Present status of buffalo breeding in Bangladesh

Bangladesh possesses 0.64 million buffaloes. Genetic studies conducted by various scientists during the last 30 years indicate that these buffaloes are indigenous in nature and river type, except the buffaloes of the northeastern part of the country, which are swamp type. The milk yield and body weight of indigenous buffaloes are lower than those of recognized buffalo breeds. The body of adult buffalo ranges from 250 kg to 450 kg. There are approximately 12000 milking buffaloes. The milk yield of dairy buffaloes was 550 kg in 374 days. The outstanding food value of buffalo milk and meat is now well-recognized in the country. The government has come forward with private enterprises for the genetic improvement of indigenous dairy buffaloes of Bangladesh. The present buffalo breeding policy allows the maintenance of yielding buffalo breeds, viz., Murrah/Nili-Ravi/ Italian Mediterranean buffalo under an intensive management system and 50% X Murrah/Nili-Ravi/Italian Mediterranean buffalo under a semi-intensive or extensive management system. Inter se mating programs involving outcrossing will be practiced in both systems. Three nucleus herds with pure 281 Murrah buffaloes have been set in three government farms. Four more government buffalo farms with pure Murrah buffalo are being set. These farms will supply pure Murrah buffalo heifers to the dairy farmers who will maintain dairy buffaloes under an intensive management system. Department of Livestock Services, Bangladesh, and three private enterprises have been conducting an artificial system to produce 50% crossbred buffaloes since 2019. So far, four buffalo bull stations have been set to produce frozen semen in the country. Semen of 100% Murrah buffalo/Italian Mediterranean buffalo is being used for artificial insemination. So far, 16500 buffalo cows have been inseminated artificially. The conception rate is 38%, and 1855 crossbred progeny have been produced since June 2023. No crossbred has come to production yet. Animal identification and animal recording systems have been introduced at the farm and farmer levels to implement the Inter se mating program for the genetic improvement of dairy buffaloes.