Water buffalo provide a significant portion of dairy production in South Asia with welfare conditions ranging from traditional to intensively farmed.
Water buffalo in intensive systems suffer from denial of wallowing and swimming opportunities that are fundamental thermoregulatory behaviors. Heat stress is severe in summer conditions without water access. Calf separation parallels the dairy cow welfare concern with both mother and calf showing distress. Tethering prevents normal movement and social expression. Veterinary care is limited in many small-scale operations. Traditional farming relationships provide somewhat better welfare than purely industrial systems.