The behaviour and productivity of water buffalo in different breeding systems: a review

Abstract

This review examines the behaviour and productivity of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) under different breeding systems and in relation to meat and milk production. At present, the steady increment in the consumption of products and sub-products of this species has generated the need to increase the number of animals incorporated into production by progressively expanding the use of stabling systems, reducing the space available to these animals, and applying techniques developed previously for meat and milk production in bovines. However, because such adaptations often fail to take into account important biological and behavioural features of these animals, they may result in serious problems of animal welfare. On the other hand, it is known that water buffaloes adapt well to humid tropical climates, especially in systems that provide extensive, continuous pastureland. These species are highly susceptible to thermal stress, a fact that leads them to constantly perform wallowing behaviour. For all these reasons, open-air and, above all, silvopastoral, systems represent attractive options because they combine the presence of forage plants with trees that provide natural shade and serve as wind barriers, thus attenuating the negative effects of tropical climes. These measures help increase productivity by promoting greater forage consumption and fostering the expression of the species' natural behaviours, but the reduction in human contact affects their welfare. Hence, this review concludes that welfare is a fundamental concept that must be taken into account in the development of systems for water buffalo production.

In vitro predatory activity of nematophagous fungi isolated from water buffalo feces and from soil in the Mexican southeastern

“…On the other hand, water buffalos were introduced to Mexico in the mid-1990's as an alternative and promising species to increase livestock production (LIRA-AMAYA et al, 2017). This kind of cattle has been considered as important due to its characteristics such as rusticity and adaptability to grasslands with warm climates and flooding areas (CRUZ-CRUZ et al, 2014). Due to these characteristics, water buffalo has gained the interest of farmers for establishing herds in flood plain areas of southern Mexico; in particular, farmers have expressed their interest to produce organic meat from water buffalo because this kind of production system would be substantially beneficial to their income.…”

Ingestive Behavior of Buffaloes Fed Increasing Levels of Concentrate in Sugarcane Based Diets

“…The authors observed 1.76 and 0.374 kg DM/h for FE and RE DM for 60% of concentrate in the diet, lower to observed in the present study. According to De la Cruz et al (2014), the buffaloes are more efficient in transforming the diet and may be due to this species slow, efficacious chewing motion that involves more developed muscle fibres for rumination than in the case of cattle, including the digastric muscle, the masseter muscle, the pterygoid muscle and even the tongue (VEGA et al, 2010). According to Napolitano et al (2013), other important features include its larger corporal volume, slower movement, smaller outflow rate and higher bacterial activity.…”

Current Knowledge on River Buffalo Meat: A Critical Analysis

“…On the other hand, buffaloes exhibit positive characteristics as well. They are superior to cattle in exploiting the low-quality feeds typical of many rearing areas and demonstrate a great capacity for adaptation to a wide variety of management conditions [6,7].…”