Buffalo breeds
Due to the religious importance of cows in India and Nepal, there is a need to differentiate buffalo meat from beef. In countries like India, for religious reasons, a considerable part of the population does not eat beef (meat from cows). In a large number of the Indian states and in Nepal, slaughtering cattle is prohibited. Religious violence happens over cattle slaughter or even over suspected beef consumption.
Buffaloes are a type of bovid, but their meat is different from beef in many respects. Buffalo meat has a lower fat content, and its fat is milky white, compared to the yellow-white fat of beef. Buffalo meat is darker in color, and buffaloes, because of their larger size, have harder bones than cows.
Murrah buffalo
Most important breed of buffaloes whose home is Rohtak, Hisar and Sind of Haryana, Nabha and Patiala districts of Punjab and southern parts of Delhi state.
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Otherwise called as Delhi, Kundi and Kali.
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The colour is usually jet black with white markings on tail and face and extremities sometimes found.
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Tightly curved horn is an important character of this breed.
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Most efficient milk and butter fat producers in India.
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Butter fat content is 7.83%. Average lactation yield is varying from 1500 to 2500 kgs per lactation.
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Also used for the grading up of inferior local buffaloes
The breeding tract of this breed is Gir forests, Kutch and Jamnagar districts of Gujarat.
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This is the heaviest Indian breed of buffalo.
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The horns are heavy, inclined to droop at each side of the neck and then turning up at point (drooping horns).
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The udder is well developed with funnel shaped teats.
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The average milk yield is 1000 to 1200 kgs per lactation.
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The bullocks are heavy and used for ploughing and carting.
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These animals are mostly maintained by traditional breeders called Maldharis, who are nomads
Surti is also known as Deccani, Gujarati, Talabda, Charator and Nadiad.The breeding tract of this breed is Kaira and Baroda district of Gujarat.
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Coat color varies from rusty brown to silver-grey.
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The horns are sickle shaped, moderately long and flat.
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The peculiarity of the breed is two white collars, one round the jaw and the other at the brisket region
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The milk yield ranges from 1000 to 1300 kgs per lactation.
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The peculiarity of this breed is very high fat percentage in milk (8-12 per cent).
Home tract of this breed is Agra and Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh and Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh
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Medium sized buffalo.
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The body is usually light or copper colored is a peculiarity of this breed. Eye lids are generally copper or light brown color.
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Two white lines ‘Chevron’ are present at the lower side of the neck similar to that of Surti buffaloes.
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The average milk yield is 800 to 1000 kgs per lactation.
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high heat tolerance.
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The fat content of milk varies from 6 to 12.5 per cent. This breed is an efficient converter of coarse feed into butterfat and is known for its high butter fat content.
This breed originated around the river Navi
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This breed is found in Sutlej valley in Ferozpur district of Punjab and in the Sahiwal (Pakistan) of undivided India.
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The peculiarity of the breed is the wall eyes.
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Head is small, elongated, bulging at top and depressed between eyes.
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Horns are very small and tightly coiled.
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Bullocks are good for heavy trotting work.
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The milk yield is 1500-1850 kgs per lactation
This buffalo is named after an ancient tribe, Toda of Nilgiris Hills of south India and it is a semi-wild breed.
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The predominate coat colours are fawn and ash-grey.
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Thick hair coat is found all over the body.
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They are gregarious in nature.
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The body is long and deep and the chest is deep. The legs are short and strong.
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The horns are set wide apart curving inward, outward and forward forming a characteristic crescent shape.
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The average milk yield is 500 kgs per lactation with high fat content of 8%.
Mehsana is a dairy breed of buffalo found in Mehsana, Sabarkanda and Banaskanta districts in Gujarat and adjoining Maharashtra state.
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The breed is evolved out of crossbreeding between the Surti and the Murrah.
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Body is longer than Murrah but limbs are lighter.
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The horns are less curved than in Murrah and are irregular.
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Bullocks are good for heavy work.
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The milk yield is 1200-1500 kgs per lactation
This breed is also called as Elitchpuri or Barari, the breeding tract of this breed is Nagpur, Akola and Amrawati districts of Maharashtra.
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These are black colored animal with white patches on face, legs and tail.
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The horns are long, flat and curved, bending backward on each side of the back. (Sword shaped horns).
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They can be used for heavy work.
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The milk yield ranges from 700 to 1200 kg per lactation.
