The 'Water buffalo' is a large
ungulate and a member of the
bovine subfamily. The domesticated water buffalo is prominent in
Asia, and
South America. They are
feral in northern
Australia. Wild-living populations also exist in much of
Southeast Asia.
Buffaloes, apart from their use as draught (see also
draught horse) and milk animals, are also used to pull bullock carts in developing world. Their dung is used as a
fertilizer and as a
fuel when dried. In Chonburi, Thailand, and in South Malabar Region in Kerala, India, there are annual water buffalo races. A few have also found use as
pack animals carrying loads even for special forces.
American
bison are often called buffalo; however, this is technically incorrect as they are not true buffalo. The bison group includes both the American bison and the European bison or
wisent. They are a related group of wild
bovines, more closely related to
cattle,
gaur,
banteng,
yaks, etc. The buffalo genus includes water buffaloes,
tamarau and
anoas in Asia, but not the
African buffalo (or Cape buffalo) in Africa.
Anatomy and morphology
Water buffalo bull
Adult water buffalo range in size from 300 kg to 600 kg for the domestic bred. In the wild, water buffaloes can weigh up to 800 kg for females, and males, 1200 kg. They can stand as tall as 1.8m at the shoulder, and stretch up to 2.9m in body length. However, the wild buffalo subpspecies found in the
Assam state of Northern India, where they inhabit monsoon forests along the foothills of the Himalaya, are notably larger. Here, the average weight of an adult buffalo is 900 kg, with the male considerably larger than the female. The average height at the shoulder for a male is about 1.7m, and may reach even 2 metres. These buffaloes, which are of the purest breed in India, are now mostly found in the forests of
Kaziranga and
Manas national parks, both of which are Unesco world heritage sites. They have also been known to spread into the northwestern region of the neighboring country, Myanmar. With the establishment of the 20000 square km Hukaung Valley tiger reserve in 2004, the largest ever protected wildlife reserve , now these huge buffaloes may have the hope of long-term survival Davies B.: ''Black market: inside the endangered species trade in Asia'', Earth Aware Editions 2005. They are classified as critically endangered, suffering mainly from genetic pollution caused by interbreeding with the domestic buffaloes. Interbreeding with domesticated buffaloes is the major cause of extinction of wild buffaloes. Buffaloes are believed to have originated in
South Asia. Today, outside India, the true wild water buffaloes can only be found in Thailand in extremely low number of about 50 individuals, and in the
Annamites range (also called Truong Son range) forests running along the border of Vietnam - Laos -Cambodia. Populations found elsewhere in Asia are feral breeds, not true wild water buffalo.
Taxonomic history
The classification of the water buffalo is uncertain. Some authorities list a single
species, ''Bubalus bubalis'' with three
subspecies, the river buffalo (''B. bubalis bubalis'') of South Asia, the
Carabao or Swamp Buffalo (''B. bubalis carabanesis'') of the
Philippines and Southeast Asia, and the Arni, or wild buffalo, (''B. bubalis arnee''). Others regard these as closely-related, but separate, species. The swamp buffalo is primarily found in the eastern half of Asia and has 48 chromosomes. The river buffalo is mostly found in western half of Asia, and has 50 chromosomes. Fertile offspring occur between the two. It does not readily hybridise with
cattle which have 60 chromosomes.
Distribution
Asia
Asia is the native home of the water buffalo, with 95% of the world population of water buffalo, with about half of the total in India. Many Asian countries depend on the water buffalo as its primary bovine species. It is valuable for its meat and milk as well as the labour it performs. As of
1992 the Asian population was estimated at 141 million. The fat content of buffalo milk is the highest amongst farm animals and the butterfat is a major source of
ghee in some Asian countries. Its success in Asia is evident by its extensive range. Both variants occur in Asia. River Buffalo are found in elevations of 2,800 m in Nepal, and Swamp Buffalo are found throughout the lowland tropics. Part of their success is due to their ability to thrive on poor foodstuffs and yet be valuable economically. Moreover they are much better suited to plough the muddy
paddy fields as they are better adapted than common cattle (''
Bos taurus'') to move in swamps.
Buffalo headcount in 2004
In the wild, very few pockets of buffalo exist. The Indian wild buffalo is found in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Thailand. This buffalo has the largest horns of any living animal. The average spread is about 1 m (3 ft 3 in), but one bull shot in
1955 had horns measuring 4.24 m (13 ft 11 in) from tip to tip along the outside curve across the forehead. Buffalo use their horns effectively to defend themselves against predators.
Tigers are their only predators, which can kill a full-grown male weighing 1000-1200kg, but only an experienced tiger will take them on. When faced by a tiger, they form a line facing the predator and charge with noses out and horns laid back. Like its other family members, the
tamaraw and the
anoa, . It is generally found in swamplands and grass jungles and moves in herds.
Today, the estimated population of wild water buffaloes are about 4000, but, this number takes into account all wild population, including feral herds and hybrid buffaloes. In fact, it is possible that no true wild specimens exist anymore.
A smaller breed of Water buffalo, the
Carabao, is the national animal of the Philippines.
Australia
Introduced into the
Northern Territory early in the 19th century as a
beast of burden, it quickly escaped and is now
feral. As a result of its feral status it may be hunted.
Melville Island is a popular hunting location, where a steady population of up to 4,000 individuals exist. Buffaloes are also found in
Arnhem Land and the Top End. Safari outfits run out of
Darwin to Melville Island and other locations in the
Top End often with the use of
bush pilots. The government has unsuccessfully attempted several eradication programs. Their only natural predator in Australia is the
saltwater crocodile.
The buffaloes live mainly in freshwater marshes and
billabongs, and their range can be quite expansive during the
Wet season. They have developed a different appearance from the Indonesian buffaloes from which they descend.
Europe and Middle East
Introduced into North Africa and the Near East by
600 AD, the water buffalo was brought to Europe with returning
Crusaders in the
Middle Ages, and herds can be found in
Bulgaria,
Romania and
Italy. As in Asia, buffaloes of the
Middle East and
Europe live on coarse vegetation on the marginal land traditionally available to
peasants. They are an economic asset by serving as a protein source, draft animal, and storage of family or household wealth. In some areas, they also provide occasional recreation at annual racing festivals. These buffalo are mostly River Buffaloes; due to genetic isolation have adopted a distinct appearance. Buffalo milk is used for the production of
cheese: in
Campania (Italy) it is used for the production of
mozzarella.
Egypt
Egyptian farmers traditionally have water buffaloes. Egypt has a large number of them. They are used as the main source of red meat in Egypt. Cows have been introduced in modern farms, yet water buffaloes remain as the more widespread type of cattle in Egypt.
North America
There are very limited commercial herds in North America, for yogurt and cheese products.
[1]
Importance to humans
There are many
breeds of domestic water buffalo.
Milk from these animals is used by many human populations, and is the traditional raw material for
mozzarella cheese and
curd due to its higher fat content. In Africa and other locations, water buffalo milk is used for yogurt, as in
Vermont, USA. The chief dairy breed of Buffalo is the
Murrah breed. Buffalo meat, sometimes called "Carabeef", is often passed off as beef in certain regions and is also a major source of export revenue for India which has the largest population of buffaloes in the world. However, in many Asian regions, buffalo meat is less preferred due to its toughness, however, recipes have evolved (
Rendang for example) where the slow cooking process and spices not only make the meat palatable, but also preserves it; an important factor in hot climates where refrigeration is not always available. Water buffalo horns are used for the embouchure of musical instruments such as
ney and
kaval. Water buffalo hide provides a tough and useful
leather often used for shoes and
motorcycle helmets.
Nutrition
'Milk Composition Analysis', per 100 grams
| Constituents | unit | Cow | Goat | Sheep | Buffalo |
|---|
| Water | grm | 87.8 | 88.9 | 83.0 | 81.1 |
| Protein | grm | 3.2 | 3.1 | 5.4 | 4.5 |
| Fat | grm | 3.9 | 3.5 | 6.0 | 8.0 |
| Carbohydrate | grm | 4.8 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 4.9 |
| Energy | K cal | 66 | 60 | 95 | 110 |
| K J | 275 | 253 | 396 | 463 |
| Sugars (Lactose) | grm | 4.8 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 4.9 |
| Fatty Acids: |
| Saturated | grm | 2.4 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| Mono-unsaturated | grm | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| Polyunsaturated | grm | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Cholesterol | mg | 14 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
| Calcium | iu | 120jgj | 100 | 170 | 195 |
Source: McCane, Widdowson, Scherz, Kloos.
[1]
In culture
★ Legend has it that the
Chinese philosophical sage
Lao Tzu left China through the
Han Gu Pass riding a water buffalo.
★ According to
Hindu lore, the god of death
Yama, rides on a water buffalo.
★ The
carabao variant is considered as a
national symbol in the
Philippines.
★ In
Vietnam, water buffalo are often the most valuable possession of poor farmers: "''Con trâu là đầu cơ nghiệp''". They are treated as a member of the family: "''Chồng cày, vợ cấy, con trâu đi bừa''" ("The husband ploughs, the wife sows, water buffalo draw the rake") and are friends of the children. Children talk to their water buffalo, "''Bao giờ cây lúa còn bông. Thì còn ngọn cỏ ngoài đồng trâu ăn.''" (Vietnamese children are responsible for grazing water buffalo. They will feed them a lot of grasses if they work labouriously for men.)
In the old days, West Lake, Hà Nội had the name of Kim Ngưu- Golden Water Buffalo. According to the tale, the monk Không Lộ casted a colossal bell made of black bronze gathered from China by witchcraft. Many golden water buffalo ran from China to Vietnam because they thought its ring was the call of their mothers. That made the soil bang shut and formed a lake. The water buffalo ran deep into the lake and became the guardian god of the lake, thereafter called Golden Water Buffalo Lake.
★ A golden water buffalo is the mascot of the 22nd
Southeast Asian Games held in Vietnam as it represents the strength and
martial spirit of the Vietnamese people.
See also
★
Water buffalo rumen ecology
References
★ Clutton-Brock, J. 1999. ''A Natural History of Domesticated Mammals''. Cambridge UK : Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521634954.
★
Guinness Book of Records,
2005
★ Huffman, B. 2006.
''The ultimate ungulate page''. ''UltimateUngulate.com''.
★ International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). 2006.
''Syncerus caffer'',
''Bubalus bubalis'',
''Bubalus quarlesi'',
''Bubalus depressicornis'' ''Bubalus mindorensis''.
★ Ligda, D.J. 1996. ''The Water Buffalo''. Website.
[2]
★ Massicot, P. 2004. Animal Info. Website
Wild Asian (Water) Buffalo
★ Nowak, R.M. and Paradiso, J.L. 1983. ''Walker's Mammals of the World''. Baltimore, Maryland, USA: The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801825253
★ Olson, T.J. 2006. ''Turkey Creek Water Buffalo'' Website
[3] The best buffalo pictures!
★ Voelker, W. 1986. ''The Natural History of Living Mammals''. Medford, New Jersey, USA: Plexus Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0937548081.
External links
★
Wild Water Buffalo from
http://www.animalinfo.org
★
Wild Water Buffalo from
http://www.wildcattleconservation.org
★
Pet Facts: Buffaloes
★
Water Buffalo by
David J. Ligda
★
Asiatic Water Buffalo from
Lion County Safari
★
Advantages of Water Buffalo Milk Over Cow's Milk
★
Water Buffalo Discussion Group
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