Breed improvement initiative launched for native Iranian buffalo
The head of Animal Sciences Research Institute of Iran said plans are underway to improve the breeding of native buffalo and launch semi-industrial production, a step expected to boost red meat output and triple raw milk yields.
Speaking to IRNA about the state of buffalo farming in Iran and globally, and the importance of genetic research, Hassan Khamisabadi said that genetic improvement of buffalo can boost red meat production and triple raw milk yields — a move that could pave the way for self-sufficiency in protein production, particularly red meat.
Khamisabadi said buffalo is one of the domesticated animals that performs particularly well under Iran’s climatic conditions, especially in certain provinces. Given climate change, the expansion of buffalo farming is being considered a suitable alternative for producing animal protein, as the species not only delivers good performance in hot and dry regions but also requires less feed.
According to the institute head, global statistics estimate the buffalo population in 2024 at about 167 million head, ranking fourth among domesticated ruminants after cattle, sheep, and goats. He noted that 97% of the world’s buffalo are concentrated mainly in Asia — particularly in India, Pakistan, China, Egypt, and Nepal — while only around 3% are found in European countries such as Italy, Romania, and Bulgaria, as well as in Latin America.
He described buffalo population growth trends in various countries as positive, adding that Iran has also seen healthy development in this sector. Given its potential in animal protein production, breeding programs and crossbreeding have been put high on the agenda.
Khamisabadi stressed that the research institute, recognizing the strategic importance of buffalo, has undertaken multiple projects to revive, expand, and enhance the productivity of the species, aiming to tackle challenges such as population decline, late breeding, and low production efficiency in traditional systems.
Breeding native buffalo with Italian stock
Khamisabadi said the institute is running buffalo breeding and development projects at several research stations, including Safiabad in Dezful, Khuzestan. These efforts include registering and documenting breeds, and examining the impact of crossbreeding native buffalo with foreign breeds such as Italian buffalo on milk yield and composition — taking into account regional conditions, farming systems, and feed.
He added that research shows crossbreeding native buffalo with high-yielding foreign breeds like the Italian buffalo can significantly increase milk production. In second-generation hybrids, daily milk yield averages around 18.7 kilograms, compared with about 5.5 kilograms for native Iranian buffalo — meaning crossbred buffalo produce nearly three times as much milk as their native counterparts.