Grazing buffalo on flooded pastures in the Brazilian Amazon region: a review

There are almost 3.5 M head of buffalo in Brazil, half of which (+/- 1.75 M animals) are in the north, particularly on Marajo Island, in the lower and middle Amazon. and on upland cultivated pastures, 16% in the south-cast, 15% in the northeast, 13% in the central west and 6% in the south. The objective of this work was to review the important characteristics of the native pasture ecosystems grazed by buffalo in the flooded areas of the Brazilian Amazon. Data relative to environment, pasture characteristics and animal performance are presented. Three buffalo subspecies, bubalis (water buffalo - Mediterranean. Murrah, Jafarabadi), kerebau (swamp buffalo) and fulvus (Baio type) live in the Amazon Region, their ideal habitat. They are used for meat and milk and as a source of power, and are well adapted to wet conditions. producing and reproducing in flooded native pastures, where cattle don't usually survive.