Buffalo
5 breeds
Feeding
Berseem, straw and silage plus concentrate. Give water or deep shade to stay cool.
Common vaccines
FMD, haemorrhagic septicaemia, lumpy skin disease, brucellosis.
Draft: needs vet review
This information is general. For doses and treatment, always ask your vet.
Breeds
Feeding by stage and goal
Draft: needs vet review
Water and general notes: Buffalo are more affected by heat than cattle because their skin is dark and their sweat glands are few: they need shade, water spraying, or dipping in the summer. Water: 60-120 liters per day.
Feeding by stage and goal
| Stage | Weight / goal (kg) | Intake (% of weight) | Ration protein (%) | Energy TDN (%) | Daily ration example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suckling calf (0-3 months) | 30-80 | 18-20 | 75 | Colostrum in the first 6 hours, milk 10% of its body weight, and starter and water from the first week | |
| Post-weaning (3-6 months) | 80-150 | 2.5-3 | 16 | 70 | 2-3 kg concentrate + hay or berseem |
| Veal fattening | 150-400 | 2.2-2.5 | 12-14 | 70 | For a 250 kg calf: 3-4 kg concentrate + straw or silage. Gain 0.7-1 kg daily |
| Heifer rearing (6 months - 2 years) | 150-350 | 2.5 | 12-14 | 60-65 | Berseem or hay + 2-3 kg concentrate. First insemination at around 350 kg |
| Dry buffalo (last 2-3 months) | 500-650 | 1.8-2 | 12 | 60 | Roughage + 2-3 kg concentrate, gradually increase in the last 3 weeks |
| Lactating buffalo | 500-650 | 2.5-3 | 14-16 | 65-70 | For a 10-liter buffalo: 6-7 kg concentrate + 30-40 kg berseem or silage and straw. Buffalo milk is higher in fat, the rule is: 1 kg concentrate for every 1.5-2 liters |
| Breeding bull | 700-800 | 2 | 10-12 | 60 | Roughage + 3 kg concentrate |
Concentrate mixtures (parts per 100 kg)
| Mixture | Yellow corn | Bran | Soybean meal 44% | Cottonseed meal | Molasses | Limestone | Salt | Minerals | Approx. protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lactating Buffalo | 45 | 25 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
For starter and fattening use the cattle mixtures themselves.
Vaccine and care calendar, from birth to sale
| Age / timing | Action |
|---|---|
| Day of birth | Colostrum within 6 hours, navel disinfection, tagging |
| 10-21 days | Drenching against Ascaris (calf worms) according to the vet. This is one of the most important causes of calf mortality |
| 3-4 months | FMD (and a booster after a month), Lumpy Skin Disease |
| 3-6 months | Hemorrhagic Septicemia (and a booster according to the vaccine), and Brucella for females within the government program |
| Every 6 months | FMD, and Hemorrhagic Septicemia before the rainy and humid season |
| Every year | Lumpy Skin Disease |
| Every 3-6 months | Drenching for worms and control of ticks and lice |
| Before sale, slaughter, or selling milk | Make sure the withdrawal period for the last drug has passed |
Common diseases
| Disease | Signs | What to do | Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemorrhagic Septicemia | High fever, swelling of the neck and brisket, panting, death within hours. More dangerous for buffalo than cattle | Vet immediately | Vaccination |
| Calf worms (Ascaris) | Diarrhea, butter-like smell, bloating, weakness | Vet | Early drenching in the first 3 weeks |
| Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) | Fever, drooling, sores in the mouth and on hooves | Isolate, vet, report | Vaccination every 6 months |
| Lumpy Skin Disease | Fever and lumps under the skin | Isolate and vet | Vaccination, insect control |
| Heat Stress | Panting, tongue out, reduced feed and milk intake | Cool immediately, and a vet if no improvement | Shade, water spraying, feeding in cooler times |
| Mastitis | Hot and swollen udder, changed milk | Vet, and milk is not sold during the withdrawal period | Hygiene of milking and bedding |
| Blood parasites | Fever, anemia | Vet immediately | Tick control |
This information is general. For doses and treatment, always ask your vet.