Liveweight changes of swamp buffaloes and cattle in Northern Australia

Abstract

Water buffaloes make an important contribution to world food supplies by the provision of milk, draft power and meat. In Australia, swamp buffaloes are utilised for meat production but little is known of their productive potential for this purpose, compared with cattle.

A series of experiments was carried out in the northern part of the Northern Territory, Australia to compare live- weight changes of grazing swamp buffaloes with Brahman x Shorthorn cattle. At one site females and steers were used to compare the two species in three experiments, each using 15-18 animals. At each of three other sites, steers were compared in an experiment involving 11-24 animals.

At liveweights up to 250 kg, swamp buffaloes achieved liveweight gains similar to Brahman x Shorthorn cattle during both wet and dry seasons. At some sites buffaloes were capable of liveweight gains similar to cattle at liveweights heavier than 250 kg. However in the experiment where the comparison continued longest, the performance of water buffaloes was inferior to cattle over a three year period. Differences in relative performance of the two species in the various experiments are discussed in terms of differences in the nature of the experiment sites and in the stage of maturity of the animals.

There was no difference in rate of liveweight gain between steers and females, either in water buffaloes or in cattle.

The highest rates of wet season liveweight gain by Australian swamp buffaloes on pasture compared favourably with the best liveweight gains reported for grazing water buffaloes in other countries.