1. ORIGIN:
Indian origin TYPES:
Two types could be distinguished: a) Mediterranean b) Indian Type BREEDS:
not clear CROSSINGS:
no crossing even between the two types 2. GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS:
The middle part of the country (Ghab Plain) and the noth eastern part of the country(Kamishly) 3. NUMBERS:
Adult females= 1800
Adult males = 70
Young stock = 2700
The population of buffaloes was decreasing for the last decade due to the government efforts the number has stabilized during the last two years. 4. NUMBER OF HERDS:
About 50. private herds: 50 (n. adults=1850; n. young=2695 research herds: 1 (n.adults=20; n. young=5 5. DESCRIPTION OF ANIMAL:adult male adult female height at withers(cm) 133 133 weight(kg) 586 489 color Ghab type entirely black; Kamishly black with white patches on forhead, legs and tail horns heavy and curved backward and downwards in a slight reverse arch 6. PRODUCTIVITY: n days lactation/year: 210-270 days lactation milk yield (kg): 1200-1600 age at first calving: 3-3.5 years average lactation number: 10-12 age at slaughter for young stock: males 15-18 months, females not slaughtered or at 6-7 years weight at slaughter for young stock: male 200 kg; female 800 kg. is the calf suckeling: yes how many months: 4 in all herds: yes are cows milked once a day: no are cows milked twice a day: yes where: on the pasture while grazing or in pen are cows milked by hand: yes are cows machine milked: no 7. FERTILITY n calves/year: 1 season of calving: Sept-Nov 8. HOUSING paddocks 9. ARE BUFFALOES USED FOR draught: no cart: no plough: no 10. SOURCES OF FEED Mostly grazing on natural grasslands and agricultural by-products during March to October. Between Nov and Feb some farmers offer straw and other concentrates like maize, dry bread and wheat bran. 11. TOTAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION BY SPECIES adult total consumed cheese fermented other meat females milk fresh milk and dairy mt n mt yogart buffaloes 1800 2041 8% 605 10% 28% 300 cow 881984 770688 395083 19457 160092 4420 22810 sheep 14808608 497127 69222 42043 48344 11238 113808 goat 999677 62819 19111 4036 8422 691 5976 Statistics of buffalo for 1994; other livestock for 1990 other products from buffaloes: leather and horns 12. MILK RECORDING Recently started with limited number of farmers. 13. REPRODUCTION has each farmer his own bull: generally yes are bulls for natural service available in villages: yes how many: few artificial insemination available: no AI for buffalo 14. DISEASES Fever, abscesses on faw and mouth, liver flukes, viral diarrhea,F&M, parasites 15. SOCIAL POSITION OF BUFFALO FARMERS Buffalo farmers in Syria are specialized farmers; they don't practice other activities of agriculture. In Ghab area, they live in close villages, while in Kamishly they are basically settled bedouin. 16. PERSPECTIVES OF BUFFALO PRODUCTION The Syrian government has already provided some funds for establishing a buffalo center in the Ghab region. This center will be established on nearly 10 ha. to have ultimately 100 adult female buffaloes with offspring. This center will be for buffalo research and development, which should not only carry out research on various aspects of the Serian buffalo, but also initiate steps for buffalo development through the relevant provincial Directorate of Agriculture. Also free veterinary services are already extended to all buffalo farmers; in addition a subsidized concentrate feed is being provided. The buffalo farmers want to continue with buffalo keeping as they feel that: a) It is their traditional occupation b) Buffalo are more docile and are generally looked after by women c) Buffalo need less care and less elaborate sheds to keep d) They do not require expensive costly feeds e) Their milk is rich in fat and appreciated by all f) Buffalo cream and cheese have no rivals for their taste and quality g) Buffalo are closer to farmers family members than cattle 17. REPORT SUBMITTED BY Buffalo Network National co-ordinator Dr. Adnan Swaid