Swamp buffaloes are slate gray, droopy necked and ox-like with massive backswept horns that make them favorite subjects for postcards and wooden statuettes in the Far East.
The global water buffalo population approximates 200 million. They are found from Philippines to as far west as India. Half of the population is in India where they contribute about 60% of the total milk produced.
The water buffalo is closely associated with water or mud and with smallholder farmers in the rice field. They wallow in any water or mud puddle they can find or make.
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| water buffalo |
It is usually associated with rice production in Asia, but is also used in Egypt, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria and Italy. Approximately 200,000 exist in Brazil, where they are raised as a source of meat rather than power.
In Sulawesi water buffalo was used to prepare the irrigated rice fields for planting. Land preparation was done through special technique where around twenty water buffalo were let into a rice field in a compact herd by herdsman’s, the animal, then driven in circles while trampling the soil with their heavy hooves.
The water buffalo in China is used primarily as a draft animal and as meat when its productive life is completed. Water buffalo also have some considerable milk-production potential.
Water buffalo are important in Europe, particularly Italy where the milk is used for mozzarella cheese.
Water buffalo in agriculture
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| Mozzarella cheese |
