The Current Status and Potential Development of Genetic Resources of Indigenous Toraya Spotted Buffalo in Indonesia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Buffaloes are integral to the Asiatic market as they are crucial for agricultural work and transportation and provide a significant source of dairy and meat, contributing to various industries, local economies, and cultural practices across the region. Indonesia is a mega biodiversity country abundant in livestock genetic resources, including indigenous, local, and introduced breeds that play a crucial role in agriculture and the livestock industry. These genetic resources offer the potential for selective breeding and improving the quality of livestock populations through well-designed breeding programs, ensuring sustainable livestock production for the future. The current study was performed using the “Publish or Perish” software, and the data obtained was analyzed using the CADIMA web tool. The Toraya buffalo population is the largest in the Tana Toraja and North Toraja regencies and is widely distributed within South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The population of Toraya buffalo in this region reached 43674 heads. Toraya buffaloes exhibit diverse body color characteristics, such as black, gray, white, and mixed. Moreover, Toraya buffaloes possess distinct quantitative traits that set them apart from other swamp buffalo breeds. Although there are limited studies on Toraya buffaloes, the potential for broader and more comprehensive studies offers opportunities to uncover new information on the characteristics, genetics, reproduction, health, and management of Toraya buffaloes. The development of Toraya buffalo farms also holds significant economic promise, as it can lead to increased agricultural productivity and improved livelihoods for local communities by enhancing the quality by implementing well-planned breeding programs and leveraging reproductive technology, and genetics-based selection, growth, and productivity can be produced. To increase the population and productivity of Toraya buffaloes, a well-structured breeding program integrating reproductive technology and selection based on quantitative and molecular genetics is essential. The development potential of Toraya buffalo is vast, not only due to its high cultural value but also its superior quantitative traits compared to common swamp buffalo, positioning it as a potential national meat provider. The present review article aimed to discuss the characteristics and development potential of Toraya buffaloes, along with the implementation of reproductive biotechnology and molecular genetics to enhance the population, productivity, and quality of Toraya buffaloes in Indonesia.