ASSESS BODY WEIGHT ESTlL\fATION, REPRODUCTIVE

AND NUTRITION OF BUFFALOES AT BA KELALAN.

By

HARRYPUDUNDAWAT

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Master of Science.

Faculty of Resource Science and Technology UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA SARA W AK

2004

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the State director of Health Department Sarawak, Dr. Yao

Sik Chi for allowing me to attend this course.

Secondly, I wish to record my sincere thanks to my supervisor, Associate Prof

Dr. Andrew Alek Tuen for his guidance, patience and assistance in producing this

thesis. Without his assistance this could have not been possible.

Thirdly, I would like to thank my dear wife, Madam Alau Buaye for her

understanding, prayer, emotional support and help in editing my work, my son

Martin and daughter Marina in arranging the maps and plates.

Fourthly, my thanks and gratitude to my brother Dennis Tadem, my course mates,

Mr. Peter Luke and Miss Liew for helping me with GPS mapping, and other

course mates who have either directly or indirectly helped or encouraged me in

producing this thesis.

Finally, I would like to thank UNIMAS for giving me the opportunity to pursue

this course at the university.

.. 11

Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Abdemik UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

·_-_._.......,

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Objectives of the study 2

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 4

2.1 Buffalo industry in Malaysia 4

2.1.1 Distribution and population 8

2.1.2 Buffalo farm structure, size, management

and stocking rate 17

2.1.3 Livestock performances 21

2.2 Buffalo nutrition 24

2.2.1 Nutrients requirement 24

2.2.2 Food types and composition 29

CHAPTER 3 ESTIMATION OF BODY WEIGHT 32 .,

3.1 Introduction 32 , "

3.2 Study site 33 '.'

3.3 Materials and methods 33 ;'i

.;

3.4 Data analysis 36 ./

:1• !~3.5 Results and discussion 36

3.5.1 Estimation of body weight using Murtidjo's

Formula 36

CHAPTER 4 PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND NUTRITION 40

EVALUATION OF BUFF ALOES IN BA KELALAN

4.1 Introduction 40

4.2 Study site 41

4.3 Materials and methods 46

4.3.1 Sampling sites 46

4.3.2 Field methods 46

4.3.3 Laboratory method 48

III

4.4 Results and Discussion 49

4.4.1 Buffalo management practices 49

4.4.2 Animal performances 50

4.4.2.1 Reproductive performance 50

4.4.2.2 Sex ratio and male fertility 52

4.4.2.3 Mortality 53

4.4.3 Forage consumption 53

4.4.4 Nutrient content of locally available feeds 56

CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND 59

RECOMMENDAnONS

,. I "

IV

LIST OF TABLES.

NO. TITLE OF TABLES

1 Buffalo Population in Malaysia in 2000 by state 10

2. Buffalo population in Sarawak in 1999 14

3. Buffalo population in Lawas district in 1998 15

4. Buffalo population in Ba Kelalan sub~district 16

5. Growth traits of buffalo 22

6. Reproduction traits of buffalo 23

7. Buffaloes Daily Nutrients Requirements 26

8. Ranges ofmineral contents of pasture grass 28

9. Chemical composition of selected local grasses (%DM) 31

10 Buffalo traits by height, length, weight and chest

circumference 37 " ~ I

11. Cattle traits by height, length, weight and chest

circumference 38

12. Comparison ofactual weight with estimated weight 39

13. Reproductive performance and estimated weight ofbuffalo

at Farm A 50

14 Reproductive performance and estimated weight ofbuffalo

at Farm B 51

15 Nutrient composition ofplants consumed by buffaloes at

BaKelalan 56

v

LIST OF FIGURES

NO TITLE

Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) 4

2 Distribution of buffalo in Malaysia for the year 2000 9

3 Ruminant livestock population in Malaysia (1970-2002) 11

4 Ruminant livestock population in Sarawak (1990-2002) 12

5 Ruminant livestock population in Sabah (1997-2000) 13

6 Parameter to estimate body weight ofbuflalo (Murtidjo,1989) 34

7 Weighing machine 35

8 Race with head bail to restrain a single animal 35

9 Buffalo provides transportation 41

10 Locality map ofBa kelalan 42

11 Farm A sampling points 43

12 Farm B sampling points 43 /r .'

13 Typical condition of Grazing area in Ba kelalan 45 ,.

14 Quadrats 48 '.

:!. ••

)

VI

ABSTRACT

The buffaloes have contributed greatly in many aspects of socio-economic

livelihood of rural farmers in the country. For example, they provide meat, milk,

labour for the wet paddy farmers by ploughing the fields, and weeding the fields

by eating out the grasses and paddy stalks after harvesting. In the process, the

animals fertilize the fields through the deposit of the dung. They also provide

transport to drag jungle and farm products from the fields to the store house.

Besides, they act as "living bank" to the rural farmers. The animals are sold for

cash whenever financial needs arise. '

The population of the animal in the country has declined steadily over the years. "

Some of the factors contributing towards this decline are such as the

mechanization of the wet rice cultivation taking over the role of the animals

providing draught power, high slaughtering rate, low reproduction, competing use

of grazing lands with other uses such as agricultural activities, housing and

industries.

The aim of this study is to document the productive performance of buffaloes in

Ba Kelalan and investigate some of the factors that influence production factors.

It was concluded that the local forage quantity is inadequate, Mineral contents are

low, calves mortality rate is very high and the model developed for the estimation

of buffalo body weight is not significant The formula developed by Murtidjo

(1998) can be used to estimate the weight of the buffalo. Female buffaloes are

fertile and reproductive.

Vll

ABSTRAK

Kerbau merupakan haiwan ternakan di Malaysia. Kerhau telah menyumhang

hanyak terhadap kehidupan sosio-ekonomi petani-petani di Negara ini.

Contohnya, kerbau membekal daging dan susu. Selatn itu, kerhau diguna untuk

memajak sawah padi dan makan rumput rampai serat jerami padi selepas menuai

sawah padi sambi! membajakan sawah dengan tahi mereka. Kerbau juga diguna

untuk mengangkut hasil hutan dan hasil tanaman dart ladang. fa juga merupakan

" bank yang hidup" bagi petani-petani. Apabila ada keperluan kewangan,

kerbaulah yang dijual untuk mendapatkan wang.

Populasi kerbau di negara int terus menurun sejak heberapa tahun dahulu.

Penurunan populasi ini di sebahkan oleh heherapa faktor. Antara sehah tni

adalah peranan kerbau dalam pemajakan sawah padi diamhil alih oleh mesin,

,Jkadar sembelihan yang tinggt, kadar pemhiakan yang rendah dan saingan l'

kegunaan tanah yang biasa dtgunakan sehagai ladang perternakan kerbau dart ,. "

industri pertanian, perumahan dan industri.

Tu}uan kajian ini adalah untuk mendokumentasikan presta.<;i keberhasilan kerbau

yang memhrangsangkan di Ba kelalan dan mengkaji faktor-faktor yang

mempengaruhi prestasi keberhasilan ternakan ini.

Adalall dirumuskan hallawa kuantiti fora} tempatan adalah sangat kurang, kadar

kematian anak kerhau adalah sangat tinggi, kandungan mineral adalall rendah

dalam rum put tempatan tetapi pembiakan kerhau adalah baik. Model atau

fbrmula yang dibentuk untuk menentukan berat kerbau dengan menggunakan

kaedah panjang, tinggi dan saiz dada kerbau tidak signifikan. Formula yang di

gunakan olell Murtidjo (1998) adalall signifikan. Kerhau betina adalall subur dan

pemhiakan yang baik.

V111

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The contributions of buffaloes to the national economy are varied and this

includes providing draught for the cultivation of rice (Jainudeen & Wan

Zahari, 2000). Based on the available statistics (F AO Database 2002), the

population of the animals has declined from 194,000 in 1992 to 155,200 in

2000 and therefore its contribution to the livestock sector output has also

declined. A simple calculation based on this database showed that the local

buffalo industry is able to meet only 2.3% ofthe national demand for beef. ;! ".

Among the reasons cited for this decline in population are increased uses of

machinery as draught power and higher slaughtering rate than reproduction

rate (Department of Agriculture Sabah, 2000 & Jainudeen and Wan Zahari,

2000). In addition, individual animal performance depends on growth,

reproduction and health of the animals which are heavily influenced by the

quantity and quality of nutrients available on the farms. In addition, proper

record keeping, which allows the farmer to monitor the performance of each

animal as well as that of the farm, are not practised.

In Sarawak, buffalo population has stagnated and the industry has not

progressed in term of animal performance or farm output (Department of

1

Agriculture, Sarawak, 2000). Partly, this is due to lack of research, and

therefore knowledge and information on buffalo production in Sarawak is

lacking. Research that can contribute to improved production includes

nutrition, reproduction and management. Recognizing the lack of knowledge

and information on various aspects of management, nutrition and

reproduction, I investigated a method to estimate live-weight of the animal,

the estimated nutrient intake and study the reproductive performance of

buffaloes at two farms in Ba Kelalan, Lawas.

A cheap and reliable method to weigh the animals at the farm level is an

important component of efficient animal management because this enable the

farmers to monitor the growth performance of the animals. Thirdly, the

farmers would not be short-changed by the middle-men in the transaction. At

this moment, the farmers are not able to buy the machine, as it is too costly.

1.1 The objectives of the study are:

• To determine a practical method of estimating the body weight of the

animal at the farm level.

• To document the management performance practices two buffalo farms in

Ba Kelalan.

• To compare the productive performance of the animal at two different

farms

2

\

• To determine the amount of grass eaten by the animals after a three day

period.

• To determine the protein, fibres, mineral contents of the most common

local grass eaten by the animals.

Based on the above objectives, this study is divided into four parts, (a)

estimation of body weight, (b) production performance, (c) grass

consumption, and (d) nutrition quantity and quality.

3

CHAPTER TWO

LITERA TURE REVIEW

2.1. Buffalo Industry in Malaysia.

The buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) found in Malaysia is represented mostly by the

swamp type (Sani et ai., 1990) as seen in Figure 1. The animals have played

an important role in the overall growth of the Malaysia agriculture sector.

The animal provided draught power for the cultivation of rice field. For

example, the animals are used by the fanners to plough the paddy fields to

loosen up the soil in preparation of planting paddy seedlings. The animals

also provide labour for transporting or carrying agriculture products from the

fanns to the settlements and provide meat, which is a good source of protein.

Figure 1. Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) at Ba Kelalan

4

Pusat 'Khidmat Maklnm~t Akademi1c UNIVEltSrn MALAYSIA SAkAWAK

The domesticated swamp buffalo found in Malaysia was originally brought

from Burma and Thailand (Devendra, 1982). They are different from the

bison of northern United States and the wild buffalo of Africa. The other

species of wild buffaloes are the Anoa (Anoa depressicorous), of Sulawesi,

Indonesia and the Ami (Bubalus arnee) ofIndia. Those found in the east and

west coast of Sabah were brought by the Chinese immigrants from China to

work in the wet paddy farms in 1898 (Tuen & Razak, 1986). Mr, Bagul

Lupong, the paramount chief of the Lun Bawang community in Lawas

district related that the buffaloes were brought into the district from Sabah

around the 1900s. Since then, buffaloes have become very much part of the

community socio-economic welfare. According to Mr. Selutan Libang, the

headman of Kampong Long Langai, the buffaloes were brought to Ba

Kelalan between 1910-1920 from Batu Danau, Limbang.

The ruminant industry in the country when compared with the non-ruminant

sector is on the decline (Wong & Chen, 1998). The Department of Veterinary

Services, Malaysia (2004) report shows a steady decline in buffalo

population. For example, in 1970, the population of buffaloes in West

Malaysia was 233,040 heads and dropped to 87, 948 heads in 2000. The total

drop in a period of thirty two years is about 62.6%, which is about 2% drop

annually. In Sabah, the same scenario is happening. For example, in 1997, the

population of buffaloes was 48,000 and dropped to 42,318 heads in 2000,

which is about 5,682 heads in four years or 12 % per year (Department of

5

Agriculture Sabah, 2000). The decline of buffalo population in Sarawak was

minimaL For example, the buffalo population was 10,646 heads while in

1999 was 10,640 heads (Department of Agriculture Sarawak, 2000).

However, the decline is worrisome in Ba Kelalan sub-district For example,

the animal population in 1995 was 1,127 heads but in 1998, the number had

decreased to 847 heads as in Table 4 (Department of Agriculture Sarawak,

2003). The same situation is happening in the study area, Kampong Long

Langai, Ba Kelalan. Statistics obtained the Jawatan Kuasa Kemajuan dan

Keselamatan Kampong (JKKK), Long Langai revealed that there were 250

. rheads of buffalo in the village in 1993. However, in 2003 there were only 155 "

, ,),

(heads, which is about 40% decline in the last eight years. '. .

The decline in population of the animal in the country could be due to many

factors. McDowell (1985) suggested the following reasons that might have

contributed to this situation especially in the tropical region. These include

lower quality of feeds, deficiencies of specific nutrients, poor management,

more losses from diseases and parasites. According to Jainudeen and Zaharai

(2000), the decline of the animal population in the country are due to

declining role of the animal in the wet rice farming after the introduction of

machinery in rice cultivation industry especially in the west Malaysian states

such as Kedah, Pahang, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Terengganu.

In view of this, the farmers have neglected the animal production. In Sabah,

slaughtering rate and poor reproduction rate are the main causes of the

decline. In Ba Kelalan, the farmers say that high mortality rate among the

6

calves, low reproduction rate, poor food quality and quantity, limited area for

grazing and low farm prices are some of the problems confronting the

industry,

Realizing the problems facing the ruminant industry in the country, the

government had formulated a new thrust in the Malaysian New Agriculture

Policy (NAP) in 1984. The new thrust for the livestock industry sector was

to commercialize the ruminants farming and the protection of the

environment against degradation from livestock farming activities

(Department of Agriculture Sarawak 8th Malaysian Report, 2000). Under this

new policy, the private sectors who have the fund and technology are

encouraged to spearhead the industry. Modem farming approaches and large

scale farming are encouraged. Livestock integration with crops plantation

such as oil palms are to be promoted. In Sarawak, the state government had

identified issues such as unavailability of feed resources, lack of total quality

farm management and herd health reproduction are some of the major

problems faced in the larger ruminant industry. Thus, the state government

has decided to address the issues identified through various strategies

outlined in the Eight Malaysia Plan (2000-2004). For example, the

government would continue to give assistance in the form of finances, tools

and equipment to the sincere farmers.

" i·

.. . i

, I, I

l

7

r

2.1.1 Distribution and Population.

In Malaysi~ the buffalo population distribution is closely associated with

human population, land use and topographical condition. For example, in

West Malaysia, buffaloes are mostly found in the wet paddy producing states.

In Sabah, buffaloes are found in the interior region such as Keningau and

Tambunan and the western parts of the state where wet rice fields are mostly

located. In Sarawak, the population is concentrated in the northern region of

the state, in the districts of Limbang and Lawas where it is also associated

with wet paddy farming.

The buffalo distribution in the country in the year 2000 is shown in Figure 2.

All the states in the country have buffaloes with the exception of the Federal

Territory. About 58 % of the total popUlation of buffaloes were found in . . West Malaysia in 2000, about 34 % were found in Sabah while the remaining

~

8 % were found in Sarawak. The state of Sabah had the highest number of

buffaloes in 2000 with 52,000 heads which is about 35 % of the total

population, followed by the state of Pahang with 17 % while Sarawak had 8

% of the total popUlation.

8

PERLIS

i~

~ SASAH / 11,832 ~

~)

~J9 "'~

SARAWAK t' 11,832

SA KELALAN

t l'

148

't JOHOR 2,988

5503

Figure 2. Distribution of buffalo in Malaysia for the year 2000

Source: Veterinary Services Department Malaysia (2000)

9

r

The average male-female ratio for West Malaysia is 1 :2.3 as in Table 1. For

good and effective reproduction, the ratio of male and female should be 1:1 0

(Nordin, 1997). In contrast, the male and female ratio for the state of Pedis is

3: 1 which is opposite to that ofother states. Perlis had more male than female

buffalo perhaps because they imported the male animals for slaughter as the

dressing percentage are better than the female animals. Sex ratio data is not

available for Sarawak and Sabah.

Table 1: Buffalo population distribution in Malaysia in 2000 by state.

TotalState Male Female %

Pedis 114 34 0.09%

Kedah 2,914 8,341 11,255 7.56% \,

I ~,

• /

l'f

, IPenang 109 197 306 0.20% .' !

:;. \ 7 (Perak 2,849 9,220 12,069 8.11% lit

~ ~,Selangor 44 153 697 0.46% t ~ : l

.< " ~:Negeri Sembilan 2,780 2,780 5,560 3.73% ,.,'. 1:,1"

j~ JMalacca 1,546 3,984 5,503 3.70% I" ,~

Johor 1,016 1,972 2,988 2.00%

Pahang 7,125 18,372 25,497 17.14%

Terengganu 3,283 8,075 11,358 7.63%

Kelantan 3,792 5,709 9,501 6.38%

Federal Territory

Sabah NA NA 52,000 34.96%

Sarawak NA NA 11,832 7.95%

Total

Source: Dept. ofveterinary Services, Malaysia 2002

10

Available records show that the buffalo population, when compared with the

other ruminants in West Malaysia, had been declining in the last 30 years

(Figure 3) at the rate of 4,642 heads annually or 3 %. In contrast, the

population of cattle and sheep has increased by 120 and 21 % respectively.

The decline in buffalo population is thought to be related to the increase use

of machinery in rice cultivation and scarcity of grazing land due to

competition from other land use such as housing, industries and other

agricultural activities such as oil palm plantation. On the other hand, the huge

increase in sheep and cattle is partly due to the integration of sheep and cattle

rearing with plantation. Sheep are the preferred animal for integration

because they cause less damage to the crops. Buffaloes are not suitable for

integration because they need ponds for wallowing. In Malaysia, buffalo

farming is closely related to the number of households in an area (Ariff et aI.,

1997). However, personal experience with the local farmers show that some

of the other factors contributing to larger population of the animal in any area

are the availability of grazing lands and financial ability of the farmers to

purchase or own the animals.

800,000

700,000

600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

o

r-

c-

h

c- r-

r-

I I r-

I l I D.

lEI Buffalo

• Cattle

o Goats

o Sheep

1970 1980 1990 2000 2002

Figure 3: Ruminant livestock population in Malaysia 1970-2002

Source: Veterinary Services Malaysia, Department ofAgriculture 2004

11

20,000

15,000 r-

r-r ­10,000

5,000

o 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

o Buffalo

• Cattle

o Goat

o Sheep

Figure 4: Ruminant Livestock population in Sarawak 1990-1999

Source: Department of Agriculture Sarawak, 2000

The population of buffaloes in Sarawak for the past nine years had stagnated

(Figure 4). For example, the population of buffaloes in 1990 was 10,646

while in 1999 was 10,640. The other ruminants such as cattle, goats and

sheep were declining in numbers as well. For example, in 1990 there were

15,134 heads of cattle in Sarawak but in 1999, there were only 8,064. From

the statistics above, it can be seen that the state had not responded to the

National Agriculture Policy (1986) call for aggressive thrust in ruminant

farming. The suggested integrated farming of cattle with plantation had not

been carried out aggressively in the state as compared to West Malaysia. As

for buffaloes, the population remained stagnant due to the poor marketing

access for the animals (Department of Agriculture Sarawak, 2000). At one

time, Brunei was the major consumer of the animal especially for the animal

in Limbang and Lawas districts. However, since the middle of 1900, they

have reduced the import of the animals to protect their own cattle farms in the

12

Northern territory of Australia. This market loss has resulted in fewer farmers

continuing their buffalo fanning activities.

o Buffalo 60,000

• Cattle

50,000 o Goat

DSheep40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

o 1997 1998 1999 2000

Figure 5: Ruminant Livestock Population in Sabah 1997-2000

Source: Veterinary Service, Sabah 2002

Similarly, the population of buffaloes and other ruminants in Sabah had also

declined especially since 1998 (Figure 5). For example, the total number of

buffaloes in Sabah in 1997 was 48,000 while in 2000 there were 42,000

heads. The decline is about 6,000 heads over a period of four years, which is

about 12 %. The reasons given by the Veterinary Department Sabah (2002)

are high slaughtering and poor reproductive rate of the animals. The cattle

industry is as poor as the one found in Sarawak. The cattle population

increased only by a small margin of 1,727 heads from 44,817 heads in 1997

to 46,544 heads in 2000. The increase is only about 4 %.

13

Table 2: Buffalo Population in Sarawak in 1999

Total

Kuching 13

SriAman 11

Sibu 56

Miri 607

Limbang 9,923

Sarikei 23

Kapit 23

Samarahan 0

Bintulu 0

Total 10,640

Source: Agriculture Statistics Sarawak, Department ofAgriculture 2000

The distribution of buffalo population in Sarawak is shown in Table 2. Most

of the buffaloes in Sarawak are found in the Limbang division, which

accounts for 93% of the total number of the animals found in the state. This is

I"

t

because of its close proximity with Brunei that was once a good market prior

to the middle of 1980. Secondly, the animals are closely related to wet paddy

farming which is the main farming activity of the natives in the district of

Lawas (Department of Agriculture, Lawas, 1990). Thirdly, buffaloes are

used as a form of dowry payment among the Bisaya and Lun Bawang

community who are predominantly found in the Limbang division.

{'

14

--- ....

Table 3: Buffalo Population in Lawas District

Sub-district Population (1998)

Sundar

Trusan

LawaslPunang

Long Sukang

Long Semadoh

Ba Kelalan

819

414

677

210

1062

847

Total 4,096

Source: Department ofAgriculture, Lawas 2000

The population distribution of buffaloes in Lawas District is shown in Table

3. Lawas District buffalo population contributes to 41 % of the total

population in the Limbang division. Long Semadoh sub-district has the most

number of buffalo in Lawas district, which is about 26 % of the total 'i

population. f, +,

.'

.

15

T

Table 4: Buffalo population in Ba Kelalan sub-district in 1995 and 1998

Villages 1995 1998

Puneng Kelalan 73 53

LongMuda 82 52

Long Kumap 67 50

Long Lemutut 76 46

Long Langai 184 156

LongRitan 160 80

Long Rusu 107 136

Buduk Bui 120 120

BudukAru 114 98

..Pa Tawaing 97 57 .1

Total 1,127 847 "

'\','-,' ,

Source: Department ofAgriculture, Lawas 2000. f. . ~

In Ba Kelalan sub-district, Kampong Long Langai has the highest number of

the animals in 1998, accounting for 18 % of the total number of the animal in

this sub-district as in Table 4. This is followed by Kampong Long Rusu

which has about 16 % of the total population. This is partly due to the

availability of grazing land compared with the other villages in the area

which has limited grazing land. However, the population of the animal in

Long Ritan declined by 50 % due to the demise of the older farmers. Their

children have migrated to the town areas.

16