What was the primary agricultural use emphasized for the Swamp buffalo during its domestication?
Answer
Draft work (plowing) in flooded fields
The domestication process for the Swamp buffalo, which likely occurred in Southeast Asia or China, prioritized traits beneficial for intensive rice cultivation. Because rice paddies require working in muddy, waterlogged conditions, early farmers selected for Swamp buffalo that possessed robust structures and high tolerance for deep mud, making them exceptionally capable draft animals used for plowing. This contrasts sharply with the selection criteria used for the River buffalo, where the primary focus in regions like the Indian subcontinent was maximizing milk production, leading to selection for traits like later maturity and increased udder capacity.
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