Reproductive characteristics of female swamp buffalo reared under Kalang production system in South Kalimantan

Abstract

Swamp buffalo has been an integral component of society in the swamp area in South Kalimantan. The system is characterized by 2-5 farmers rearing herds semi intensively in one shared kalang, a traditional wooden shelter on swamp area. This study was aimed to determine the reproductive characteristics of female swamp buffalo under kalang systems in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, The Province of South Kalimantan. The data of reproductive characteristics and farming systems were collected through interviewing 21 farmers in 4 kalang groups who kept 351 buffaloes (153 of them were females). The observed parameters were average of productive females ages, age at first mating, calving interval, post-partum estrus (PPE), percentages of pregnant and lactating cows. Results showed that the average of productive female buffalo ages was 9.9 ± 0.99 years; female swamp buffaloes were first mating at 51.4 months; first calving at 63.4 months; calving interval was 16.5±0.70 months; PPE was 4.9±0.64 month; gestating and lactating cows were 21.6% and 60.1%, of the productive female population, respectively. We concluded reproductive characteristics of female swamp buffalo under kalang production systems can be enhanced through improvements of the production system, including pre-weaning calf management, feed supplementation, and health care practices.

Performa Reproduksi dan Body Condition Score Kerbau Rawa (Bubalus bubalis) Betina di Pulau Lanting

“…Kerbau pada Desa Pulau Lanting, memiliki calving interval sebesar 13,61±0,98. Nilai jarak beranak tersebut lebih baik jika dibandingkan oleh beberapa penelitian kerbau rawa lain seperti pada daerah Kalimantan Selatan yaitu 16,5±0,15 bulan [12], pada Sumatera Barat yaitu 27,26±8,84 bulan [17], dan pada Kabupaten Aceh Barat yaitu 18,14 bulan [18]. Angka tersebut namun tidak begitu jauh dibandingkan wilayah muara muntai yaitu 13 bulan [11].…”

“…Umur kawin pertama tersebut terbilang lebih lama dibandingkan umur kawin pertama kerbau rawa di Kecamatan Malang dan kerbau lumpur pada Kabupaten Cianjur yaitu 29,17±13,77 [10] bulan dan 26,6±6,96 [11] bulan. Namun apabila dibandingkan dengan kerbau rawa dengan sistem pemeliharaan yang hampir sama yaitu pada daerah Kalimantan Selatan [12] umur kawin pertama kerbau pada daerah pulau lanting 16,5 bulan jauh lebih cepat. Faktor keterlambatan umur kawin pertama yang terjadi dengan sistem pemeliharaan ekstensif seperti pada Desa Pulau Lanting adalah kebutuhan nutrisi yang belum mencukupi dengan baik untuk kerbau bereproduksi secara optimal.…”

Seasonal grass production and carrying capacity of buffalo grazing area in Paminggir, South Kalimantan

“…In addition, buffalo calves that are not yet strong enough to swim in search of feed will be left behind and experience a lack of feed, especially buffalo calves that are still lactating. This is suspected to cause high mortality in buffalo calves and adversely affect the buffalo's reproductive performance [5].…”

“…Other research reported there are declines in the availability and productivity of native grasses species that are palatable for buffalo. These resulted in high mortality of buffalo calves due to lack of feed, especially in the deep water season [5]. In addition, the buffalo's body weight decreased even though the physical measurements were not significantly different from the previous report, where this was suspected because of a lack of feed intake and nutrition [1].…”

“…However, the Indonesian swamp buffalo population kept on decreasing over the decade, including the Kalimantan buffalo in South Kalimantan province which declines 63%; from 44,603 heads in 2009 to only 16,556 in 2019 [4]. This decline is suspected due to calve rearing management and reproductive issues [5] and also due to the decrease in feed resources and grazing areas [6].…”