1. ORIGIN:
Not clear TYPES:
BREEDS:
CROSSINGS:
2. GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS:
Coast of North Anatolia Region, north parts of Middle Anatolia and
Thrace, also in Mus, Diyarbarir, Afyon and Sivas Provinces. 3. NUMBERS:
Adult females= 316,000
Adult males = 224,470
Young stock = 91,530
4. HERD SIZE:
dairy herds: 1-15 buffaloes fattening herds: 50-200 bufaloes 5. DESCRIPTION OF ANIMAL:adult height at withers(cm) 130 weight(kg) 410 color black horns sickle shape extending backwards 6. PRODUCTIVITY: n days lactation/year: 200-250 lactation milk yield (kg): 600-700 in field; 900-1000 Afyon Buffalo at
Research Institute age at first calving: 36 average lactation number: 5 age at slaughter for young stock: 12-18 mo weight at slaughter for young stock : 180-250 is the calf suckeling: yes how many months: 3-4 in all herds: yes are cows milked once a day: at end of lactation are cows milked twice a day: at beginning of lactation for 2-3 months and at Afyon Research Institute during whole lactation. where: everywhere are cows milked by hand: yes are cows machine milked: At Afylon Buffalo Institute 7. FERTILITY n calves/year: .5 to .666 season of calving: every season except winter 8. HOUSING In dairy units they are tied ion barns. 9. ARE BUFFALOES USED FOR draught: yes in mountain regions cart: plough: 10. SOURCES OF FEED On farms and in summer ..mostly grazing on natural grasland and a
little wheat bran when milked...in winter ...stem of maize or
soybean and a little wheat bran and concentrate mixture; in the
fattening units....wheat bran, concentrate mix, barley, sunflower and
sugar beet pulps and straw of corn or rice. 11. TOTAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION BY SPECIES adult total consumed cheese fermented animals meat females milk fresh milk and slaughter mt n mt yogart buffaloes 147980 140370 50300 7125 cow 6031950 8904350 2085350 295995 sheep 21531820 1047325 6868530 112800 goat 5463880 313978 959260 16138 Other products from buffaloes: 12. MILK RECORDING 13. REPRODUCTION has each farmer his own bull: no are bulls for natural service available in villages: yes how many: enough artificial insemination available: no 14. DISEASES Parasites, viral diarrhea, foot and mouth disease 15. SOCIAL POSITION OF BUFFALO FARMERS For dairy buffalo farmers, buffalo keeping is a secondary occupation.
Buffalo farming for fattening is generally the main
occupation. Income from buffalo farming is quite good. 16. PERSPECTIVES OF BUFFALO PRODUCTION In Turkey during the last 30 years the number of buffaloes decreased
significantly. Main reason for the decrease is political for the lack
of guidelines for animal husbandry in the agricultural economy of
Turkey. Nevertheless buffalo husbandry is still important in small
family units as resources of various products. In Turkey the main
regions where buffalo are raised are the coastal and inside of North
Anatoila region, having these regions the most suitable environmental
conditions for buffalo farming. Also in Mus, Diyarbakir, Afyon and Sivas
provinces buffalo are raised. Afyon Buffalo Research Institute is the
only establishment where buffalo are raised under controlled
conditions. In the country, buffalo are raised for their milk in small
family units. In the units male calves are sold for fattening or
drought. Female animals are slaughtered at the end of their productive
life. But, in recent years in the north of Turkey (in Bafra,
Vezirkopru, Carsamba Districts of Samsun Provinces; Turhal District of
Tokat Province;Suluova District of Amasya Province) fattening is done
in big units (50-200 head), especially with young male animals. In
buffalo fattening, main problem is marketing; in Turkey buffalo meat is
only used in meat products like sausage. People do not accustom to eat
buffalo meat in their meals. Therefore, at the end of the fattening
period, buffaloes can be marketed to 2 sausage factories in Istanbul
Province, and some local markets in Vezirkopru Disstrict. This
situation prevents competition as regards to meat price, although the
price of concentrate mixture is getting higher.
17. REPORT SUBMITTED BY Prof. dr. Ozel Sekerden; Buffalo Network National coordinator; Ziraat
Fakultesi Samsum (Turkey)