RACES DE BUFFLES

Comme indiqué plus en détail ci-dessous en anglais (extrait du site « The Water Buffalo ») il existe deux grandes races de buffles :

1 le buffle des marais, robe grise, poil ras, présent dans tout l’est asiatique, dont il sera beaucoup question sur notre site

2 le buffle des rivières, dont l’aire géographique concerne essentiellement le sous-continent indien, est plus foncé.

Chacune de ces deux grandes branches se divise en sous-espèces dont une concerne directement l’Europe du sud. Il s’agit du buffle méditerranéen, apparenté au buffle des rivières mais qui a développé un poil plus long que son lointain ancêtre. Parmi les nombreuses choses que l’on prête à Marco Polo, il y aurait l’introduction du buffle en Italie vers 1300. Il semble plutôt qu’il soit arrivé avec les invasions dites « barbares » peu après la chute de l’empire romain, vers 600 ou 700.

Génétiquement, il existe une différence entre les deux grandes races. Le buffle des marais compte 48 paires de chromosomes alors que le buffle des rivières en a 50. Ce petit différentiel n’empêche pas les croisements. Par contre l’hybridation avec le buffle d’Afrique ou son cousin d’Amérique le bison, est impossible pour cause de carte génétique trop éloignée. A fortiori le petit cousin que constitue le bovin ne peut pas se croiser avec le buffle d’eau.

Extrait du site "The water buffalo" de DJ LIGDA :

The major genetic divisions of the water buffalo are the Swamp buffalo (Bubalus carabanensis) of the eastern half of Asia, which are slate gray, droopy necked, and ox-like with massive swept back horns. They wallow in any water or mud puddle they can find or make. And; the River buffalo (Bubalus bubalus)of the western half of Asia which usually is black or dark gray with tightly curled or drooping straight horns. They prefer to wallow in clean water.There is also the Mediterranean buffalo, which is of the River type but has been isolated for so long that it has developed some unique characteristics. Although there is only one breed of Swamp buffalo, certain subgroups seem to have specific inherited characteristics. For example, the buffalos of Thailand are noted for their large size, averaging 450-550 kg. and weights of up to 1000 kg. have been observed. Elsewhere Swamp buffaloes range from 250 kg. for some small animals in China to 300 kg in Burma and 500-600 kg in Laos. In Australia, the feral water buffalo has developed a characteristic appearance. In Indonesia a black and white spotted variety is known.
Only in India and Pakistan are there well defined breeds with standard qualities. There are 18 River buffalo breeds in South Asia, which are further classified into 5 major groups designated as the Murrah, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Central Indian and South Indian breeds. Within these groups are breeds. The best known breeds are Murrah, Nili/Ravi, Jafarabadi, Surti, Mehsana,Kundi and Nagpuri. Most of the buffaloes of the Indian subcontinent belong to a nondescript group known as the Desi buffalo. Trinidad imported several breeds from India between 1905 and 1908. Crossbreeding of these animals has produced a Trinidadian type and these animals are the stock that has been imported into the US.

                       BUFFALO

                          |

               ______________________________      

                   |                            |     

  African wild buffalo                     Asian buffalo

  Syncerus caffar              ____________________________           Subspecies:                        |                           |

      S. caffar caffar   Wild buffaloes           Domestic buffalo

      S. c.brachyceros          |                          |

      S. c.nanus                |                          |

                                |                          |

                  _____________________________            |

                  |             |             |            |

            Indian wild Arni   Anoa         Tamarao        |

            Bubalus arnee     Bubalus       Bubalus        |

                            depressicorais  mindorensis    |

                                                           |

                                                           |

                                _____________________________

                                |                          |

                         River Type                   Swamp Type

                         Indian buffalo               Bubalus

                         Bubalus bubalis              carabanesis