FARMER’S BLACK GOLD
Durgesh Nandan1, R.P.Diwakar2 , K.D.Singh3 and Vipin Kumar4
1MVSc scholar and 2, Assistant Prof. Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., ANDUAT, Kumarganj. Ayodhya (UP)
3, Assistant Prof. Department of LFC, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., ANDUAT, Kumarganj. Ayodhya (UP)
4 Ph.D,Department of Veterinary Surgery & Radiology, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., ANDUAT, Kumarganj. Ayodhya (UP)
Introduction
Buffalo production plays a significant role in food security and poverty alleviation in Asian countries. Buffaloes, described as the ‘’Black Gold’’, are favourite multipurpose animals of farmers and are in fact the ‘’bank on hooves’’ with huge potential for social and economic changes for the agrarian community. Buffalo has been an integral part of livestock agriculture in Asia for over 5000 years producing milk, meat, hides and draft power. With more than 90% of global buffalo population present in Asia, 77.9% buffaloes are inhabitant of south Asian countries. India is home for 57% world buffalo population and contributing nearly 50% of total milk production of the country. Data from the 20th livestock census shows that the buffalo population has grown by 1.06 per cent between 2012- 2019. With 20 per cent share of world’s bovine population, India is one of the largest producers and exporters of buffalo meat. India has exported 1.086 million tonnes of buffalo meat products to the world for the worth of Rs. 23,460.38 Crores/ 3,171.19 USD Millions during the year of 2020-21. During the last 70 years, buffalo contribution of nearly 50 per cent in milk pool elevated India to the No. 1 pedestal in total milk production, while buffalo meat export earned India another distinction of being the largest buffalo meat exporting country in the world. Buffalo meat also surpassed basmati rice as the largest exported agricultural commodity during the year 2016-17.
About Buffalo Milk: Status And Contribution
Livestock sector is growing faster than any other agricultural sub-sector. While percentage contribution of agriculture and allied sector at constant prices (2011-12) in total gross value added (GVA) decreased from 18.5 to 14.8 per cent from 2011-12 to 2019-20; the share of livestock to total GVA increased from 4.0 to 4.4 per cent. Buffalo is prominent in UP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP, Bihar, AP, Maharashtra, Haryana, Telangana and Punjab, where it contributes between 54-85 percent to total milk produced and is important contributor to rural household incomes.
In India Buffalo Current Population
The total milk production of India was about 165 M tonnes in 2016-17, with buffalo share of over 49%. For the year 2019-20, the total milk production was estimated at 198.4 M tonnes. The productivity of buffalo is highest in Haryana followed by Punjab. Uttar Pradesh, having about 26% of total in-milk female buffaloes, is having per animal productivity of 4.44 litres per day (about 50% of the best producing state). There is scope for further improvement in buffalo productivity through improved germplasm dissemination, nutrient availability and health care.
Leading states with buffaloes (Million heads) (20th Livestock census-2019) Uttar Pradesh (33.016), Rajasthan (13.693), Gujarat (10.543), Madhya Pradesh (10.380), Bihar (7.719), Andhra Pradesh (6.219) Maharashtra (5.603) Haryana (4.368) Telangana (4.226) Punjab (4.015)
Buffalo Milk Production
Buffalo milk is rich in protein, fat, conjugated fatty acids (CLA), and minerals with low cholesterol, sodium and chloride. It has double lactoperoxidase activity, more thermally stable β- lactoglobulin, larger fat globules size (4.16-4.6 μm), higher buffering capacity (25-30% more) and more Vitamin A, E and B12 (4 folds more). Buffalo milk is not only sweeter in taste but also more creamier and thicker with more solids, hence preferred for preparation of several traditional sweets. Buffalo milk is extra source of nutrients Water (820 g/L), Total solids (172 g/L), Lactose ( 5-5.5%), Protein (4-5%), Fat (6-9.5%), Cholesterol (0.65 mg/g), Conj. Linoleic Acid (6.1 mg/g fat).
About Buffalo Meat
Meat production from buffaloes contributes immensely to Indian economy and plays a pivotal role in sustainable buffalo husbandry through improvement in productivity, remunerative price for the culled/ unproductive stocks, prevention of degradation of soil and water resources and reduction in the greenhouse gas effect. Resultantly, there are no stray buffaloes on the streets. The total meat production ofthe country was 8.6 million tonnes in 2019-20 with a steady increase from 7.4 million tonnes since 2016- 17. Buffalo contribute 22% of total meat production of the country (2019-20) and UP, Maharashtra, AP and Telangana are the largest producers of buffalo meat (2018-19).
Meat production in India
India is the leader in buffalo meat production with an export of 1.086 million tonnes of buffalo meat (APEDA, 2021; https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/indexp/exportstatement.aspx) worth of Rs. 23460.38 crore (2020-21). Presently, there are 68 modern abattoirs with meat processing facilities approved by APEDA for export of buffalo meat from the country. According to the All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association (AIMLEA) export abattoirscum- meat processing plants in India registered with the export regulatory authority (APEDA) are employing74,000 workforce directly and 1,50,000 indirectly. Slaughter restrictions on utilization of male buffalo calves and other unproductive buffaloes need to be relooked for increasing revenues from buffalo meat.FMD control programme needs to be implemented effectively for control / eradication of this important economic disease, which will enhance the market potential of both milk and meat across the globe for attracting better prices.
Utilization of slaughterhouse by-products and value addition
When meat animal is slaughtered and processed, only one third is meat and the rest comprises of by-products and waste which are used as variety of meat for human consumption, pet foods, industrial products and organic fertilizers.Value addition of slaughterhouse by-products for pet food viz. sausages, nuggets from blood and rumen pickles/ flakes, earlobe, intestines, dried offals, tendons could be prepared to fill the gap of demand for pet food in the country. Dry/ semi moist pet food from buffalo offals could also be prepared to generate income. Rendering converts highly perishable meat by-products that are unfit for human consumption into useful commodities such as meat meal, bone meal, meat and bone meal, pet food along with additional quantities of fats, tallow and greases used in various feed and industrial sectors. Rumen and intestinal contents as well as remaining unusable wastes are fed into bio-digestors for production of bio-gas and manure.
Major buffalo by-products and their uses
| Primary by-product | Secondary by-products |
| Hide / skin | Leather, collagen sheets, Glue |
| Edible offal – lung, liver, spleen, stomach, etc | Variety meat for human consumption |
| Inedible /condemned offal | Pet foods , meat meal, tallow |
| Bones | Bone meal, gelatin |
| Blood | Blood meal, albumin, haemoglobin, serum, plasma, fibrin |
| Intestine | Sausage casings, instrument strings, surgical sutures, tennis racket guts |
| Horns | Keratin, artifacts, buttons |
| Hoofs | Keratin, hoof meal, neat’s foot oil |
| Intestinal contents | Manure |
| Pancreas | Insulin |
| Lung | Heparin |
| Liver | Liver extract |
| Fat | Tallow – Soap industry, textile industry |
Buffalo slaughter regulations need to be pragmatic and dynamic to the changing situations so that sustainability of the species could be achieved.The existing bans/restrictions on buffalo slaughter in place since 1970s in some states, need to be relooked in view of changes in land utilization pattern, buffalo production scenario, economic pressures, feed and fodder availability, importance of productivity etc., which demand a pragmatic approach for making modification to the existing provisions. With decreasing role of draught animals for providing farm power, rearing male buffalo calves with backward integration for meat purpose seem to be the appropriate alternative to contribute for the total productivity of buffaloes for sustained production. Issues for enhancing buffalo economy in India:
- Breeding strategies: It should be based on the resource position of farmers, which is by and large, poor.
- Ensuring clean production system of meat and milk: For promoting exports and also for domestic consumers.
- Enhancing value addition, processing and market linkage: Preventing wastage of products due to contamination, unfair trade practices and elimination of intermediate agencies in marketing will further enhance the profit margins (presently only 30% milk is sold through the organised sector).
- Augmenting buffalo reproduction: Buffalo should calve once in every 12-16 months. For this, she must be pregnant by 65 days after calving and for this, breeding should start at 40 days after parturition. Estrus detection is frustrating problem in buffaloes leading to more incidence of repeat breeding.
- Policies and funding for solving the issues in buffalo reproduction, dissemination of superior germplasm, disease control and marketing need to be looked into.
Conclusion
Buffalo are good grazers; as compared to cattle they graze a wider range of plants. They have a larger rumen, slower rumen movements, rate of outflow from the rumen, and higher bacterial activity capable of utilizing low grade roughages. They are capable of round-the-year breeding with good nutrition and care. The production of fat-corrected milk matches favourably with any high yielding cattle breed. Absence of religious taboo on buffalo slaughter, helps scavenge the value for spent animals as well, making buffalo farming more remunerative. Buffalo will continue to contribute in Indian agricultural economy for livelihood, food and nutritional security. Full potential of buffalo needs to be explored for sustainable gain in Indian economy.
https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/strategy-to-increase-the-income-of-livestock-farmers-in-india/
