Posted on 07/14/2025 11:29:04 AM PDT by DFG
An Oklahoma farmer was attacked and killed by two water buffaloes he had just bought the day before.
Brad McMichael, 45, died Friday when he was attacked at his farm in the small town of Jones, around 15 miles northeast of downtown Oklahoma City, by the animals he had just bought at auction, his family said.
“He loved his livestock and as tragic as this, as he died doing something that he loved,” his girlfriend, Jennifer Green, told KOCO.
McMichael was an experienced handler of exotic animals, and saw the water buffaloes as “an opportunity” for the meat, Green said.
Exactly why they attacked is unknown, but “livestock can be aggressive at any moment if they’re stressed, when they’re in an auction environment, when they’re traveling, or when they’re with a new owner,” the grieving girlfriend said.
“He loved to laugh. He loved to make other people laugh. Those that really knew him know what a huge loss and a huge void that is to fill,” Green said.
Both animals were euthanized after one showed aggressive behavior towards officers, police said, with the investigation ongoing.
Green’s ex-wife, Amy Smith, remembered him as the “hardest working man that I had ever known.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
You’re thinking of the Cape Buffalo, also known as “Black Death”.
https://www.kenyawildparks.com/wild-water-buffalo-vs-cape-buffalo-a-comparison-of-two-iconic-beasts/
“The Cape buffalo, in contrast, has never been domesticated due to its unpredictable and aggressive temperament. Considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, it is responsible for numerous human fatalities each year. Unlike the wild water buffalo, it has resisted human control and remains a purely wild species. Due to its strength and aggression, it is often a prized target for big-game hunters.”
Ah. Cape, not water, buffalo. Thanks for the correction!
Cape buffalo in Africa
That would be the water buffalo's vicious cousin, the cape buffalo.
I ran into them in Nepal. They don’t like White people. Yaks are worse.
Beautiful big animal. I’d stomp on him too if he left me in that hot dry lettle space.
ANybody who has ever been in the bush in Africa would never make this mistake. They are a very agressive animal.
Not as bad as Hippos, but close...
You are thinking of Cape Buffalo. Cape Buffalo are not domesticated but fully wild African game animals, tough and able to kick the snot out of lions, breaking their jaws.
Water buffalo, on the other hand, are from Asia and have been domesticated for centuries. If raised right from birth, they are fairly docile like regular cattle and are routinely handled by kids in Asia. Of course bulls of any species are another matter, even if domesticated and raised well. Not to mention really large animals have a way of completely disrespecting people who are soft and stupid.
You get animals from an auction it is always a good idea to observe them from a distance for a while and let them settle down, explore their new digs, and become accustomed to you and their new environment. You have no idea what they have been through or how they have been treated and every reason to believe they were in that auction because they were either too old or infirm to breed or too hard or dangerous for their previous owner to handle. Only a day after the commotion and stress of an auction they were probably still really irritated.
Not a recipe for a good time.
“Charolais cattle are a breed known for their large size, heavy muscling, and fast growth rate, making them a popular choice for beef production. Originating from the Charolles region of France, they are typically white or creamy white and have a reputation for being docile and good mothers.”
Well, I don’t know anything about caring for water buffaloes, but having worked in the St. Mary’s Sale Barn, them sons of bitchen animals were not only agile, mobile and hostile, but they might try to kill you. I guess they were good mommas though.
This could be exploited.
What are ya gonna bid for this here meat. Straight from a buffalo that murdered a man!
I’m waiting for the headline that reads:
“Family Devoured By Adopted Emotional Support Honey Badger”
Y’all just KNOW it’ll happen.
“That would be the water buffalo’s vicious cousin, the cape buffalo.”
.
Decades ago, it graced the cover of “Sports Afield” magazine labeled with its African-native name, “Ngo Ngo”.
“Exactly why they attacked is unknown,“
The old conservation agent who wrote “The Nature of the Beast” said of these animals that they are I’ll tempered and VERY dangerous. They’ll mess you up ‘cause it’s Monday…
With many large domestic animals The “Stranger Danger” self defense mode kicks in with them when they change owners and/or location until they get to know the new routines.
Never should’ve invited ‘em to dinner.
These are likely domesticated water buffalo, as the wild type is endangered. They are used for meat, dairy, and as beasts of burden. ChatGPT notes that raising water buffalo can be as safe—or in some respects, safer—than raising cattle, depending on factors such as handling practices, facilities, and familiarity with the animals. Water buffalo may actually be easier to keep healthy, especially in humid, tropical, or marginal environments. They require mud wallows or access to water to stay cool, and fences must be strong.
For both water buffalo and cattle, never trust a bull. Both can be dangerous, but cattle are generally more predictable in modern Western systems.
Someone forgot to tell him water buffalo are mean.
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