5 Things You Didn't Know About Water Buffalo

Meet the older cousins of the bovine clan: water buffalo! They’re big, they’re mysterious, and they haven’t been to the family reunion in a couple of years. Here are a few fun facts to help you get reacquainted:

1. Water Buffalo Are Aptly Named

In the wild, water buffalo spend much of their day cooling off in the muddy waters of Asia’s tropical forest. Water buffalo habitat also includes marshes and wet grasslands. Because of their proclivity for this marshy terrain, water buffalo have wide, splayed hooves that enable them to move freely in the mud without sinking too deeply. Water buffalo are capable swimmers, too! If food is scarce, buffalo will even dive for plants growing on the beds of lakes and rivers. Their diet includes grasses, leaves and aquatic plants.

2. Water Buffalo = The World’s Second Largest Bovine

At their largest, bull water buffalo can clock in at 2,650 pounds with a height of 6 ft (not including their horns). Water buffalo cows are typically more petite ranging from 1,500 pounds and up. Their formidable stature has earned water
buffalo of both genders the nickname of “The Living Tractors of the East.”

3. Water Buffalo can be Fast AND Furious 

Though domesticated buffalo are gentle enough to be milked (and even ridden), wild buffalo are notoriously aggressive and aren’t afraid to face off with their only natural predators: tigers and lions. And they are fast! When threatened, water buffalo can reach speeds of 30 mph.

4. You Have Probably Consumed Water Buffalo Milk

Compared to standard cow’s milk, water buffalo milk generally contains more protein and fat and is a rich source of calcium. Though not yet a popular drink in America, it is commonly used to make delicious, Italian-style mozzarella cheeses. Buffalo mozzarella, also called mozzarella di bufala, is made with water buffalo milk, although many other varieties of mozzarella use cow’s milk.

5. Water Buffalo have been Domesticated for over 5,000 Years

Around the world, water buffalo are still giving humans a helping hoof. Besides cows, water buffalo contribute a significant percentage of the global milk production. In some areas of the world (like South Asia), buffalo are even the principal source of milk!

Did you learn something new or interesting about these magnificent bovines? Consider donating a water buffalo to a family in need! With the help of one of these magnificent “Living Tractors of the East” a smallholder farmer can plant more than 4 times the crops than he or she could by hand. These additional crops (and the milk a buffalo can give) provide nutrition and income to a family struggling with poverty.

Heifer’s Work with Water Buffalo

Helping Farming Families Thrive

For farming families, water buffalo offer much more than impressive size and strength. They help till fields, provide manure for fertilizer and produce nutritious water buffalo milk. Heifer International supports farmers with livestock and training to help them turn these benefits into food and income for their families.

Growing a Water Buffalo Business in Nepal

In Nepal, dairy farmer Rilli Maya Rai learned about animal care and livestock nutrition through a Heifer-supported women’s cooperative. With improved feeding practices, access to a loan and a nearby milk collection center, she grew her buffalo herd and increased milk production. Read how Rilli grew her water buffalo herd to see how healthy animals and farmer training can help build stronger livelihoods.

Giving the Gift of a Water Buffalo