Morphometrics and carcass production of Kalimantan swamp buffalo under extensiveproduction system ( kalang )

Abstract

environment and social condition of wetland communities affect the ecosystem and the buffalo. This research aimed to obtain the bodymeasurements of swamp buffalo in Kalimantan as indicators of meat producer and to compare the current with the preceding data. Surveys wereconducted at slaughter houses to record heart girth (HG), whither height (WH), body length (BL), live weight (LW) and carcass percentage (CP).Results showed the average values of body measurements for males and females were as follows: HG 202 and 174 cm; WH 125 and 124 cm; BL131 and 117 cm respectively. The LW for males and females were 380 and 312 kg; whereas their CP were 46 and 44% respectively. Compared toprevious studies, the current body measurements are considerably similar; however, their LW and CP were lower. These results indicated thatthere was a decrease in the productivity of swamp buffaloes in lowland Kalimantan. Hence, an improvement of the existing production system isrequired that might involve conservation, maintenance and improvement of swamp environment, and introducing rotational mating system, feedsupplement, and health care.