Buffalo Breeding
Buffalo Breeding Project
The buffalo project will intensively propagate disease free buffalo and establish a large and viable genetically diverse population, from which relocation and sales can be done within the entire province and beyond. This ensures the future existence of this valuable and endemic species and also acts as an alternative investment tool with capital growth.
Our objectives are to start with 10 cows and 2 bulls. We will follow sound business and agricultural principles in taking care of our nucleus herd. Reproduction is our main aim and we will follow our plan as stipulated in the breeding table. It is of great importance to start with the best animals and genetic material for this will ensure that all progeny can be sold at a premium.
Recently too much emphasis has been placed on horn size alone. The project will strive to breed big horned, big bodied animals with high fertility. The herd will initially be established on a 40 hectare area. The sex and age ratio of the buffalo to be acquired allow for a breeding herd that will function at its optimum.
Despite being one of the “Big 5”, buffalo are easy to keep and are an asset on any game farm. Unlike other wildlife species they have more stable prices, do not face the same movement restrictions and have a far wider natural distribution.
Intensive systems require strict management and buffalo kept in closed systems need to be monitored regularly. In this regard the management is very similar to the management of conventional bovines. Buffalo are far more robust than any dairy or beef cattle and do not present any of the complications prevalent in conventional farming.
Game farming has grown significantly in South Africa over the past decade and has become an industry with great economic potential, and there is growing demand for disease-free buffalo.
Limpopo is an ideal buffalo habitat and the demand for disease-free buffalo is on the increase. The area gears itself to game farming. Establishing this herd and a sensible and practical protocol would serve in the interests of buffalo, farmers, holistic nature conservation and the department of agriculture.