Water buffalo populations

Last updated
A water buffalo in the Philippines Philippine Carabao.jpg
A water buffalo in the Philippines

Water buffalo populations are distributed around the world because of their economic usefulness for work, dairy products, and meat. The global population in 2020 was 208 million, across 77 countries and all five continents.

Contents

By 2011, the global water buffalo population was about 172 million. [1] The estimated global population of water buffalo is 208,098,759 head distributed in 77 countries in five continents. [2]

In Asia

A water buffalo in Cambodia Water buffaloes of Cambodia.jpg
A water buffalo in Cambodia

More than 95.8% of the world population of water buffaloes are kept in Asia, including both the river-type and the swamp-type. [3] The water buffalo population in India numbered over 97.9 million head in 2003, representing 56.5% of the world population. They are primarily of the river type, with 10 well-defined breeds: the Bhadawari, Banni, Jafarabadi, Marathwadi, Mehsana, Murrah, Nagpuri, Nili-Ravi, Pandharpuri, Surti, and Toda buffaloes. Swamp buffaloes occur only in small areas in northeastern India and are not distinguished into breeds. [4]

Water buffaloes being washed in the Mutha river of Pune, India Water buffaloes being washed in the Mutha river of Pune in 1986 IMG 20230204 165155.jpg
Water buffaloes being washed in the Mutha river of Pune, India

In 2003, the second-largest population lived in China, with 22.76 million head, all of the swamp-type, with many breeds kept only in the lowlands, and other breeds kept only in the mountains; as of 2003, 3.2 million swamp-type carabao buffaloes were in the Philippines, nearly 3 million swamp buffaloes were in Vietnam, and roughly 773,000 buffaloes were in Bangladesh. About 750,000 head were estimated in Sri Lanka in 1997. [3] In Japan, the water buffalo was used as a domestic animal throughout the Ryukyu Islands or Okinawa prefecture, however it is almost extinct now and mainly used as a tourist attraction. [5] Per a 2015 report, about 836,500 water buffaloes were in Nepal. [6]

The water buffalo is the main dairy animal in Pakistan, with 23.47 million head in 2010. [7] Of these, 76% are kept in the Punjab. The rest are mostly kept in the province of Sindh. The water buffalo breeds used are the Nili-Ravi, Kundi, and Azi Kheli. [8] Karachi alone has upwards of 400,000 head of water buffalo in 2021, which provide dairy as well as meat to the local population. [9] [10]

In Thailand, the number of water buffaloes dropped from more than 3 million head in 1996 to less than 1.24 million head in 2011. [11] Slightly over 75% of them are kept in the country's northeastern region. By the beginning of 2012, less than one million were in the country, partly as a result of illegal shipments to neighbouring countries where sales prices are higher than in Thailand.[ citation needed ]

The population of water buffaloes in Bangladesh grew significantly, rising from slightly above 1 million in 2002 to over 1.8 million by 2017. [12]

Water buffaloes are also present in the southern region of Iraq in the Mesopotamian Marshes. The draining of the Mesopotamian Marshes by Saddam Hussein was an attempt to punish the south for the 1991 Iraqi uprisings. After 2003 and the Firdos Square statue destruction, these lands were reflooded and a 2007 report on Maysan and Dhi Qar shows a steady increase in the number of water buffaloes. The report puts the number at 40,008 head in those two provinces. [13]

In Europe and the Mediterranean

Buffaloes in Romania Cuciulata bivoli 1.jpg
Buffaloes in Romania

Water buffaloes were probably introduced to Europe from India or other eastern sources. In Italy, the Longobard King Agilulf is said to have received water buffaloes around 600 AD. These were probably a present from the Khan of the Avars, a Turkic nomadic tribe that dwelt near the Danube River at the time. Sir H. Johnston knew of a herd of water buffaloes presented by a King of Naples to the Bey of Tunis in the mid-19th century that had resumed the feral state in northern Tunis. [14]

European water buffaloes are all of the river-type and considered to be of the same breed named the Mediterranean buffalo. In Italy, the Mediterranean type was particularly selected and is called the Mediterranea Italiana buffalo to distinguish it from other European breeds, which differ genetically. Mediterranean buffalo are also kept in Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, with a few hundred in the United Kingdom, Ireland, [15] Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Hungary. Little exchange of breeding water buffaloes has occurred among countries, so each population has its own phenotypic features and performances. In Bulgaria, they were crossbred with the Indian Murrah breed, and in Romania, some were crossbred with Bulgarian Murrah. [3] As of 2016, about 13,000 buffaloes were in Romania, down from 289,000 in 1989. [16]

Populations in Turkey are of the Anatolian buffalo breed. [17]

In Australia

A feral water buffalo in Australia WildWaterBuffalo(Bubalus bubalis arnee).jpg
A feral water buffalo in Australia

Between 1824 and 1849, [18] swamp buffaloes [19] were introduced into the Northern Territory, from Timor and Kisar and probably other islands in the Indonesian archipelago, to provide meat and hide. [18] When the third attempt at settlement by the British on the Cobourg Peninsula was abandoned in 1849, the buffaloes were released. [20] In the 1880s, a few river buffaloes were imported from India to Darwin for milk. [21] [19] Water buffalo have been the main grazing animals on the subcoastal plains and river basins between Darwin and Arnhem Land (the "Top End") since the 1880s. [18] [19] They became feral and caused significant environmental damage. Their only natural predators in Australia are crocodiles and dingoes, which can only prey on the younger animals. As a result, they were hunted in the Top End from 1885 until 1980. [22]

In the early 1960s, an estimated population of 150,000 to 200,000 water buffaloes was living in the plains and nearby areas. [18] The commencement of the brucellosis and tuberculosis campaign (BTEC) resulted in a huge culling program to reduce water buffalo herds to a fraction of the numbers that were reached in the 1980s. The BTEC was finished when the Northern Territory was declared free of the disease in 1997. Numbers dropped dramatically as a result of the campaign, but had recovered to an estimated 150,000 animals across northern Australia in 2008, [22] and up to an estimated 200,000 by 2022. [20] Both swamp and river buffaloes exist in feral populations, [22] but swamp buffaloes are more prevalent than river buffaloes. [19]

Significance to Aboriginal peoples

"Nganabbarru" is the Bininj Kunwok word for buffalo, which are represented in rock art paintings at Djabidjbakalloi. The buffalo left behind after the failed British attempt at settlement became a threat to the local Aboriginal peoples, as they had no guns at that time. As the herds expanded across into Arnhem Land, some local people seized the chance to hunt the animals for their hides in the 1880s, as they did not belong to anyone, unlike sheep and cattle. The industry continues to provide employment opportunities and income for traditional owners. [20]

Uses

During the 1950s, Australian water buffaloes were hunted for their skins and meat, which was exported and used in the local trade. In the late 1970s, live exports were made to Cuba and continued later into other countries. Swamp buffaloes are now crossed with river buffaloes in artificial insemination programs, and are kept in many areas of Australia. Some of these crossbreeds are used for milk production. Melville Island is a popular hunting location, where a steady population up to 4,000 individuals exists. Safari outfits are run from Darwin to Melville Island and other locations in the Top End, often with the use of bush pilots; buffalo horns, which can measure up to a record of 3.1 m (10 ft) tip-to-tip, are prized hunting trophies. [23]

Water buffaloes were exported live to Indonesia until 2011, at a rate of about 3,000 per year. After the live export ban that year, the exports dropped to zero, and had not resumed as of June 2013. [24] Tom Dawkins, CEO of NT Buffalo Industry Council, said in May 2022 that culling should be a last resort, given the flourishing and growing live export trade and economic benefits for Aboriginal people. [20] By the end of 2021, cattle exports to Indonesia had dropped to the lowest level since 2012, while demand for buffalo was growing both in Australia and in Southeast Asia. [25]

In South America

A Murrah buffalo on a Brazilian farm Bufalo Murrah.JPG
A Murrah buffalo on a Brazilian farm

Water buffaloes were introduced into the Amazon River basin in 1895. They are now extensively used there for meat and dairy production. In 2005, the water buffalo herd in the Brazilian Amazon stood at roughly 1.6 million head, of which 460,000 were located in the lower Amazon floodplains. [26] The breeds used include the Mediterranean from Italy, the Murrah and Jafarabadi from India, and the carabao from the Philippines. The official Brazilian herd number in 2019 is 1.39 million head. [2]

During the 1970s, small herds were imported to Costa Rica, Ecuador, Cayenne, Panama, Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela. [27]

In Argentina, many game ranches raise water buffaloes for commercial hunting. [28]

Other important herds in South America are Colombia (>300.000), Argentina (>100.000) and Venezuela with unconfirmed reports ranging from 200 to 500 thousand head. [2]

In North America

In 1974, four water buffaloes were imported to the United States from Guam to be studied at the University of Florida. In February 1978, the first herd arrived for commercial farming. Until 2002, only one commercial breeder was in the United States. Water buffalo meat is imported from Australia. [27] Until 2011, water buffaloes were raised in Gainesville, Florida, from young obtained from zoo overflow. They were used primarily for meat production, and frequently sold as hamburger. [29] Other U.S. ranchers use them for production of high-quality mozzarella cheese. [30] [31] [32] [33] Water buffaloes are also kept in the Caribbean, specifically in Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba. [34]

References

  1. ↑ Borghese, A. (2011). "Situation and Perspectives of Buffalo in the World, Europe and Macedonia" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine . Macedonian Journal of Animal Science 1 (#2): 281–296.
  2. 1 2 3 Minervino, A.H.H.; Zava, M.; Vecchio, D.; Borghese, A. (2020). "Bubalus bubalis: A Short Story". Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 7: 570413. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.570413 . PMC   7736047 . PMID   33335917.
  3. 1 2 3 Borghese, A., Mazzi, M. (2005). Buffalo Population and Strategies in the World. Pages 1–39 in Borghese, A. (ed.) Buffalo Production and Research. REU Technical Series 67. Inter-regional Cooperative Research Network on Buffalo, FAO Regional Office for Europe, Rome.
  4. ↑ C. V. Singh, R. S. Barwal (2010). Buffalo Breeding Research and Improvement Strategies in India. In: The Buffalo in the World. Proceedings of the 9th World Buffalo Congress, Buenos Aires, April 2010, pages 1024–1031. Archived 17 April 2012.
  5. ↑ Faruque, M. O.; Nomura, K.; Takahashi, Y.; Amano, T. (2004). "Genetic diversity of Asian water buffalo" (PDF). Present Status and Genetic Variability of Animal Genetic Resources in Asian Region. Proceedings of the 10th NIAS International Workshop on Genetic Resources. Tsukuba, Japan: National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS). pp. 61–79.
  6. ↑ Micallef, H. (2015-11-24) Water Buffalo Milk Soap Archived 18 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine . saknepal.org
  7. ↑ Agricultural Census Commission (2012). Pakistan Agricultural Census 2010. Archived 27 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Government of Pakistan, Statistics Division, Agricultural Census Organization, Lahore.
  8. ↑ FAO (2013). Breeds reported by Pakistan: Buffalo. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome.
  9. ↑ "In Karachi's cattle colonies, thousands of newborn buffaloes illegally killed each year". Arab News PK. 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  10. ↑ Moustafa, A. M.; Ali, S. N.; Bennett, M. D.; Hyndman, T. H.; Robertson, I. D.; Edwards, J. (April 2017). "A Case-control Study of Haemorrhagic Septicaemia in Buffaloes and Cattle in Karachi, Pakistan, in 2012". Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 64 (2): 520–527. doi: 10.1111/tbed.12393 . hdl: 1983/16f5e846-aea1-4b02-9dae-a268dac7f5df . PMID   26189329. S2CID   9463614.
  11. ↑ Uriyapongson, Suthipong (2013). "Buffalo and Buffalo Meat in Thailand". Buffalo Bulletin. 32 (Sp. 1). Citeseer: 329–332.
  12. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Buffalo-population-Ranking-of-countries-in-Asia_tbl2_332906869.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ Abid, H. (2007). "Water Buffalo in the Iraqi Marshes" (PDF). Nature Iraq: 29.
  14. ↑ Lydekker, R. (1898). "The Indian buffalo – Bos bubalis". Wild Oxen, Sheep, and Goats of all Lands. London: Rowland Ward. pp. 118–128.
  15. ↑ Rushe, Elizabeth. "Ireland's First Water Buffalo Farmer Signs €1M Contract with Aldi Ireland". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  16. ↑ "Only 13 000 buffalo left in Romania". European Parliament. 2016-03-18.
  17. ↑ Moioli, B. and A. Borghese (2005). Buffalo Breeds and Management Systems. Pages 51–76 in Borghese, A. (ed.) Buffalo Production and Research Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine . REU Technical Series 67. Inter-regional Cooperative Research Network on Buffalo, FAO Regional Office for Europe, Rome.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Letts, G. A. (1964). "Feral Animals in the Northern Territory". Australian Veterinary Journal. 40 (3): 84–88. doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.1964.tb01703.x.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Feral Water Buffalo". Aussie Animals. 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Chaseling, O. (2022). "Photographer David Hancock's 30-year journey documenting Australia's wild buffalo". ABC News. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  21. ↑ Jenkins, D.J.; Williams, T.; Raidal, S.; Gauci, C.; Lightowlers, M.W. (2019). "The first report of hydatid disease (Echinococcus granulosus) in an Australian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)". International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. 8: 256–259. Bibcode:2019IJPPW...8..256J. doi:10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.03.011. PMC   6430717 . PMID   30976509.
  22. 1 2 3 "The feral water buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis)" (PDF). Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 2011.
  23. ↑ Sharp, K. (2009). Frontier to the Crossroads. Outback Magazine 67:
  24. ↑ "Buffalo exports still suffering". ABC Radio National . RN Breakfast. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  25. ↑ "November cattle exports slow while buffalo shipments grow". Beef Central. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  26. ↑ Sheikh, P.A.; Merry, F.D.; McGrath, D.G. (2006). "Water buffalo and cattle ranching in the Lower Amazon Basin: Comparisons and conflicts". Agricultural Systems. 87 (3): 313–330. Bibcode:2006AgSys..87..313S. doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2005.02.003.
  27. 1 2 National Research Council (U.S.). (2002). The Water Buffalo: New Prospects for an Underutilized Animal : Report. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
  28. ↑ "Pointer Big Game | WATER BUFFALO". www.pointerbiggame.com. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  29. ↑ "Buffalos find home on the kitchen range // Sought-after meat lower than beef in cholesterol, fat" (1989). Austin American Statesman: D3
  30. ↑ Mehren, E. (2003-10-09). "Water buffalo enlisted for Vermont venture" Chicago Tribune.
  31. ↑ Mehren, E. (2003-09-22). "A Taste of Italy, Via Vermont" (2003). Los Angeles Times
  32. ↑ "Buffalo make the mozzarella" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press (2006-11-23).
  33. ↑ Fletcher, J. (2006-08-10). "Buffalo milk's curds and whey" Archived 20 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine . San Francisco Chronicle .
  34. ↑ Borghese, A. (2005). "Buffalo Production and Research". REU Technical Series (67).
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.