Buffalo and Human Welfare

The buffalo population in Indonesia is sharply declining. It is estimated that within the last ten years, the rate of the population decrease is up to 5.8% or 78,000 heads. Regardless of its decline, the buffalo is still holding very important roles not only in fulfilling the need for meat, but also as a cultural animal. This applies in some regions in which buffalo is considered as an important part of socio-cultural system in the community. One distinct example is the spotted buffalo. This particular buffalo is genuine nutfah plasma of the Toraja District, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Regardless of the current population of spotted buffalo, which is can be categorized as endangered species that must be preserved; it still holds a strong cultural value in relation to Rambusoloh ceremony, a ceremony in respecting the dead family member. Each family who carry out the ceremony usually slaughter more than 100 heads of the spotted buffalo, where the value of each buffalo used for the ceremony is hundred millions IDR, even one could reach as high as IDR 500,000,000 (more than USD. 50,000) per head. The International Conference on Buffalo 2013 is organized by the Faculty of Animal Science, Hasanuddin University Makassar, Indonesia in collaboration with and Directorate General for Livestock, The Ministry of Agriculture Indonesia. This international congress aims to support the buffalo’s increasing role in the future by exchanging experience and knowledge of the buffalo from scientists around the world. The forum aims to provide a multinational platform in which the current issues of buffalo development presented and discussed in a friendly environment. Prospective presenters are encouraged to submit papers or posters. The papers should address both theoretical issues and new research findings. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________