water buffaloes
Renowl
of North America ......or any non-Asian fan of the American cowboy or jungle
adventure movie .....is to identify the correct animal. There are many closly
related groups within the Order Artiodactyla or even toed animals.
The American Bison ...or American Western Buffalo is not a true buffalo but its
own Genus . They are closer to cattle (Bos) than to the water buffalo and will
interbreed with cattle.
The African Cape Buffalo Syncerus caffer is actually only a distant relative.
Their reputation for a mean-tempered disposition has tarnished the Water
Buffalo, with which they will not interbreed and which is classified in a
different genus. Most water buffalo are generally docile and are frequently
seen being tended and ridden by small children An apparent exception is the
Egyptian male buffalo which can be highly temperamental..
There are two general types of water buffalo...the Swamp(Bubalus
carabanesis)which are found from the Philippines to as far west as India
....and River(Bubalus bubalis)... which are found farther west from India to
Egypt and Europe. NOTE: The genus name Bubalus is sometimes spelled Bubalis
The water buffalo has been associated with man from the earliest prehistoric
times. Although the water buffalo was originally an Asian animal, it arrived
early (about 600 A.D.) in the Near East and North Africa. It was introduced to
Europe by crusaders returning in the Middle Ages and outstanding herds still
exist in Italy and Bulgaria. In recent times, the water buffalo has prospered
in South and Central America. Micronesia and Australia have also introduced
them. China and Burma also depends heavily on the water buffalo and its
products. India depends upon the water buffalo for meat and milk. In Australia
and the US a secondary industry has developed in hunting them as trophies
....evidently as feral animals they can become rather wiley ....however to a
reader from Asia or the Near East, I assume that this must sound like someone
trophy hunting a Jersey Cow.
Before the mid 1970s, the only water buffaloes in North America were a few
animals in zoos. The US imported ~50 animals in February 1978. Air freighted
from the wilds of Guam, the US posession in he western Pacific, by Mr. Tony
Leonards. Prior to that time (in 1974 or 75) four (or five) head of water
buffalo were imported to the Department of Animal Science, University of
Florida, for study. (See US water buffalo history). Ms. Patricia M. Sorrells
has done a interesting analysis of this introduction. Several small herds,
totaling about 3500 head, now exist in Florida,Louisiana, Arkansas and even
Oregon. They are generally considered to be alternative exotic livestock.
According to the latest FAO statistics, the world buffalo population in 1982
and 1992 were 128 and 148 million, respectively, indicating 1.5% average annual
growth rate for the past decade. The buffalo population in Asia was
consistently 95-96% of the world total for the last 10 years. In South Asia,
India, a country of the world largest buffalo population, accounted 53% of the
world total in 1992 and increased her buffalo population by 880 thousand for
the last 10 years with an annual average increase rate of 1.1% In India, water
buffaloes make up about 35% of milk animals (other than goats) but produce
almost 70% of the milk. In 1995-96 India was estimated to have about 194
million cattle and 82 million water buffalo...a 0.7%increase from 94-95.
Pakistan with the third world largest buffalo population performed well to
increase her buffaloes with an average annual increase rate of 4.7% Both
Bangladesh and Nepal indicated positive growth of 5.7% and 2.1% respectively,
while Sir Lanka recorded negative growth of -0.3%. China, having the second
world largest buffalo population only after India, recorded 18.8 million in
1982 and 22.0 million in 1992 with an average growth rate of 1.6%.In Southeast
Asia,Thailand held the largest buffalo population but lost a considerable
number during the last decade with a negative annual growth rate of -3.4% Also
the Philippines and Malaysia indicated the negative growth of -1.3% and -2.3%
respectively. Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar did indicate positive growth
with annual increase rate of 3.0%, 2.3%, 2.0% and 0.2% respectively. The
buffalo number was 78 head per 1000 Asian agricultural population in 1982 while
the corresponding figure was 82 in 1992. (0a)
Buffalo butterfat is the major source of cooking oil (ghee)in some Asian
countries. In the US, they have been introduced as an "exotic" livestock with
developers hoping to build a market for the distinctive mozzarella cheese and
low cholesterol meat. A market for leather goods and decorative horn products
is also developing.
In Asia, the Middle East and Europe, water buffaloes live on course vegetation
on the marginal land traditionally left to the peasants.They help make human
survival possible serving as a protein source, tractor and storage of family
wealth. In some areas,they also provide recreation at annual racing festivals.
On Taiwan water buffalo are being replaced by western cattle and efforts are
being made to protect the germ plasm. In 1980, Sir Lanka sponsored an
international workshop on the water buffalo
BREEDS
The major genetic divisions of the water buffalo are the Swamp buffalo (Bubalus
carabanensis) of the eastern half of Asia, which are slate gray, droopy necked,
and ox-like with massive swept back horns. They wallow in any water or mud
puddle they can find or make. And; the River buffalo (Bubalus bubalus)of the
western half of Asia which usually is black or dark gray with tightly curled or
drooping straight horns. They prefer to wallow in clean water.There is also the
Mediterranean buffalo, which is of the River type but has been isolated for so
long that it has developed some unique characteristics. Although there is only
one breed of Swamp buffalo, certain subgroups seem to have specific inherited
characteristics. For example, the buffalos of Thailand are noted for their
large size, averaging 450-550 kg. and weights of up to 1000 kg. have been
observed. Elsewhere Swamp buffaloes range from 250 kg. for some small animals
in China to 300 kg in Burma and 500-600 kg in Laos. In Australia, the feral
water buffalo has developed a characteristic appearance. In Indonesia a black
and white spotted variety is known.
Only in India and Pakistan are there well defined breeds with standard
qualities. There are 18 River buffalo breeds in South Asia, which are further
classified into 5 major groups designated as the Murrah, Gujarat, Uttar
Pradesh, Central Indian and South Indian breeds. Within these groups are
breeds. The best known breeds are Murrah, Nili/Ravi, Jafarabadi, Surti,
Mehsana,Kundi and Nagpuri. Most of the buffaloes of the Indian subcontinent
belong to a nondescript group known as the Desi buffalo. Trinidad imported
several breeds from India between 1905 and 1908. Crossbreeding of these animals
has produced a Trinidadian type and these animals are the stock that has been
imported into the US.
BUFFALO
|
______________________________
| |
African wild buffalo Asian buffalo
Syncerus caffar ____________________________
Subspecies: | |
S. caffar caffar Wild buffaloes Domestic buffalo
S. c.brachyceros | |
S. c.nanus | |
| |
_____________________________ |
| | | |
Indian wild Arni Anoa Tamarao |
Bubalus arnee Bubalus Bubalus |
depressicorais mindorensis |
|
|
_____________________________
| |
River Type Swamp Type
Indian buffalo Bubalus
Bubalus bubalis carabanesis
Genetics
The Swamp buffalo has 48 chromosomes, the River buffalo 50. Some researchers
consider it a separate species rather than a "type" on this basis (0).The
chromosomal material is however, similar in the two types and they crossbreed
to produce fertile hybrid progeny. Cattle, however have 60 chromosomes...
although mating between cattle and buffalo does occur..... hybrids from the
union are unlikely. In 1965, a reputed hybrid was born in the old USSR(1) and
hybrids have been reported from China (2). Both reports seem doubtful because
despite many attempts no other proven hybrids have ever been produced.
Individual buffaloes show large variations in milk yield, conformation, horn
shape, color, meat production, temperament, growth rate, and other
characteristics. selection for survival under adverse conditions has occurred
naturally (those that could not stand adversity died) and farmers have probably
tended to select animals of gentle temperament. But systematic genetic
improvement has almost never been attempted. It seems likely that further
selection could quickly improve their productivity
Unfortunately, the large bulls that would be best for breeding purposes are
often being selected as draft animals and castrated, or sent to slaughter, or
(as shot by hunters). the result is that the buffalo's overall size in
countries such as Thailand and Indonesia has been decreasing as the genes for
large size and fast growth are lost.
The buffalo is still largely an animal of the village, and many of it's
reported limitations are caused by it's environment rather than by the animal
itself. The buffalo has long been considered a poor breeder... slow to mature
and slow to rebreed after calving. Poor management and nutrition has
contributed much to this reputation. Their gestation period is about a month
longer than that of cows, buffalo estrus is difficult to detect and matings
occur mainly at night so that the farmer/producer is likely to encounter more
problems breeding buffaloes than cattle. It is also possible that Swamp/River
crossbreed hybrids have reduced fertility.
Renowl
Pictures: Tamaraw #1 (35 Kb GIF) (Phil. Sust. Dev. Net. Inc.); Tamaraw #2 (22
Kb JPEG) (Field Museum)
The tamaraw is a small wild buffalo weighing about 300 kg (660 lb). It lives in
dense forest with open glades for grazing, such as are created by fires or
landslides. At one time it was found from sea level to 2000 m (6600'). It also
prefers to be close to water for wallowing. The tamaraw feeds on grasses,
bamboo shoots and aquatic vegetation. Its small size and great strength enables
it to push through dense jungle and climb steep mountains. Tamaraw apparently
associate in pairs, rather than herds, except when the cows are about to give
birth.
The tamaraw was first documented by Western science in 1888. It has never been
recorded from any area other than the island of Mindoro (Philippines). Prior to
about 1900, most people had avoided settling on Mindoro, since it harbored a
particularly virulent strain of malaria. Thus human impact on the tamaraw had
been slight. At one time the tamaraw lived throughout most of the island. With
the advent of anti-malarial medicines near the turn of the century, Mindoro
became more accessible to human settlement. Since that time, the tamaraw's
population has been reduced from abundance to a critically low level. By 1966
its range had been reduced almost entirely to 3 principal areas: Mt. Iglit, Mt.
Calavite, and the vicinity of the Sablayon Penal Settlement. By 2000, reports
suggested that tamaraw were restricted to just 2 areas: the Iglit Ranges, in
Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park, and Aruyan, with very few data about numbers
in either site.
The tamaraw has declined mainly because of hunting, especially after the
introduction of modern firearms after WWII and the Vietnam war; and habitat
loss, due to settlement, logging and ranching, after malaria was brought under
control around 1900. Disease (rinderpest) caught from domestic cattle
introduced to the island in the 1930's has also had a serious impact.
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Tidbits
*** The tamaraw is one of the world's rarest mammals.
*** Natives of Mindoro feared the tamaraw because of its aggressiveness.
*** Hunters with automatic weapons flew to Mindoro from Manila in helicopters
during the 1960's and 1970's to pursue the tamaraw.
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Status and Trends
IUCN Status:
1960's - 1994: Endangered
1996: Endangered; (Criteria: B1+2c, D1)
2000 - 2003: Critically Endangered; (Criteria: C1) (Population Trend:
Decreasing) (Last Assessed by IUCN: 2000) (IUCN 2003a)
Countries Where the Tamaraw Is Currently Found:
2003: Occurs in the Philippines (Mindoro). (IUCN 2003a)
Population Estimates:
[Note: Figures given are for wild populations only.]
WORLD (Philippines - Island of Mindoro)
1900: 10,000 (Kuehn 1977)
1949: 1000 (Kuehn 1977)
1953: Fewer than 250 (Kuehn 1977)
1969: 100 (IUCN 1969)
1973: 173+ (Oryx 1973)
1974: 148 (Fitter 1974)
1975: 120 (Oryx 1989d)
Mid-1970's: 200-280 plus (Burton & Pearson 1987)
1983: 150-200 (Nowak & Paradiso 1983)
1987: 369+ (Oryx 1989d)
1995: 3-400 (de Leon 1995)
1998: "there is no reason to believe that the number has increased since the
175 counted in 1983" (Heaney and Regalado 1998)
2000: Thought to be about 30 - 200 (IUCN 2000)
2003: Thought to be about 30 - 200 (IUCN 2003a)
History of Distribution:
The tamaraw was first documented by Western science in 1888. It has never been
recorded from any area other than the island of Mindoro (Philippines). Prior to
about 1900, most people had avoided settling on Mindoro, since it harbored a
particularly virulent strain of malaria. Thus human impact on the tamaraw had
been slight. At one time the tamaraw lived throughout most of the island, from
forest at sea level up to 2000 m (6600'). With the advent of anti-malarial
medicines near the turn of the century, Mindoro became more accessible to human
settlement. Since that time, the tamaraw's population has been reduced from
abundance to a critically low level. By 1966 its range had been reduced almost
entirely to 3 principal areas: Mt. Iglit, Mt. Calavite, and the vicinity of the
Sablayon Penal Settlement. By 2000, reports suggested that tamaraw were
restricted to just 2 areas: the Iglit Ranges, in Mounts Iglit-Baco National
Park, and Aruyan, with very few data about numbers in either site (IUCN 2003a).
Distribution Map #1 (8 Kb GIF) (Huffman 2004)
Distribution Map #2 (28 Kb JPEG) (Spec. Cons. Found.)
Threats and Reasons for Decline:
The tamaraw has declined mainly because of hunting, especially after the
introduction of modern firearms after WWII and the Vietnam war; and habitat
loss due to settlement, logging and ranching. Once malaria was brought under
control around 1900, loggers moved in and cut the prime trees from lowland rain
forest, plantation owners brought in laborers and their families to clear the
lowlands for sugar cane and other crops, and subsistence farmers from Luzon and
other densely populated places moved to Mindoro in search of farmland. (Heaney
and Regalado 1998) Disease (rinderpest) caught from domestic cattle introduced
to the island in the 1930's has also had a serious impact.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
Data on Biology and Ecology
Weight:
The tamaraw weighs up to 300 kg (660 lb).
Habitat:
The tamaraw lives in dense forest with open glades for grazing, such as are
created by fires or landslides. At one time it was found from sea level to 2000
m (6600'). It also prefers to be close to water for wallowing.
The tamaraw occurs in the Philippines Moist Forests Global 200 Ecoregion.
(Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson & Dinerstein 1999)
Gestation Period:
276 - 315 days.
Diet:
The tamaraw feeds on grasses, bamboo shoots and aquatic vegetation.
Behavior:
The tamaraw's small size and great strength enables it to push through dense
jungle and climb steep mountains.
Social Organization:
The tamaraw apparently associates in pairs, rather than herds, except when the
cows are about to give birth.
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References
Burton & Pearson 1987, Curry-Lindahl 1972, de Leon 1995, Field Museum, Fitter
1974, Huffman 2004, IUCN 1969, IUCN 1994, IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a,
Kuehn 1977, Macdonald 1984, Nowak & Paradiso 1983, Olson & Dinerstein 1998,
Olson & Dinerstein 1999, Oryx 1973, Phil. Sust. Dev. Net. Inc., Spec. Cons.
Found.
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Dominic
Great post, Renowl, but where did you plagiarize this from? Coz
I know for certain, this sure wasn't your thesis ;)
- Dom
Renowl <ren...@aol.com> wrote:
: One of the most difficult parts of discussing the Water Buffalo with citizens
--
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Renowl
these are filipino topics thats why i tell those that insist that you write it
from your own , belat. i dont see them uplifting the pino culture with a lot
of filipino topics. some of these gripers are not even filipino. geeze how
funny is that . anyways any filipino topic in scf is good.
Renowl
pinas its made the country dirtier and more pollution ridden. i heard in
amsterdam bicycles are king . why not the philippines? have bicycles,
tartanella, carabaos etc be the majority mode of transportation. only allow
cars for long distances.
Dominic
: if you want my thesis here goes. ever since cars has been introduced in the
"Tartanella?" Do you mean, karitela? Or calesa?
Do elaborate ... And I'm looking forward to your thesis ... With footnotes
and a bibliography, op cors ; )
- Dom
tansong tumbaga
That is a great post, but we would want to see the link where you got
it, maybe peruse the site and include it in our collection of links!
This is what usenet is for, to share information that is in the NET.
Sylvia Knörr
"Renowl" <ren...@aol.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:20040507232619...@mb-m05.aol.com...
> if you want my thesis here goes. ever since cars has been introduced in
the
> pinas its made the country dirtier and more pollution ridden. i heard in
> amsterdam bicycles are king . why not the philippines?
Amsterdam and the Netherlands in general are as flat as a plank, you can see
a molehill from 20 km distance. In the Philippines most parts are mountain
and hillside areas, that´s not REALLY funny to go by bycicle.
And then there´s the question of how to prevent theft - it´s easier to steal
a bicycle than to steal a car.
have bicycles,
> tartanella, carabaos etc be the majority mode of transportation. only
allow
> cars for long distances.
Hm, I guess there was a reason why people changed from carabao
transportation to cars. The same reason why in the USA you go by car and not
by horse.
Dog Sleigh Riding Piggy
michae...@yahoo.com
[SNIP]
> That is a great post, but we would want to see the link where you got
> it, maybe peruse the site and include it in our collection of links!
>
> This is what usenet is for, to share information that is in the NET.
That was familar reading for me. Seems like most of it came from a web
site called "THE WATER BUFFALO" which can be found at:
http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/djligda/waterbuf.htm
You can find that link and more at my water buffalo web page at:
I also have en educational Water Buffalo Email Discussion List at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Water_Buffalo/
The group's members are from all over the world, including from the
Philippines. I would be happy to see some of you join the group.
Sincerely,
Michael Clay | http://www.BuffaloCheese.com
Boracay Bill
> tansong tumbaga wrote:
> > This is what usenet is for, to share information that is in the NET.
This was following up a remark by Renowl saying:
>> [...] i just search the web then i c and p whatever catches my
fancy.
and was regarding the posting of a hunk of unattributed c&p'd stuff to
begin this thread.
To pick a nit, if is not my understanding that usenet is 'for' sharing
information that is on the net.
There is a draft netbook titled "Netizens: On the History and Impact
of Usenet and the Internet". See it at
http://www.columbia.edu/~hauben/netbook/. I particularly recommend
reading chapters 2, 3, and 10 at http://www.columbia.edu/~rh120/.
Dirty Sick Pig
Was your farm featured in Animal Planet?
San Antonio Pig Farmer
Michael Clay
[SNIP]
> > Michael Clay | http://www.BuffaloCheese.com
>
> Was your farm featured in Animal Planet?
>
> San Antonio Pig Farmer
No, my farm was not featured in Animal Planet. As far as I know
information about our buffaloes has only been in a local newspaper and
that was about 7 years ago. Perhaps you are thinking of Star Hill
Dairy ("Woodstock Water Buffalo" products):
They have received quite a bit of attention in the media and
rightfully so.
Michael Clay | http://www.WaterBuffaloes.com
Raising water buffaloes near Houston, Texas.