“Some people raise an eyebrow when they see buffalo grazing in the village. But even before we produced our first pint in March 2003, we found there was a real demand for the product.

            “We know we are the only farm in the UK having launched this milk. However, I expected to find it in other European countries, particularly Italy. I was recently told that Italy probably does not have liquid buffalo milk as it is all turned into mozzarella. Could it be that we are the only source of bottled buffalo milk in Western Europe, and that buffalo milk is only drunk in Eastern Europe Asia and the East?

            “Buffalo milk contains less water than cows milk, and is very rich, creamy and nutritious. In fact it has twice the butterfat of cows milk with higher protein and vitamins. However, the cholesterol is almost half that of cows milk, and is even lower than goats milk.

            “It is true that the buffalo gives under half the quantity of cows, but because of the quality it can be used for a wide range of products and can be drunk by people who would otherwise be allergic to cows milk. Since launching the milk we have been utterly amazed at the number of people who have found that the buffalo milk has cleared up a particular medical problem. We were aware that the buffalo milk could help in the treating of cystic fibrosis, eczema as well as certain allergies, but it was not until we started to get feedback from people that we realised that buffalo milk was able to clear up many eczema cases within just 1-2 weeks!

            “For instance, a lady came to the door and said her 18 month old child had bad eczema and had been under doctor treatment for months without success. She put the child onto buffalo milk, making sure that all traditional cow dairy produce was withdrawn - two weeks later she returned with her little boy and said ‘look at him, - the eczema has completely cleared.’ I was as amazed as she, but since then we have had dozens of people saying exactly the same.

            “Irritable bowel is another condition that many people suffer with (I was one sufferer when we milked cows; it cleared for me only when we got the buffalos). All of this is very exciting for us and we are now finding that people are recommended to move onto buffalo milk to help in the treatment of all sorts of conditions.”   

            Nick is confident that the farm’s success will not stop at buffalo milk. Plans are underway to employ a top Italian cheesemaker to make high quality mozzarella and the farm also intends to produce Buffalo ice cream.

             “Buffalos are far more friendly and placid than cows. When we have open days for visitors they queue up to have their coats groomed with hair brushes.”

            Buffalo Gold Milk, with its distinctive yellow-cap, costs £1.60 per litre bottle, and is available from Waitrose stores in Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard, Berkhamsted, Chesham, Harpenden and now Cambridge. Farm visits are encouraged.