4.1.2. Buffalo

Indigenous buffalo *(Bubalus bubalis bubalis)* are distributed from sub-tropical to alpine zones of Nepal. Buffaloes are the greatest source of milk and meat production (Figures 2 and 3), contributing significantly to the agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP). They are exploited mainly for milk and meat, and to some extent, for draft power and manure. A recent report suggests that buffalo alone contribute to >50% of total meat and >60% of total milk production in Nepal, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 [20].

**Figure 2.** Status of milk production in Nepal (MOALD, 2017; MOALD, 2019) [15,16]. ( **A**): Annual whole fresh milk production in ton for 2002–2016 (solid line, : buffalo milk; solid line; -: cow milk),

(**B**)**:** Annual milk productivity (kg/milking animal/year) of cow and buffalo for 2002–2016 (solid line, : buffalo; solid line; -: cow), (**C**): Status of annual milk production and demand (ton/day) in Nepal for 2011–2016 (solid line, : daily milk demand; solid line; -: daily milk production). The daily milk demand for Nepal was calculated using FAO recommendations of 320 mL/adult/day for adults (>18 years of age) [17]. The values for the daily milk demand would be even higher if they were corrected for the needs for non-breast-fed infants and children and teenagers below 18 years of age who have the daily demand of 500 mL/person/day [17]. (**D**): Projection of daily milk demand (ton/day) in Nepal for the period 2020–2030. The calculations for the projection were performed based on the projected total population of Nepal during that period presented by CBS [18] and the FAO recommendations for daily milk demand (320 mL/adult/day) for adults (>18 years of age) from developing countries [17]. The values for projected milk demands would be even higher if they were corrected as described in (**C**).

**Figure 3.** Status of meat production in Nepal (MOALD, 2017; MOALD, 2019) [15,16]. (**A**): The trend of total annual buffalo meat production (in ton) during the period 2002–2016, (**B**): The trend of yearly total goa<sup>t</sup> meat production (in ton) for the period 2002–2016, (**C**): The trend of total annual pig meat production (in ton) during the period 2002–2016, (**D**): The trend of yearly total chicken meat production (in ton) during the period 2002–2016. (**E**): The trend of total annual meat production compared to demands for

2011–2016 in Nepal (solid line, •: meat production; solid line, -: meat demands). The total annual meat production was calculated based on the amounts of meat from major meat-producing animals and also included the amount of duck meat, which is negligible (217—281 ton/year) compared with other livestock species. The meat demands were calculated based on the FAO data for average meat consumption per capita (27.9 kg/person/year or 76.4 gm/person/day) in the developing countries [4]. (**F**): Projection for meat demands (in ton) during the period 2020–2030 based on the FAO data for average annual meat consumption per capita (solid line; -: developed country and solid line; •: global average, solid line; : Nepal, developing country). The average annual meat consumptions per capita for developing countries, worldwide population, and developed countries, developing countries were used as 27.9 kg (76.4 gm/person/day), 38.7 kg (106 gm/person/day), and 80 kg (219.3 gm/person/day), respectively [4].

There are mainly three indigenous breeds of buffalo in Nepal: Lime, Parkote, and Gaddi, distributed predominantly in low hills, mid-hills, and far western hills, respectively [25]. However, imported breeds are becoming increasingly popular, with Murra now dominating current buffalo production among them. Low milk production (893 kg/milking buffalo) is a significant challenge in the buffalo production system, and realizing this, the Nepalese governmen<sup>t</sup> launched the 20-year Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP) in 1995, where the priority was given to milk production. However, Nepal continues to import considerable amounts of whole milk and live buffalo from a neighboring country. To become self-sufficient in milk production, buffalo is the primary species to be targeted, and the focus should mainly be on buffalo milk productivity.

#### *4.2. Major Meat-Producing Animals in Nepal*

In Nepal, cattle do not contribute at all to national meat production as the consumption of meat from cattle and the use of cattle for meat production are prohibited for religious reasons. Therefore, buffalo, goat, sheep, pig, and poultry are the key sources of meat. In the following sections, the major constraints and possibilities for meat production from different livestock species will be presented.
