Laos Buffalo Dairy

 I have a new goal in life: 

To be that crazy person that walks her buffalo down the streets in whatever town I retire in.

One day, you'll see me walking with my buffalo down the street, directing them to the best grazing spots.

Facts

1. The Laos Buffalo Dairy once tried cows but they weren't as easy to keep as buffaloes.
2. Buffalo have higher fat content in their milk.
3. Laos Buffalo Dairy IS about helping the local community and started a few years before COVID hit in 2020.
4. They rent buffaloes from the local community for calving season, offer board and healthcare and wellbeing check ups while they are boarding the buffalos.
5. Calves have a better chance of surviving after birth at this Dairy because of the dedicated staff there for the maternity and calving season, so calf mortality at the dairy is less than 1% as opposed to if there were complications, out in the farms and out in the field.
6. The Dairy has a back stock of colostrum and milk for the calves just in case the mother rejects the calves and or the milk is not available through the mother for some reason.
7. The Dairy brought in experts from Thailand to teach them Buffalo husbandry and now, they are the local experts, offering classes, workshops and even English tutoring for local farmers and members of the community.
8. The staff are very attentive to the buffaloes and well informed on the care of these majestic buffs.
9. Local university students come here and learn Ag husbandry and have a lot of hand on experience.
10. Lots of out reach and mutual cooperation between the Dairy and the community.

Just look at their beautiful teeth!

They also enjoy being watered (hosed down and brushed) but they are very gentle despite their rotund and somewhat intimidating stature. 

Dairy Products to try:

1. HIGHLY recommend the ice cream ~ If you are only stopping by for the ice cream after a day of traveling, Pumpkin Pie is an amazing flavor.  I had Ginger and it wasn't bad but not as strong of a flavor as I would have liked.
2. Take the Tour. It's only $9 USD as of 10/2023. The tour comes with a taste of the ice cream and a cake...? they have seasonal flavors and I really wanted to try lemongrass as it's such a unique flavor. If you try it, let me know how it is.
3. The Caprese Salad is also great! So refreshing and the house mozzarella is lovely. 

Who wouldn't want one?

DO on the tour:

1. Not only are there Buffaloes on the tour, but you can pet and feed pigs, rabbits, the dairy cats.
2. ASK questions! Be involved and interactive. The staff enjoy answering questions and teaching us about how their day to day routines are. Our hour tour was a lot longer because of how engaged we were about their business, not to mention the tour guide (Cheep (?)) wasn't hurrying us along and let us take our time.  He told out about the different breeds of animals and even their personality and mannerisms.  He helped make the our experience there pleasant and enjoyable.
3. we BOTTLE FEED the calves!! Just look at the milk 'stache from that cow!
4. WATER and Brush the Buffas! They loved being hosed down and brushed under the shade.
5. Milk the buffalo.  Let me just say, it's a bit harder than it looks but some people just have a knack for it.  I'm not on of them.
1. If you get milk, sometimes the dairy cats wait by the milking area and then get a snack once we are done milking them.

Dairy cat waiting by the buffamom and waiting patiently for the milk.

Goat on a stroll and will be joining us for the ice cream and other snacks in the cafe.

Let me just say, this was a moth we found that would have blended in perfectly on a tree and I would have been none the wiser if it were not on the white wall.

The day's bounty after cuteness overload!