Many people perceive the buffalo as a zoo animal or have only seen it in pictures. However, not everyone knows that such animals can be raised as ordinary cattle. This activity is considered promising. At the same time, keeping domestic buffaloes is characterized by a number of distinctive features. To get good results, they should definitely be taken into account.
Description of the animal
A buffalo is a large animal weighing more than 1 ton. However, not everyone has this mass.If we talk about height, this parameter is 1-1.5 meters. Moreover, the animal is characterized by not too long, but very strong limbs. Depending on the habitat, some deviations from the average parameters are possible.
It is worth noting that the older the buffalo, the more weight it manages to acquire. Males are more massive. They are heavier than females. This gives such individuals the opportunity to fight for themselves and the herd. The average weight of a female is 600 kilograms. However, in some endemic varieties this parameter does not exceed 300.
A distinctive feature of such animals is the presence of horns. The most common variety is the African buffalo. It is characterized by not particularly large horns, which are directed in different directions and differ in bends. Visually, the area where the horns and skull grow together looks like a helmet.
Indian buffalos are also found. Their horns reach a record size of 2 meters. Moreover, they grow not upward, but to the side. In the end, these elements turn back completely. There are also polled individuals, but they are rare.
If we talk about wool, it is short and tough. However, it is not thick enough. Relatively thick hair is present on the tail. At its end there is a tuft of wool, similar to a brush. The coat color is predominantly black or brown. However, other options are also possible.
Despite numerous attempts by European scientists, they were never able to domesticate African buffalos. Today they still remain completely wild animals, found only in zoos or safari parks. Also, African individuals live in almost all regions of Black Africa.They are distinguished by their bad character and habit of destroying plantings. Therefore, in their homeland, such animals are regarded as dangerous pests that cause damage to farmers and pose a threat to people.
Moreover, the Indian buffalo was domesticated in ancient times. Since that moment, even two subspecies of such individuals have appeared. Domesticated individuals are in many ways reminiscent of wild ones. However, they are characterized by a calm character, massive horns and a strong physique.
Today, buffalo are actively raised in Southeast Asia. In addition, many Asian animals are found in southern Europe - primarily in Italy. There is an opinion that such individuals from Europe ended up in other regions remote from India - Japan, South America, Hawaii. Since people have never managed to domesticate African buffalos, their Indian relatives are actively raised in Madagascar. They are also bred in the eastern regions of Africa. In addition, Asian varieties are found in Transcaucasia and western Ukraine. They began to be bred there back in Soviet times.
Characteristic
Today in biology there are several forms of the Asian buffalo. Moreover, 4 subspecies are considered wild, and 2 are considered domestic. The characteristic features of such animals include the following:
- The first type is widespread in Nepal and eastern India.
- The second type is distinguished by the largest sizes. It is widely found in the Assam region, which is located in eastern India.
- The third species is predominantly found in the east of Assam. Such individuals can be found in the western and southern regions of Indochina.
- The fourth species is also called the Ceylon water buffalo. This animal is found in Sri Lanka.
- The fifth species is the domesticated buffalo, which is called the river type. It is considered the most common animal.Sometimes this individual is even isolated as a separate species.
- The sixth species is a special variety of domestic buffalo, which is characterized by a smaller number of chromosomes. This animal is also called the swamp type.
It is important to consider that in addition to wild and domestic buffalo, there are other varieties. Domesticated animals also include intraspecific breeds, which are called races. In the Russian Federation, they mainly breed the Caucasian breed, which is characterized by a number of features.
These animals are characterized by their large size. At the same time, buffaloes are distinguished by a cup-shaped udder. Otherwise, the Caucasian buffalo is characterized by the same features as other Asian varieties.
Visually, this animal is in many ways similar to an ordinary cow, which is distinguished by a more massive body. Both domestic and wild individuals have a large, rough head with a small forehead and massive horns. They are also characterized by a short and wide back, a long neck, and a large, voluminous belly. Females reach 133-135 centimeters at the withers. Moreover, their weight is 500 kilograms.
How productive are buffaloes?
In almost all important parameters, buffaloes are significantly inferior to ordinary cows. In particular, the slaughter yield, as a rule, is no more than 47%. In cows, this parameter is on average at the level of 50-60%. At the same time, buffaloes are characterized by not particularly tasty meat. In adult individuals, it is very tough and has a pronounced musky odor, so it cannot be consumed like ordinary beef.
Buffalo meat is often subjected to deep processing - for example, it is used to make sausages. It is also used as food for other animals, in particular dogs. At the same time, the meat of young individuals is more reminiscent of beef, although it is much inferior to it in taste. It is noteworthy that wild individuals that live in Australia and Africa are used as objects of sport hunting. However, their meat is also devoid of special value.
It is worth noting that average milk yield is also considered not too high. During lactation it is possible to obtain 1400-1700 liters, which is 2-3 times inferior to ordinary meat and dairy cows. Purely dairy breeds are characterized by even higher parameters.
An important advantage of buffalo milk is its high fat content. A regular cow product contains 2-4% fat, while buffalo contains 8%. Essentially, female buffalo do not produce milk, but low-fat cream.
Buffalo skins are also considered a valuable material. On average, the weight of raw hides per animal is 25-30 kilograms. Moreover, its thickness is 7 millimeters.
How to keep these animals
The rules for breeding African animals are similar to keeping ordinary cows. To raise them, a standard barn is required. It is permissible to use the same meadows as pastures as for cows.
At the same time, farmers argue about the character traits of such animals. Some of them consider buffaloes to be capricious or even aggressive, others call them more pliable than cows.
As food for domestic Indians, it is permissible to use roughage, which is unsuitable for ordinary cows. To do this, you should use corn stalks and straw.A forest or marshy area with an abundance of coastal vegetation is suitable as a pasture. Buffaloes eat ferns, reeds, and sedges well. They also happily feed on nettles and pine needles.
Swampy areas are ideal for growing this breed. However, other types of cattle do not feel very comfortable in such conditions. If there is a swamp or river nearby, the animal will be happy to use the pond for protection from the summer heat.
There is an opinion that such individuals can easily withstand cold weather. However, it is important to remember that animals are characterized by southern origin, so this feature should not be abused. In areas with harsh and frosty winters, it is recommended to build a permanent barn for breeding animals.
In the Russian Federation, domestic buffaloes are bred in Dagestan. Here the local population is engaged in raising animals. At the same time, they are often used as draft animals. There are practically no large farms that specialize in raising buffalo. Outside of Dagestan, buffaloes are raised only by avid enthusiasts.
Pros and cons of buffalos
Experienced farmers advise studying their pros and cons before starting to breed such animals. The main advantages of buffaloes include the following:
- High fat content of buffalo milk. It is at the level of 8%. If you follow the rules of fattening, you will be able to get a parameter of 10% or even higher. It is also worth considering that this product is considered high in calories and contains many valuable components. Buffalo milk is considered an ideal product for making butter and cheese.To get 1 kilogram of butter, you need to use 30-35 liters of cow's milk and 10-15 liters of buffalo milk. This helps compensate for the low milk yield of buffaloes.
- Undemanding to the composition of the feed. These individuals can feed on available roughage, which cannot be used for ordinary cows. Buffaloes readily eat straw, which makes their maintenance much easier, especially in winter.
- Strong immunity. Buffaloes are not susceptible to all kinds of infectious pathologies, unlike other types of cattle. In addition, these animals feel normal in hot climates. It is permissible to breed them in swampy areas - primarily in the southern regions.
It is important to take into account that buffaloes also have very significant disadvantages. Therefore, many farmers prefer to breed ordinary cows. The most significant drawback is considered to be that the meat is not particularly tasty. Recently, breeders have been trying to develop many new breeds with improved taste. However, many consider beef to be tastier.
In addition, domestic animals are characterized by low milk yield. When provided with similar conditions of care and maintenance, buffaloes will produce three times less milk than ordinary cows. If you study the reviews of experienced farmers, you can conclude that buffaloes have a very difficult temperament. These individuals are distinguished by their capricious and wayward character, which cannot be said about cows.
Is it worth breeding them in Russia?
Today, the main population of domestic buffalo in the Russian Federation is concentrated in the North Caucasus Federal District - primarily in Dagestan. Here these animals are mainly bred by local residents. They often use them as draft power.There are no large farms that raise buffaloes here.
It is worth noting that today people rarely raise domestic buffaloes for profit. When keeping calves for slaughter, the farmer manages to sell 45-50% of the meat. The rest comes from skin and bones. At the same time, animal skin is considered to be in high demand. It is often used to make leather products - bags, wallets, and wardrobe items.
Domestic buffalos are considered exotic animals that are not raised everywhere. These individuals are distinguished by not very tasty meat. At the same time, they produce healthy milk with high fat content. In any case, before breeding such animals, it is important to familiarize yourself with the main features of their maintenance.
