An Introduction to Buffaloes

[River Buffaloes]

That is intensely interesting how you make ghee. The ropes twisting the beater looks like it would be much easier than the up down motion of American butter churns.
Your grandmother is a very lovely lady.

Ghee has a high smoking point of at about 480° f. Butter has a smoking point of only 300°f. Butter also contains milk protein which burns and that can char the food.

 

[Baymule]

I have used ghee. If I had a milking animal I would probably make my own.

I raise feeder pigs, we sell one or two and keep one for our freezer. I get the fat and render it for the lard. It makes the flakiest pie crust and I use it in stir fry.

 

[River Buffaloes]

I have used ghee. If I had a milking animal I would probably make my own.

I raise feeder pigs, we sell one or two and keep one for our freezer. I get the fat and render it for the lard. It makes the flakiest pie crust and I use it in stir fry.

I love lard, leaf lard is the best. It's specially best when added flavor or is not desired. Ghee have a soft and distinct nutty flavor.

 

[Baymule]

I render it down and can it in quart jars. Being Southern, we like fried foods and lard is the best. I also use olive oil, occasionally coconut oil. I never use store bought oils as they are all GMO.

 

[HomeOnTheRange]

I would really like to raise Water/River buffaloes, but we have zero standing water for them, plus our elevation is just at a mile high (5,200 feet) with very hot summers. But it is great to learn about them!

 

[River Buffaloes]

I would really like to raise Water/River buffaloes, but we have zero standing water for them, plus our elevation is just at a mile high (5,200 feet) with very hot summers. But it is great to learn about them!

A water hose is more than enough if keep just a few. Water buffaloes are just as comfortable in flowing water, they can cross the Mississippi five times a day lol. the problem is that it's difficult to contain them in a river. You cannot fence Mississippi.

5200 ft elevation shouldn't be a concern. Our Gaddi herders take their buffaloes up in Himalayas every spring and bring them back to plains every autumn. In the US I know people who keep them in Utah, Idaho and Colorado those are in your vicinity. I think I know someone in New Mexico, but I will have to check.

 

[River Buffaloes]

Have you guys heard about this wonderful French-Italian chef Jean-Pierre he is wonderful chef. I love his recipes. I think you would like him. He has a loves his wine too, just like me.

 

[River Buffaloes]

So a Florida man that I know bought 8 Water Buffaloes, 2 bred females, two yearling heifers and one yearling bull, a blond bottle calf female and two four years old bred cows. Now I had advised that gentleman to take care of nutritional needs of Water Buffaloes and make sure that they are raised on rough quality pasture. However that gentleman went on and gave them alfalfa pellets.

Now native grass species of Florida is already ideal for Water Buffaloes because of their tropical nature and high silica content, but no he had buy and feed them alfalfa pellets. All of his Buffaloes got sick, specially the smaller ones. The little bottle baby became seriously ill. Thankfully they all survived, because of their strong constitution, but it's bad practice.

Water Buffaloes in their native tracts are raised dried paddy and wheat straw (basically agricultural wastes), wheat and rice bran etc. When we feed them legumes like Egyptian clover, we mix ample amount of wheat of rice straw, otherwise we feed them plants from grass family like bamboo leaves, oats, barley, sorghum and all the natural native grass they graze on.

I understand that people love their animals, but I think should also be aware of what their animal's dietary requirements are and what's good and bad for them. You cannot be like "awww I got my little Water Buffalo, I will hug him, I will pet him and call him George."

 

[Kusanar]

So a Florida man

Lol, you might have to live in the states to understand... but some of the best stories about stupid people or crazy accidents start with "a Florida man...."

 

[Bruce]

Glad the animals made it ok. Like the buffalo one should not feed alfalfa to alpacas, apparently it is too high on protein and will make them sick. Of course mine are super picky, don't like the first cut grass hay, too much stem. They like the lighter textured second cut.