Biología de la reproducción bubalina 135 BIOLOGÍA

Biología de la reproducción bubalina
135
BIOLOGÍA DE LA REPRODUCCIÓN DE LA HEMBRA BUFALINA
William G Vale
& Pietro S Baruselli
Introducción
El búfalo doméstico es un rumiante criado en todos los continentes del mundo. También
conocidos como búfalo de río o de agua, así como búfalo lechero - Bubalus bubalis - o búfalo del
pantano o carabao, tienen 2n = 50 y 2n = 48 cromosomas respectivamente. A pesar de la diferencia
en el número de cromosomas, se cruzan entre sí, originando un producto con 2n = 49, el que fue
reportado como el único híbrido fértil entre los animales domésticos (Perera y col., 2005).
El rebaño bufalino mundial es estimado, actualmente en 170 millones de cabezas (FAO, 2004;
Perera y col., 2005), de las cuales aproximadamente 4 millones están en el continente americano, en
especial en América latina. La producción de los búfalos se difunde mundialmente, debido
principalmente a la superioridad económica que esa especie presenta, comparada con las otras
especies domésticas, principalmente por su rusticidad, fácil adaptación a las más variadas
condiciones climáticas y de manejo, manteniendo su productividad, aún en condiciones consideradas
inadecuadas. La importancia económica en la exportación de búfalos reside en las ventajas
proporcionadas por la fertilidad, longevidad, eficiencia de la conversión alimenticia y aptitud para la
producción de leche, carne, trabajo (tracción) y estiércol (Vale y col., 1999). El crecimiento de la
“cultura bufalina” en América Latina supera una tasa anual de 12% en los últimos años, lo que indica
un gran interés de los criadores en esa especie.
La función natural de la reproducción de los bufalinos se modifica en función del medio
ambiente y por el tipo de explotación que le impone el hombre.
¿Es el búfalo un animal tardío desde el punto de vista reproductivo?
Existe en la literatura internacional un concepto erróneo de que el búfalo es un animal tardío o de
baja aptitud reproductiva. Algunos autores, basados en estudios realizados en la India y Pakistán, lo
caracterizan como un animal “poor breeder” (Bhattacharya, 1958; Bhattacharya, 1974; Shalash, 1958;
Rao y Rao 1968; Pant; Roy, 1972; Porwall y col. 1982). Otros, están en desacuerdo con esa
calificación y prefieren indicar que el fenómeno por el cual los búfalos presentan índices de fertilidad
inferiores a los bovinos parece estar relacionado a un manejo deficiente y/o a una selección
inadecuada (Kaleff, 1942; Hafez, 1952-1955; Ivanov; Zachariev, 1960; De Franciscis, 1979; Vale y
col. 1988; Vale y col.1990; Vale, 2000). Por lo tanto, a la luz de los conocimientos actuales el
concepto de que el búfalo es un animal tardío desde el punto de vista reproductivo, debe ser
ignorado.
¿Es conveniente comparar las características y valores reproductivos del búfalo con el bovino?
Muchos investigadores al inicio de sus estudios sobre reproducción bufalina tratan de inmediato
de confrontar las características y los valores reproductivos de esta especie con aquellos de las
especies Bos taurus y Bos indicus. En la tabla 2 se resumen las diferencias anatómicas, fisiológicas y
endocrinas entre la reproducción de la vaca bovina y la bufalina, mostrando que existen mas
diferencias que similitudes entre los casos presentados. Debe tenerse bastante precaución cuando
se aplican estos aspectos comparativos.
136
Vale & Baruselli
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