The production practices for raising them are similar to those used for range cattle. Water buffaloes in the humid tropics must be able to cool off. Shade trees are desirable, and although a wallow is not essential, it is probably the most effective way the animal has of coping with the heat. Alternatively, water showers may be provided to wet down the animals 3-5 times during the hotter parts of the day. Water buffaloes are intelligent animals.
Young ones learn patterns quickly and often are reluctant to change their habits.
Among feral herds of northern Australia it has been observed that the buffaloes have clans and families. Another interesting observation from northern Australia is that most buffalo dams readily adopt a calf that has been orphaned by the death of it's mother 59 . Buffaloes are also self reliant. For several months each year in Vietnam and Malaysia, for instance, they are turned loose in the forests to fend for themselves. Provision of adequate fencing is one of the great problems of buffalo management.