Comparing cattle and buffalo beef production under an extensive management system

摘要

This work has been carried out over 25 years on a very large property of natural pastures, situated in Corrientes province, in the north-east of Argentina, in the 28.5° south latitude, with a humid sub-tropical climate. The aim was to run buffaloes on an extensive management system, and compare the buffalo beef production per hectare with the beef production of cattle under the same conditions. The ranch bought several lots of buffalo heifers, until they got to a total of 500. The beef cattle were already on the ranch. The yearly veterinary and management plans were drawn up, these were very necessary to carry out a beef production comparison under extensive conditions. This ranch has an area of 7000 hectares, of which 3500 hectares are run under buffaloes and the other half is under beef cattle.