CityNews – A buffalo has been valued at 5 million baht after it won the Lanna Buffalo contest at the National Agricultural Fair (NAF) at Maejo University.
The first Lanna Buffalo contest was held at Maejo University on March 2, part of the NAF event held each year to promote agriculture and local produce.
Asst.Prof.Dr. Kodchoporn Siripokakit opened the event and said that the contest was organised to engage with people interested in learning and exchanging information and experiences of buffalo, such as breeding, sickness prevention and animal food.
The number of buffalo has been steadily decreasing in Thailand causing the Department of Livestock and Thai buffalo conservationists to join together and promote the buffalo.
More than 20 buffalo joined the competition and were divided into male and female before competing against each other. Judges looked at seven points of the animal including the eyes, neck and neck hair and the hooves.
The winner was a 7-year-old male called Bai Yok, weighing 1.2 tons, owned by Sirikorn Masit from Phitsanulok. Bai Yok’s estimated value was given as 5 million baht, and has won more than 30 contests around Thailand.