Livestock Production Management Division

ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute

LP-601 Assignment

Current scenario of Buffalo farming in India

Submitted to Submitted by
Dr Champak Bhakat Kartik
Principal Scientist 22-P-ES-05
ICAR- National Dairy Research Agricultural Economics
Institute,ERS Division

1
 INTRODUCTION
The primary source of secondary income for small/marginal farmers and agricultural labourers
is dairy farming. A good source of organic matter for improving soil fertility and crop yields, in
addition to milk, is animal dung. The Gobar Gas from the waste is utilised to power household
appliances and to power engines that fetch water from wells. Animals are fed using extra
fodder and agricultural byproducts in a profitable manner. For transportation and farm
operations involving buffalo, bullocks provide practically all of the draught power. Due to the
seasonal nature of agriculture, buffalo dairy farming offers many people the chance to find
year-round employment. As a result, there is year-round employment in the dairy.
Small/marginal farmers and landless people are the main benefactors of dairy companies.
 Buffalo production in India
For many communities in the Indian subcontinent, raising buffalo is a significant source of
income. Domestic buffaloes make up at least 109 million animals worldwide and account
for 56.5% of all species. India alone has seen a rise of roughly 1.1% since the last census.
The farming of buffalo is more important to the people of India and various other Asian
nations than the care of any other domestic animal. The milk of buffaloes is more fatty and
protein-rich than that of dairy cattle, making them particularly well-suited for cultivating
rice fields. Indian buffaloes are one of the breeds of buffalo that are needed today since they
produce approximately three times as much milk as cows. In the nation, milk production
accounts for 55% of the entire output.
 Status of buffaloes in the World, Asia and India
Population (Million heads) Milk production (Million Meat production (Million
tonnes) tonnes)
World , Asia, India World, Asia, India World, Asia, India

Total bovine 161.37 682.844 298.40 737.99 276.70 130.6 67.71 17.69 2.58

(cattle+ buffalo)

Total buffalo 193.82 187.86 109.0 102.04 99.22 70.0 3.72 3.32 1.61

Buffaloes as % of 11.67 27.51 36.66 13.83 35.86 53.6 5.49 18.77 62.4

total bovine
India milk – production, availability and contribution
of buffaloes
Year Total milk produced Buffalo milk (mt) Contribution of Per capita
(mt) buffaloes % availability (g/day)

1950-51 17 09.2 54 12
1960-61 20 11.1 55 124
1970-71 22 12.6 57 112
1980-81 32 17.3 54 128
1990-91 54 29.7 55 176
2000-01 81 43. 5 220
2010-11 122 62.3 51 281
2020-21 160 88.0 55 400
 SIGNIFICANCE OF BUFFALO FARMING
Over 70% of India's population, the most of whom are small- or medium-scale
livestock owners, participate in the industry, which is a crucial component of the
country's agricultural sector. In addition to providing 1.43 million tonnes of meat and
more than 50 million tonnes of milk for the cattle industry, buffalo farming also
produces high-end hides, bones, and draught power for farming. In India, buffaloes
may be found practically everywhere, albeit their population density varies across
the many states and union territories. Most of the milch breeds of buffalo are located
in the northern and western states, where the majority of the population is raised. It is
noteworthy that the proportion of buffaloes in the total bovine.
Cont-
A significant aspect of our rural economy is the farming of buffalo, which are valued for their
meat and draught in addition to their milk. Buffalo milk is also more expensive since it has a fat
content of 7–7.5%, which is nearly double that of cow milk. Buffaloes are more effective at
turning coarse fodder or low-quality feeds into food. They are widely renowned for their ability
to grow on low-quality crop wastes and green forage in tough climatic conditions and require a
relatively low amount of inputs in the majority of mixed agricultural systems. India is home to
all of the recognised, high-yielding breeds of the buffalo, making it a veritable gold mine for this
species' genetic resources. The buffalo sector is a key contributor to the evolution of the Indian
dairy industry.
 IMPORTANT BREEDS OF BUFFALO

Murrah Surti Jaffarabadi

Mehsana Pandharpuri Chilika

 Technical Needs for Buffalo Business Plan

• Land & land development (Location, proximity, area, suitability to the road, site map etc.)
• Proposed capacity / No. of milch animals
• Civil structures (Sheds, office quarters, storeroom, milk room, staff room etc.)
• Equipment, Machinery and Plant (Chaff cutter, Feed grinder and mixer, Milking pails/milk cans, Silo pit,
Milking machine, Biogas plant, Equipment for manufacture of products, Bulk coolers, Truck/van)
• Housing Type of housing (Area requirement – Adults, Calves (less than 1 year), Heifers (1-3 years)
• Animals (Source of purchase, Proposed species, Proposed breed, Place of purchase, Distance, Cost of buffalo)
• Production parameters (Milk yield (Ltrs. per day), Order of lactation, Conception rate, Lactation days, Dry
days, Mortality(%) – Adults, Youngstock)
• Breeding Facilities (Location-Distance (km.), Availability of semen, Availability of staff, Source, Expenditure
per animal/year )
Cont-
• Feeding (Source of fodder and feed – Dry fodder, Green fodder, Concentrates. Fodder crop rotations- Summer, Kharif,
Rabi. Fodder cultivation expenses, costs and Requirement)
• Veterinary Aid Source (Availability of labour and other staff, Location-Distance (km.), Types of facilities available, If
own arrangements are made-Employed a stockman/veterinary doctor/consultant, Periodicity of visit, Expenditure per
animal per year)
• Water (Source, Availability of sufficient quantity for drinking, Quality of water, cleaning and fodder production, type
of structure, design and cost)
• Electricity (Source, Connected load, Approval from SEB, Problems of power failure, Arrangements for generator)
• Marketing of other products (Animal – age, price expected, place of sale, Manure Qty./animal, Price/unit (Rs.),
Empty gunny bags- Number, Cost/bag (Rs.)
• Marketing of milk (Source of sales, Distance (km.), price realised – (Rs. per litre of milk), place of disposal, Basis of
payment, Periodicity of payment
 Financial Needs to Start a Buffalo Dairy Farm

• Financial viability (Net Present Worth, Internal Rate of Return, Benefit-Cost Ratio)

• The financial position of the borrowers (Whether Income Tax, Debt Equity Ratio & other tax
obligations are paid up to date, Profitability Ratios, Whether the audit is up to date)
• Lending Terms (Rate of Interest, Nature of Security, Repayment Period, Grace Period)
 Economics Buffalo of Farming
A model buffalo farming India project with 10 buffalo for dairy farming is given below. This indicates the
applicable input and output costs and the parameters observed at the field level, which may be incorporated.

Capital Cost of Buffalo Farming in India

Cost of buffaloes  5,00,000

Cost of transportation 10,000
Animal shed’s construction 60,000
Calf shed’s construction 24,000
Chaff cutter and
60,000
Equipment’s cost
Total 6,54,000
 Socio-economics of buffalo farming in India
The vast majority of socioeconomic data available indicates a very high level of dependence on buffalo farming
for rural living, particularly for small farmers. In fact, as was already noted, buffalo play a more significant role
in the socioeconomics of rural India due to their higher economic returns and superior adaptability. Moreover,
women play a larger part in raising buffalo and are responsible for their maintenance, care, and feeding (Figs 1
and 2). In actuality, this gives them a second source of money and ensures the family's access to food.
 HOUSING MANAGEMENT IN BUFFALOES
Without carefully thought-out and sufficient living facilities, buffalo rearing cannot be managed
successfully. Animal housing that is not properly planned for can lead to management issues, an increase
in illness incidence, higher labour costs, and a reduction in the farmer's profit. The construction of a dairy
buffalo house should take care to accommodate each animal with a comfortable space. No less crucial are
(1) appropriate sanitation, (2) robustness, (3) an abundance of clean water, and (4) provisions for the
production of clean milk under practical and affordable circumstances. Buffaloes can be effectively kept
in a range of settings, from tight confinement to little limitations aside from during milking.

However, two types of farms are in general use.

1. Loose housing barn in combination with some type of milking barn or parlor

2. 2. The conventional buffalo shed

Feeding Schedule of Buffalo Dairy Farming in India

Lactation Dry
Type of
feed Price (Rs.) Qty. (kg) Cost Per Day (Rs.) Qty. (kg) Cost Per Day (Rs.)

Concentrate
12 5 60 2 24
Feed
Green Fodder 1 25 25 20 20
Dry Fodder 2 4 8 5 10
Total  93 54

Total Concentrate Feed Consumed (Kgs.)

No. of Gunny
Year Lactation Dry Total
Bags
Year 1  8,250 300 8,550  171
Year 2  11,250 2,700  13,950 279
Year 3 11,250 2,700 13,950 279
Year 4 12,000 2,400  14,400  288
Year 5  12,000  2,400 14,400 288
 General recommendations for feeding management in buffaloes:

• An apparently healthy adult buffalo should be daily fed 6 kg dry fodder and 15-20 kg of
green fodder. Legume and non-legume green fodder should be fed in 1:3 proportions.
• Minerals are essential for all metabolic functions of the body; animals' ration should be
supplemented with area specific mineral mixture.
• Changing from one feed to another should not be sudden but in a gradual manner.
• Animals fed only on dry fodder may be provided Urea molasses mineral block as a
supplement to the diet, depending upon its availability. For body maintenance and higher
efficiency of milk production, compound cattle feed; bypass protein feed can also be given.
• Various feed ingredients including additives can be mixed to make Total Mixed Ration
(TMR). It would be more appropriate to feed this ration in 3-4 equally divided parts in a
day. This would reduce spoilage and increases the digestibility.
• Fodder should be chaffed before feeding, to avoid wastage and increase digestibility.
 REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT IN BUFFALOES

For buffalo production to be lucrative and sustainable, optimal reproductive efficiency is crucial. When well-
managed, reproductively healthy buffaloes are bred with high-quality semen inseminated at the proper time and
location, maximum fertility is obtained. The level of reproductive efficiency varies across animals belonging to
the same breed as well as between species and breeds. The table below lists significant reproductive traits of
buffalo raised in sub-tropical climates.

Sl No. Characteristics            Value (Range)

1 Sexual season Seasonally polyoestrous
2 Age at puberty (months) 21(15-36)
3 Oestrus cycle length (Days) 21 (18-22)
4 Oestrus signs duration (hrs 21 (17-24)
5 Gestation length ( Days) 310 (305-330)
6 Age at first calving 42 (36-56)
(months)
7 Calving intervals ( Months) 18 (15-21)
Care of Pregnant Animals

• Animals in the last trimester of pregnancy should not be taken far away for grazing
•  Lactating animal should be dried within a period of 15 days after 7 th month of gestation.
• Pregnant animals should have enough space for standing and sitting comfortably.
• Pregnant animals need suitable ration to reduce the possibility of diseases like milk fever and
ketosis at the time of calving and also to ensure adequate milk production.
• Water should be provided round the clock to pregnant animals with a minimum of 75-80 litres of
fresh and clean drinking water daily.
• 4-5 days before calving, animal should be tied in a separate clean and airy area having sunlight.
Bedding materials like paddy straw should be spread on the ground.
 Calf Management
• The mother should be allowed to lick the newborn; if the dam fails to lick it can be stimulated by sprinkling
small quantity of salt or bran over the young one.
• Immediately after birth, the naval cord should be ligated with clean sterile cotton thread one inch from the
body and tincture iodine should be applied to the naval cord.
• Within 1 hour after birth, the newborn will able to stand and it should be allowed to drink adequate quantity
of colostrum (first milk) which will give immunity to the newborn.
• In winter condition adequate warmth condition should be provided.
• Adequate bedding materials like straw or hay should be provided to newborn animals.
Sources:
• http://www.buffalopedia.cirb.res.in/
• Gokuldas. PP and Chakurkar E.B. (2017). Training on AI in dairy animals, ICAR-
CCARI, Goa.
•  http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/animal_husbandry/animhus_buffal o%20breeds.html
•  http://www.nddb.org/farmer/animal-nutrition/feeding-of-dairy-animals