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PRODUCTION
SYSTEM
09
Proceedings 9
th
World Buffalo Congress
748
PRODUCTION SYSTEM
Antioxidant Status in
Periparturient Mehsana Buffaloes
Pathan, M.M.1; Latif, A. 2, Das, H.3, Siddiquee, G. M 4, and Vadodaria, V. P.5
1Ph. D. scholar, Animal physiology, NDRI, Karnal, Haryana. 2Professor & Head, Dept. of Animal physiology & Biochemistry,
SDAU, Gujarat. 3Assistant professor, Dept. of Animal physiology & Biochemistry, SDAU, Gujarat. 4Professor & Head,
Dept. of Clinics, SDAU, Gujarat.5Dean & Principal, College of Veterinary Science & A. H., SDAU, Gujarat, India
ABSTRACT: Periparturient period is especially critical for health and subsequent productivity of buffaloes. The present
study was undertaken to assess the degree of oxidative stress in Mehsana buffaloes during periparturient period. The
results of the present study revealed that the antioxidant markers i.e. Melendealdehide (MDA), Super oxide dismutase
(SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were significantly (p<0.01) increased from 30 days before parturition attain-
ing highest levels on the day of parturition. Significantly (p<0.01) decreased levels of these marker/enzymes were
observed from 15 days after parturition to 30 days after parturition. This indicates higher oxidative stress and lower
anti-oxidant status during pregnancy and parturition as significantly decreased level of MDA, SOD and GSH-Px were
observed in non-pregnant buffaloes compared to pregnant buffaloes on the day of parturition. The study indicated
higher level of oxidative stress in buffaloes during parturition than non-pregnant buffaloes. The levels of these markers
observed at 30 days after parturition was higher than non-pregnant buffaloes. This might be due to stress imposed by
heavy lactation and incomplete involution of uterus in pregnant buffaloes.
Keywords: Oxidative stress, Periparturient period, Antioxidants, buffaloes.
INTRODUCTION
Pregnancy and milk production although economic traits are physiological process, but create a stressful condition as
oxidative stress in the animal body. The oxidative stress is produced in multiple physiological processes from oocyte
maturation to fertilization, embryo development, parturition and in initiation of preterm labour and lactation. Pregnan-
cy is a physiological state accompanied by a high energy demand for many bodily functions as a result of which an

increased intake and utilization of oxygen takes place and thereby augmenting level of oxidative stress. This oxidative
stress is favored during pregnancy mostly because of the mitochondria rich placenta6. It attains the peaks by the second
trimester of pregnancy that appears to be a vulnerable period for fetal health and gestational progress. Antioxidants are
molecules or compounds that act as free radical scavengers. Most of those are electron donors that react with the free
radicals to form innocuous end products such as water and prevent cells from oxidative damage. To detoxify ROS the cell
develops its own enzymatic and non-enzymatic endogenous antioxidant defense mechanism3. Antioxidants like SOD,
catalase and GSH-Px constitute enzymatic arsenals of the antioxidant defiance mechanism of the cell.
Looking to the immense importance of antioxidants to maintain physiological functions and prevent oxidative stress, it
is intended to assess oxidative stress in periparturient Mehsana buffaloes. Hence the present study was planed to
determine the status of antioxidants biomarkers viz. lipid peroxidase (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione
peroxidase (GSH-Px) in blood of pre and post parturient buffaloes.
Buenos Aires, Abril 2010
749
PRODUCTION SYSTEM
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present investigation was carried out on periparturient Mehsana buffaloes, maintained at the Livestock Research
Station, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat (India). For the present study, 12 buffaloes were selected and categorized as
group-I (Control) comprised of six non-pregnant (at diestrous stage) and group-II (Experimental) comprised of six preg-
nant (9 months) buffaloes. About 10 ml of blood was collected aseptically from jugular vein in heparinized vials, once only
from non-pregnant buffaloes and from six pregnant buffaloes at 15, 30 days before, on the day, 15 and 30 days after
parturition. The plasma was separated after centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes. Fresh haemolysate obtained after
centrifugation was used for estimation of Lipid Peroxidase (LPO) in the form of Malondialdehyde (MDA), SOD and GSH-Px.
Membrane peroxidative damage in erythrocytes was determined in terms of MDA production by the method of Shafiq-U-
Rahman9. SOD and GSH-Px activity was determined as per the method described by Madesh and Balasubramanian4 & Paglia
and Valantine7 respectively. The significance of difference between means for different biochemical parameters were tested
by applying paired t-test for dependant samples and unpaired t-test for independent samples assuming equal variances10.
Figure 1: (A) Erythrocyte lipid peroxide (nM/ml); (B) Superoxide dismutase (U); (C) Glutathione peroxidase (U/ml) in non-pregnant
(control) and around parturition in pregnant Mehsana buffaloes.
Table 2: Differences in the level of MDA/LPO, SOD and GSH-Px from 0 to 30
days before and after parturition were as under:

Table 1: Lipid peroxidase (LPO), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione
peroxidase (GSH-Px) in Erythrocyte of Mehsana Buffaloes.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 shows the mean erythrocyt-
ic MDA, SOD and GSH-Px concen-
trations of non-pregnant and preg-
nant buffaloes on 30, 15 days be-
fore, on the day, 15 and 30 days
after parturition whereas, differenc-
es in the level of MDA, SOD and GSH-
Px from 0 to 30 days before and
after parturition have been pre-
sented in table 2 and figure 1.
• The mean having same numerical superscipt within a colum did not differ significantly (p< 0.05) between group I
and group II.
• The mean having same alphabetical superscipt within a colum did not differ significantly (p< 0.05) within group II.
• * = significant (p< 0.05) and** = highly significant (p< 0.01).
Proceedings 9
th
World Buffalo Congress
750
PRODUCTION SYSTEM
The concentration of erythrocytic MDA was significantly higher on the day of parturition as compared to 30 and 15 days
before and 15 and 30 days after parturition. The differences in MDA levels between 30 days before and 15 days after
parturition were non-significant, while in all other MDA levels on various days, on the day and before and after parturi-
tion were found to be highly significantly different (p<0.01) from each other. Results showed that level of MDA concen-
tration of non-pregnant buffaloes was significantly (p<0.05) lower than 30 days before and 15 days after parturition
whereas, highly significantly (p<0.01) lower than 15 day before and on the day of parturition. The difference in the level
of LPO between 30 days before and on the day of parturition was higher than difference between 15 days before and on
the day of parturition indicating increase in the oxidative stress with advancement of pregnancy. However, the differ-

ence between 15 and 30 days before parturition was almost 3 times lesser than the difference observed between 0 and 30
days before parturition suggesting gradual adaptation of the animals to the mounting level of stress to combat the
maximum stress on the day of parturition. After parturition the difference in the level of LPO between 30 days after and
on the day of parturition was 1.5 times higher than the difference between 15 days after and on the day of parturition
indicating decrease in the level of stress after the parturition. Insignificant difference was also observed between 15 and
30 days after parturition. Present study revealed depleted antioxidant status in the prepartum period and on the day of
parturition. The higher mean value of MDA indicates higher lipid peroxidation of cell membranes as a result of higher
oxidative stress in periparturient buffaloes1. The study also suggests that the levels of LPO increased significantly before
parturition. The findings of the present study are similar to the earlier reports1. It was also evident that after parturition
the animal was relieved from stress and it was associated with a sudden drop in the level of LPO (from the day of
parturition to 15 days after parturition), which then became steady till 30 days after parturition. This explains that after
the animals are relieved from parturition stress, another immediate stress due to lactation is imposed on them, which is
somewhat higher as compared to non-pregnant buffaloes as strongest trend to metabolic imbalance is observed in dairy
cows during early lactation resulting in an increased level of plasma lipid peroxidation5.
The result revealed significantly higher erythrocytic SOD value on the day of parturition as compared to 30 and 15 days
before parturition and 15 and 30 days after parturition. The SOD levels between 30 and 15 days before parturition; 30
days before and 15 days after parturition differed significantly (p<0.05), whereas, levels observed on the day of partu-
rition was highly significantly different (p<0.01) with levels found on 30 days before, 15 days before, 15 days after and
30 days after parturition. Highly significant (p<0.01) difference was also observed between 15 and 30 days after
parturition. Mean value of SOD in non-pregnant buffaloes was highly significantly (p<0.01) lower than on the day of
parturition and significantly (p<0.05) lower than 15 days after parturition. The role of intracellular SOD is to scavenge
the superoxide produced by a number of reactions, including normal cellular functions. SOD catalyzes the dismutation of
superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. Current study reveled that, the difference in the level of SOD between 30
days before and on the day of parturition was higher than difference between 15 days before and on the day of
parturition suggesting oxidative stress induced by pregnancy. The higher erythrocyte SOD activity on the day of partu-
rition indicates higher oxidative stress and lower anti-oxidant status. The increase in SOD activity up to parturition was
probably a response to the higher superoxide generation, a possible homeostatic control2. After parturition the differ-
ence in the level of SOD between 30 days after and on the day of parturition was lower than the difference between 15
days after and on the day of parturition indicating decrease in the level of stress after the parturition, signifying that
the levels were higher before parturition. With the advancement of pregnancy oxidative stress increases and at the time

of parturition it reaches to its peak and then after parturition it decreases1,2,8. As explained earlier after parturition
animal was relieved from stress which, associated with sudden decrease in the SOD level which become steady up to 30
days after parturition. This shows that after parturition lactation stress was observed which is somewhat higher as
compared to non-pregnant buffaloes.
The concentration of erythrocytic GSH-Px was significantly higher on the day of parturition as compared to 30, 15 days
before, 15 and 30 days after parturition. The GSH-Px level showed an increasing trend from 30th day pre-partum and
highest level was obtained on the day of parturition and than the levels gradually decreased from 15th day post-partum
attaining the lowest level on 30th day post-partum. The differences in GSH-Px levels between 15th day pre-partum and
15th day post-partum, 15th and 30th day post-partum were significant (p<0.05), while highly significant (p<0.01)
Buenos Aires, Abril 2010
751
PRODUCTION SYSTEM
REFERENCES
1. Bernabucci U, Ronchi B, Lacetera N and Nardone A 2002. Markers of oxidative status in plasma and erythrocytes of transition dairy cows during
hot season. J. Dairy Sci. 95: 2173-2179.
2. Bernabucci U, Ronchi B, Lacetera N and Nardone A 2005. Influence of body condition score on relationships between metabolic status and
oxidative stress in periparturient dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 88: 2017-2026.
3. Bulkley GB 1983. The role of oxygen derived free radicals in human disease processes. Surgery 94:407-411.
4. Madesh M and Balasubramanian KA 1998. Microtitre plate assay for superoxide dismutase using MTT reduction by superoxide. Indian J.
Biochem. Biophys. 35 (3): 184-188.
5. Mudron P and Konvicna J 2006. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and plasma antioxidative capacity in dairy cows at different lactation
stages. Deutsche tierärztliche Wochenschrift. 113:189-190.
6. Page KR 1993. The physiology of human placenta. p. 164. UCL Press Limited, London.
7. Paglia DE and Valantine WN 1967. Studies on the quantitative and the qualitative characterization of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase J. Lab.
Clin. Med. 70: 158.
8. Sathya A 2005. Studies on oxidative stress in dystocia affected buffaloes. M.V.Sc. Thesis, Submitted to Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana,
India.
9. Shafiq-U-Rahman 1984. Lead induced regional lipid peroxidation in brain. Toxicology Letter. 21: 359-364.
10. Snedecor GW and Cochran WG 1994. Satistical methods. 8th edn. Oxford and IBH publishing Co, New Delhi, India.
differences were observed between 15th day pre-partum and on the day of parturition, 15th day pre-partum and 30th

day post-partum, on the day of parturition and 15th day post-partum; on the day of parturition and 30th day post-
partum. The level of GSH-Px concentration in erythrocyte of non-pregnant buffaloes was significantly (p<0.05) lower
than 30 days before parturition whereas, highly significantly lower (p<0.01) than 15 days before and on the day of
parturition. GSH-Px plays an important role in protecting the cells against hydrogen peroxide. SOD catalyzes the dismu-
tation of superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. Since, SOD activity increases hydrogen peroxide production,
protection from elevated hydrogen peroxide would only be conferred by a co-ordinate increase in catalase and GSH-Px
activity. The level of endogenous antioxidant increases as the risk of oxidative damage increases. GSH-Px decomposes
hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl radical, which attacks all biological molecules, including membrane lipid resulting
initiation of lipid peroxidation. In the present study, the difference in the level of GSH-Px between 30 days before and
on the day of parturition was higher than difference between 15 days before and on the day of parturition which shows
that the higher GSH-Px activity during pre-partum and on the day of parturition was probably a response to the higher
SOD activity. After parturition, the difference in the level of GSH-Px between 30 days after and on the day of parturition
was higher than the difference between 15 days after and on the day of parturition indicating gradual decrease in the
level of stress after the parturition, signifying that the levels were higher before parturition. The SOD and GSH-Px
represents the major arsenals of intracellular antioxidant defense mechanism2. It was also evident that after parturition
that the animal was relieved from stress and it was associated with a sudden drop in the level of GSH-Px (from the day of
parturition to 15 days after parturition), which then became steady till 30 days after parturition. This explains that the
stress of parturition was over but the stress of lactation was imposed on them, which is indicated by a non-significantly
higher level when compared to non-pregnant buffaloes because non-pregnant buffaloes are already adapted to this
lactation stress.
Acknowledgement. The Authors are grateful to the Dean and Principal, College of Veterinary Science and A.H. as well as
Research Scientist, LRS, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar for providing the facility to carry out the study.
Proceedings 9
th
World Buffalo Congress
752
PRODUCTION SYSTEM
Behaviour of the bubalino cattle in forestations
of pine with different species from pastures
in a silvopastoral system.

Tejedor, F. P. J.
Cattle Association Center Zone. Salta 235, Oberá, Misiones, CP N3360FPE
E-mail:
ABSTRACT
The silvopastoral systems in the Province of Misiones, accomplished in implanted forests, mainly in pines, have had a
great growth in the last years. The knowledge contributed by the researchers and technicians of public entities like of
the private activity, allows to have more information every year, which has been reflected in the works presented/
displayed in 1st National Congress of Silvopastoral Systems realised in the city of Posadas, Misiones between 14th and
16th of May of 2009, which allowed the understanding and the improvement of the handling of as much of the wooded
mass, the different implanted pastures and the handling from the cattle. The introduction of bubalino cattle in a
silvopastoral system has the objective of developing techniques and adaptations of the present knowledge of the
silvopastoral system with bovine cattle, to this species of ruminant, since the capacity of the buffalo is recognized
(Bubalus bubalis) to adapt to the tropical and subtropical climate, besides the rusticity and productivity. The experience
is being developed in a forestation from 75 hectares of Pinus elliottii Engelm. var elliottii and Pinus taeda cv. Marion, of
different ages, different species from pastures and a roundup of young of buffalos. The preliminary results indicate that
it is possible to implement this technique successfully and high productivities are achieved, that make the introduction
promissory of this type of cattle in the silvo-pastoral system of the province and the region.
Keywords: Buffalo, Silvopastoral System, handling.
INTRODUCTION
The Silvopastoral System used with cattle is increasing in the province of Misiones every year, especially in afforestation
of Pinus and in less extent on Eucalyptus and native forest of different species1. Besides, Silvopastoral Systems offer the
potential to combine two activities on the same soil such as forestry in the long term and livestock in the medium term.
Thus, obtaining a synergy from both, it offers the livestock and pastures a better climate in this system by attenuating
the cold winter and the summer heat, for greater and better quality of livestock production.2,3
The National Institute of Agricultural and Livestock Technology (INTA), producers and advisers are developing and
adapting new technologies for the different areas and productive systems in the province.4,5,6,7.
The introduction of Buffalo livestock to the silvopastoral system was carried out in the year 2002, with the acquisition
of the first buffaloes and with the aim of developing a dairy project for the production of mozzarella cheese. Thus, if for
cattle a better environment improved their production, with buffaloes something similar would happen.
The system was already working with cattle and it was considered that there would be no difficulties with buffaloes,

although there was background from other producers who discouraged this practice for the damage that caused to the
trees. The establishment had 75 hectares of afforestation with 6 years of age, and for its development it was verified that
the damage to the trees is very little and mainly bark peeling only, which does not damage to the trees.
Buenos Aires, Abril 2010
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PRODUCTION SYSTEM
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The establishment Estancia del Puerto is located in the municipality of F. Ameghino, in the place Puerto Rosario, two Km
from provincial route Nº 2, San Javier Department. It has 106 hectares and borders with the Uruguay Rivers.
Afforestation
The largest area of afforestation of pine was conducted in 1997, existing before and after, apart from small afforested
areas with Eucalyptus (Eucaliptus grandis) and Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta). The original distance of afforestation was 4
meters between lines and 2.50 meters between trees, with a theoretical density of 1,000 plants/hectare. On the 6th year
the first thinning was conducted, being at a distance of 8 meters between lines and with a density of 380 plants/hectare
since dominated and deformed trees were eliminated. Pruning of branches were made every two years to six meters high.
When due to lack of light more thinning is made to reduce tree density and increase luminosity.
Pastures
Pasture implants were performed under trees with the following species: Axonopus compressus (running carpet grass),
Brachiaria brizantha (brachiaria grass) 8,9 and Pennisetum purpureum (elephant grass)10, besides open plantations were
conducted of Zea mays (corn), Saccharum officinarum (sugar cane) and Sorghum sp. (forage sorghum), destined for
silage, all for winter supplementation.
Animals
There are all categories of buffaloes, which are handled in two herds, for reproduction on one side, and on the other male
calves raised until one year of age which are sold for meat and young female calves which are incorporated as mothers.11,12.
Management
Afforestation is surrounded with a 7-wire perimeter, placing three wires at short distance to the ground, to prevent
buffaloes from breaking the wires. The internal divisions are made with electric fences, with two wires in general and
three wires in alleys. A cutwater is performed for the bathing in the warm months, which facilitates the animal controls.13
Grazing
Pastures are managed with an Intensive Rational Grazing or Voisin method.14,15,16,17 Parcels are done from half to one

hectare average and animals graze for one day, they always have access to the cutwater for their bathing and drinking. In
winter, if there is no grass, they are placed in areas without implanted pastures and sugar cane and silage are supplemented.
Health management
Mandatory vaccination program by law (aphthous) is done, apart from blackleg and carbuncle (anthrax). Each newborn
calf has its navel healed and it is vaccinated against parasites.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
No behavior was observed that prevents the development of forestry and Buffalo livestock in the same area, since the
damage to the trees is not significant. It was measured no more than 3% of partially peeled trees, as a consequence of
animal scratching, with a low commercial impact of them. The production of meat, milk and the average of calving are
high and in accordance with the normal parameters of the area. The grass production is similar to the systems of open
plantations with the advantage of having an additional forestry production and a better management of resources, since
the damage by water erosion is limited and a prolongation of green pastures is offered during the winter.
Compared with cattle, buffaloes have the advantage of being more rustic and better adapted to subtropical climate,
besides they are more docile and easier to handle than cattle. The rates of pregnancy and calving are higher in buffaloes
than cattle, apart from the low incidence of parasites.
Proceedings 9
th
World Buffalo Congress
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PRODUCTION SYSTEM
CONCLUSION
After seven years of experience with buffaloes in Silvopatoral Systems, we can conclude that apart from the advantages of
this system as regards the microclimate achieved, the advantages of using buffaloes must be added. In these circum-
stances, they improve their productivity, reaching 85% calving easily, percentage which is reached in establishments
with very good technology in bovine, at higher costs than in buffaloes.
This year, a silvopastoral parcel is being installed based on pasture of Brachiaria brizantha and Leucaena leucocephala, to
incorporate arboreal leguminosae within the system, as recommended by Agricultural Engineer Enrique Murgueitio Re-
strepo from Colombia.
Acknowledgements. The author wants to thank Agricultural Engineer Ph. D. Daniel Pavetti, Forestal Engineer Valentín
Kurtz and colleagues of The National Institute of Agricultural and Livestock Technology (INTA) Misiones, for the basic

and advanced information in the silvopastoral system of the province, Dr Omar Lestón for introducing me in the breeding
of buffaloes, Agricultural Engineer Enrique Murgueitio Restrepo for presenting a new vision on silvopastoral systems,
Agricultural Engineer Eduardo Vanoni for introducing me in the Intensive Rational Grazing and the establishment staff of
Estancia del Puerto.
REFERENCES
1. Fassola, H; Keller, A; Pachas, N.; Colcombet, L. y Lacorte, S. 2.005. El Sistema Silvopastoril y la nueva generación empresaria. IDIA XXI, Año
5, Nº 8. pag. 250 -254.
2. Kurtz, V.; Pavetti, D. 2006. Sistemas Foresto Ganaderos con especie de rápido crecimiento. (Pinus spp y Eucaliptus grandis) XXI Jornadas
Forestales de Entre Ríos, Concordia. Argentina.
3.Colcombet, L; Pachas, N.; Carvallo, A. 2009. INTA, EEA Montecarlo, Montecarlo, Misiones, Argentina. Evolución de sistemas silvopastoriles de
Pinus elliottii, Brachiaria brizantha y Penisetum purpureum en predios de pequeños productores en el N.E. de Misiones. Argentina. Actas 1º
Congreso Nacional de Sistemas Silvopastoriles, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. Pág. 239 - 245.
4. Espinel M., Rubén G.; M. 2009. CIPAV; Valencia C., Liliana M. MVZ, Técnico Privado; Murgueitio R., Enrique. MVZ; Director Ejecutivo CIPAV, et al;
Sistemas Silvopastoriles, Establecimiento y Manejo. Impresión: Feriva S.A.,Cali, Colombia.
5. Colcombet, L. Pachas, A. N. A., Crechi, E., Keller, A. 2006. Experiencia adquirida en establecimientos de parcelas de experimentación
adaptativa de sistemas silvopastoriles Pinus elliottii var. Elliottii, Brachiaria brizantha y Penisetum purpureum en predios de pequeños productores
del departamento Gral. Manuel Belgrano, Misiones, 22 pag.
6. Pachas, A. N. A.; Pinazo, M. A.; Fassola, H. E. 2009. Relación entre la radiación fotosintética activa que llega al estrato herbáceo y la cobertura
arbórea de Pinus taeda bajo manejo silvopastoril. EEA INTA Montecarlo. Actas 1º Congreso Nacional de Sistemas Silvopastoriles, Posadas, Misiones,
Argentina. Pág 266 - 271.
7. Lacorte, S.; Torres, E.; Marzeski, M. 2000. Sistema Foresto Ganaderos, INTA, SAGPyA Y PFD. Posadas, Misiones, Argentina.
8. Balanda Gómez, A. 2003. Pasturas implantadas. Brachiaria brizantha en el Noroeste Argentino. Revista La Palanca. Nº 3, Pag. 3 a 7. Año 2003.
La Impresión. Posadas. Misiones, Argentina.
9. Lanari Vila, C. E. 2003. Siembra de Pasturas en el Subtrópico. Revista La Palanca Nº 1 pag, 3 a 9 y Nº 2 pag. 3 a 8 Año Imp. La Impresión, Posadas,
Mnes, Argentina
10. Navajas, S.; Fahler, J.; Casanova, D.; Lacorte, S. M. Pastoreo de pasto elefante cv Panamá, bajo cubierta de un monte de Pinus elliottii, en el
N.E. de Corrientes, Revista Yvyraretá, Pag. 72 a 78.
11. Zava, M. A. R. 1992. Producción de Búfalos, Orientación Gráfica Editora, Buenos Aries, Argentina.
12. Wilson, 1989. Búfalo, o feio bonito. Edit. Acaresc. Florianópolis. Santa Catarina, Brasil .
13.Oliveira, A. O Manejo do Búfalo, Asoc. Sulina de Criadores de Búfalos - ASCRIBU. Edit. Cía. Riograndense de artes gráficas. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

14.Voisin, A. 1967. Productividad de la Hierba. Editorial Tecnos S.A., 1967, Madrid, España.
15.Voisin, A. 1967. Dinámica de los Pastos. Editorial Tecnos S.A., 1967, Madrid, España.
16. Ferreira Romero, N. 1994. Alimente seus pastos con seus animais. Ed. Livraria e Editora Agropecuaria, Guaiba, R.S., Brasil
17. Vanoni, E. 1991. Pastoreo racional intensivo. Orientación Gráfica Editora S.R.L. Buenos Aires, Argentina.Agroecológica para el Tercer Milenio.
Editorial Hemisferio Sur, 2.006, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Buenos Aires, Abril 2010
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Buffalo Dairy Production in the Latin American
Tropics under Rotational Grazing
Alberto Duhau
Industrial Engineer, MBA October 20 2009
ABSTRACT
This paper summarizes the principal aspects of designing, building and operating dairy stalls and farms for milking water
buffalo cows under intensive grazing in the Latin American Tropics. The analysis and recommendations are based on the
experience of the Bufalinda farm, located in Eastern Venezuela, which started as an intensive grazing project in 1976 for
fattening steers. Bufalinda currently has 85 rotational pastures with approximately 1500 small paddocks covering a total
area of approximately 6000 hectares of which 1000 hectares are dedicated to 1700 dairy water buffalo cows, bulls and
heifers. Bufalinda operates two 2 x 20 herring bone milking centers, with 500 Hectares of land each for sustaining an 850
cow herd and milking an average of 400 buffalo cows. The paper discusses many design and production model aspects
that are at the center of the technical debate amongst buffalo dairy farmers in South America as many farmers cling to the
old "double purpose" methods for dairy production in which cows are milked without weaning offspring in small dairy
stalls of about 100 cows each. The paper defends the decision for milking without offspring, recommends stalls of a
"standard" size for milking 400 to 500 cows, recommends feeding strategies and explains in detail how rotational
paddocks should be sized and designed. The paper describes Bufalinda grazing and supplementary feeding strategy that
allows for year round stocking rates of 1.7 buffaloes per hectare. It also compares two methods for rotational grazing: the
fixed sized and the variable sized paddock systems. All recommendations are grounded on clear economic and efficiency
criteria and recommendations are of a practical nature.
Definitions
• Rotational Paddock (RP): an area of pasture of 30 to 60 has that is grazed rotationally in 8 to 20 minor subdivisions

• Lot: each of the minor subdivisions of a Rotational Paddock
• ycle: total time measured in days for a complete rotation around the RP.
• Rotational Frequency (RF): number of days or fraction of days that is spent grazing each Lot
• Herd size: amount of cattle grazing in a RP
• Average Stocking Rate (ASR): amount of head per ha. or alternatively amount of kilos of live weight per ha. of the
Rotational Pasture.
• The Bufalinda farm assumes that a lactating Buffalo cow is equivalent to 750 kilos of live weight steer and that a non
lactating buffalo cow is equivalent to 600 kilos of live weight steer and calculates stocking rates in Kg per ha.
• Instantaneous Stocking Rate (ISR): same concept as mentioned before but the quotient being the area of the Lot and
not of the whole RP.
• Herd Categories included in the milking herd:
> Breeding Heifers are females in breeding above 280 kilos of live weight. Females below this weight are not considered
to be part of the milking herd.
Proceedings 9
th
World Buffalo Congress
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PRODUCTION SYSTEM
> Buffalo cows are females that have calved at least once
> Bulls, are active males (above 400 kilos) retained for reproduction purposes only
> Calves are considered to be part of the milking herd only until weaning at about 110 days or 100 kilos if females or
not at all if males.
• Herd Categories not included in the milking herd:
> Females and males since weaning until breeding age (durimg this phase they are considered part of a beef production
herd).
Considerations About The Bufalinda Farm
The Bufalinda farm is located 20 miles south of Maturin city in Eastern Venezuela, where it rains 40 inches (1000 mm) per
year distributed in 8 months of rainy season (mid May to mid January) and 4 months of mostly dry season where on
average 50 mm of rain fall per month. The dry season, although not extremely severe, causes significant restrictions in
pasture growth and browning of the pastures during the last two months.

The area is composed of low PH (4.5 to 5) flat savannas that alternate from concave to convex, thus retaining some
surface water for about two or three months a year during the rainy season. The soil composition is varied with stripes of
pure sand covering about 15% of total area, bands of sandy loam that cover about 45% of the area and areas of clay-
sandy lower lands that cover the remaining 40%.
The region was originally used only for extensive cow calf operations and reputed to be of low quality and potential.
Bufalinda has proved after 30 + years of intensive grazing that it is ideal for high yielding fattening and dairy operations
that have in turn significantly improved soil quality.
Determining The Size Of The Padocks And Herd
The largest possible size for a water buffalo milking center and herd with a pasture based production model is determined
by the maximum size of the paddocks that can be accessed with stress free walking twice a day by the buffalo cows.
The rule of thumb developed by the Bufalinda farm is that a square mile (1,6 km x 1,6 km) of flat, non floodable and 100%
plant-able terrain has 256 has, or about 240 has of net graze-able land that can sustain under rotational pasture
management about 425 milking buffalo cows year round. With this design the average walking distance is 800 m each
way twice a day, or about 3200 meters per day, distances that can be easily traveled with good transit avenues that are
critical for this model to work.
The herd size is calculated as follows:
Current Achievable
1. Average Calving Interval = 420 days 400 days
2. Average Lactating Period = 280 days 300 days
3. Percentage of Buffalo cows in lactation = 67% 75%
4. Percentage Buffalo cows being used
as surrogate mothers 20% 10%
5. Percentage of Buffalo cows
under milking: line 3 x (1 - 4) 54% 67.5%
6. Percentage of Heifers in breeding 25% 25%
Thus if 400 to 450 buffalo cows are to be milked, the total herd size per category will be:
Current Achievable
1. Average cows under milking year round = 400 450
2. Non lactating cows & surr. mothers = 340 217
3. Breeding heifers = 133 112

4. Bulls (4%) = 35 30
TOTAL ADULT HERD 912 809
Buenos Aires, Abril 2010
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PRODUCTION SYSTEM
Bufalinda estimates that another 244 has of net graze-able land are necessary for the surrogate mothers, non lactating
cows, heifers, resting bulls and to produce grass bales for the dry season bringing the total area required to 500 has.
Bufalinda estimates that one and a half large round bale of reserves are required per adult animal.
In this manner it can be concluded that 500 has of intensively grazed pastures can sustain a herd between 800 and 900
adult dairy buffaloes and milk between 400 and 450 buffalo cows on average year round. This is what we call a "standard
size milking unit" that we recommend for farmers that want to maximize efficiency and economies of scale.
Designing The Dairy Barn And Stall
Bufalinda operates two 2 x 20 herring bone dairy stalls one with 40 milking units in low line disposition and the other
with 20 pendulum milking units with high line arrangement. These are traditional, sturdy pieces of equipment. The
milking is of course done without calves which are raised separately with surrogate mothers.
Herring bone dairy stalls with buffalo, that are slower in releasing their milk than normal cows, typically have a through-
put of 5 buffalo cows per hour per stall pair with high milk line and 6 buffalo per hour per stall pair with low line, thus
Bufalinda's stalls have respectively capacities of 100 and 120 buffalo cows per hour, sufficient to milk the whole herd in
about 4.5 hours, plus one half additional hour devoted to cleaning.
This throughput allows a single team of laborers to handle both daily milkings in a split shift arrangement, avoiding the
use of a different group of laborers for each milking. The typical amount of labor is one laborer every five stall pair, thus
4 people are required in the trench plus another laborer to feed the cattle and a 6th laborer on horse to get the herd back
and forth from the paddock, to detect heat and to manage the rotating pastures. In practice Bufalinda has 7 laborers per
dairy stall to compensate for resting days, vacations, holidays, sick leaves and absenteeism, a figure that could be
decreased with automatic withdrawal systems and in countries with higher labor costs.
Installing smaller, therefore slower equipment is a very common mistake causing the loss of economies of scale. Moreover
there is no economic justification for saving on milking installations as a complete milking infrastructure such as the one
mentioned costs about US$ 250,000, a small fraction of the total value of the buffalo herd (typically $ 1000 per animal,
for a total of around US$ 850,000) plus the land with infrastructure (typically around US$ 2000 per ha. or US$ 1,000,000).
Other important technical and design details of the Bufalinda dairy stalls are geared towards functionality, simplicity and

ease of maintenance as follows:
1. Angle of the herring bone at 70o allowing for milking in between the hind legs something that is agreeable to
buffaloes, determining a separation in between buffaloes of 85 cm.
2. The bottom of the trench is sufficiently elevated to drain by gravity (no sump pump required).
3. For solid removal a large trap is located at the lower end of the building which is cleaned by tractor with a shovel,
thus avoiding the use of a slush pump.
4. There are two separate waiting corrals plus a third corral that serves as a recycling or retaining corral. The retaining
corral allows the culling of animals after milking for different purposes including veterinary or reproductive work in a
chute that located straight after the milking barn.
5. The three afore mentioned corrals have an area of 500 m2 and can handle a maximum of 250 buffalo cows at 2 m2
per cow. This allows the milking of a maximum of two groups of 250 cows in peak season.
6. The dairy barn (three corrals plus dairy stalls) is roofed, has no walls and has irrigation for watering the buffaloes
during the hotter months and is very airy.
Bufalinda has not yet experimented, but thinks it would be worth while doing so, with automatic withdrawal systems and
automatic feed systems while milking. The former would decrease the need for labor, while the latter would motivate the
buffalo cows to release their milk easier and without the use of injected oxitocin a common problem with dairy buffaloes.
Proceedings 9
th
World Buffalo Congress
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PRODUCTION SYSTEM
Considerations About Double Purpose Milking Systems (With Calf)
Bufalinda does not recommend the traditional "double purpose" method for buffalo milk production for the following
reasons:
1. milking with calf requires handling smaller milking units due to the complexity of joining and separating calf and
mother in each milking. This requires more labor and implies loss of economies of scale.
2. the buffalo cow accepts in natural conditions suckling from calves that are not their own thus lending themselves
very well for raising several calves simultaneously with surrogate mothers. The surrogate mother method is simple and
foolproof for tropical regions having very low mortality rates and excellent wait gains. A buffalo cow on average raises
2 calves simultaneously and raises a total of 5 in a 280 day lactation.

The Bufalinda Feeding System
Feeding 800 to 900 adult milking buffaloes in 500 has without irrigation and with very low use of purchased feeds is a
challenge in tropical areas, considering the typical limitations of monsoon rains followed by a dry season and naturally
unfertile soils with low organic matter contents. Yet, as the Bufalinda farm has proved this is entirely achievable by
combining the following programs in a consistent and orderly manner:
1. High Frequency Rotational Grazing.
2. Fertilization.
3. Haylage production for transfer to the dry season.
4. Low utilization of purchased feeds only for mineral and protein correction.
Rotational Grazing System and Fertilization
Bufalinda has brachiaria humidicola pastures which it fertilizes four times in the milking cow paddocks and two or three
times a year in the non milking cow paddocks, with applications of 50 kilos of Urea and 50 kilos of an NPK mixture.
The rotational cycle for well fertilized humidicolas is 20 days in the rainy season and around 30 days in the dry season.
The RF utilized is twice daily for milking cows (once after each milking) and once every two days for non milking cows.
In order to achieve good energy and protein levels in humidicola grass the fertility levels must be kept high, and the
grass must not be allowed to grow more than 30 cm. In this manner the humidicola totally changes from its normal
appearance increasing the leave to stem ratio and producing much wider, greener and digestible leaves than normal.
With this management the average stocking rate per hectare year round is of about 1,8 adult buffaloes per ha., which is
equivalent approximately to 1250 kilos of live steer weight per ha. a very high level indeed for the tropics (Bufalinda
achieves 800 kilos of steer live weight in its fattening operation, with only 1,5 applications of fertilizer per year). Further
sections of this paper delve deeper in the design and management aspects of RP.
Haylage
Bufalinda´s rule of thumb is that one and a half 800 kilos round bales of haylage of 55% humidity are required by adult
buffalo in order to maintain an excellent nutrition throughout the dry season. Thus for each 850 buffalo dairy unit
Bufalinda produces 1275 round bales or haylage. Average yield per hectare per cut is 15 round bales, and as Bufalinda
achieves three cuts per rainy season (one every 60 days) when rainfall is uniform, one ha. produces 45 bales per season.
Thus Bufalinda needs to cut approximately 90 has per year per dairy unit, which is typically done harvesting 30 has. (or
half a Rotational Pasture) three times during the months of July to December. Bales are consumed from February to May.
As mentioned before haylage is produced by making round bales with highly fertilized freshly cut humidicola grass, and
then stuffing them in a hermetic 50 mts long plastic tubes of 4 feet in diameter. For stuffing the bales in tubes Bufalinda

uses a Silatube Pronovost machine and for distributing the bale it uses Haybuster bale processors.
Purchased Feed
In addition Bufalinda distributes a daily ration of about 10% of total DM consumption (about 1.8 kilos per day per head)
composed of corn or wheat meal, molasses, urea and minerals,
only to the lactating cows herds, using a mixer wagon.