Buffalo Unexpected Deaths

**Troy** · 28-09-2012, 02:39 AM

Yesterday I heard that one of BIL's healthy male buffaloes dropped dead for no apparent reason. I didn't think too much about it but today I heard a female buffalo from a different family herd in the village keeled over.

I am not in the village at the moment so I don't know exact circumstances but the two sets of buffalo are kept in their respective homes (about 1/2 km apart) at night. The village rumours are that they ate next to the pi-bop's house from whence a spell cameth and "did 'em in".

Is anyone aware of any diseases that afflict buffalo in such a way...eating happily and then keeling over dead for no apparent reason?

**ENT** · 28-09-2012, 03:14 AM

Bloat?

Healthy cattle can often fall over dead, one minute munching happily away at fresh greens then they start to get uncomfortable and drop dead.

The cause is too much fresh green feed at one go after a hard diet of drier feed.
Gases from fermenting fresh greens build up in the cow's stomach and put pressure on its heart and pop, down it goes.

One trick (if you were there at the time the beast fell) used to be to stick a knife into its stomach to let the gas out, and the cow will get back on its feet and carry on more or less as normal, the wound heals pretty well after.

Otherwise, it could be from eating aerobically fermented (low temperature fermentation) green feed that's been left for a few hours or so in the sun, the bacteria in that stuff can knock stock over dead.

The only other cause of sudden death in stock that I know of is eating a poisonous plant.

Check the area that the buffalo were feeding in, see if the grass was unusually fresh and vigorous, and if the buffalo concerned were dominant in the herd, so pushing other stock away fro the nice fresh green feed in its greed.

Otherwise, I couldn't tell you what could be the cause..

**The Big Fella** · 28-09-2012, 07:16 AM

Apart from being used as an excuse to extract money from guillible farangs just what purpose does said buffalo serve ? They seem to simply eat grass and shit a lot.

**BaitongBoy** · 28-09-2012, 08:49 AM

The Buffalo Board in jeopardy?...

**FlyFree** · 28-09-2012, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

Apart from being used as an excuse to extract money from guillible farangs just what purpose does said buffalo serve ? They seem to simply eat grass and shit a lot.

An interesting question. They don't exactly appear aggressive so fighting seems not to be it, though I'm sure the odd one is used for it.

Maybe it's just to improve the ambiance? Or it's like men over a women's tits. No real reason, except maybe psychological.

**9999** · 28-09-2012, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Troy

Is anyone aware of any diseases that afflict buffalo in such a way...eating happily and then keeling over dead for no apparent reason?

Check for precision cuts where chunks of the bovines have been taken away. It could well have been aliens.

**9999** · 28-09-2012, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

Apart from being used as an excuse to extract money from guillible farangs just what purpose does said buffalo serve ?

A pre-cursor to the 'Iron-Buffaloe' to harvest rice, and a pre-curso to the car as a status symbol.

**FlyFree** · 28-09-2012, 09:05 AM

Generally speaking, Thai women don't have much in the line of tits. So the buffalo is the Thai man's replacement for tits. Something to play with.

Mystery solved.

**FlyFree** · 28-09-2012, 09:06 AM

^^Not much in rice paddies around here, I'm afraid.

**9999** · 28-09-2012, 09:22 AM

^ If they're not growing rice then pretty much a status symbol, though they can also be used for hauling logs and other such heavy labour.

Back in the day they cleared the bush area with two teams of oxen either side of a long chain that would rip through the trees and brush like a bulldozer.

**FlyFree** · 28-09-2012, 09:59 AM

^Maybe. We have bush here, though I've taught my wife to shave hers.

Using a pair of buffalo to do the job just seems like overkill.

**S Landreth** · 28-09-2012, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Troy

Is anyone aware of any diseases that afflict buffalo in such a way...eating happily and then keeling over dead for no apparent reason?

It might be lightning. Happens all the time.

Mind you it could be, lightning. But both animals should be checked, because if it is a disease it could affect other animals.

**Troy** · 28-09-2012, 11:02 AM

Sorry if I put thread in wrong place...feel free to move to correct one.

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

Apart from being used as an excuse to extract money from guillible farangs just what purpose does said buffalo serve ? They seem to simply eat grass and shit a lot.

BIL and wife were given 3 Buffalo as a wedding gift from (non farang) relatives about 23 years ago. They are used a bit like an investment policy in our area of Isaan. Currently they have 8-10 Buffalo, having sold many over the years when in need of cash. I think cows are more of a status symbol locally but require more looking after.
No requests for money...just weekly village gossip update.

Thanks Ent, I will look that problem up. Seems a little strange to happen in the wet season though...said buffalo was the dominant one and untimely death meant selling at 4k Baht. Alive it was worth 12-16k Baht. Area it was feeding was very lush...but had eaten there many times before. Not sure if the other one ate in the same place on its way home...but could have been some other unrelated problem.

**FlyFree** · 28-09-2012, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Troy

Sorry if I put thread in wrong place...

I apologize. I expect all that will land in MKP where it belongs.

**9999** · 28-09-2012, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by FlyFree

Using a pair of buffalo to do the job just seems like overkill.

Not really I was referring to the bush cutting oxen back in Australia. And 2 TEAMS of about 4-6 either side. Perhaps overkill for Asians

**somtamslap** · 28-09-2012, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

Apart from being used as an excuse to extract money from guillible farangs just what purpose does said buffalo serve ?

Their butchered and subsequently broiled buttocks tend to complement sesame seed bun rather nicely.

**9999** · 28-09-2012, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by Troy

Currently they have 8-10 Buffalo, having sold many over the years when in need of cash.

Originally Posted by Troy

.said buffalo was the dominant one and untimely death meant selling at 4k Baht. Alive it was worth 12-16k Baht.

I thought a good buffaloe went for about 30-50K no?

**9999** · 28-09-2012, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by somtamslap

Their butchered and subsequently broiled buttocks tend to complement sesame seed bun rather nicely.

mmmmm........18 year old Buffaloe rump steak cooked rare.

**Troy** · 28-09-2012, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by 9999

I thought a good buffaloe went for about 30-50K no?

Not in our area no...much too expensive, even for a pregnant buffalo. Price quoted is not bad for local trade.

**Freewheelin2012** · 28-09-2012, 02:57 PM

Isn't anthrax found in the wild and often the killer of cows and grazers?

Old story from Thailand on buffalo and anthrax.
Outbreak of anthrax in Thailand. [Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1990] - PubMed - NCBI

Cattle Diseases - Anthrax

**billy the kid** · 28-09-2012, 04:48 PM

in laos they put opium in their grub and let them roam free all day
watching buffalo have a fight is hillarious to watch
as it's all done in slow motion
when the opium wears off
the buffalo makes it's way home
for another fix

.
think it was the only entertainment i had in laos.
apart from americans being chased away
because they invaded people's privacy with their cameras.

**Rural Surin** · 01-10-2012, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by The Big Fella

Apart from being used as an excuse to extract money from guillible farangs just what purpose does said buffalo serve ? They seem to simply eat grass and shit a lot.

Tradition.
Still today, they're regarded trading barter, dowry, etc.

Kee Kwai is quite the fertilizer as well.

**alitongkat** · 01-10-2012, 11:00 AM

who does buy this dead buffulo, and what for?

**9999** · 01-10-2012, 11:40 AM

^ Meat. The heads also fetch a fair price as 'Buddha' offerings.

**alitongkat** · 01-10-2012, 11:42 AM

but if the cause of death is unknown and probably unnatural, it cant be used as meat...

what if the buffalo was poisoned?

it dont really think, it can be sold as meat, as with deadh quickly the decomposition process starts, even if one doesnt see/smell it immediately... and then the meat is "spoiled"...

maybe for soap....?

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