Italy and Asia: Buffalo farming - a comparison

Publikations-Art

Zeitschriftenbeitrag

Autoren

Sastry,N.S.R.; Gall,C.F.

Erscheinungsjahr

1985

Veröffentlicht in

World Animal Review

Band/Volume

1985/55

Seite (von - bis)

2-13

Attempts are being made to solve problems adversely affecting the economic efficiency of buffalo production in Asia. The comparison between buffalo farming in Italy, where the industry is most technically advanced, and that in Asia indicates some of the more important reasons for the problems in developing and improving the buffalo industrie in Asia. The market situation for buffalo production is similar in Italy and in Asia: the supply of buffalo milk is below demand and its price is 2 to 2 ¿ times that of cow's milk. There is, therefore, an incentive for higher milk production. Comparison of highest producers indicates that the superiority of Italian buffalo production is not mainly due to genetics but rather to feeding, management and breeding organisation. Specialised production in large herds in Italy allows good herd management and feeding as well as a genetic improvement programme. In Asia, buffalos in very small holdings constitute only a secondary part .of a mixed farming enterprise. First priority in Asia will be to improve nutrition. This may be achieved through increased fodder production, better use of agricultural by-products, use of other non-conventional feed resources and the supply of low-cost feed mixes possibly with added urea. Furthermore, it will be necessary to establish the infrastructure for breed improvement and to start production recording. In rural areas, the formation of dairy co-operatives will probably be the only way to overcome the constraint of small-holding. And help farmers to organise themselves, establish marketing facilities, assist with the supply of inputs, provide veterinary and advisory services and organise breed improvement. In urban areas, the formation of large, specialised herds may help increase city milk supply