Moving Buffalo Farming beyond Traditional Areas: Performances of Animals, and Quality of Mozzarella and Forages

Francesco Serrapica, Felicia Masucci (), Giuseppe De Rosa, Ada Braghieri (), Fiorella Sarubbi, Francesca Garofalo, Fernando Grasso and Antonio Di Francia
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Francesco Serrapica: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
Felicia Masucci: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
Giuseppe De Rosa: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
Ada Braghieri: School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Fiorella Sarubbi: Institute for the Animal Production System in the Mediterranean Environment, National Research Council, 80055 Portici, Italy
Francesca Garofalo: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy
Fernando Grasso: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
Antonio Di Francia: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: An observational case study was designed to highlight issues associated with a possible expansion of dairy buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) farming outside the traditional coastal plains of southern Italy. Twenty pregnant buffaloes were transferred to a hilly inland farm. After calving, production and reproduction data were collected monthly throughout lactation. From 4 to 6 months of lactation, buffaloes were enrolled in a feeding trial to evaluate the effects of locally grown forages (maize silage vs. hay) on milk production and in vivo digestibility. Sensory properties of mozzarella cheese produced at a local dairy were also evaluated. No obvious effects of diet were found. Compared to the data recorded in the previous lactation completed in the farm of origin, milk yield was reduced by 37.2%, and milk protein by 6.1%, whereas milk fat improved (+4.5%). A lower pregnancy rate (−13.3%), increased days open (+122%), and a prolonged intercalving period (+26.9%) were also observed. Lactation length was shorter than the standard value of 270 d. The results showed that peculiar reproductive characteristics, lower environmental temperatures, and the specificity of the mozzarella production process are the main problems to be addressed in an expansion of buffalo farming outside traditional areas.

Keywords: dairy buffaloes; farming environment; reproductive and productive performances; feeding trial; mozzarella cheese; sensory properties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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