The goal of this study was to compare production systems and potential for further development of beef buffalo and beef cattle farms in northeastern Thailand aiming at an improvement of production and as a consequence of farmers’ livelihoods. The specific objectives 1. to better understand and re-examine characteristics of the livestock farms and reasons for keeping livestock, 2. to assess socio-economic and livelihood benefits of the livestock for the farmers, 3. to investigate the livestock husbandry including farm management, feeding and breeding practices, 4. to explore farmers’ perceptions of favourable traits of buffaloes and cattle and reasons for the decline of the buffalo population, 5. to investigate social and environmental impacts as well as problems and needs of the livestock farming according to the farmers’ point of view. The following hypotheses were tested to achieve the objectives of the 1. Characteristics of livestock farming and reasons for keeping livestock differ between beef buffalo and beef cattle farms and between herd sizes. 2. Differences between beef buffalo and beef cattle farms and between herd sizes have an effect on socio-economics and livelihoods of the farmers. 3. There are differences in farm management, feeding management and breeding practices between beef buffalo and beef cattle farms and between herd sizes. 4. Beef buffalo farms have a lower level of farm inputs and a higher potential for improving the production. 5. Community and environmental conflicts are caused by livestock farming depending on animal species and herd size. This study was conducted in the province of the Nakhon Ratchasima, located in the lower part of northeastern Thailand (as shown in Figure 3.1, in Chapter 3). The multi-state sampling method was used to choose the farms based on the livestock production census in 2006 obtained from the Nakhonratchasima Provincial Livestock Office, Department of Livestock Development. Based on this data, 121 beef buffalo and beef cattle farms, respectively, were selected randomly. Between October 2007 and May 2008, a single-visit, multiple-subject survey was carried out using faceto- face interviews. The recall, observation and measurement method was used to complete a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire. The opinions and views of the farmers were gathered by open-ended questions. Questionnaires included farm characteristics, importance of livestock, socio-economic benefits of the animals, feed resources, feeding management, herd structures and breeding practices, favourable traits of buffalo and cattle, reasons for the decline of the buffalo population as well as constraints and needs for the development of livestock farming. All data were statistically analyzed to describe the livestock farming systems and to compare beef buffalo and beef cattle farms and sizes of herds. Characteristics of beef buffalo and beef cattle farming as well as the roles and the socio-economic benefits of the livestock to the keepers are presented in Chapter 4. Most of the farms were integrated crop-livestock systems with small farm size (7.9 ha), whereof less than half of the area was used for livestock. Farm activities were mainly done by family members while employees were only found on large farms. The most important reason for keeping animals was income generation (80 % of all responses). This could be classified into accumulation of wealth or savings (22 %), covering expected (19 %) and unexpected (19 %) expenses, and regular (11 %) and additional (9 %) sources of cash income. Besides this, improvement of the social status was mentioned (18 %). Only 2 % of the farmers kept the animals for draught power, inherited asset, manure source and conservation aspect. Most of planned and unplanned expenses of households during the last 5 years were covered by selling livestock (58 %) and other agricultural products (19 %). The