Buffalo in Borneo, Sarawak: A Review of the Current Status of the Indigenous Buffalo Industry

Abang-Harizt  Khalex; Sharifah Salmah  Syed-Hussain; Siti Zubaidah  Ramanoon; Shahrul Razid  Sarbini; Mohammad Nasir  Hassan; William Rovina  Nating; Robine  Asut; Lirong Yu  Abit; Juriah  Kamaludeen

doi:10.6000/1927-520X.2021.10.05

Authors

Abang-Harizt Khalex Department of Animal Science and Fishery, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
Sharifah Salmah Syed-Hussain Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Siti Zubaidah Ramanoon Department of Farm and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Shahrul Razid Sarbini Department of Animal Science and Fishery, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
Mohammad Nasir Hassan Department of Animal Science and Fishery, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
William Rovina Nating Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak, Kuching, Malaysia
Robine Asut Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak, Kuching, Malaysia
Lirong Yu Abit Department of Animal Science and Fishery, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia
Juriah Kamaludeen Department of Animal Science and Fishery, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, Bintulu 97008, Sarawak, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-520X.2021.10.05

Keywords:

East Malaysia, buffalo, population, domestic demands, traditional practices

Abstract

The Malaysian water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, has traditionally been important livestock for the local people of Sarawak. Buffalo, other ruminants, and non-ruminants are essential for the livestock industry as they supply the largest source of protein for the entire nation. Cattle provide the largest production in the livestock industry at 0.2%, followed by other ruminants, including goats (0.1%), sheep (0.04%) and buffalo (0.03%). Water buffalo, or 'kerbau sawah' as it is locally known, is an overlooked animal compared to other livestock. Amidst the growing demand for beef within the domestic consumer market, the buffalo population in Sarawak has risen over the past 5 years from 5,396 to 6,205 heads in 2019. However, the self-sufficiency level (SSL) of cattle and buffalo beef has dropped from 26% in 2013 to 21.6% in 2019 despite the rising demand for local produce. Malaysia continues to import frozen buffalo beef from India and live bovine from other countries in order to meet domestic demands and support the growth of the local buffalo industry. Due to this, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak introduced a buffalo yard program ('Natad Kerbau') to assist the state smallholder farmers in managing their buffaloes better. This paper focuses on describing the current status of buffalo production in Sarawak, its important functions (including provision for food security) and future prospects of B. bubalis in the livestock industry of Malaysia and Sarawak in particular.

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