BUFFALO POPULATION AND PRODUCTION IN GREECE

ORIGIN: Asiatic (River buffalo)  

BREEDS: Mediterranean breed  

GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS: Thessaloniki district (Kalochori, N. Apollonia),
Serres (Omalo, Chrysochorapha), Rodopi (Dialambi) 

NUMBERS IN 1998: Total buffaloes =897 the number is slowly increasing 
                 Adult females =357 
                 Adult males=75 
                 Young stock=465 

NUMBER OF HERDS: Private herds: 11 
                 Research herds: none 
                 Industrial herds:none 

DESCRIPRION OF ANIMAL: 

Adult male Adult female Height at withers (cm) 135-145 cm 120-140 cm
Weight (kg) 400-750 kg 350-600 kg Color dark gray to black (sometimes
spotted) Horns	sickle shape extending backward and upward 

PRODUCTIVITY: N. days lactation/year:210-280 days  
Lactation milk yield (kg): 700-1000kg 
Age at first calving:36-48 months 
Average lactation number: 9 
Age at slaughter for young stock: male 15-17 months female 15-17 months 
Weight at slaughter for young stock: male 350-400 kg 
Is the calf suckling: yes 
How many months: for 7-8 months in the most herds and 2-3 months where the 
                  owners sell the milk 
Are cows milked once a day: no
Are cows milked twice a day: yes, at the farm 
Are cows milked by hand: yes 
Are cows machine milked: no 

FERTILITY: N. calves/year: 0.75 Season of calving: all the year 

HOUSING: Loose 100% 

ARE BUFFALOES USED FOR DRAUGHT: no 

SOURCES OF FEED: graze on natural grasslands all year. In winter straw
of wheat , clover, corn , and maize silage are offered in some herds. 

TOTAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION BY SPECIES(Year 1996) 
             n. adult females   total milk consumed fresh/liters  
Buffaloes            600               50000  
Cow                202000              690000
Sheep             4800000              650000  
Goat              3000000              480000  

Dairy products from buffaloes: yogurt , white cheese in brain, butter,
kaimaki and cream. 

MILK RECORDING No 

REPRODUCTION Each farmer has his own bulls available for natural service
in fields Artificial insemination: no performed 

DISEASE There aren’t official document’s. Vaccinations aren’t performed 

SOCIAL POSITION OF BUFFALO FARMERS Moderate 

PERSPECTIVES OF BUFFALO PRODUCTION Efforts are made by researchers of
Greek Focal Point for the Preservation and Conservation of the Animal
Genetic Resources, at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with the
support of the Ministry of Agriculture to rehabilitate buffalo
production and to let buffalo farming, at present under protection, to
become an economic viable activity 

REPORT SUBMITTED BY:
Prof. Georgoudis Andreas; 
Buffalo Network Greek Coordinator 
mailto:Andgeorg@agro.auth.gr andgeorg@agro.auth.gr

Lamprou Vassiliki, DVM 
mailto:lamprou@agro.auth.gr
lamprou@agro.auth.gr http:// ptolemaios.agro.auth.gr