AZE.US
Buffalo breeding, once a familiar part of traditional livestock farming in Azerbaijan, is gradually shrinking as farmers struggle with rising costs and worsening conditions.
Farmers say keeping buffalo has become far more difficult than it used to be. The animals require more feed, more water and more space than cows, while the natural conditions they depend on are becoming harder to maintain.
According to livestock owners, a buffalo can eat about twice as much as a cow, especially during the winter season, which sharply raises feeding costs. At the same time, pastures are shrinking, water sources are harder to access and swampy areas that suit buffalo are disappearing.
That pressure is now showing up in market prices. Farmers say buffalo milk is selling for about 3 manats per liter, butter has climbed to 25 manats per kilogram, and cream is now around 20 to 22 manats per kilogram.
Even with those prices, producers say the business is not easy. Buffalo are considered more demanding animals to keep, and good-quality feed is essential if farmers want to get rich milk and high-quality dairy products.
Still, buffalo products remain highly valued by buyers. Farmers say buffalo milk is fattier than cow’s milk, and products made from it, including yogurt, cream and butter, are often seen as richer and more premium.
That helps explain why demand remains steady even as the number of animals declines. Buffalo may produce less milk than cows, but the higher price of their dairy products can make them attractive for small household farms.
The problem, farmers say, is that the sector is becoming harder to sustain. Many of the conditions that once made buffalo breeding practical in rural areas – abundant water, open land and suitable grazing areas – are no longer as available as before.
As a result, buffalo are now kept mostly on small family-run farms rather than in large-scale operations, while production remains limited despite steady buyer demand.
The combination of high demand and falling supply is keeping prices elevated, but farmers say that alone is not enough to reverse the broader decline in the sector.