People of many developing countries rely on buffaloes, but they lack any comparative evaluation of the different breeds and strains. This project seeks to determine the available genetic, environmental and sociological options to improve buffalo productivity. It will encourage research institutes in Southeast Asia with two or more breeds or strains to investigate differences in feed utilisation, reproductive performance and draught power, using only the feeds available to local smallholders.

Comparative studies on feed utilisation will establish relative maintenance requirements, voluntary feed intake, digestibility and production response curves to different supplements and/or roughage treatments for the different buffalo genotypes. The studies on reproductive performance will identify the variations in age at sexual maturity, inter-calving intervals and calf mortality and morbidity.

Draught power is the highest-value product from large ruminants in all countries of the region (with the possible exception of Malaysia), and the research will determine differences in efficiency of draught, particularly in relation to size and weight, heat tolerance, meat and milk production and reproduction.

The project involves setting up a co-ordinated program of research among a number of institutions in the participating countries. Malaysian scientists will study utilisation of palm press fibre-based diets by Murrah, swamp and Murrah x swamp crossbreds, and monitor the effect of the diets on growth and fertility. Part of the research in Thailand will investigate the consequences of selection for size and weight on growth, fertility and draught output of swamp buffalo. The rest will concern the interactions between genotype and diet, with particular reference to reproductive performance, using swamp and riverine buffalo fed diets based on rice straw and other traditional village rations. The Indonesian teams will evaluate swamp x river crossbred buffalo for growth and fertility, and also study the comparative growth rates and relative disease resistance of swamp and crossbred buffalo receiving village-based diets. Other countries may become involved as the project develops - notably the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

This approach stems from several considerations: the project focuses on a problem that transcends national boundaries and is common to a number of countries; it will not yield unequivocal results if conducted in only one location, because individual locations have small numbers of crossbreds but collectively they can provide a population sufficiently large for statistical analyses; and because it allows for management variations between locations.

Australian scientists have the necessary experience to lead and co-ordinate the project, and can draw on the research capacity of their own and other Australian institutions to offer a strong scientific base. They will co-ordinate meetings, and provide disciplinary expertise on problems of technique, design, analysis of data and interpretation of results. They will also establish mechanisms for co-ordination and transfer of the institutes' research findings, and encourage their application in smallholder systems in the region to improve productivity.

In addition to the benefits for participants, other buffalo-raising countries may benefit through the identifying of breeds or strains with high draught capacity, high reproductive rate, low calf mortality, high heat tolerance, high resistance to parasites and diseases or the ability to utilise poor-quality feedstuffs efficiently. Australia's Northern Territory buffalo industry would benefit directly, while its northern cattle industry may profit indirectly through comparative studies on digestive physiology and feed utilisation.