Developments of Buffalo Industry in America

The buffalo population in America nowadays arrives to 4.2 million heads, approximately (nearly all in South America, and 90.000 in Central and North America). This means only the 2% of the world population, but America actually has the higher annual average increase of buffalo population comparing to all the other continents (12%). This species has been introduced into the continent in the end of the XIX century, being utilized first for draught, later on for meat production and finally for dairy, in a slow process at the beginning, that has speed up in the last 50 years. Still nowadays in some American countries the buffalo is entering as a draught animal (Panama, Guatemala, Ecuador, etc.) occupying afterwards its space as meat and milk producer. From Argentina in the south to Canada in the north, the buffaloes are mainly riverine type. There are limited swamp buffalo populations in the northern Brazil (Para State), Venezuela, Cuba, Guyana, and United States. In nearly all the countries buffalo meat production systems have been developed, more intensive in some cases and less in others, all of them with a great efficiency. Reproduction biotechnologies are used since years ago, the same as intensive pastures management. Selection programs are being followed to improve meat and dairy productions. There are large areas with natural pastures waiting to be utilized for buffalo meat production. As a draught animal, the buffalo is essential mainly for the African palm plantations, and also for the transport of sugarcane, for pulling carriages (carts), boats, etc. The buffalo dairy industry has been increasing in a significant way during the last 30 years, with spectacular results, mainly in Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia; and in a smaller scale, in Cuba, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Bolivia, Mexico, United States, etc. Meat and dairy products are supplying internal markets, but also are exported. Argentina and Brazil are working the buffalo hide, and they produce, through an excellent manufacturing industry, products as first quality leather goods, polo stirrup leathers, engine joints, soles, belting, saddles, luggage, handbags, chamois (suede), upholstery, boots, etc. In most of the cases, in America, the buffalo production is located in middle size farms; and in some cases, in large scale farms or ranches. Actually the American buffalo population could be enough to accelerate its diffusion in the small exploitations in order to change radically the life quality and the income of millions of people that are working and living in little family farms developing an economy of subsistence. Official information referred to buffaloes is generally limited in America. This information has been used for this paper, plus the information supplied by several breeders associations trough the continent, by universities, and by personal communications with breeders, researchers, etc.

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