Water buffalo are increasingly farmed worldwide for milk, meat, and draft work, yet their welfare needs differ significantly from cattle and are often overlooked in standard livestock guidelines.
Water buffalo welfare is compromised in many commercial systems by removal of wallowing opportunities, which are physiologically essential for temperature regulation. The species' social nature makes individual housing particularly stressful. Welfare assessment tools developed for cattle often fail to capture buffalo-specific needs, leaving welfare problems undetected. Improved welfare requires species-specific husbandry standards and regular monitoring.