A Rant!

[czechmate]

It's ok I get asked this a lot.
The answer in short is no, they can't. They are 2 different species, although attempts to cross them have been made, all unsuccessful, due to the fact the chromosomes are different numbers. Cattle and bison can breed, hence the beefalo as their chromosomes are similar. Buffalo are 3-4 chromosomes different to cattle. However water buffalo (river buffalo) can breed with both swamp and cape buffalo

Thank you. Quite bizarly I was discussing this with my daughter just a couple of weeks ago

 

[Bald Rick]

Interesting fact ... a seven year old boy can ride a water buffalo calf for about 20 feet before being thrown off.

 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Interesting fact ... a seven year old boy can ride a water buffalo calf for about 20 feet before being thrown off.

We were allowed to ride the water buffalo cows, when younger and only with supervision, they were amazing and so patient. Although I wouldn't advsie riding any animal ofc. they do it a lot in Asia, the kids sit on the backs of them as they swim, its amazing to watch. Soo placid and gentle

 

[Bald Rick]

We were allowed to ride the water buffalo cows, when younger and only with supervision, they were amazing and so patient. Although I wouldn't advsie riding any animal ofc. they do it a lot in Asia, the kids sit on the backs of them as they swim, its amazing to watch. Soo placid and gentle

This was in Asia. We kept a cow & calf - the cow for her milk as it is TB free and the calf to drink the surplus and to grow for a life of work in the fields. The cow was not impressed when I tried to ride its calf

 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

This was in Asia. We kept a cow & calf - the cow for her milk as it is TB free and the calf to drink the surplus and to grow for a life of work in the fields. The cow was not impressed when I tried to ride its calf

She may have felt her calf was in danger, mother's instinct really lol. Wow tho that is amazing. Well if you want anymore buffalo just give a nod/ in my direction and I'll see what I can do

 

[Bald Rick]

She may have felt her calf was in danger, mother's instinct really lol. Wow tho that is amazing. Well if you want anymore buffalo just give a nod/ in my direction and I'll see what I can do

Think my Jerseys would beat the hell out of any WB ... feisty wee beasties that they are

 

[Exfarmer]

This was in Asia. We kept a cow & calf - the cow for her milk as it is TB free and the calf to drink the surplus and to grow for a life of work in the fields. The cow was not impressed when I tried to ride its calf

Water buffalo are as prone to TB as any other types of cattle

 

[Danllan]

Thats horrible that. I thought that sort of practice was illegal?

I don't know any more than the basics about media law, I have a fair grasp of defamation. As I understand it, unless the 'release' is manifestly absurd it is a perfectly reasonable document for the holder to defend himself with. Clearly they can't say 'Jo Bloggs did this and said this, therefore he is a total f*ckwit'; but, they can infer it and because they have been granted 'editorial discretion' their room for manoeuvre in both making the program and defending themselves is pretty well unrestricted. The antidote to this is to have a contract that explicitly allows you to veto anything you disapprove of. This may not prevent a broadcast without an injunction, but it would allow you to seek a remedy due to breach.

He's been farming them for about 10 years I think it is. For us looking in, the programme makes it look like he's only just started and doesn't really know what he's doing yet. He must be better than that.

As I wrote, if what had gone afore was the case, he wouldn't be up to much. But that was after explaining what the BBC did to my chum, so I'm quite willing to believe that they have altered the appearance of things.

That must have been pretty horrible experience

I have trodden on a badger* twice while out running in the evenings, and it gave a hell of a fright to all concerned; especially since it was ingrained into me when I was a youth in Zim, that a badger always goes for your jewels! (Not true by the way, but just the chance it may be is still an adrenaline demander). I have also made a fair attempt at the world record for exiting a Land Cruiser when a fairly small female baboon once got in mine. But even despite recognising and sympathising with the fear that came of it, and I genuinely, genuinely am sorry, but thinking of @Farmer Roy, or anyone else, being chased by an 'aggressive koala' just makes me laugh.

*'trodden on a badger' really sounds like it should be a euphemism for something; after all 'growling at the badger' is... .

 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Water buffalo are as prone to TB as any other types of cattle

They do get TB yes, but we have found they have a little of a resistance to it. Not necessarily as prone to it as cattle, although if around they can get it. Ours have been TB free, always, sincerely hope it stays that way, even though we have been surrounded by it from other farms. They are certainly hardier than dairy cattle

 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Think my Jerseys would beat the hell out of any WB ... feisty wee beasties that they are

Possibly. I had a friend who kept both and they used to fight all the time. Never underestimate a buffaloes strength though. We don't keep them together with cattle, A because they would fight and B because we don't want TB risks on farm

 

[willie waver]

They can be aggressive little sh1!s, not at all cute & cuddly like you'd imagine

do they not all have chlamydia ? could have been an interesting conversation with the wife if it had caught you

 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

do they not all have chlamydia ? could have been an interesting conversation with the wife if it had caught you

 

[holywell farmer]

I hate to say this guys about the programme, this farming life! But I protest about the water buffalo being more aggresive than beef cattle. It is simply not true! No wonder I have had people backing out of buying them. The BBC have painted a wrong picture of them. True any animal can be aggressive, especially when newly calved and unpredictable, but it is false to say they are more aggressive. I am speaking from experience here. I have handled newly calved cows and fine one of 2 of them has warned me off, but never attacked me. Also their temperaments are very good, provided they are handled reguarly. Ik Steven mitchell and Ik that he doesn't handle his buffalo as much as we do or a few other people Ik, so their temperaments are not the best. Why do they all have to be tarred with the same brush? I am going to write a strong letter to the BBC about this, How dare they?!!!!

Seems to on this forum provoked a lot of talk this is farming life

 

[bovrill]

I was a youth in Zim....
....an adrenaline demander).

I got chased by a bull elephant in Wankie once.
That got the blood pumping!

(One of those clever ideas that suddenly didn't seem so clever when it all kicked off!)

 

[glasshouse]

Thats horrible that. I thought that sort of practice was illegal?

LOL
its the BBBC
Biased british broadcasting corp.
just ask any YES voting scotsman what they think of them.

 

[Diwali]

I've been chased by an aggressive koala
Seriously, I have

Hope he didn't get you down under.

 

[Danllan]

I got chased by a bull elephant in Wankie once.
That got the blood pumping!

(One of those clever ideas that suddenly didn't seem so clever when it all kicked off!)

I know exactly what you mean, I still have a pic' of an old bull buff' at Mana Pools just turning his head to look at me before he decided that I really was too close for comfort, he was bl**dy well right too!

(Just to ram home how utterly stupid I was, I can remember taking a squint at the light meter as he was turning... - I'd be in fits if I ever found my kids had been so thick.)

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Ever had any Murray Greys ?

Had no problem with them ,but Simmental's , mental by name and mental by nature!!!

 

[MickMoor]

We were allowed to ride the water buffalo cows, when younger and only with supervision, they were amazing and so patient. Although I wouldn't advsie riding any animal ofc. they do it a lot in Asia, the kids sit on the backs of them as they swim, its amazing to watch. Soo placid and gentle

Having spent some time growing up in India, I was going to say this very thing! Don't forget that cows are sacred, and as far as I remember, those on the streets of Calcutta were small and a bit bolshie.

 

[Farmer Roy]

No ours are the mediterenean variety. They were used to work the land in Roman times, same as cattle. Ours are a mix of mostly Italian genetics with a splash of Romanian

Still - very long history of domestication. Almost by definition, any large strong animal like cattle, horses or buffs that are domesticated must be fairly gentle & agreeable by nature, otherwise they would have never been domesticated in the first place . . .
In my limited experience, they are only aggressive if they feel threatened, are stirred up, or protecting their young . . .

Actually, that holds for pretty much all animals from cattle to dogs to snakes . . .