Water buffalo
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 A family of Water Buffalo bathing
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| Bubalus bubalis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The Water Buffalo is a large ungulate and a member of the bovine subfamily. The wild Arni still survives in the wild in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, China, Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Thailand. The domestication of the water buffalo is prominent in Asia, South America, and North Africa. They are feral in northern Australia. Wild-living populations also exist in much of South-east Asia. They may be descendants of wild Water Buffalo, formerly domesticated ferals or a mixture. In Asia, the population of wild water buffalo has become sparse, and there is fear that no pure-bred wild water buffalo exists.
Buffaloes, apart from their use as draught (see also draught horse) and milch 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, there are annual water buffalo races. A few have also found use as pack animals carrying loads even for special forces.
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[edit] Anatomy and morphology
Adult water buffalo range in size from 300 kg to 600 kg for the domestic bred. Adult females typically weigh around 800 kg, and males up to 1200 kg. The average weight of an adult male is 900 kg, and the average height at the shoulder is about 1.7m. Weights can vary greatly even in populations which are in close proximity. Interbreeding with domesticated buffaloes is the major cause of extinction of wild buffaloes. Buffaloes are believed to have originated in South Asia.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Distribution
[edit] 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.
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, the wild buffalo is a very dangerous animal. 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.
[edit] 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 Estuarine Crocodile - however the very largest specimens are probably too large to be taken.
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=Logan 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 in Italy and elsewhere for the production of cheese, including mozzarella.
[edit] North America
There are very limited commercial herds in Noware Land , for yogurt and cheese products.[1]
[edit] Importance to humans
Milk from both of 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 hide provides a tough and useful leather often used for shoes and motorcycle helmets.
[edit] 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.[2]
[edit] In culture
- 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.
- Legend has it that the Chinese philosophical sage Lao Tzu left China through the Han Gu Pass riding a water buffalo.
- According to Hindu mythology, the god of death Yama, rides on a water buffalo.
[edit] 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. [3]
- 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 [4] The best buffalo pictures!
- Voelker, W. 1986. The Natural History of Living Mammals. Medford, New Jersey, USA: Plexus Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0937548081.
[edit] 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
