Two water buffalo have set the phones alight after online listing

Two bucket-reared water buffalo have come onto the market and the demand is surprising everyone. See why people are interested in them.

It has shades of The Lion King and a first for one livestock agent who has listed two water buffalo on AuctionsPlus.

Corcoran Parker livestock agent Katie Lewis said she has become the “self-appointed water buffalo expert” after being asked to assess the two young bulls for the online auction platform.

Danny Albert from Walwa, NSW, with Charlie, one of two water buffalo being offered on Auctionsplus this week.

The 18-month-old water buffalo were bucket reared by the owners Danny and Sarah Albert near Walwa in the Upper Murray and have created more interest than Ms Lewis ever expected.

“The week before, I listed 120 Angus heifers and cows and they sold to $4500 and grossed almost half a million dollars, but I had more calls about the water buffalo than I did about the breeders,” she said.

Most of the questions related to whether the water buffalo bulls could be used over beef cow (the answer was no) and temperament.

While Ms Lewis said she could assess their beef characteristics for AuctionsPlus, it was the temperament section of the listing where she could really go to town.

“These are a beautiful friendly pair of young brothers by the names of Charlie and Alfie,” Ms Lewis wrote on the assessment.

“Charlie is the friendliest of the two, loving a scratch under the chin and a cuddle and even being happy enough to let you jump on for a ride around the yards.

Alfie is a little bit shyer, needing more convincing to get a head pat, but he will sheepishly eat bread out of your hand. “

Ms Lewis said Charlie could easily be broken in to ride with his “easy going and kind temperament, and with a little bit more TLC and perhaps some bread, it would not take long to convince Alfie that head scratches aren't too scary either,” the assessment read.

“Given their age and weight, it would not take long to get them both halter broken.

“They love to go for a swim, often seen to be fully submerging themselves in the dam.”

Ms Lewis said the water buffaloes had failed to sell on AuctionsPlus at last week’s sale but expected them to find a new home when they go up again on Friday.

“They are such a unique thing to have in your paddock and I was really happy to be able to list something different on AuctionsPlus,” she said.

“If someone came up with a camel, I’d give that a go too.”