Our Water Buffalo

In 2006, Julie read an article in a homesteading magazine about water buffalo. After hours spent surfing the internet for more information, she decided she just had to have some of these creatures one day. Some of the details she found intriguing were....
"Although Water Buffalo milk has similarities to sheep milk, it is a unique dairy product prized by cooks and nutritional specialists from around the world! While it tastes similar to cow milk, it has 58% more calcium, 40% more protein and more fat content than cow milk. It also contains high levels of the natural antioxidant tocopherol and is rich in Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), an Omega-6 fatty acid that has been found to have many health benefits.

Water Buffalo milk is naturally A2/A2 which refers to the protein found in milk. Milk with this A2/A2 protein profile is often easier to digest. Water Buffalo milk is a great alternative for bellies that cannot handle cow milk."
"As a nutritional source Water Buffalo has significant advantages over beef. Not only is Water Buffalo meat lower in total fat and cholesterol, the proportion of fat of the saturated (unhealthy) type is lower. Omega 3 fatty acids, which have been shown to be beneficial in lowering heart disease, are present in greater concentrations. Water Buffalo meat is also richer in proteins compared to beef. In fact the fat content of Water Buffalo Meat shines even when compared to roasted chicken breast! The result of the favorable protein to fat content is a meat that is lower in calories and higher in vitamin and mineral content. A Healthier Red Meat!"

"Water buffalo milk only contains A2 beta-casein protein, which means it might be healthier than cow’s milk. It certainly has a high nutritional value, providing more protein, vitamins, and minerals than cow’s milk.

Plus, it contains beneficial compounds that may provide antioxidant protection and improved bone and heart health. (We don't say it, science says it. Healthline, PubMed, USDA)."
Outside of these delightful details, folks who owned and worked with them found them to be incredibly mellow, friendly and inquisitive and that they also make great draught animals when trained appropriately.

Fast forward the story about 10 years, Julie started following a ranch in Colorado that raised water buffalo in a similar style to what Julie had been looking for. Besides raising their buffs in a cold climate, Double T bar ranch regularly took their small children out to milk with them and climb around on the buffs, while practicing non coercive milking out in the field. In '22 their ranch moved to Missouri, but Julie wasn't ready yet for her Buffs! In early spring '24 the ranch made a post announcing their unfortunate plans to liquidate their herd, (good news, they ended up not having to liquidate after all!) followed by an ad for 2 cow/calf pairs, with the cows bred back for future calves. After getting Aloar to agree, and working out all sorts of arrangements, Julie finally got to welcome mama and baby Water Buffalo 'Susa' and 'Josie' to the farm. In October Susa calved a little heifer, 'Maizie'. Since then we've begun our a-i journey, learning more about tracking heats and getting Susa settled with an a-i breeding. We're excited that it hopefully took (after a little experimentation) and we will be expecting another calf late fall of '25. We have found them to be so much fun, and everything they were purported to be! Follow here and on our Facebook page to keep up on updates about our little herd of Buffs!