Characteristics of Buffalo Farming Systems in Turkey Based on a Multivariate Aggregation of Indicators: A Survey Study

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 21; p. 3056
• Main Authors: Ozturk, Nursen, Kocak, Omur, Peker, Arzu, Serva, Lorenzo, Kaygisiz, Ferhan, Kecici, Pembe Dilara, Yalcintan, Hulya, Kilic, Halil Ibrahim, Magrin, Luisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 07.11.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Agricultural economics; Agriculture; Animal husbandry; Availability; buffalo farms; Discriminant analysis; economic efficiency; Economics; Efficiency; Farm buildings; Farm management; Farmers; Farming; Farming systems; Feeds; Fodder; Grazing; Heterogeneity; Indicators; intensive management; Land use; Management systems; Milk production; Milking; multivariate analysis; Nutrition; Poultry farming; Principal components analysis; Productivity; Statistical analysis; Typology; Variables; Variance analysis; Istanbul Turkey; Turkey
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani12213056

This study aimed to determine the heterogeneity that exists in water buffalo husbandry systems in Marmara Region, Turkey. A questionnaire containing a total of 60 indicators was submitted to 52 farmers. A Principal Component Analysis was performed to reduce original variables into a simplified and latent structure, which was characterized by six orthogonal components: milk productivity, economic efficiency, roughage management, dual-purpose farming, concentrate supply, and fodder production. An ANOVA model was applied to the six components to investigate the effects of the province, investment levels, grazing type, milk production, and profitability. Differences in milk productivity, roughage management, concentrate supply, and fodder management were significant according to the province and grazing type, which indicated a difference in intensification levels among the cities. Economic efficiency and dual-purpose farming differed significantly for milk production levels as well as milk productivity, and economic efficiency differed for profitability levels. We found a tendency regarding the impact of roughage management on profitability. The results conclude that profitability was associated with improving the milking traits of buffaloes and roughage management of the farms.