Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

The New Rural Industries
A handbook for Farmers and Investors

Water buffalo

Introduction

Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) have been present in northern Australia since the 1820s. They have been used for many years for meat and hides. The buffalo industry is one of the oldest forms of land use of the Top End since European settlement.

A new domesticated industry has emerged following the destruction of much of the feral buffalo herd in Northern Australia in the 1980s for the control of brucellosis and tuberculosis. It is based on farmed stock, raised under good conditions, to supply a quality product for the restaurant trade. Research and development work began in the late 1980s and culminated in the registration of TenderBuff ® by the NT Buffalo Industry Council.

TenderBuff is a quality-assured and branded product, complying with a range of specifications, which allows customers to buy with confidence. The particular marketing strength of the product is the much lower fat and cholesterol percentages when compared with other meats, including beef. The cuts available are the same as beef with a similar range of tenderness amongst the various cuts. Flavour is slightly stronger than equivalent aged beef, but most consumers would not pick the difference.

Under temperate pasture conditions and good seasons, turnoff of TenderBuff at
14-18 months is possible compared with 24-30 months under normal NT improved pasture conditions.

Since 1996, crossbred riverine buffalo, using riverine bulls and some heifers from the USA, have been produced in small numbers. Australia currently has approximately 30-50,000 head of water buffalo of which some 20-30,000 remain feral in areas free of TB. Water buffalo are currently being farmed in all states except Queensland where current legislation does not permit them to be farmed or slaughtered. Permits are required in some states.

The world population of domesticated buffalo is around 140 million and mainly to be found in central and southern Asia, South-East Asia, and in increasing numbers in South America. Most are primarily used for milk or as draught animals and only slaughtered for meat at the end of their productive life.

Cattle farmers could easily adapt to the raising of water buffalo, since fencing and yard requirements are basically similar for both species.

Markets and marketing issues

There are several markets for buffalo. Breeders are sold locally in the NT and to southern states and are exported currently to East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak).

There are currently two markets for slaughter stock: the local TenderBuff markets in the NT and southern states, and potential markets overseas. For many years, bulls have been exported live to Brunei for direct slaughter. By-products are also marketed, the most common ones being hides, horns, meat meal and pet meat.

Current production of NT buffalo is: 1,000 head to Brunei; 200 head to TenderBuff; 500 head to export abattoirs.

The current market for buffalo meat is affected by a beef price slump which has caused cattle bull meat to be substituted for buffalo meat in southern markets. Until that slump, demand exceeded supplies in the NT industry. However, the base price of $3.10 per kg dressed to the producer has been maintained despite the cheapness of beef. This equates to a return of $650 per head for a 210 kg TenderBuff (less the abattoir kill fee of $55) which allows NT producers to establish improved-pasture grazing systems economically

Production in the States is small and in the rapid build-up phase for breeders.

Riverine buffalo or crosses may be more sought after than swamp buffalo in many SE Asian destinations in the future.

Production requirements

Water buffalo are adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions throughout Australia. They come from warm, humid, tropical areas but have been found to survive in the colder winter of temperate areas in Australia so long as adequate shelter-belts or shedding is available to protect them from the chill.

Water buffalo are also adapted to poorer pasture areas too wet or of marginal quality for cattle. They can forage in swampy conditions. They also eat a wider range of fodders than cattle and have been observed to clear irrigation channels of reeds and other growth not normally touched by cattle. They perform well on crop stubbles and by-products of grain or legumes.

Buffalo can be finished to TenderBuff specifications in a period of 60-80 days on a 30% grain/protein/roughage ration.

Breeds

Swamp buffalo. The `tractor' of SE Asia was introduced to Australia in the 1820s to 1850s at various settlements on Melville Island and Cobourg Peninsula and escaped or were left behind when the settlements were abandoned. They colonised the northern coastline of the NT particularly the coastal flood plains which had good quality hymenachne pastures in abundance. They built up to approximately 350-400,000 head at their peak in the late 1970s. The disease eradication program reduced the population through turnoff and culling to around 40,000 head.

A ten-year selection program on swamp buffalo was carried out at Coastal Plains Research Station in the NT between 1986 and 1996 to improve growth rates/fertility of the breed.

Riverine buffalo. In 1994, '95 and '97, riverine buffalo (the dairy breed from India/Pakistan) were imported from the USA. Pure-bred riverines were also imported from Italy and Bulgaria into Victoria for dairying and the production of mozzarella cheese.

The Riverine buffalo is a larger, `beefier' animal than the swamp buffalo and, when crossed, produces a very fast-growing animal that produces high-quality meat. Up to 40% improvement in growth rate has been measured in the NT with the first-cross calves and yearlings. The first crossbreds slaughtered provided a TenderBuff product superior to that previously produced.

Animal husbandry

Buffalo are very similar to cattle in their husbandry and equipment requirements but when working with them, handlers will need to be aware of some subtle differences

Buffalo should be worked quietly and firmly and with less confrontation. When in close contact, buffalo will tend to stand up and face people or dogs rather than try to retreat and avoid them. They do become very docile when handled carefully but can also become cranky if handled roughly. They should be given time to adjust to new surroundings and will usually comply favourably.

As they have fewer sweat glands, buffalo can overheat more quickly than cattle if they are over-stressed, run for long distances in hot weather or are mustered during the heat of the day. They will wallow to reduce heat stress if water is available. They do the same to escape from insects such as buffalo flies.

Buffalo show more intelligence in the yards than cattle and appear to have a better memory of past events.

You will need to aim to work with smaller mobs than is possible with cattle. Normal yard management with buffalo - drafting, vaccinating, pregnancy testing, weighing etc - tends to take a little longer per head than with cattle, so you should reduce the numbers for a given work-space. Buffalo tend to work through the yards better if numbers are kept low and they are not worked in large, tight mobs. It is better to split a small group off the side of a larger mob, and work them through, then come for the next group. Circular designs tend to work best with buffalo, so that there are no corners where they can get bottled up.

Buffalo should be provided with good shade and shelter from heat in summer and cold in winter by using effective shelter-belts of trees or shade structures.

Some tree-trunk protection may be necessary so that buffalo do not eat or rub against the trunks. Where bark is being eaten, salt/mineral blocks can be used to reduce this craving. Increasing available fibre and roughage should also help. Feedlotting is also possible with 30% grain being a optimum grain content of the ration.

Naturally polled buffalo are not known in the NT. There are numerous advantages in dehorning, except where trophy hunting or excessive dog/dingo problems are encountered. These include less damage to fences, yards and people and less bruising when the animals are being transported, since without horns they take up less room. Buffalo can be dehorned as calves, using a hot iron before two weeks of age or using cup or scoop dehorners before four months. Adult animals can be tipped only - maximum of 1/3 of horn removed - as bleeding can be profuse if the horn is taken off closer to the head. Cauterising blood vessels with a hot iron is recommended. As with cattle, a ring of skin (hair) around the horn butt must be removed to ensure no horn regrowth in young calves. Cup dehorners can be successfully used between one and four months of age. Dehorning is not recommended any later than four months. Some social problems of dominance occur when horned and dehorned mature cows are mixed, so all should be dehorned at birth if the practice is adopted.

Buffalo have an oestrus of 21 days like cattle; however, gestation averages 325 days
(10 1/2 months). In cold climates it is wise to avoid matings which will cause calving between April and September.

Buffalo will wallow anywhere where a puddle will form, particularly near a leaking trough or pipeline. They can survive quite readily without access to a wallow, as in the dry season in the NT.

Electric fencing is recommended as the most effective barrier. Buffalo tend to be a little harder to keep behind fences than cattle when feed becomes scarce.

Pasture and feed requirements are similar to cattle except that buffalo are better able to use low-quality roughage than cattle. In temperate winter climates, hay may be necessary when pastures are very short and green and highly digestible.

Dogs should not be used with buffalo, particularly when calves are present, as buffalo can be fiercely protective of their young.

Pest and disease control

In a given area, buffalo should be treated for the same diseases as cattle. This includes:

• 5 in 1 or 7 in 1 vaccinations;

• botulism vaccination; and

• worm control (Osteragia has been found a problem if untreated in some parts of WA).

It appears that buffalo are very susceptible under southern conditions to malignant catarrhal fever which can be fatal, so it is recommended that they do not have direct contact with sheep in the same paddocks. This appears to be a greater problem when the buffalo are stressed heavily, are in poor condition and arrive on a new property during a very cold period. Sheep are usually carriers of this disease and often are not affected.

There have been some reports of deaths from ostertagiasis. Owners should be aware of this and monitor worm-egg levels and tactically drench until a strategic drenching program is established for each region. Newly introduced buffalo from the NT would probably have little immunity to this worm. Again they would be more susceptible when in poor condition and under stress.

Buffalo lice (Haematopinus tuberculatus) are common in northern Australia and need to be controlled, particularly if stock get poor in condition. Small calves can build up high numbers and control will be necessary. Lice eggs are readily visible, attached to the bristles of a buffalo's coat, if numbers are high. Cattle lice treatments are usually effective and are best carried out 14- 18 days apart to ensure the life cycle is completely broken - all buffalo on the property should be treated at the same time. Chlorpyrifos-based lice treatments should be avoided as they have been found toxic to some buffalo.

Buffalo do not usually carry cattle ticks except under exceptionally stressful conditions. They are not a normal host.

Buffalo flies (Haematobia irritans exigua) are present in the NT and Qld and are expanding their range slowly. Buffalo treated just before departure should not introduce the buffalo fly to other States. Sprays, pour-ons and spot treatments are all useful in the control of this fly which breeds in the dung. Numerous chemicals are available of varying effectiveness and price.

Back rubbers may be useful but buffalo can test many standard cattle installations. Trial and error is needed to find a suitable design for the area. A very solid post (concrete or hardwood) makes a good start.

Processing

TenderBuff animals are generally slaughtered at local abattoirs with a service-kill facility and access to an electrical stimulator. The animals require careful and stress-free handling as pH of the muscle post-slaughter is one of the criteria for full compliance with specifications.

For high quality markets it is imperative that the animal is young—less than 2 1/2 years of age with no permanent teeth - has more than 3 mm of fat over the p8 (rump) site and is between 150 and 220 kg dressed weight. Pre-slaughter conditions should be such that there is no stress involved in handling and transport or in the abattoir yards.

At slaughter, the carcase should be electrically stimulated to reduce the effects of chiller induced shrinkage of muscle. Preferably the cuts are vacuum packed or Cryovac® packed for a minimum of two weeks before sale. The pH of the meat before vacuum packaging should be less than 5.8 for a good tender product. TenderBuff ® is a quality assurance product which meets all of the above specifications and is a registered trade mark belonging to the Buffalo Industry Council of the NT.

TenderBuff specifications, when met, allow that carcase to have a strip brand applied (similar to the `Lamb' brand). This is in use in the NT and also in Victoria with the permission of the NT Buffalo Industry Council. The brand is used in conjunction with a grid pricing system which discounts any carcases that fail the specs from the nominated premium price for that region or butcher involved.

When supplying the Brunei market, slaughter stock are treated with pour-on acaricide before shipping while breeder stock must comply with the long list of tests required by the importing country.

Economics

Costs and profits are very difficult to estimate for all areas because of the varying capital costs for land and equipment throughout Australia. They will not be significantly different to cattle costs in any given area. Gross margin costs for cattle can have the TenderBuff premium price negotiated for a particular area substituted into cattle data for the area as a good first approximation.

Recent prices are: TenderBuff - $3.10 per kg dressed weight (Darwin local market) and breed-ers NT $450-$600 per head.

Live export slaughter to Brunei: $1.45 per kg delivered to Darwin Wharf with Bayticol® treatment.

Young Riverine bulls or heifers from the USA cost $16,000 each delivered to Darwin.

Larger numbers of breeders are available from buffalo producers in the NT and smaller numbers from other states. $450-$600 can purchase NT breeders with approximately $200 freight to southern states. The transport window recommended for the southern journey is between September and February for best adaptation to the cooler environment. Buffalo should not be mixed with sheep because of their susceptibility to Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF).

The gross margin for a TenderBuff finishing enterprise in the Darwin area for a 1,000 hectare improved pasture area is estimated to be currently around $130 per hectare.

The main attraction of buffalo farming is that it is a possible diversification for the cattle owner, in a market that may not be subject to price fluctuations as badly as beef, particularly in the build-up phase of herds which is occurring Australia-wide.

Key contacts

Key references

Ross-Cockrill, W. (ed.) 1974 The Husbandry and Health of the Domestic Buffalo FAO of UN.

Buff Pak - a collection of DPIF Agnotes, Technical Bulletins, and Buffalo Newsletters. $20 postage paid, Publications Section, DPIF, GPO Box 990,. Darwin NT 0801.

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