And those with a palate for meat that is high in iron and zinc will understand the need for good buffalo genetics.

But, for most, just gaining some perspective on the logistics involved to get a truck load of well-bred buffalo from the Northern Territory to their new home on the South Coast is tough to grasp. This load of Riverine bison had a stop over in Wagga this week and were certainly a talking point.

Wagga is usually reserved for British and European breeds of cattle with thousands going under the hammer at the Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre each week. 

Elders auctioneer and livestock agent Joe Wilks, Wagga helped to oversee the transaction and said the stop-over in Wagga was definitely out of the ordinary.  “We don’t (usually) see anything like this around here,” he said. 

Truck driver Graeme Cooper of Adelaide River, Northern Territory said the journey had taken about a week and the animals needed plenty of rest stops along the way. 

Purchaser David Shannon of Bonzabuffalo Stud at “Menagerie Park”, on the South Coast is preparing to start milking a herd of up to 45 animals. “We like the product … the buffalo mozzarella cheese,” he said. 

“And we love the animals too, they have real personality.”

He said the plan was to build the herd of Riverine Buffalo up to around 65 and because the breed was dual purpose animals would be sold for meat too. The initial intention is to start milking the animals – with the option of selling the milk to cheese makers – but value adding hasn’t been ruled out as an option in the future.

And Mr Shannon said there were countless products that could be made from the milk including various cheeses and yogurts.