Five-year-old Todd made his debut in a beauty pageant, showcasing his striking black fur and the bright red interior of his ears.
Owned by Thawatchai Daeng-Ngam, who is a food vendor and farmer, Todd was one of the participants in the annual Water Buffalo Racing Festival in Chonburi, located about an hour from Bangkok.
Once seen purely as work animals, water buffalo in Thailand have transformed into prized show animals. A festival at the end of November celebrates the start of the harvest season while emphasizing the historical significance of these animals in Thai agriculture.
As tractors have replaced buffaloes for fieldwork and transport, their value has diminished. If they aren’t showcased, they’re often raised for meat.
The festival in Chonburi kicked off with a colorful parade featuring traditional Thai dances. Some buffalo, adorned with flower crowns, pulled wooden carriages showing off their owners in traditional Thai garments, towering at a height of 6.5 feet.
There was also a buffalo race, where jockeys sprinted alongside their contenders on a 100-meter track.
Pitun Rassamee, competing with a three-year-old albino buffalo named Lookaew, was hopeful for a top-five finish, especially after another albino buffalo sold for 18 million baht (around $672,000) last year following a series of wins.
Shifting Roles of Thai Buffalo
The shift of buffalo from utilitarian to valuable status has been gradual, spurred by increasing agricultural mechanization. The population of buffalo has been declining in recent years.
However, events like this festival have rekindled interest in these animals and sparked new industries, receiving support from the government. Since 2017, Thailand has recognized a Buffalo Conservation Day, aiding local farmers with breeding efforts.
For Thawatchai, caring for buffalo like Todd is primarily a hobby. He attended the festival just to allow Todd to interact with other buffalo.
On his larger family farm, buffalo receive special care, including soaking and a diet rich in corn, soy, bran, and vitamins, as explained by Kijchai Angkhanawin, who oversees their care.
At the festival, he ensured the buffalo appeared impressive with their height and bulk. They are evaluated based on horn size, hoof smoothness, and overall physique.
According to Papada Srizophon, an assistant to a nearby village chief, the Buffalo-centric festival has been growing annually. She noted that events like this motivate farmers to sustain their buffalo; without such activities, they struggle to keep the animals.
“Buffalo Raise People”
At the beauty contest, caretakers awaited the buffalo in a shady pen. Fire trucks provided water while festival-goers took pictures with the buffalo and their families gathered nearby.
Judges examined the buffalo carefully in designated pens, often dressed in casual attire like cowboy hats.
Many owners at the contest shared how they grew up with these gentle animals, emphasizing their commitment to care for them even after their farming days are over. Thawatchai noted that while buffalo can still help on farms, they can’t compete with machines. For him, buffalo represent family: “People raise buffaloes, and buffaloes raise people.”
