Buffalo meat exports boom: Read the message

Buffalo meat exports in India are experiencing a significant surge, reaching a record $5.1 billion in the fiscal year 2025-26 and projected to surpass $6 billion in the current fiscal year. This rapid growth can be attributed to the industry's efforts to establish markets in countries across Southeast and West Asia, Africa, and more recently, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Georgia.

The unit value of buffalo meat has also seen a substantial increase, from below $3,000 per tonne to over $4,000 in recent years. This growth has been facilitated by a focus on enhancing the product's quality and image, ensuring exports comply with international standards, and restricting sales to government-approved abattoirs and processing facilities.

The buffalo meat industry in India plays a crucial role in complementing the country's dairy sector. Most buffaloes culled are either non-productive or males, which allows farmers to replace low-yielding or aged animals with high-milking and fresh ones. This leads to regular herd turnover, essential for a sustainable dairy enterprise.

The fact that the meat comes from "spent" buffaloes, which have outlived their usefulness as milkers, makes the model more sustainable compared to separate rearing of cattle for milk and beef, as seen in Brazil or the US.

While milk consumption is on the rise in India, driven by increasing incomes, buffalo milk yields are generally lower than those of crossbred cows. The lifespan of buffaloes is also longer in terms of age at first lactation and inter-calving intervals. Therefore, a scientific approach to culling unproductive animals is necessary not only for improving dairy efficiency but also for cattle overall.

Political leadership must address this issue to ensure long-term sustainability and meet the growing milk demand in the medium-to-long term.