Anatolian Water Buffaloes Husbandry in Turkey

Abstract

Anatolian water buffalo is found mostly in the half northwestern of Turkiye including north part of the middle Anatolia. It is more common along the coast of Black sea. It is also found in Eastern Anatolia. From a taxonomical point of view it is classified as 'Mediterranean' type. In the past, buffalo farming has been an important production source for Turkiye (1,117,000 heads assessed in 1971), while currently the population size is of only 110,000 heads. In Turkey most farmers keep 1-2 buffaloes for family consumption and this system is very widespread in villages while farms with around 100 heads are located near to the big cities. In despite of the popular indifference, farming of this species has survived in order to promote productive systems in agreement with sustainable rural development and trend to revalue autochthonous genetic types. There are in situ and ex situ conservation programme and incentive premiums in order to stop the reducing tendency of population. Nation-wide water buffaloes improvement program has also initiated called community based herd improvement program. Anatolian water buffalo is reared for triple aptitude: meat, milk and draught. Most meat is especially used for making sausage, which is a very popular typical product in Anatolia, prepared with buffalo meat, beef and mutton spiced especially with garlic. Concerning milk production, research is evidencing that controlled farming and feeding conditions may significantly improve performances. Milk is also employed to make a very popular traditional product, known as 'lule kaymagi'. The Anatolian water buffalo has dark brown, dark grey to black coat, with muzzle, hoofs and horns hairs usually black to black grey. Horns are relatively long, resembling the Mediterranean type, and narrow. They have relatively longer body and face smaller girth and longer thicker legs. The ears are wide and haairy inside. The neck is long and not unduly thick. The withers height tends to be the same as height at sacrum. The body is coarse and sometimes angular. White marks sometimes occur on head, on the lower part of legs and at the end of tail. The horns of female are longer and thinner than those of the male.