Domestic buffalo: maintenance and care, pros and cons, productivity
Many people perceive the buffalo as a zoo animal or even saw it only in pictures. At the same time, not everyone knows that such animals can be raised as ordinary cattle. This occupation is considered promising. At the same time, a number of distinctive features are characteristic of keeping domestic buffaloes. To get good results, you should definitely consider them.
Description of the animal
Buffalo is a large animal weighing more than 1 ton. However, not all of them differ in such a mass. If we talk about growth, this parameter is 1-1.5 meters.At the same time, 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 gain. Males are more massive. They are heavier than females. This makes it possible for such individuals 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 very large horns, which are directed in different directions and differ in bends. Visually, the fusion zone of the horns and the skull looks like a helmet.
There are also Indian buffaloes. Their horns reach record levels of 2 meters in size. At the same time, they do not grow up, but to the side. At the end, these elements are completely turned back. There are polled individuals, but they are rare.
If we talk about wool, it is short and harsh. At the same time, it differs in insufficient density. A relatively dense pile is present on the tail. At its end is a bundle of wool, similar to a brush. The coat color is predominantly black or brown. However, other options are possible.
Despite numerous attempts by European scientists, they failed to domesticate African buffaloes. Today, they are still completely wild animals that are found only in zoos or safari parks. Also, African individuals live in almost all regions of Black Africa. They are distinguished by a bad character and a habit of destroying plantings. Therefore, at home, such animals are regarded as dangerous pests that cause damage to farmers and pose a threat to people.
In this case, the Indian buffalo was domesticated in ancient times. Since that moment, even two subspecies of such individuals have appeared. Domestic individuals in many ways resemble wild ones. However, they are characterized by a calm nature, massive horns and a strong physique.
Today, buffaloes 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 not managed to tame African buffaloes, their Indian relatives are actively grown 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 breed them there back in Soviet times.
Characteristic
There are several forms of the Asiatic buffalo in biology today. At the same time, 4 subspecies are considered wild, and 2 are domestic. The characteristic features of such animals include the following:
- First species - widespread in Nepal and eastern India.
- The second type is the largest. It is widely found in the Assam region, which is located in the east of India.
- The third species - mainly lives 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 an independent 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 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 are mainly engaged in breeding the Caucasian breed, which is characterized by a number of features.
These animals are characterized by large sizes. At the same time, buffaloes differ in the cup-shaped shape of the udder. The rest of 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 has 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. At the same time, their weight is 500 kilograms.
Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionBuffaloes have a short coat. However, they differ in the same suit. These animals are characterized by the presence of wool of different shades of black and brown. Some individuals have a white spot on the head.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 adults, it is very tough and has a pronounced musky smell, therefore it will not be possible to use it 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, for 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 lacking in value.
It is worth noting that average milk yields are also considered not too high. For lactation, it is possible to get 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 typical cow product contains 2-4% fat, while buffalo has 8%. In fact, female buffalo do not give milk, but low-fat cream.
Buffalo skins are also considered a valuable material. On average, the weight of raw leather from 1 animal is 25-30 kilograms. At the same time, its thickness is 7 millimeters.
How to keep these animals
The rules for breeding African individuals are reminiscent of keeping ordinary cows. For their cultivation, a standard barn is required. It is permissible to use the same meadows as for cows as pastures.
At the same time, farmers argue about the nature of such animals. Some of them consider buffaloes capricious or even aggressive, others call them more pliable than cows.
As food for domestic Indian individuals, it is permissible to use roughage that is unsuitable for ordinary cows.To do this, use corn stalks and straw. A forest or swampy area with an abundance of coastal vegetation is suitable as a pasture. Buffaloes eat ferns, reeds, and sedges well. They also enjoy eating nettles and pine needles.
Marshland is ideal for growing this breed. At the same time, other types of cattle do not feel very comfortable in such conditions. If there is a swamp or river nearby, the animal will gladly use the pond to protect itself 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 of southern origin, so this feature should not be abused. In areas with severe and frosty winters, it is recommended to build a capital barn for animal breeding.
In the Russian Federation, domestic buffaloes are bred in Dagestan. Here the local population is engaged in the cultivation of animals.However, they are often used as draft animals. There are practically no large farms that specialize in raising buffaloes. Outside of Dagestan, buffaloes are raised only by avid enthusiasts.
Pros and cons of buffaloes
Experienced farmers before breeding such animals are advised to study their pros and cons. The main advantages of buffaloes include the following:
- High-fat buffalo milk. It is at the level of 8%. Subject to the rules of fattening, it will be possible to obtain a parameter of 10% or even higher. It should also be borne in mind that this product is considered high-calorie 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. This helps to compensate for the low milk yields of buffaloes.
- Undemanding to the composition of the feed. These individuals can eat available roughage that cannot be used for ordinary cows. Buffaloes readily eat straw, which greatly simplifies their maintenance, especially in winter.
- Strong immunity. Buffaloes are not subject to all sorts of infectious pathologies, unlike other types of cattle. In addition, these animals feel fine in a hot climate. They can be bred in swampy areas - primarily in the southern regions.
It is important to take into account that buffaloes are also characterized by very significant disadvantages. Therefore, many farmers prefer to breed ordinary cows. The most significant drawback is considered not very tasty meat. Recently, breeders are trying to breed many new breeds with improved taste. However, many consider beef to be tastier.
In addition, domestic animals are characterized by low milk yields.With similar conditions of care and maintenance, buffaloes will bring three times less milk than ordinary cows. If you study the reviews of experienced farmers, you should conclude that buffaloes have a very difficult temper. These individuals are characterized by a capricious and wayward character, which cannot be said about cows.
Is it worth breeding them in Russia
Today, the main number of domestic buffaloes in the Russian Federation is concentrated in the region of 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 buffalo farms here.
Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionIn central Russia, buffaloes are considered very exotic. Therefore, farms that grow these animals invariably attract the attention of the press.It's worth noting that today people rarely raise domestic buffalo for profit. When keeping calves for slaughter, the farmer manages to sell 45-50% of the meat. The rest is skin and bones. At the same time, animal skin is considered very popular. It is often used to make leather goods - bags, wallets, wardrobe items.
Domestic buffaloes are considered exotic animals, which are grown far from everywhere. These individuals are not very tasty meat. At the same time, they give he althy high-fat milk. In any case, before breeding such animals, it is important to familiarize yourself with the main features of their content.
