Dual-Purpose Water Buffalo Production Systems in Tropical Latin America: Bases for a Sustainable Model

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Buffaloes in the Latin American tropics have gained relevance in recent years thanks to the rusticity and productivity of this species and the potential of these ecosystems. Through a specialized literature review, the options were explored to promote efficient, profitable and sustainable dual-purpose production systems, which implied taking into consideration the characteristics of a fragile environment such as the tropics but with abundant forage resources. Buffaloes have distinctive characteristics with respect to cattle, such as a high fat milk content, ability to produce healthy and heavy calves from dairy cows and their need for thermoregulation, which implies the availability of water ponds and shade in grazing areas. Therefore, we propose the basis for designing intensive rotational grazing models and, under certain silvopastoral conditions, taking advantage of the gregarious behavior of buffaloes. These models require integral forms of management, including the organization and participation of producers in commercial channels, in order to value meat, milk and dairy products, given that their nutritional qualities allow them to be sold as differentiated products. There have been successful experiences in the region with this dual-purpose model, which, with the necessary adaptations, can be strengthened with buffaloes. ABSTRACT: Tropical regions of Latin America have been incorporated into development in recent decades, with extensive cattle ranching as one of the main economic activities but without adequate planning, drastically degrading the ecosystem. In recent years, buffalo production has been incorporated into the region, with possibilities for development in profitable and sustainable models. To study this option in depth, a broad bibliographic review was carried out focusing on the ecological characteristics of tropical zones and the physiological and productive characteristics of buffaloes. We also investigated the structure and functioning of dual-purpose systems that have worked in cattle and that can be optimized with this alternative animal species. The possibility of taking sustainable advantage of abundant forage resources in the region was detected through intensive grazing models, as well as agrosilvopastoral systems, due to the gregarious qualities of buffaloes and responding to their thermoregulation needs. In this way, the productive and regenerative capacities of the dual-purpose system could be increased, as well as the quality of meat and milk, which could be marketed as differentiated products, taking advantage of their outstanding nutritional qualities. Integral management of the dual-purpose system is proposed, retaking the bases of the original model of family characters, diversified and with low investments and risks, which with specific innovations can be an effective development option for producers in the region.