What is the future of farming in Vermont? New Products? Value Added? New types of Livestock? David Muller believes he has found an answer raising Water Buffalo as dairy animals to produce Water Buffalo mozzarella cheese at his Star Hill Dairy in South Woodstock, Vermont. Assisted by Paul Brock, Star Hill Dairy's farm Manager, Muller began setting up his new farm last June and has long range plans to produce yogurt and ice cream, along with meat sales of grass fed animals.

Creating markets for new products while maintaining health and top-quality genetics in an environment that water buffalo are not totally adapted to, are the challenges for Muller and Brock. Entrepreneur Muller is an inventor, a maverick in the field of science and technology, while Brock's background is in farm management, having been educated at Vermont Technical College and working at Spring Brook Farm in Reading, Vermont. Muller, who also has knowledge of veterinary medicine, has received, "advice and support" for his new venture from the American Water buffalo Association based in Gainesville, Florida. Muller's cheese making skills have been honed under the tutelage of Peter Dixon, a cheese consultant from Putney, Vermont.

Water Buffalo are being raised successfully in Italy, Bulgaria and Southeast Asia, however are new to the more frigid Vermont landscape. Hugh Popenoe, President of the American Water Buffalo Association, agrees with Muller that Water Buffalo will be able to adapt to the Vermont habitat. Muller and Brock are raising the, "short-horned, adaptable river type" of Water Buffalo, rather than the heat loving swamp variety. Toward this end they have been constructing a covered free stall barn that will shelter them in the winter.

Water Buffalo are "super grazers' explains Brock. Pasture management is therefore of great concern. Hi-tensile electric fencing and two-strand polywire with high voltage chargers work well to keep the animals within the rotational pasture of the day. Brock plans for all of the on farm manure to be utilized in a "composting system". Use of straw bedding is an integral part of this system. Because of the animal's thick hide, they are protected from parasites that typically plague pastured ruminants.

We all look forward to Star Hill Dairy's success and being able to "mange" (Italian for eat) real Water Buffalo Mozzarella cheese.