PROJECT NAME:
Alternative Animal Breeding: Buffalo Breeding
PROJECT MANAGER:
Asist. Prof. İlktan BAŞTAN
PROJECT TOPIC:
In order to revive and promote buffalo breeding, which has significantly declined in Turkey and is almost forgotten in our region, the following activities are planned:
- Establishing a buffalo shelter, calf barn, maternity ward, clinic, and milk collection unit in a suitable area of our cattle breeding facility.
- Ensuring the supply of raw materials to process the buffalo meat and milk into products such as sausage, clotted cream, cheese, and yogurt in the meat and milk processing facility.
- Conducting extensive technical tours, training, and informational meetings for livestock breeders in collaboration with the Burdur Breeding Cattle Breeders Association and our university on buffalo breeding.
- Providing mutual support and contributions in necessary areas with the Afyonkarahisar Kocatepe University Buffalo Research Institute located in our border province of Afyonkarahisar.
The project aims to conduct these activities in collaboration with stakeholders and within the framework of our university.
PROJECT AIM:
The objectives of this project can be outlined as follows:
- To revive buffalo breeding, which has begun to be forgotten in Burdur and its surrounding areas, as in the rest of the country.
- To encourage producers towards intensive buffalo farming by providing training and consultancy services, raising awareness among breeders about buffalo breeding, contributing to the existing cattle population in the region, and adding variety to dairy products.
- To increase consumer awareness regarding buffalo milk and products to boost demand in Burdur and its surroundings.
- To establish a certified buffalo herd under the leadership of our university, thereby increasing the quality and quantity of scientific research conducted.
- To contribute to embryo production and transfer studies in buffalo.
REGIONAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE PROJECT:
During the course of the project, the high-quality buffalo milk produced is delivered to our university’s Dairy Products and Technologies Application and Research Center. Within the center, "buffalo cream" and "buffalo yogurt" are produced under the brand "MAKÜ Çiftliği" and offered to the people of Burdur. Additionally, research and development activities related to other alternative dairy products that can be made from buffalo milk continue at the center. It is believed that the presence of scientifically produced alternative products in the market will contribute to the regional dairy production sector and its development.
The increase in the number of buffalo producers in our region will lead to the formation of a local market; this will impact the production, marketing, and pricing of buffalo milk, resulting in reduced production costs and directly affecting the productivity and profitability of the breeders. Another advantage of buffalo breeds is their resilient nature, which allows them to remain in the herd for a longer duration compared to dairy cattle. Under normal care conditions, there is a high chance of obtaining 10 calves from female buffaloes. In this sense, the continuity of the enterprise and the necessity to continuously procure breeding stock from outside will be reduced. Reducing the dependence on external breeding stock will enhance herd health and decrease the risk of potential diseases, thereby facilitating sustainable livestock farming.
Another advantageous aspect is the structure and quality of buffalo milk. The market prices of buffalo milk can be up to three times higher than those of cow's milk. By establishing an appropriate supply system, producer profitability can be increased.
There is a significant demand for breeding stock from both Burdur and neighboring provinces for our "disease-free" buffaloes, which are cared for and fed at MAKÜ Çiftliği.
SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE PROJECT:
The project aims to raise awareness about buffalo breeding. One of the project objectives is to contribute to the increase in the numerical presence of buffalo, which is suitable for the geography of Anatolia. The buffalo population, which exceeded 500,000 in the 1980s, was recorded as 171,835 as of 2022. According to TURKSTAT data, the Mediterranean Region accounts for 1.5% of the total buffalo population in our country, making it the region with the least buffalo farming.
Today, we face risks related to the production of quality roughage due to global climate change issues and water supply challenges. Buffalo have a higher ability to utilize low-quality roughage compared to cattle. Therefore, buffalo breeding holds particular importance in terms of economically integrating the low-quality roughages grown in our region. In this context, the proliferation of buffalo production centers with an alternative breeding approach, combined with the academic knowledge and experience developed at our university, will significantly contribute to our region and the national economy.
Another contribution is the increase in the numerical presence of the Mediterranean buffalo breed, which has a higher milk yield than the generally lower-yielding Anatolian buffalo in our country. This will provide our breeders with an alternative to sourcing breeding buffalo heifers from abroad, thus creating an opportunity to reduce the current account deficit caused by livestock imports, contributing to the national economy. Additionally, making buffalo breeding attractive is aimed at directly benefiting unemployment, employment, and rural-based production. Greater acceptance of the project will also help prevent rural-to-urban migration socioeconomically. Supporting buffalo production, especially for young breeders, will positively impact both the increase and rejuvenation of the aging agricultural and livestock population.