This is a list of domestic water buffalo breeds and their uses.
The domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is descended from the wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), now designated an endangered species. Water buffaloes have been bred, predominantly in Asia, for thousands of years for use by humans. Their main domestic uses are as draught animals and for the production of milk and meat. Two types are recognized, the river-type and the swamp-type. Note: except where otherwise indicated, the reference for all entries is DAD-IS . [1]
Name | Picture | Alternate name | Origin | Use | Notes, references | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Al-Ahwar | see § Iranian and Iraqi [2] | § Iraqi marsh buffalo [3] | ||||
Al Jamoose or Jimes | see § Iraqi [3] | |||||
Anatolian buffalo | Turkish : Anadolu Mandası, regional: Camız, Camış, Kömüş, Dombay | Turkey: the Marmara and Black Sea regions, and South Turkey | dairy, draught | of § Mediterranean-type [2] [4] | ||
Assam | NE India | swamp-type [5] [6] | ||||
Australian buffalo | Australian swamp buffalo (swamp-type), riverine buffalo (river-type), Australiano (in Venezuela) | Australia's Northern Territory | feral swamp-type buffaloes imported from the eastern Indonesian islands in the 1820s; river-type buffaloes were imported in the 1990s [5] | |||
Azari | Azeri, Azerbaijan, Iranian, Caucasian | Azerbaijan, NW Iran | § Caucasian buffalo; [5] Iranian Azari (=an ecotype of the § Iranian) comprises 70% of the Iranian buffalo population [3] | |||
Azi Kheli | NW Pakistan: the Swat valley | dairy | light brown or albinoid milking buffalo [6] | |||
Badavan | see § Bhadawari [5] | |||||
Baio | Vermelho | N Brazil: Marajó | dual-purpose (meat and dairy) | swamp-type; color labels separate the swamp-type from typically black (preto) South American river-type breeds; considered a naturalized type or genetic group rather than a breed, categorization similar to § Brazilian Carabao [7] [8] | ||
Baladi (= local or native) | Egypt | dairy | the Nile Delta's milking variety of the § Egyptian buffalo; [7] has longer curved horns, is black or gray in color; varieties of the Baladi type are the § Beheri and the § Minufi buffalo [9] | |||
Balkan | see § European [7] | |||||
Bama kwye | see § Burmese [7] | |||||
Bangladeshi | Bangladesh | dairy, draught | native buffaloes of Bangladesh's floodplains; includes both a black indigenous river-type (western and central areas) and a small gray indigenous swamp-type (eastern areas); see also § Mahish [7] | |||
Bangladeshi, albinoid of the central part of the country | Bangladesh | dairy | a type of the § Bangladeshi, farmed semi-intensively for milk [7] | |||
Bangladeshi, albinoid of the western part of the country | Bangladesh | draught | the smallest (average height 126/121 cm) of the § Bangladeshi buffaloes [7] | |||
Bangladeshi, native buffaloes in the central part | Bangladesh | black indigenous river-type of the § Bangladeshi [7] | ||||
Bangladeshi, native buffaloes in the eastern part | Bangladesh | smaller gray indigenous § Bangladeshi swamp-type with white stockings and sometimes white spots on each side of the face; crescent-shaped horns [7] | ||||
Bangladeshi, native buffaloes in the southern part | Bangladesh | dairy | larger than native water buffaloes of that area [7] | |||
Bangladeshi, native buffaloes in the western part | Bangladesh | black indigenous river-type of the § Bangladeshi [7] | ||||
Banni | W India: the Kachchh (Kutch) region of Gujarat | dairy | developed by the semi-pastoralist Maldhari community [7] | |||
Beheri | Egypt: Beheira Province | dairy | a variety of the § Egyptian buffalo [7] of the § Baladi type; slate-gray or black in color [9] | |||
Belang | see § Tadong [7] | |||||
Bhadawari | Badavan, Etawah | India: Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh | dairy, draught | selectively improved river-type [7] | ||
Bhainsi | see § Nepalese [7] | |||||
Bhavanegri | see § Jafarabadi [7] | |||||
Binhu | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo [10] | ||||
Borneo buffalo | see § Kalang | |||||
Brazilian | Kalabaw, Kalaban Portuguese : bufalo de pantano (= swamp-type breeds) Portuguese : preto (= typically black river-type breeds) | Brazil |
| |||
Brazilian Carabao | Kalaban | Brazil | meat and draught swamp-type | has its own herdbook in Brazil, described as a naturalized genetic group rather than a breed; there is a variety called the § Rosilho [7] | ||
Búfalo de Pantano | Cuba | see § Australian buffalo | ||||
Búfalo de Rio | Cuba | see § Buffalypso | ||||
Buffalypso | Trinidadian buffalo (sometimes called Trinidadian bison or hog cattle) | Trinidad and Tobago | specialized for meat and haulage | derives from crosses between the swamp-type § Carabao and river-type breeds (such as the § Murrah, the § Nili-Ravi, the § Jafarabadi, the § Surti, § Nagpuri, and the § Bhadawari); has a refined head, prominent eyes, small flat compact horns growing back, up and in, short in the leg, low compact body, meaty hindquarters, straight topline; typically Buffalypso are red or fawn, colors include black, brown, albinoid; | ||
Bulgarian buffalo | Bulgaria | meat, dairy, work | a regional variety of the typical European, i.e. the § Mediterranean; traditionally of strong, muscular working type, became triple-purpose animals; the indigenous Bulgarian bison is now extinct [8] | |||
Bulgarian Murrah | Bulgarian : Българска мyрра, Bulgarska murra | Bulgaria | dairy | derives from crosses of Mediterranean buffaloes with Indian Murrah (and Surti) buffaloes imported from 1962; is black, black/brown or dark gray, has large black eyes, coiled horns, a wide rump, long tail, voluminous belly, deep broad chest, a short wide back often slightly dipped, well-developed udder suited to machine milking; is now rare in its homeland; exported to Romania and South America [8] | ||
Burmese | Burma (Myanmar); locally: Bama Kwye and Pa Sauk Kwye (kwye or kywe = buffalo) | Myanmar | swamp-type; varies locally in size, color and horn shape; [11]
| |||
Burmese wild buffalo | Burmese : pyaung, pyun also referred to as:
| Myanmar | the wild buffaloes of Burma are a gaur subspecies (either Bos gaurus readai or B. g. laosiensis) that were reputedly domesticated animals (gayal or mithun) that became feral in swampy bush areas; hunted and recaptured and kept by some farmers in hilly northern jungles for producing meat and good leather [11] | |||
Cambodian buffalo | Cambodia | two varieties:
| ||||
Carabao | the Philippines | meat, dairy, draught | swamp-type | |||
Caucasian | Georgia, the Russian Federation | meat, dairy | ||||
Chilika | India | river-type; saline-tolerant, well-adapted to Orissa's vast brackish lagoon at the mouth of the Daya River [6] | ||||
Chinese buffalo | China | many varieties: the §§ Haizi and Mountainous buffaloes, the § Shanghai (incl. the Jiangsu Round-Barrel), and the §§ Dongliu , Wenzhou , Fu'an , Xiajiang , Xinfeng Mountainous , Xinlong , Fuzhong , Binhu , Enshi Mountainous , Jianghan , Xingyang , Shannan , Fuling , Yanjin , Dehong , Southeastern Yunnan , Guizhou , and Guizhou White buffaloes, [12] introduced to Hong Kong | ||||
De | Vietnam | |||||
Dechang | China | |||||
Dehong | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo | ||||
Domaci bivo | Serbia | |||||
Dongliu | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo | ||||
Egyptian | Masri | Egypt | dairy, draught | river-type; can be loosely divided, both geographically and by type, into two types: | ||
Enshi Mountainous | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo [15] | ||||
Fu'an | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo | ||||
Fuling | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo | ||||
Fuzhong | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo | ||||
Gaddi | Nepal | |||||
Georgian buffalo | Georgia, the Russian Federation | |||||
Ghab | Syria | |||||
Gilani | Mazandarani, Shomali | Iran | a minor northern ecotype of the § Iranian, see § Caucasian [3] | |||
Godavari | India | |||||
Greek buffalo | Greece | |||||
Guizhou | China | |||||
Guizhou White | China | |||||
Haizi | China | |||||
Iranian and Iraqi | Iran and Iraq | dairy | mainly river-types [3] | |||
Iranian | see § Iranian and Iraqi | the Iranian buffaloes by ecotype:
| ||||
Indonesian wild buffalo | Indonesian water buffalo, Indonesian swamp buffalo, Indonesian buffalo | Indonesia | a feral water buffalo breed, introduced to Komodo and Flores | |||
Iranian Azari ecotype | see § Azari | an ecotype of the § Iranian [3] | ||||
Iraqi | Al Jamoose, Jimes = water buffalo other: Dwab (Dauab), Granish | Iraq | meat, dairy, ridden work animal | Iraqi buffaloes are divided by habitat into "marsh" and "city", or into the § Al Ahwar marsh buffalo and the larger and milkier river-type of urban areas with considerable diversity in color [3] | ||
Italian | Italian : Bufala Mediterranea Italiana, Italian Mediterranean, Mediterranean Italian, Italiano (in Venezuela) | Italy | dairy | of § Mediterranean-type (riverine); Italian Mediterranean buffaloes have been exported to Brazil and other parts of Latin America [3] | ||
Jafarabadi | India | dairy | ||||
Jaffrabadi | Gujarat | dairy | [16] | |||
Jerangi | India | |||||
Jianghan | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo | ||||
Kalaban | Brazil | |||||
Kalahandi | India | |||||
Kalang | Borneo buffalo (in English), Kerbau Rawa (in Indonesian) | Indonesia: (Kalimantan) | ||||
Kebo | Indonesia | |||||
Kerbau-Gunung | Indonesia | |||||
Kerbau-Indonesia | Indonesia | |||||
Kerbau Moa | Indonesia | |||||
Kerbau-Murrah | Indonesia | |||||
Kerbau-Sumatra-Barat | Indonesia | |||||
Kerbau-Sumatra-Utara | Indonesia | |||||
Kerbau-Sumbawa | Indonesia | |||||
Khoozestani | Khuzestani | Iran | an § Iranian ecotype of the southern marshes [3] | |||
Kundi | Kundhi, Sindhi Murrah | E Pakistan: N Sindh | dairy | river-type; some consider it a regional variety of the § Murrah [17] [18] | ||
Lanka | Sri Lanka | |||||
Lime | Nepal | |||||
Mahish | Bangladesh | a variety of the § Bangladeshi, crossed with the indigenous swamp-type, river-type dominant [7] | ||||
Malaysian | kerbau | Malaysia | three varieties:
| |||
Manda | India | |||||
Mannar | Sri Lanka | |||||
Marathwada | India | |||||
Masri | see § Egyptian | |||||
Mediterranean | the Mediterranean region | |||||
Mehsana | India | dairy | ||||
Mestizo | the Philippines | |||||
Minufi | Minufi, Menoufi or Monoufi | Egypt: the southern and central parts of the Nile Delta | dairy | a variety of the § Egyptian buffalo [7] of § Baladi type; dark gray in color [9] | ||
Monouli | Egypt | |||||
Mountain buffalo | moi | Cambodia | a variety of the krabei beng § Cambodian buffalo [20] | |||
Mountainous | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo [21] | ||||
Munding | Indonesia | |||||
Murrah | India, Pakistan | dairy | also found in Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Guatemala, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam | |||
Myanmar swamp buffalo | see § Burmese [11] [22] | |||||
Nagpuri | Berar, Durna-Thalia, Ellichpuri, Gaulani, Gauli, Marathwada, Varadi | W India: Maharashtra | dairy, draught | two varieties:
| ||
Nelore | Argentina | |||||
Nepalese hill buffalo | Nepal | |||||
Nepalese mountain buffalo | Nepal | |||||
Ngo | Vietnam | |||||
Nili | E Pakistan, N India | see § NiliRavi | ||||
Nili-Ravi | Panch Kalyani | E Pakistan, N India | dairy | a combination of two fairly similar Pakistani water buffalo breeds, the Nili and the Ravi; formerly described as geographically isolated varieties of the § Murrah exported to Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Venezuela [23] [24] | ||
Pa Sauk | see § Burmese [23] | |||||
Pahadi | see § Nepalese [23] | |||||
Palitana | see § Jafarabadi [23] | |||||
Pampangan | see § Indonesian [23] | |||||
Panch Kalyani | see § Nili-Ravi [23] | |||||
Pandharpuri | Dharwari (in Mysore) | India | dairy | see § Nagpuri [23] | ||
Papua New Guinea buffalo | Papua New Guinea | |||||
Parkote | see § Nepalese [23] | |||||
Parlakimedi | see § Manda [23] | |||||
Peddakimedi | see § Kalahandi [23] | |||||
Philippine | see § Carabao [23] | |||||
Plain buffalo | Cambodia | |||||
Purnathadi | see § Nagpuri [23] | |||||
Purvi | see § Nepalese [23] | |||||
Ravi | Sandal Bar | E Pakistan, N India | see § Nili-Ravi [23] | |||
Rawa | see § Kalang [23] | |||||
Romanian buffalo | Romania | meat, dairy, draught | ||||
Rosilho | Brazil | a variety of the § Brazilian Carabao [8] | ||||
Siamese buffalo | Thai water buffalo, Thai swamp buffalo (in English), Kwai Thai, Karbue (in Thailand), | Thailand | meat, dairy, draught | swamp-type | ||
Saidi | Egypt | |||||
Sambalpur | India | |||||
Sapi Tenusu | kerbau Sapi Tenusu | Malaysia | dairy | a variety of the § Malaysian; river-type [17] | ||
Sawah | kerbau Sawah; | Malaysia | a variety of the § Malaysian; swamp-type [17] | |||
Shanghai | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo | ||||
Shan Kywe | swamp-type of the elevated Shan Plateau in eastern-central Burma | Myanmar | larger, heavier and darker in color than other § Burmese buffaloes; classified as a distinct "breed" [11] | |||
Shannan | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo | ||||
Southeast Yunnan | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo | ||||
South Kanara | India | |||||
Surti | India, Sri Lanka | dairy, draught | ||||
Taiwan buffalo | Taiwan | |||||
Tamankaduwa | Sri Lanka | |||||
Tamarao | the Philippines | |||||
Tarai buffalo | India, Nepal | |||||
Tedong | Indonesia | |||||
Tipo Baio | Brazil | |||||
Toda | India | |||||
Toraya | Indonesia | meat, dairy, draught | ||||
Trâu Nội | Vietnam | |||||
Trinitario | Venezuela | see § Buffalypso | ||||
Wenzhou | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo [25] | ||||
Xiajiang | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo [25] | ||||
Xilin | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region [25] | ||||
Xinfeng Mountainous | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo [25] | ||||
Xinglong | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo [26] | ||||
Xingyang | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo [26] | ||||
Yanjin | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo [26] | ||||
Yibin | China | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo [26] | ||||
The water buffalo, also called domestic water buffalo, Asian water buffalo and Asiatic water buffalo, is a large bovid originating in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Today, it is also kept in Italy, the Balkans, Australia, North America, South America and some African countries. Two extant types of water buffalo are recognized, based on morphological and behavioural criteria: the river buffalo of the Indian subcontinent and further west to the Balkans, Egypt and Italy; and the swamp buffalo from Assam in the west through Southeast Asia to the Yangtze Valley of China in the east.
Bovines comprise a diverse group of 10 genera of medium to large-sized ungulates, including cattle, bison, African buffalo, water buffalos, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes. The members of this group are classified into loose tribes rather than formal subgroups, as the evolutionary relationships within the groups are still uncertain. General characteristics include cloven hooves and usually at least one of the sexes of a species having true horns. The largest extant bovine is the gaur.
Bubalus is a genus of Asiatic bovines that was proposed by Charles Hamilton Smith in 1827. Bubalus and Syncerus form the subtribe Bubalina, the true buffaloes.
Carabaos are a genetically distinct population of swamp-type water buffaloes from the Philippines. They were also further introduced to Sulawesi and Borneo of eastern Indonesia and Malaysia.
Emperor Murakami was the 62nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
The Murrah buffalo is a breed of water buffalo mainly kept for milk production. It originates in Haryana and Punjab of India, where it is kept in the districts of Bhiwani, Agra, Hisar, Rohtak, Jind, Jhajhar, Fatehabad, Gurgaon and the capital region of Delhi. It has been used to improve the milk production of dairy buffalo in other countries, such as Italy, Bulgaria and Egypt. A Murrah buffalo at the Lakshmi Dairy Farm in Punjab set a record of 26.335 kg (58.06 lb) of milk in the 2016 National Livestock Competition and Expo. In Brazil, this breed of buffalo is used for production of both meat and milk. Murrahs sell for a high price.
The Kankrej is an Indian breed of zebuine cattle. It originates from the arid region of the Rann of Kutch in the state of Gujarat, and in neighbouring Rajasthan. Under the name Kankaraj, it is also present in Tharparkar District, in Sindh, Pakistan. It is also known by the names Bannai, Nagar, Talabda, Vaghiyar, Wagad, Waged, Vadhiyar, Wadhiar, Wadhir and Wadial. It is a dual-purpose breed, used both for draught work and for milk production.
The American Walking Pony is a modern American breed of gaited riding pony. It was created by crossbreeding of the Tennessee Walking Horse and the Welsh Pony. Originally developed in Georgia, the breed was established in 1968 after several years of selective breeding. Joan Hudson Brown is credited as the founder of the breed and was the first executive secretary of the breed registry. The original breeding goal was to combine the smooth gait of the Tennessee Walker with the small size and refinement of the Welsh pony. Any combination of the two breeds is acceptable for the registry.
The wild water buffalo, also called Asian buffalo, Asiatic buffalo and wild buffalo, is a large bovine native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It has been listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List since 1986, as the remaining population totals less than 4,000. A population decline of at least 50% over the last three generations is projected to continue. The global population has been estimated at 3,400 individuals, of which 95% live in India, mostly in Assam. The wild water buffalo is the most likely ancestor of the domestic water buffalo.
The Gasconne or Gascon is a French breed of beef cattle. It is named for the historic region of Gascony and is particularly associated with the Haute-Garonne, in the south-east of that region.
The Belgian Landrace, also known as the Improved Belgian, Belgian Improved Landrace, and the Belgian Lop-eared, is a breed of domestic pig from northern Belgium. It was created from importing English breeds and improving them until they were "graded up" to the German Improved Landrace from 1930 to 1945 and then breeding them with the Dutch Landrace in 1945. Other breeds were also incorporated into the bloodline to strengthen it, such as with ones from Luxembourg in 1955, Germany in 1971, and the Czech Republic in 1974. Used in many different countries, the Belgian Landrace is also one of the "four major commercial breeds" in France.
The Italian Mediterranean buffalo or bufala mediterranea italiana is an Italian breed of water buffalo. It is of the River sub-type of water buffalo and is similar to the buffalo breeds of Hungary, Romania and the Balkan countries. It is the only indigenous water buffalo breed in Italy. A herd-book was opened in 1980, and the breed was officially recognised in 2000.
The Rathi (Hindi:राठी) is an Indian breed of dairy cattle. It originates in the state of Rajasthan, and is found principally in the Thar Desert, in the Bikaner, Ganganagar and Jaisalmer districts of the state. It is particularly numerous in the tehsil of Lunkaransar, in Bikaner District. In 2022 the total number of the cattle was estimated at 878852–1169828 head.
Jafarabadi buffalo, Jaffrabadi buffalo or Gir buffalo is a riverine buffalo that originated in Gujarat, India. It is estimated that there are about 25,000 Jafarabadi buffaloes in the world. It is one of the important buffalo breeds of India and Pakistan. The Jafarabadi buffalo is also the first buffalo breed exported to Brazil, and is also one of the four buffalo breeds raised in Brazil as of 2017, the others being Mediterranean, Murrah and swamp buffalo.
Buffalypso, also called Trinidadian Buffalo, is a breed of water buffalo developed in Trinidad by veterinarian Stephen Bennett (1922–2011) in the early 1960s. The buffalypso is the result of breeding programs that crossed the swamp-type carabao with river-type buffaloes like the Murrah buffalo, the Surti buffalo, the Jaffarabadi buffalo, the Nili-Ravi, and the Bhadawari.
The Ujumqin is a type of Chinese Mongolian horse. Larger and reputedly better conformed than other horses of this breed, it is mainly ridden, the mares being milked for their milk.