SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION, GROWTH, AND COMPOSITION OF THE BUFFALO HERD IN THE LOWER AMAZON REGION, PARÁ, BRAZIL

Abstract

Buffalo farming in the Lower Amazon is mainly carried out in small-scale family systems, with herds of fewer than 100 animals, limited by restricted access to credit, technical assistance, and technologies, which constrains both growth and integration into formal markets. This study aimed to characterize the spatial distribution, growth, and composition of buffalo herds in the Lower Amazon Integration Region, in order to understand the factors conditioning this activity. For this purpose, official data from the 2021 foot-and-mouth disease vaccination campaign were used, complemented by historical series of municipal livestock production. The region, composed of 13 municipalities, recorded approximately 108,000 buffaloes distributed across 1,833 farms. The results revealed a strong concentration in small herds: 64% of the establishments maintain up to 50 animals, while only 1.5% hold more than 300, clearly demonstrating a fragmented productive structure. Furthermore, the marked predominance of females in almost all municipalities highlights the central role of breeding stock maintenance and milk production as structuring strategies of the activity. Despite this socioeconomic relevance, the systems analyzed remain limited by structural barriers that undermine expansion capacity and regional competitiveness. It is concluded that buffalo farming in the Lower Amazon, although consolidated as an essential activity for food security and local income generation, will only reach its full potential if supported by effective public policies that expand access to credit, technical assistance, and productive technologies. Strengthening these foundations could transform buffalo farming from a subsistence-oriented activity into a strategic driver of sustainable regional development.