Feeding, Nutrition and Sustainability in Dairy Enterprises: The Case of Mediterranean Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Buffalo farming is a dairy enterprise emerging in Italy and other European and non-European countries due to the progressive saturation of the dairy market, which requires product diversification. As a response to the increasing demand for dairy buffalo products, most farms are undertaking a progressive intensification of rearing techniques. In particular, feeding rely on different rations according to the physiological stage of the animals. Buffalo heifers are generally offered a total mixed ration based on corn silage and ryegrass hay, which require high amounts of water, chemical fertilisers and fossil fuel. Additionally, lactating buffaloes receive concentrates with an even higher environmental impact, whereas more fibrous feeds are used in the dry period. Although the emission factors for enteric fermentation and manure management in buffaloes appear to be 38.4 % and 20.5 % less than in dairy cows, respectively, the contribution of dairy buffalo farms to global warming has been estimated as higher than that produced by dairy cow farms. Therefore, studies are needed to assess the general environmental impact of this species and identify alternative environmental friendly rearing techniques.