I am Ancharlie na-Chiangmai, I am working on buffalo breeding research at the Department of Livestock Development, Thailand.

I quite agree with Dr. Chandrasiri [24 July] that artificial insemination (AI) at the small farmer level is not practical especially in swamp buffalo, where the pattern of reproductive physiology is a problem. The difficulty of heat detection and the short period of ovulation probably are the main reasons. Farmers keep few animals (1-5 heads per family) and raise them at a distance from the village, which gives the animal less opportunity to be inseminated at the right time. Synchronisation with hormones in buffalo is not recommended because, from my experience, the animals show cystic ovary and change normal estrous cycle.

For swamp buffalo in the village situation, where the animals are let loose together in the common land during the day, using natural mating probably gives the better result.

Ancharlie na-Chiangmai
Head of Buffalo Research Group,
Department of Livestock Development,
Phya Thai Road, Bangkok 10400 THAILAND
e-mail: bpdld@samart.co.th

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