# List of water buffalo breeds

This is a list of domestic water buffalo breeds and their uses.

## Breeds

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.
| Name | Picture | Alternate name | Origin | Use | Notes, references |
| Al-Ahwar | see § Iranian and Iraqi | see § Iranian and Iraqi | see § Iranian and Iraqi | see § Iranian and Iraqi | § Iraqi marsh buffalo |
| Al Jamoose or Jimes | see § Iraqi | see § Iraqi | see § Iraqi | see § Iraqi | see § Iraqi |
| 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 |
| Assam | | | NE India | | swamp-type |
| 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 |
| Azari | | Azeri, Azerbaijan, Iranian, Caucasian | Azerbaijan, NW Iran | | § Caucasian buffalo; Iranian Azari (=an ecotype of the § Iranian) comprises 70% of the Iranian buffalo population |
| Azi Kheli | | | NW Pakistan: the Swat valley | dairy | light brown or albinoid milking buffalo |
| Badavan | see § Bhadawari | see § Bhadawari | see § Bhadawari | see § Bhadawari | see § Bhadawari |
| 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 |
| Baladi (= local or native) | | | Egypt | dairy | the Nile Delta's milking variety of the § Egyptian buffalo; has longer curved horns, is black or gray in color; varieties of the Baladi type are the § Beheri and the § Minufi buffalo |
| Balkan | see § European | see § European | see § European | see § European | see § European |
| Bama kwye | see § Burmese | see § Burmese | see § Burmese | see § Burmese | see § Burmese |
| 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 |
| Bangladeshi, albinoid of the central part of the country | | | Bangladesh | dairy | a type of the § Bangladeshi, farmed semi-intensively for milk |
| Bangladeshi, albinoid of the western part of the country | | | Bangladesh | draught | the smallest (average height 126/121 cm) of the § Bangladeshi buffaloes |
| Bangladeshi, native buffaloes in the central part | | | Bangladesh | | black indigenous river-type of the § Bangladeshi |
| 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 |
| Bangladeshi, native buffaloes in the southern part | | | Bangladesh | dairy | larger than native water buffaloes of that area |
| Bangladeshi, native buffaloes in the western part | | | Bangladesh | | black indigenous river-type of the § Bangladeshi |
| Banni | | | W India: the Kachchh (Kutch) region of Gujarat | dairy | developed by the semi-pastoralist Maldhari community |
| Beheri | | | Egypt: Beheira Province | dairy | a variety of the § Egyptian buffalo of the § Baladi type; slate-gray or black in color |
| Belang | see § Tadong | see § Tadong | see § Tadong | see § Tadong | see § Tadong |
| Bhadawari | | Badavan, Etawah | India: Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh | dairy, draught | selectively improved river-type |
| Bhainsi | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese |
| Bhavanegri | see § Jafarabadi | see § Jafarabadi | see § Jafarabadi | see § Jafarabadi | see § Jafarabadi |
| Binhu | | | China | | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo |
| Borneo buffalo | see § Kalang | see § Kalang | see § Kalang | see § Kalang | see § Kalang |
| Brazilian | | Kalabaw, Kalaban Portuguese: bufalo de pantano (= swamp-type breeds) Portuguese: preto (= typically black river-type breeds) | Brazil | | swamp-type breeds descended from stock originating from French Indochina, including the black Philippine Carabao; initially imported in about 1890 to Marajó Island (most are still found there today); see §§ Brazilian Carabao, Rosilho, and Baio river-type breeds from India, Italy and Egypt were imported in the early to mid-20th century; there are three river-type breeds recognized: the § Jafarabadi the § Mediterranean the § Murrah |
| 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 |
| 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; exported to 19 countries (the U.S. and several Latin American countries) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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; the larger § Shan Kwye is classified as a distinct "breed" the Burmese wild buffalo is a feral gayal (or mithun) |
| Burmese wild buffalo | | Burmese: pyaung, pyun also referred to as: the Burmese gaur (either Bos gaurus readai or Bos gaurus laosiensis) the Burmese bison | 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 |
| Cambodian buffalo | | | Cambodia | | two varieties: the krabei beng the moi (or § Mountain buffalo) the krabei leu (or krabei sre) |
| 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 |
| 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, 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: the long-horned local buffaloes of the Nile Delta: the milking § Baladi, incl. the § Beheri (slate-gray to black in color) and the § Minufi (dark gray) the short-horned buffaloes of Upper (southern) Egypt: the § Saidi; primarily a draught animal |
| Enshi Mountainous | | | China | | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo |
| 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 |
| Godavari | | | India | | |
| Greek buffalo | | | Greece | | |
| Guizhou | | | China | | |
| Guizhou White | | | China | | |
| Haizi | | | China | | |
| Iranian and Iraqi | | | Iran and Iraq | dairy | mainly river-types |
| Iranian | see § Iranian and Iraqi | see § Iranian and Iraqi | see § Iranian and Iraqi | see § Iranian and Iraqi | the Iranian buffaloes by ecotype: the Mazandarani, § Gilani or Shomali (a minor northern ecotype, see § Caucasian) the § Azari (70% of the Iranian buffalo population) the § Khuzestani or Khoozestani (an ecotype of the southern marshes) |
| 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 | see § Azari | see § Azari | see § Azari | an ecotype of the § Iranian |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Jafarabadi | | | India | dairy | |
| Jaffrabadi | | | Gujarat | dairy | |
| 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 |
| Kundi | | Kundhi, Sindhi Murrah | E Pakistan: N Sindh | dairy | river-type; some consider it a regional variety of the § Murrah |
| Lanka | | | Sri Lanka | | |
| Lime | | | Nepal | | |
| Mahish | | | Bangladesh | | a variety of the § Bangladeshi, crossed with the indigenous swamp-type, river-type dominant |
| Malaysian | | kerbau | Malaysia | | three varieties: the kerbau § Sapi Tenusu the kerbau § Sawah the § Selembu |
| Manda | | | India | | |
| Mannar | | | Sri Lanka | | |
| Marathwada | | | India | | |
| Masri | see § Egyptian | see § Egyptian | see § Egyptian | see § Egyptian | 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 of § Baladi type; dark gray in color |
| Monouli | | | Egypt | | |
| Mountain buffalo | | moi | Cambodia | | a variety of the krabei beng § Cambodian buffalo |
| Mountainous | | | China | | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo |
| 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 | see § Burmese | see § Burmese | see § Burmese | see § Burmese |
| Nagpuri | | Berar, Durna-Thalia, Ellichpuri, Gaulani, Gauli, Marathwada, Varadi | W India: Maharashtra | dairy, draught | two varieties: the Purnathadi the § Pandharpuri |
| 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 |
| Pa Sauk | see § Burmese | see § Burmese | see § Burmese | see § Burmese | see § Burmese |
| Pahadi | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese |
| Palitana | see § Jafarabadi | see § Jafarabadi | see § Jafarabadi | see § Jafarabadi | see § Jafarabadi |
| Pampangan | see § Indonesian | see § Indonesian | see § Indonesian | see § Indonesian | see § Indonesian |
| Panch Kalyani | see § Nili-Ravi | see § Nili-Ravi | see § Nili-Ravi | see § Nili-Ravi | see § Nili-Ravi |
| Pandharpuri | | Dharwari (in Mysore) | India | dairy | see § Nagpuri |
| Papua New Guinea buffalo | | | Papua New Guinea | | |
| Parkote | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese |
| Parlakimedi | see § Manda | see § Manda | see § Manda | see § Manda | see § Manda |
| Peddakimedi | see § Kalahandi | see § Kalahandi | see § Kalahandi | see § Kalahandi | see § Kalahandi |
| Philippine | see § Carabao | see § Carabao | see § Carabao | see § Carabao | see § Carabao |
| Plain buffalo | | | Cambodia | | |
| Purnathadi | see § Nagpuri | see § Nagpuri | see § Nagpuri | see § Nagpuri | see § Nagpuri |
| Purvi | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese | see § Nepalese |
| Ravi | | Sandal Bar | E Pakistan, N India | | see § Nili-Ravi |
| Rawa | see § Kalang | see § Kalang | see § Kalang | see § Kalang | see § Kalang |
| Romanian buffalo | | | Romania | meat, dairy, draught | |
| Rosilho | | | Brazil | | a variety of the § Brazilian Carabao |
| 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 |
| Sawah | | kerbau Sawah; | Malaysia | | a variety of the § Malaysian; swamp-type |
| 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" |
| 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 |
| Xiajiang | | | China | | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo |
| Xilin | | | China | | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region |
| Xinfeng Mountainous | | | China | | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo |
| Xinglong | | | China | | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo |
| Xingyang | | | China | | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo |
| Yanjin | | | China | | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo |
| Yibin | | | China | | a variety of the § Chinese buffalo |