1/5/2010

Pushpendra Kumar Atri

DABUR AYURVAT

MALE BUFFALO CALF – AN OPPORTUNITY

Indian sub-continent is the home tract of world buffaloes. Buffalo is the only potential animal that can boost meat industry in India. The demand for buffalo meat has increased, primarily because consumers perceive it to have less intramuscular fat (more lean meat) than beef and pork. Some also believe that this means the meat is lower in cholesterol, though this has not been proven. Some consumers prefer the taste of buffalo over the taste of beef or pork. Other valuable by-products from buffalo include mounted heads, skulls, and hides. A mounted buffalo head and robe is worth about $600.Buffalo meat is well comparable to beef in many of the physicochemical, nutritional, functional properties and palatability attributes.

Introduction

India has largest livestock population in the world. It has about 98 million buffaloes, which is 57% of total population in the world. They contribute to 1.48 million metric tonnes of meat, amounting 24.54% of the total meat produced in the country (FAO, 2008). Buffalo is the only potential animal that can boost meat industry in India. Buffalo meat is the major item of Indian meat export generating huge revenue in animal products sector. Buffalo meat is the healthiest meat among red meats known for human consumption because it is low in calories and cholesterol. It has almost 2-3 folds cost advantage over mutton and goat meat. In India, meat is consumed either in curry form with high spices or as processed meat products. Only 2% of the meat is processed in India (APEDA, 2008), the remaining meat is sold in fresh or frozen form. Despite vast resource of population and contribution of buffaloes to the total meat production

in the country, their potential for utility in the processed meat sector is not completely exploited

Composition of buffalo meat.

Particulars Water (%) Protein (%) Fat (%) Ash (%) Cholesterol (mg %)

Energy (Kcal/100g)

Buffalo meat

74 -78 20.2 -24.1 0.9 -1.8 1.0 61 131

► Contribution of buffalo in bringing about the White Revolution in India is well known. India is now poised to achieve the Pink Revolution through buffalo. If this could be done, India can also achieve the Number one position in meat production. This could be achieved by reducing the mortality rate in male Buffalo calves (80%), and rearing the animals scientifically for quality meat production, For example, about ten million buffalo calves, which were otherwise eliminated in their very infancy, would become available for quality meat production. This will raise the standard of living of small and marginal farmers in the long run. Meat production has been neglected, and has not been given adequate attention

► In India, every year, about 10 million male calves are removed from the buffalo production system due to intentional killing by the farmers to save dam’s milk due to non-remunerative cost of raising male animals, thus incurring a loss of about US $ 11 million per annum. These calves could be salvaged for meat production, which will not only improve the economic condition of the farmers but also would increase meat production for domestic consumption and export market.

► In India intensive feeding of male buffalo calves has started for meat production. The male calves at the age of 6 - 8 months purchased from the farmers are quarantined for 15 days during which vaccination and de-worming are provided. Thereafter, they are fed on high protein/high energy diet to put on a weight of 120 kg in 4 months to produce quality meat. They are never fed on antibiotics, hormones and growth promoters. They are raised in organic farming. Meat from such animals is tender, lean and juicy and goes to the wet market.

Export of buffalo meat (MT) from India to different countries

Countries 1997 1998 1999 2000-01 2001-02

Malaysia 53440 40054 53,192 77,153 67,251

U.A.E. 41875 37648 41,557 41,516 19,988

Jordan 5381 6576 5,877 12,442 15,327

Yemen 2389 2864 2,760 3,733 3,938

Oman 3979 1296 3,690 - -

Kuwait 4562 4544 4,150 4,596 3,726

Mauritius 4012 3394 2,968 3,192 3,004

South Africa 239 90 -

52 154

Bahrain 2318 1624-

2217 2391

Philippines 32151 26388 27,640 47,447 50,356

Iran 11035 13524 8,022 12,576 10,741

Qatar 1007 811 564 617 852

Egypt 25 2457 2,457 48,716 17,808

Others 1,627 1,500 500

Total 176328 153956 167291 288027 243356

Source: APEDA-2002, New Delhi, India

Existing markets:The good growth of the Indian Buffalo meat export industry from 1,67,291 MTS (FOB value Rs.797 crores) in 1999-2000 to 3,43,817 MTS (FOB value Rs.1647 crores) in 2003-2004 has largely been achieved through nurturing the traditional markets / countries with good quality, competitively priced, frozen Buffalo meat. The traditional countries include, Malaysia, Philippines, Mauritius, UAE and other GCC countries and Jordan.New Markets :Some of the countries which are major importers of bovine livestock / meat and could be targeted for supply of frozen Buffalo meat from India are shown, alongwith our best estimates of their equivalent bovine meat imports. Some of them like Egypt and Iran have previously intermittently sourced Buffalo meat from India.Country Current imports of potential markets

Egypt 100,000Iran 30,000Algeria 50,000Syria 30,000Indonesia 50,000Thailand 30,000Philippines (retail segment) 80,000Russia 100,000Ukraine 50,000Kazakhastan 25,000Krygystan 25,000Tajkistan 25,000

595,000Buffalo meat is very popular in most buffalo loving countries although it comes from culled animals or surplus males. Of 242 630 374 tonnes total world meat, 3 089 875 tonnes comes from buffalo (FAOSTAT 2003).

The buffaloes possess strong large feet, strong legs and powerful quarters, which enable them to maintain balanced traction and overcome the opposing forces of ploughing in hard soil, sticky mud or pulling heavy loads in low land rice field. An average pair of buffalo bulls can haul 2-2 ½ tons of load in a cart fitted with peren numatic tyres over a distance of about 20 miles working 6-8 hrs a day. The buffalo males are particularly useful for steady work in Persian wheel, oil expellers, and threshing of harvested crops.

Other products of Buffalo

Horns

When the horns are properly handled and processed, they provide a variety of practical and decorative articles including buttons, toggles, combs, spoons, forks, knife handles, napkin rings, wall decoration, shoes, horns, etc.

Hides

The hide of water buffalo is an important item both for export and for local industry. Pakistan is one of the world's largest producers of good quality hides and skins, and about a million water buffaloes are slaughtered annually. Leather is considered to be the most important raw material in the country's economy.

Faeces

Tremendously used as fuel and organic fertilizer by the rural people.

Hairs

Buffalo hairs are twice as thick as those of the bovine breeds, which render them suitable for brush production rather than felt.

Calf Management in india

Calves are the livestock industry of the future. Calf management plays an important role in the development of the dairy sector of the country. The success of the dairy industry depends on appropriate calf management. Calf care is not only essential for sustainance of the dairy industry but is also essential in the wake of preserving and maintaining our good quality germ plasm. Important aspects in the calf rearing are the health management and proper nutrition to the calves.

►Research studies have revealed the poor condition of calves in the village dairies wherein the farmers are not much aware about the scientific calf management practices. One emerging trend in the Indian dairying scenario is the growing number of the commercial dairy farms in the urban and periurban areas of the metros and big cities. These dairies mainly cater to the needs of the urban consumers. Their average herd size ranges from small (2-10 animals) to large dairies (up to 500 animals) and most of them are milch animals. Keeping in view the growing importance of commercializing the livestock sector to meet the challenges of globalization, in terms of organized production and marketing.

►The managemental practices in the commercial dairy farms in the study has revealed the poor and unscientific management of the farms . Majority of the dairy farms had a very poor housing structure for these animals which is not suitable as per the requirement of the different seasons i.e. summer, winter and rainy season. Further there is overcrowding of animals in most of the farms due to lack of space. The roof and floor of most of these farms were found to be broken and in a shabby condition and in need of repair. Most of farmers cleaned the farms two times a day but very few used disinfectant like phenyl and calcium carbonate (Lime powder) occasionally.

► In fact the calf management in the commercial dairy farms is very poor leading to high calf mortality.

RESTING OF ANIMALS FOR 24 Hr CHILLING OF CARCASSES AFTER POST MORTEM

CHILLING OF CARCASSES AFTER POST MORTEM DEBONING OF MEAT

FREEZING OF MEAT PACKED IN CARTONS IN PLATE FREEZER AT 18 DEGREE CELSIUS

IN HOUSE QUALITY CONTROL

FATTENING MALE BUFFALO CALVES ON HIGH PROTEIN (20 %) AND HIGH ENERGY RATIONS (2500 CAL/KG)

FARMERS ARE TRAINED IN IMPROVED REARING OF ANIMALS

VACCINATION OF ANIMALS AT FARMERS’ DOOR

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF BUFFALOES FOR IMPROVED BREEDING

Reason of High mortality rate of Male Buffalo CalfSurvival of neonatal calves is imperative for livestock propagation; however, a large number of calves die during the first year of their life causing heavy drain on the economics of livestock production. Mortality of neonatal calves was attributed to conditions like diarrhea and pneumonia . However, environmental and managemental factors hasten the occurrence of such conditions . Calf mortality was associated with the type of housing, feeding, managemental practices, weather conditions, external and internal parasitic infestation and bacterial infections especially those causing septicaemia and enteritis (Blood et al., 1994). There are several reasins of high mortality of Male Buffalo Calf. Some of these are:

(1) farmers are not much aware about the scientific calf management practices.

(2) killing by the farmers to save dam’s milk due to non-remunerative cost of raising male animals. Traditionally farmers were doing little efforts to stimulate milk letdown in buffaloes with the help of managemental practices other than calf suckling. Some of the farmers used intramuscular injection of Oxytocin for milk letdown.

(3) little attention was paid to calf management

(4) Poor hygienic conditions may expose young calves to pathogens like E. Coli, Salmonella, Pasteurella and parasites, which are responsible for neonatal mortality

Effect of number of buffaloes at the farm on calf mortality

increase in calf mortality with increase in no. of buffaloes on the farm. Farmers were unable to give full attention to the buffalo.

Effect of age on buffalo calf mortality

Mortality in buffalo calves was higher during the first three months of age, while it was lower at the age group of three months and above. Poor hygienic conditions may expose young calves to pathogens like E. Coli, Salmonella, Pasteurella and parasites, which are responsible for neonatal mortality.

Vorster et al., (1994) reported outbreaks of diarrhea in 3-28 days old calves in South Africa. Various strains of E.Coli were isolated from small and large intestine. In some outbreaks Rotavirus and Corona virus were also identified in faeces of the affected calves.

Effect of total calves at the farm on calf mortality

High calf mortality in farms with less number of calves while it was lower when the number of calves was increased. It indicated the increased interest of the farmers in the calves with larger investment, providing better management and extra care when the total calves at the farm were increased.

Effect of season on buffalo calf mortality

Season had no effect on calf mortality

Advantage IndiaExcellent Veterinary InfrastructureVet Hospitals/Polyclinics 1,715Vet Dispensaries 14,473Vet aid centres 23,682Veterinarians 50,000Para vets 45,000Exclusive Veterinary Universities 4Veterinary colleges 65

One National and four regional disease diagnostic labs working as referral labs.

► Large livestock population►BSE and Scrapie never reported in India► Availability of modern and integrated meat processing facilities► Livestock reared naturally – free from growth promoters and harmones►Lean meat and genuine “HALAL”► Competitively priced►India situated in good proximity to ASEAN and Middle eastern countries

Conclusion

India has 52% (93 million) of the world’s largest Buffalo population. Even as per the latest census of 2003 there was a growth of 7.5% of Buffalo livestock during the previous 5 years, which is a happy situation.

►Since the growth of Buffalo meat for domestic consumption is low (less than 2%), the potential for export increases substantially. As mentioned, one of the biggest virtues of Indian Buffalo meat is its competitive pricing; since the meat industry in India is a by-product of the dairy industry wherein livestock, which have completed its useful contribution are used for meat, the cost is low and hence possible to be competitive.►Male Buffalo usefulness primarily for draught power in agriculture is by and large reducing, so is the male Buffalo population. Male calf therefore is unfortunately not cared for and resultantly does not survive. A major potential exists for male calf rearing for meat purposes. A practical and uniform policy of male calf rearing needs to be enacted and implemented in the 5 states with maximum potential of Buffalo meat exports. The issue of extensive and intensive male calf rearing vis a vis economics and practicality, including availability and supply of adequate quantity fodder at a defined price needs to be addressed. It is expected that over a

period a new, niche market, with a premium price realization for Buffalo calf meat, would emerge and in that case even intensive male calf rearing could be self sustaining.

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