Buffalo and Bali cattle--exploiting their reproductive behaviour and physiology

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Livestock Management
• Reproductive Biology

Background:

• Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) are vital livestock in developing agricultural systems, filling niches occupied by Bos indicus and Bos taurus in developed regions.
• These species possess superior adaptation to their environments and utilize different population survival strategies compared to other cattle breeds.
• Effective management requires understanding these species-specific survival and reproductive behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe water buffalo and Bali cattle, focusing on their unique survival strategies.
• To review the reproductive characteristics of these species.
• To provide insights for formulating management strategies to maximize net reproductive rates.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive review of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) species.
• Analysis of population survival strategies employed by each species.
• Summarization of available data on reproductive characteristics.

Main Results:

• Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) populations rely on longevity and late sexual maturity for survival.
• Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) populations depend on high conception rates and juvenile culling under stress.
• These strategies differ significantly from those of Bos indicus and Bos taurus.

Conclusions:

• Knowledge of distinct survival strategies in water buffalo and Bali cattle is crucial for effective livestock management.
• Understanding these adaptations can lead to optimized reproductive rates in developing agricultural systems.
• Further research into reproductive characteristics can enhance the productivity of these important livestock species.