Water buffaloes: How many litres of milk can one animal produce?

President William Ruto’s remarks about exploring buffalo milk production have drawn attention to an animal that plays a significant role in the global dairy industry.

While many Kenyans accustomed to dairy cows may find the idea unfamiliar, people in parts of Asia widely raise water buffaloes for milk, and they have established a significant contribution to food production and rural livelihoods.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), river buffaloes typically produce between 1,500 and 4,500 litres of milk per lactation.

A lactation is the period during which an animal produces milk after giving birth.

The organisation identifies India and Pakistan among the world’s leading buffalo milk producers, with buffaloes accounting for a substantial share of their milk production.

However, production varies depending on the breed, the animal’s genetics, nutrition and management. The figures therefore represent a broad range rather than a guarantee of what an individual buffalo will produce.

The production potential of water buffaloes becomes clearer when examining the records of specialised dairy breeds.

India’s Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB), a government research institution, identifies the Murrah and Nili-Ravi among the recognised dairy breeds.

According to the institute’s published breed profiles, Murrah buffaloes have an average milk yield of approximately 2,000 kilogrammes over a standard 305-day lactation.

Nili-Ravi buffaloes have a reported average of approximately 1,950 kilogrammes over the same period.

These figures are measured in kilogrammes of milk, rather than litres, and refer to average breed production records published by the institute.

For context, 2,000 kilogrammes of milk is approximately 1,940 litres if a milk density of 1.03 kilogrammes per litre is assumed.

The conversion is an estimate, not an official litre-based production record. The 305-day measurement provides a standard period for comparing milk production between animals and herds.

Some buffaloes have recorded yields considerably higher than the average.

In its 2021 annual report, India’s Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes documented a Murrah buffalo identified as number 4316 that produced 4,810 kilogrammes of milk during a 305-day lactation.

The animal was in its fifth lactation, according to the report.

The institute also reported that 13 Murrah buffaloes in its programme exceeded 4,000 kilogrammes of milk in a single lactation.

The programme specialising in breeding and research has documented these production results. They demonstrate what selected animals can achieve under managed conditions, rather than what farmers should expect from every buffalo.

The Murrah is a recognised dairy breed originating from the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Its characteristic appearance includes a predominantly black coat and short, tightly curled horns.

The CIRB lists an average 305-day milk yield of approximately 2,000 kilogrammes for the breed.

The FAO’s small-scale dairy farming manual gives a yield of approximately 1,500–1,800 litres per lactation for Murrah buffaloes in good herds, illustrating that published production estimates vary according to the population and reference used.

The Nili-Ravi is another specialised dairy breed associated with the Punjab region, particularly areas of Pakistan and India.

It is generally black, with distinctive white markings that may appear on the forehead, muzzle, feet and tail.

The CIRB reports an average 305-day milk yield of approximately 1,950 kilogrammes for the breed. Its published breed reference also identifies animals whose yields can exceed 4,000 kilogrammes over 305 days.