Assessing the Population Structure and Inbreeding Rates of Buffaloes in Batanghari District, Indonesia

Buffaloes are important in animal husbandry, agriculture, and sociocultural and religious activities in Indonesia. The buffalo population has decreased at the national and regional levels, including in the Batanghari District, Jambi Province, Indonesia. This study analyzed the population structure, effective population size, and inbreeding rate of buffalo populations in the Batanghari District, Jambi, Indonesia, based on secondary data. The data population of 3,149 buffaloes used in this study was sourced from the Integrated National Animal Health System (ISIKHNAS) in the Batanghari District in 2023. The results showed a calf crop of 21.71%, a calving rate of 16.61%, a natural increase of 14.74%, and a net replacement rate of 279.51%. The effective population size was 592 heads, and the inbreeding rate was 0.08%. It can be concluded that the natural increase rate of the buffalo population in the Batanghari District was low, but the number of young replacement animals was sufficient. The effective population size was 592 heads, and the level of inbreeding per generation remained within acceptable limits. Although the buffalo population in the Batanghari District exhibited a negative trend, it still had potential as a source of breeding stock, as indicated by the replacement rate.