Buffalo

The Australian buffalo industry is a focus for AgriFutures Australia because it is a growing, dual‑sector industry—anchored by the Northern Territory free‑range buffalo meat supply chain and supported by a developing riverine dairy sector operating across most states. Buffalo is a specialised, diversified livestock sector with clear opportunities to lift profitability and long‑term resilience through targeted RD&E.

The AgriFutures Buffalo Program invests in research, development and extension (RD&E) to help build a sustainable, safe and more profitable Australian buffalo industry, with industry momentum already evident through live export volumes passing 10,000 head in 2020 and the emergence of a commercial abattoir processing significant numbers of buffalo.

Although the industry faces urgent constraints and risks, research priorities outlined in the AgriFutures Buffalo Program RD&E Plan are targeted towards protecting market access, strengthening animal welfare outcomes, and supporting productivity and adoption across the supply chain.

The products of Australian buffalo farming are primarily meat and dairy. Buffalo hides, horns/hooves, sinew/tendons, hair and other co-products can be sold on into various markets.

The dominant buffalo meat pathway in the Northern Territory is via live export into South East Asian markets (including Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei), in addition to some domestic processing in the NT. Buffalo milk is used for premium value‑added products—especially cheese (including mozzarella) and yoghurt—supported by strong price signals for milk supplied to cheese factories, and by the higher total solids in buffalo milk which increases cheese recovery rates compared with cow’s milk.

Australian buffalo farming is considered a sustainable livestock industry when managed with strong welfare, biosecurity and land stewardship practices. The AgriFutures Buffalo Program RD&E Plan explicitly links industry growth to both productivity and sustainability outcomes.

Buffalo are a resilient species, requiring fewer inputs and interventions than cattle, and can thrive in a diverse range of climates – in northern Australia, buffalo are already well adapted to low‑grade tropical pastures where they graze on invasive plant species.

The industry’s existing Arnhem Land supply chain also provides an opportunity to create synergy between buffalo production and habitat conservation by reducing local overpopulation, while providing employment and royalty payments for remote First Nations communities through free-range harvesting.

The RD&E Plan also prioritises welfare‑critical work to reduce buffalo mortality in the live export supply chain, measure feed conversion efficiency and test greenhouse gas emissions from buffalo in Australian conditions—all important for strengthening long‑term sustainability, industry viability and consumer confidence.

At the Program level, AgriFutures is committed to presenting accurate, credible, balanced and up‑to‑date information on industry practices and to demonstrate the quality, traceability and sustainability of buffalo farming in Australia.

A great starting point is to read the AgriFutures Buffalo Program RD&E Plan to understand the Program goal, priorities and what kinds of RD&E activities are funded.

For ongoing updates – current and past contracted projects, Program updates, project outcomes and extension activities are regularly shared on the AgriFutures website, social media platforms and other official communications channels.

For more industry-related resources and contacts, you can get in touch with the Australian Buffalo Industry Council (ABIC), the NT Buffalo Industry Council (NTBIC) and the Northern Territory Livestock Exporters Association (NTLEA).