Anatolian water buffaloes husbandry in Turkey: preliminary results on somatic characterization

Abstract

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. These two most common housing systems were used to contribute to the somatic characterization of Anatolian buffalo in the context of a wide typification programme of this buffalo aimed to improve its productive and reproductive potentiality in agreement with a sustainable development. 76 males and 127 females of the Istanbul district and 32 males and 70 females raised in Danamandra village of Silivri district were measured. On each buffalo, withers height, rump height, body length, chest depth and chest width were determined. The results showed a significant difference between males and females starting from 12 months in buffaloes of Danamandra village and from 3 years of age in animals of Istanbul district.