Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T17:55:08.176Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Introduction of domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) into Ethiopia would be feasible

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2011

Takele Taye Desta
Takele Taye Desta*
Affiliation:
Wolaita Sodo Agricultural TVET College, PO Box 120, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Due to its high agro-ecological variation and favorable production environment, Ethiopia has been endowed with high diversity of animal genetic resources and huge livestock population. However, the per capita consumption of livestock products is among the least in the world. To increase this consumption level, Ethiopia needs to keep livestock species that would be able to thrive under sub-optimal management systems, while providing some amount of products and services. The domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is one of the large ruminants that contribute to the least developed world's food and agriculture production. Therefore, introduction of the riverine-type buffalo would support food and agriculture production in Ethiopia. Moreover, the existing high demand for milk and meat, and the agro-ecological conditions are in favor of introduction of the riverine-type buffalo. More specifically, the riverine buffalo excels over indigenous cattle in its milk yield and quality of milk components. It also has a long productive life, a special ability of converting poor-quality roughage into animal protein, docile temperament and a wide range of adaptation. The presence of wild buffalo also shows Ethiopia's suitability for domestic buffalo rearing. Therefore, even though it seems illogical to make direct comparison between the performance of the Ethiopian indigenous cattle and the domestic buffaloes kept elsewhere; the hardy nature of buffalo and its wide range of adaptation would indicate the adaptation of the riverine-type buffalo in Ethiopia. However, the introduced riverine-type buffalo needs to be handled on experimental stations until management expertise is developed.

Keywords

domestic buffalointroductionEthiopiafeasibilityindigenous cattle
Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , December 2012 , pp. 305 - 313
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Kemp, S., Mamo, Y., Asrat, B., and Dessie, T. (eds)2007. Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information System (DAGRIS). International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Available at Web site http://dagris.ilri.cgiar.org (accessed August 6, 2011).Google Scholar
2IBC. 2004. The State of Ethiopia's Farm Animal Genetic Resources: Country Report. A Contribution to the First Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources, May 2004. IBC (Institute of Biodiversity Conservation), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
3MEDaC. 2000. Ethiopian Economy in Figures: Selected Indicators. Macroeconomic Planning and Policy Analysis Department, Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (MEDaC), Addis Ababa,Ethiopia.Google Scholar
4CSA. 1999. Statistical abstract (1998). Central Statistics Authority (CSA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
5FAO. 2003. FAO Production Year Book. Vol. 56. FAO Statistics Series No. 176, FAO, Rome, Italy.Google Scholar
6Taddese, G. 2001. Land degradation: A challenge to Ethiopia. Environmental Management 27:815–824.Google Scholar
7MOARD. 2007. Livestock Development Master Plan Study. Phase I Report – Data Collection and Analysis. Volume V – Policy and Institutions, November 2007. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
8Mesfin, R. and Ledin, I. 2004. Assessment of the treatment and use of urea treated straw for cattle feeding in Selale, central Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Animal Production 4(1):23–32.Google Scholar
9CSA. 2007. Statistical Report on Farm Management Practices, Livestock and Farm Implements, Part II. Central Statistical Authority (CSA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
10EMA. 1988. National Atlas of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Mapping Authority, People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
11MoA. 1998. Agro-Ecological Zones of Ethiopia. Natural Resource Management and Regulatory Department, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
12Paul, S.S. and Patil, N.V. 2007. Energy and protein requirements of growing Nili-Ravi buffalo heifers in tropical environment. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 87:2286–2293.Google Scholar
13Payne, W.J.A. and Wilson, R.T. 1999. An Introduction to Animal Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics. 5th ed.Blackwell Science, Malden, MA, USA.Google Scholar
14McCool, C. 1992. Buffalo and Bali cattle – exploiting their reproductive behaviour and physiology. Tropical Animal Health and Production 24:165–172.Google Scholar
15Presicce, G.A. 2007. Reproduction in the water buffalo. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 42(Suppl. 2):24–32.Google Scholar
16Perera, B.M.A.O. 2008. Reproduction in domestic buffalo. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 43(Suppl. 2):200–206.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17Di Berardino, D. and Iannuzzi, L. 1981. Chromosome banding homologies in swamp and Murrah buffalo. Journal of Hereditary 72:183–188.Google Scholar
18Cruz, L.C. 2007. Trends in buffalo production in Asia. Italian Journal of Animal Science 6(Suppl. 2):9–24.Google Scholar
19Ranjhan, S.K. 2007. Buffalo as a social animal for humanity. Italian Journal of Animal Science 6(Suppl. 2):30–38.Google Scholar
20Sadana, D.K. 2010. Buffalo diversity in India: Breeds, defined populations, production systems and avenues. In The Buffalo in the World, World Buffalo Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 2010, p. 1032–1035.Google Scholar
21Devendra, C., Thomas, D., Jabbar, M.A., and Zerbini, E. 2000. Improvement of Livestock Production in Crop-Animal Systems in Agro-Ecological Zones of South Asia. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), Nairobi, Kenya.Google Scholar
22Singh, C.V. and Barwal, R.S. 2010. Buffalo breeding research and improvement strategies in India. In The Buffalo in the World, World Buffalo Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 2010, p. 1024–1031.Google Scholar
23FAO. 2004. Livestock census. Available at Website http://www.fao.org (accessed August 6, 2011).Google Scholar
24Sheikh, P.A., Merry, F.D., and McGrath, D.G. 2006. Water buffalo and cattle ranching in the Lower Amazon Basin: comparisons and conflicts. Agricultural Systems 87:313–330.Google Scholar
25Younas, M., Yaqoob, M., Ahmad, T., Babar, M.E., Ali, A., and Shahzad, F. 2009. A study on breeding practices of water buffalo kept under various production systems in Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology (Suppl. Ser. 9):91–102.Google Scholar
26DPI (Department of Primary Industries). 2000. Agriculture notes water buffalo. Farm diversification information service, Bendigo. Available at Web site http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/9e58661e880ba9e44a256c640023eb2e/f28d428766eaa17fca256f0e00086efa/$FILE/Ag0619.pdf (retrieved July 20, 2005).Google Scholar
27Cockrill, W.R. 1974. The working buffalo. In Cockrill, W.R. (ed.). The Husbandry and Health of Domestic Buffalo. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy. p. 313–328.Google Scholar
28Rao, V.A., Thulasi, G., Ruban, S.W., and Thangaraju, P. 2009. Optimum age of slaughter of non-descript buffalo: carcass and yield characteristics. The Journal of Agricultural Science 42(3):133–138.Google Scholar
29Kandeepan, G., Biswas, S., and Rajkumar, R.S. 2009. Buffalo as a potential food animal: review. International Journal of Livestock Production 1(1):1–5.Google Scholar
30Khan, M.A. and Niamatullah, M. 2010. Buffalo versus cattle? Let us close this controversy and concentrate on improving the productivity of buffalo. In The Buffalo in the World, World Buffalo Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 2010, p. 1043–1045.Google Scholar
31Bingzhuang, Y., Chunyan, Y., and Xianwei, L. 2010. Buffalo production systems in China. In The Buffalo in the World, World Buffalo Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 2010, p. 1037–1042.Google Scholar
32Soliman, I. and Bassiony, H. 2010. Role of buffalo in international trade. In The Buffalo in the World, World Buffalo Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 2010, p. 1058–1073.Google Scholar
33Sastry, N.S.R. and Gall, C.F. 1985. Italy and Asia: buffalo farming: a comparison. World Animal Review 5:2–13.Google Scholar
34Khan, R.N. and Usmani, R.H. 2005. Characteristics of rural subsistence smallholder livestock production system in mountainous areas of NWFP, Pakistan. Pakistan Veterinary Journal 25(3):115–120.Google Scholar
35Ranjhan, S.K. and Pathak, N.N. 1983. Management and Feeding of Buffaloes. 2nd revised ed. Vikas Publishing, Delhi, India.Google Scholar
36Bewket, W. 2005. Biofuel consumption, household level tree planting and its implications for environmental management in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review 21(1):19–38.Google Scholar
37Pasha, T.N. 2007. Comparison between bovine and buffalo milk yield in Pakistan. Italian Journal of Animal Science 6(Suppl. 2):58–66.Google Scholar
38Borghese, A., Rasmussen, M., and Thomas, C.S. 2007. Milking management of dairy buffalo. Italian Journal of Animal Science 6(Suppl. 2):39–50.Google Scholar
39Javed, K., Babar, M.E., Shafiq, M., and Ali, A. 2009. Environmental sources of variation for lactation milk yield in Nili-Ravi buffaloes. Pakistan Journal of Zoology (Suppl. Ser. 9):79–83.Google Scholar
40Afzal, M. 2010. Re-designing smallholder dairy production in Pakistan. Pakistan Veterinary Journal 30(3):187–190.Google Scholar
41Zicarelli, L. 2004. Buffalo milk: its properties, dairy yield and mozzarella production. Veterinary Research Communications 28:127–135.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
42Mukasa, M.E., Ephraim, B., and Taddese, T. 1989. Type and productivity of indigenous cattle in central Ethiopia: short communication. Tropical Animal Health and Production 21:120.Google Scholar
43Franzolin, R. 1994. Feed efficiency: a comparison between cattle and buffalo. Buffalo Journal Supplement 2:39–50.Google Scholar
44Sarwar, M., Khan, M.A., Nisa, M., Bhatti, S.A., and Shahzad, M.A. 2009. Nutritional management for buffalo production. Asian-Australian Journal of Animal Science 22(7):1060–1068.Google Scholar
45Gebrehiwot, L. and Mohammed, J. 1989. The potential of crop residues, particularly wheat straw, as livestock feed in Ethiopia. In Said, A.N. and Dzowela, B.H. (eds). Overcoming Constraints to the Efficient Utilization of Agricultural By-products as Animal Feed. African Research Network for Agricultural By-products (ARNAB), ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, p. 142–154.Google Scholar
46FAO. 2000. Case Study 11. Hay and crop residues in India and Nepal. In Suttie, J.M. (ed.). Hay and Straw Conservation – For Small-Scale Farming and Pastoral Conditions. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series No. 29. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. Available at Web site http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/x7660e/x7660e00.htm (retrieved June 13, 2011).Google Scholar
47Country profile: India. December 2004. Available at Web site http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/India.pdf (retrieved June 16, 2011).Google Scholar
48Library of Congress. 2005. Federal Research Division Country Profile: Ethiopia, April 2005. Available at Web site http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Ethiopia.pdf (retrieved June 16, 2011).Google Scholar
49Haileslassie, A., Priess, J., Veldkamp, E., Teketay, D., and Lesschen, J.P. 2005. Assessment of soil nutrient depletion and its spatial variability on smallholders’ mixed farming systems in Ethiopia using partial versus full nutrient balances. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 108:1–16.Google Scholar
50Abegaz, A. 2005. Farm management in mixed crop-livestock systems in the northern highlands of Ethiopia. PhD thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
51Bhan, C. 1988. Spatial analyses of potential soil erosion risks in Welo region, Ethiopia: a geomorphologic evaluation. Mountain Research and Development 8:139–144.Google Scholar
52Lemenih, M., Karltun, E., and Olsson, M. 2005. Assessing soil chemical and physical property responses to deforestation and subsequent cultivation in smallholders farming system in Ethiopia. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 105:373–386.Google Scholar
53Taye, T. and Ayalew, W. 2006. Would introducing domestic buffalo into Ethiopia be worthwhile? In The Role of Agricultural Universities/Colleges in Transforming Animal Agriculture in Education, Research and Development in Ethiopia: Challenges and Opportunities. 13th Proceedings of Ethiopian Society Animal Production (ESAP), August 25–27, 2005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, p. 85–92.Google Scholar