PRESENT SITUATION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE OF BUFFALO PRODUCTION IN AMERICA - Marco A. Zava (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2012)
America has a buffalo population of approximately 4.12 million heads. It’s number is growing at the explosive rhythm of 12.7 % per year, well above all other continents. Within this context the different situations of countries in North, Central and, mainly, South America subcontinents are described. They all share a brilliant future for the buffalo. The production systems in North and Central America are described, mainly in the United States, Cuba and Trinidad. And the fist steps of buffaloes in Canada, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Belice. South American countries production systems are described too. First of all Brazil, a subcontinent itself rearing 3,5 million buffaloes, together with Venezuela and Colombia, during the last 30 years they had a great expansion in meat and milk production with buffaloes. In Argentina buffalo meat production increased significantly in the last years, because of the expansion of agriculture, that is displacing animal production toward the tropics, where buffalo is more efficient than cattle. The first steps of buffaloes in Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana, Perú, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay and Chile are described. In equatorial, tropical and subtropical areas of America the buffalo has proved to be very superior in productivity compared with cattle, thanks to its very good adaptation to these conditions. And in the temperate areas buffalo is increasing its milk industry, near important urban markets. Thus, american continent has enormous areas available for buffalo, converting it in an extremely valious tool to achieve prosperity and increase food production of latin american developing countries.
Keywords: journal article; buffalo; America; production systems; future perspective