Cuba Sends Jamaica Water Buffaloes

Wednesday, April 14, 1999; 6:47 p.m. EDT

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- Fidel Castro, a true fan of water buffalo milk, has sent Jamaica's governor general seven of the animals.

The buffaloes -- one male and six females -- were flown from Cuba last week and are now in quarantine at the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Services Division in Kingston, the state-run Jampress news agency reported Wednesday.

Gov. General Howard Cooke said he and Castro discussed milk during Castro's visit last year.

``President Castro told me that he drank buffalo milk and it was better than cow's milk, and he wanted me to taste the difference,'' Cooke said.

He said two Cuban experts are in Jamaica to help veterinarians with the buffaloes while they are quarantined for two weeks, a standard procedure for imported cattle.

© Copyright 1999 The Associated Press