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Buffaloes for Dairying in South Asia: Potential, Challenges and Way Forward

M.N.A. Siddiky*
SAARC Agriculture Centre, BARC Complex, Farmgate, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh

M.O. Faruque
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Buffalo is considered the dairy animal for 21st century due to its higher adaptability and productivity in the changing climatic conditions. There is a large diversity in the buffalo genetic resources and South Asia is home of high yielding source promising buffalo breed of Murrah and Nail Ravi. South Asia is inhabitant of 151.49 million buffalo populations out of 194.29 million of global populations. Besides, about 79.74 % of Asia and 77.9 % of world buffalo populations are inhabitant in South Asian countries. During the last decade, the world buffalo population has been increased by approximately 1.49% annually. South Asia is currently producing 100.74 million metric tons of buffalo milk which is about 96.05 % of Asia and 93.19 % of world buffalo milk production. The share of buffalo milk is around 51.07% of the total milk production of the South Asia. The contribution of buffalo milk in India, Nepal and Pakistan are 51.2%, 66.6% and 59.5% respectively in total milk production. Among the South Asian countries, maximum milk is produced by India followed by Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The productivity of buffalo has been recorded 410 kg-1 buffalo-1 year, 1880 kg-1 buffalo -1 year, 1934 kg-1 buffalo-1 year and 867 kg-1 buffalo-1 year, 508 kg-1 buffalo-1 year in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka respectively. Although most of the buffaloes are non-descript indigenous types and their production potential is not satisfactory. There are different production systems are prevailing such as zero input-low output, low input-medium output and high input-high output. Moreover, selective breeding for buffalo with the same breed under low input-medium output production system and grading up of non-descript buffaloes using improver breed/s under zero input-low output production system has been commonly practiced. The demand of milk has been increasing due to economic solvency and rapid pace of urbanization but most of the countries are deficit in production even it is challenging to meet the projected demand to achieve the SDG by 2030. To increase the productivity through genetic improvement of buffaloes could be important thrust areas to obtain projected demand of milk. Productive and reproductive efficiency can only be improved by adopting suitable breeding policies and good management practices.

Keywords: Buffalo, Dairying, Milk, South Asia

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End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Buffalo

Objectives:

Although buffalo is an essential part of livestock in South Asian countries but it has been neglected in some SAARC countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. This paper mainly discussed about the buffalo and its important.

Methodology:

This paper mainly discussed on the followings titles and sub-titles-

Introduction, - Buffalo population dynamics in South Asia, - Buffalo genetic resources in South Asia, -Buffalo milk production in South Asia, -Productivity of buffalo in South Asia, - Buffalo milk quality, - Buffalo genetic improvement, - Nutrition and health care, - Advantages of buffalo husbandry over cattle, Work/Animal traction, Utilization of feeds: conversion of meat and milk, Resistances to diseases , Soil fertility, Resistance to climatic hazard, Housing, Inherent qualities as meat producer, Increasing popularity of buffalo, Constraints of buffalo development in South Asia, Recommendations of buffalo development in South Asia: Support product processing and marketing facilities, Capacity building, Long term intervention areas for buffalo breed improvement program, Considering the constrains and present socio-economic trends in buffalo production and marketing, the following suggestions are being considered.

Source of Information: SAARC J. Agri., 15(2): 227-239 (2017)

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sja.v15i2.35167

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Achievement/Findings:

The buffalo dairying in the region is characterized by small-scale, scattered and unorganized buffalo holders; low productivity; inadequate and inappropriate animal feeding and health care; lack of assured year-round remunerative price for milk production; inadequate basic infrastructure for provision of production inputs and services; inadequate basic infrastructure for procurement, transportation, processing and marketing of milk; and lack of professional management. Low productivity of dairy buffaloes is a serious constraint to dairy development in the region. The productivity of dairy buffaloes could be increased by adoptive appropriate breeding strategies. The breeding policy should not only focus on milk yield but should also provide for the production of good quality breeding bulls. Selective breeding with high yielding purebreds, such as Murrah, Nili Ravi, should be given high priority in their home tract and same may be practices for buffaloes maintained under low input system.

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