie (kcal) 131.00 289.00

Protein (N.6.25) 26.83 24.07

Totallipids(gr) 1.80 20.69

Fatty Acids

Monosaurids (gr) 0.53 9.06

Polinsaturados (gr) 0.36 0.77

Colesterol (mg) 61.00 90.00

Minerals UI 641.80 583.70

Vitamins 20.95 18.52

Buffalo meat contains 40% less cholesterol than beef.

It is good for the pocket of those who raise and theheartof whom consumes.
The commercial cuts are the same as those of beef.
12 times less fat, 55% fewer calories, 11% less protein, 10%
less minerals.
The buffalo is a very docile animal and is considered by the FAO to be the most peaceful of the
animals that serve to theman.
Buffalo milk is a source of vitamin A instead of carotene.
Milk contains, in addition to other things,vitaminslike D and B2 (riboflavin).
Buffalo milk contains 3% less water, 13.5% more lactose, 47% more
protein, 14% more minerals, 46% more total solids.

Source: Station ofScience. UFSC. April 1998, see pageweb.

11. Buffaloes for work.
The performance of the buffalo as a work animal in swampy terrains is better than
any other animal. It also performs well in high temperature zones,
if provided with minimum conditions that allow it to dissipate heat efficiently
(shadow and bathwater) Galindo, (1994).
The buffalo Bubalus bubalis is native to the tropical region of the Asian continent. The buffalo
the marshland is primarily used as a draft animal and is widely distributed inChina,
Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, and other countries in the East.
Galindo, (1994).
The taming andtrainingprevious.
Good results can be achieved using draft animals. Such performances require
atrainingprevious. Namedtrainingthroughout theprocessthe animals
they assimilate thebehaviorrequired to work and learn to obey the orders that
they are taught thepersonthat manages them.
Animal selection.
The selection of future oxen (males and females) is made taking into account some
anatomical characteristics such as:
Strong forelimbs.
Thejoints.
Short and muscular neck.
Lively eyes.
Calm temperament, despite that it must show fierceness. The animals that
they start theprocessThe weanlings should have a live weight of 400-450 Kg.

Taming: Process by which an individual becomes familiar with the presence of the
people until fully accepting them, achieved through the following practices:
Mooring: Placement of a headpiece, halter, or headstall tied to a boom. This first mooring
It is the most important form that takes place during taming.
Descosquilleo: Ten minutes after the tying, the tamer comes to calm the
animal, it can be an initial bath and a gentle rubbing on the back, head, hip, belly
with a cane or staff ofwood.
The Daily Work Schedule: All mentioned activities must be done by the
tomorrow to take advantage of the cooler hours and avoid the heat of the afternoon. It is necessary
bathe the animals before and after each taming session, each session must
have a maximum duration of 3 hours.
The Training: Process by which future oxen or animals of any species
they learn to perform a particular job, either shooting or loading. The orders are voices or
shouts that the rough person gives to indicate to the buffalo the action it should perform.

Cabestreo: The action of leading the animal from one place to another using a headstall.
The next step will be to train the animal to turn on itself in both directions,
This will help you understand the order to turn more easily when needed.
Then it's ready for a short walk.
Placement of tools: The tools are a set of elements made up of the
brackets, the anger, the tortoise and the retranco. These elements are basic for the realization
of any farming work and will be placed on the animal so that it can become familiar with
they,
The Harness: When the animal correctly obeys the reins, the next step is
place a weight to get it used to dragging a load. This aims to strengthen the
muscles of the neck and back and that the animal begins to acquire goodstatephysical.
The Argollado: The reins attached to the headstall are the best resource for guiding the animals.
The big-nosed one will only be used when the animal shows restlessness or when
there is a danger to integrityphysicsof apersonof the load or a tool that
is transported.
Table 5. Approximate duration of taming and training tasks in
Buffaloes.

Labor Days

Smoothing and chipping 3

Cabestreo and adaptation to the tools 5

Harrow blade 4

Labor of spinning (pulling carts, moving mills) 3

Total time 15

Source: Galindo, W. Fernando. Taming and Training of Buffaloes for Work.

Foundation Center for theResearchin Sustainable Production Systems
Agriculture and Livestock. CIPAV. First edition. Cali - Valle. February 1998.

12. Performance of the buffalo in Colombia.

Thehistorythe buffalo in Colombia began in 1946 when the Secretary ofAgricultureof
Valley I present aprojectfor its importation as a source of food (meat and milk) and
Work. However, not until April 1967 did INCORA import 40 animals from Trinidad.
(30 females, 5 males, and 5 oxen) that were transferred to low Calima (in the municipality
from Buenaventura). In 1970, the second importation was made, of 110 females from Levante.
the same Caribbean island. A part of this lot was taken to Guainia and another to La Dorada. A
The buffalo census carried out in 1977 recorded a total of 380 animals distributed in different places.
regions of the country such as Guapi, Valle del Cauca, Antioquia, Popayan, Barranquilla, Pereira,
Guainia, Dorada, and Puerto Boyaca. An estimate of the buffalo population, based on the
initial importation, with an 80% increase due to births, average mortality of
3%, annual extraction rate of 5% for females and 10% for males, resulted in a total of
7.356 heads for the year [Link] Buffalo 1991).
Although the farms dedicated to buffalo breeding are nascent, there are already
Some herds have set up milking systems for up to 40 females, but only in a few cases.
isolated it is achieved that the quality of this milk (8-9% fat) is paid for as it happens with the
cow's milk (3-4% fat), where for each percentage point of fat an extra charge is applied pricefor
liters produced.
There is also not aplanof handling the calves, before and after weaning,
withstandardspre-established techniques that ensure a satisfactory development of the breeding of the
mother and offer an optimal oneprofitabilityfor the producer. Generally speaking, each
The rancher manipulates his herd according to his experience and judgment, leading to cases where
like leaving the young one twenty days after birth without restriction of milk and only
after this time, milking begins leaving two quarters of the udder to the calf
up to three months of age. Thismethodologyit is justified when milk is not the
principalobjectivefrom the farm, but when it is, there are alternatives like the
restricted or semi-restricted breastfeeding, which provide betterincomeeconomic
to the producer, without the need to incur ininvestmentsimportant labor force,
infrastructure and supplies.
As this species has become known at the national level, it has been gaining followers and
As a result of this reception, the National Association of Buffalo Breeders was created in 1991, at the
As of this date, 25 breeders are part of this association.

The maindemandthe buffaloes make itindustryfrom the oil palm that employs
These animals are used to transport the fruit (bunches). This agro-industry buys the males.
from 18 to 20 months of age to acostof $500,000 per head (US$625). Other industrieswhat
these animals are being demanded are those dedicated to extraction ofwoodhow
thecompaniesdedicadas a la reforestación con coníferas en la zona de ladera en el sur
west. The entity currently dedicated to the promotion of this species is the Fund
Cattle rancher from Caldas who owns the largest herd in the country with 900 heads.
approximately.

13. Conclusions and contributions.

The Buffaloes constitute an exploitable source of animal energy for our lands,
since it has adapted in an optimal way to the climatic conditions, to
our pastures and forages, being this an indicator that it is a rustic animal.
Although its breeding, raising, and fattening is not very common in the Valley, in other departments it has
driven this animal as a source of work (males), for meat production and
milk (females), however, it is not generalized, since there is acompetitionenormous with
FEDEGAN that possesses themonopolyfrom the production andmarketingbeef
cattle in Colombia, similarly to milk.
The products we obtain from the Buffalo and its female, although they have been promoted like
por ejemplo en AGROEXPO 1999 con una gran campaña publicitaria, y dando a conocer las
virtues of buffalo milk and meat compared to that of cattle, showing that it is
amarketin which I barely know is venturing. y explored, trying to
achievepricescompetitive ones that offer the producer a differentiation compared to
those of cattle that are also profitable.
14. Bibliografía
AVCB. Venezuelan Association of Buffalo [Link] the Buffalo in Venezuela.
PageWeb.
ACB. Colombian Association of Buffalo Breeders. Website.
ABCB. Brazilian Association of Buffalo Breeders. Raising buffaloes is good for the wallet and the
heart. 1998 Sao Paulo. "Bubalinos Meat Production".
Arias. F, Aspects of milk production in mixed-breed buffaloes in Magdalena
[Link] of Colombia. Bogotá. 1983.
Bodisco, Vladimir. Double-purpose cattle. Limousine Ed, Continental. San Vicente de
Maracay. May 1985.
Galindo, W. The Multipurpose Females: Cows and Buffaloes:Thesisof master's degree inDevelopment
Sustainableof Agrarian [Link], CIPAV-IMCA. 1994.
Sustainable livestock systems for the mountains of Colombia. CIPAV. Cali-Valle. 1995.
Plowing with oxen in Chita Cartilla No. 117 of Conservation y
[Link]. Javeriana University. Bogotá - Colombia 1994.
Matthew, M. Measurement of thestrengthof the shot of the crossed Carabaos with exotic Buffalos.
Central Luzon State University. 1987.
Vidal, M.J. Diagnosis of the use of draft animals in a mountainous area of the north.
[Link] University of Colombia, Faculty ofSciencesAgricultural
Palmira. 1994.
EncyclopediaMicrosoftENCARTA 99.
Work sent for
Alexander Sanchez Ospino
0195556
Presented in the subject of
Bases of management animal
Al professor Norton Restrepo
University National of Colombia
November 22 of 1999
correodebrujas@[Link]