Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Meat

This book provides an overview of the buffalo meat industry. Chapter topics include production systems, nutritional interventions for designer meat production, composition and nutritional quality of buffalo meat, value addition, processing, packaging, and quality assurance programme.

Buffalo meat is meat derived from water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Buffalo meat is also called Cara beef, and is the healthiest meat among red meats for its low calories and cholesterol content. Buffaloes (riverine or swamp) are found in over 50 countries including India, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Bulgaria, Italy, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia and Egypt, and South Asia is home to some of the best buffalo breeds in the world. Buffaloes play a significant role in the rural economy of farmers and contribute to nutritional security, especially in south Asian developing countries.

The core components of the book are housing, feeding, breeding, disease management of buffaloes, which are the factors affecting buffalo meat production and its quality. The book also covers requirements for establishing buffalo abattoir, process of buffalo slaughter, techniques for evaluation of meat quality, processing, preservation, packaging, zoonotic diseases, byproduct processing, species identification, traceability, etc. It also discusses the applications of advanced techniques like genomics and proteomics for predicting meat quality and an overview of the international status of buffalo farming and the international trade of buffalo meat.

This book provides a valuable reference for the academics and industry/ government stakeholders. The content will help promote research and education and contribute to the development of the sector.

Dr. Manish Kumar Chatli, Director, ICAR-CIRG, Mathura, is a distinguished scientist with over 27 years' experience in livestock production, quality and designer value-addition. A former visiting scientist at the University of Kentucky, USA and attended global trainings in the USA, South Korea, Belgium etc. A pioneer in the 'waste to wealth' movement, specializing in bioactive peptides, biodegradable packaging, and pet foods. His innovations include chemical-free, extended shelf-life products, and an assay for buffalo tissue identification. Currently, he is focused on quality assurance and traceability in the goat value chain. He holds 2 patents, and has transferred 25 technologies to industry.

Dr. Girish P. S., Director of ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Nagaland, is a leading animal scientist dedicated to the conservation and sustainable development of mithun (Bos frontalis). With expertise in mithun husbandry, organic farming, and agri-tech, he has secured key achievements, including organic certification of a 75-hectare fodder plot, the launch of the m-Anitra trading app, and an AI-based parasite detection tool. A recipient of prestigious national fellowships, Dr. Patil promotes mithun product commercialization, natural farming, and farmer-market linkages. Dr. Patil was key in developing patented, commercialized technologies like a portable slaughterhouse and electric stunner for hygienic slaughter.

Dr. Harshit Kumar, an ARS scientist at ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Nagaland, specializes in livestock genomics with a focus on Bos frontalis (mithun). A top graduate from GB Pant University, he received the Vice Chancellor's Gold Medal in Veterinary Sciences. His research integrates SNP genotyping, big data analytics, and animal breeding to enhance mithun conservation and genetic improvement. Dr. Kumar has significantly contributed to decoding the genetic architecture of indigenous buffalo, cattle and mithun. He has published in reputed national and international journals, advancing collaborative research and promoting science-driven strategies for sustainable livestock development in Northeast India.

Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Bihar Animal Sciences University (BASU), Patna, is a renowned veterinary scientist celebrated as the "Murrah man" for his pioneering work in buffalo breeding and management. With over 30 years of experience, he previously led GADVASU, CIRB, and Punjab's Animal Husbandry Department. He played key roles in national initiatives like the National Bovine Genomic Centre and Rashtriya Gokul Mission. A policy advisor and global expert, Dr. Singh is driving BASU's mission of innovation, sustainability, and rural development through education, research, and extension, shaping the future of animal sciences in India and beyond.