Garcia told the press during the Sixth Symposium on Buffalos of the
Americas, under way as of Wednesday at Havana’s Hotel Nacional, that this
animal shows high adaptability to the Cuban climate and its rearing
contributes to achieving national balance.

He noted that dairy farms in Cuba have obtained up to six litters of milk
per animal, which represents a positive figure taking into account the
existing conditions for feeding and rearing this species.

Garcia Piloto announced in the coming years the number of buffalos should
increase as a result of a national program aiming at meeting the
increasing needs of the country and substituting imports.

The president of the organizing committee of the event, Alina Mitad,
pointed out during a lecture that nowadays there are more than 67,200
buffalos in Cuba, with a growth rate of 13 per cent during the 2001-2009
period.

According to some data form the Ministry of Agriculture, last year the
country produced 3,275 tons of meat and 77,800 litters of buffalo milk.

Buffalos have high birth and life expectancy rates; they are very
resistant to diseases; and make a better use of natural foods.

The program of the Sixth Symposium on Buffalos includes workshops,
lectures, round tables, and tours around agricultural facilities in the
provinces of Mayabeque, Artemisa, Villa Clara, and Sancti Spiritus for the
more than 200 participants coming from 20 nations around the world.