KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian buffalo was put through a DNA test after two feuding farmers both claimed ownership of the animal, a news report said on Thursday.
 
The six-month-old animal had been the object of a tussle between Zulkifli Setapa and Isa Muhamad since December - when Isa claimed that his neighbour had stolen the animal.
 
Both men finally decided this month to put the buffalo through a DNA test conducted by the Animal Services Department in the northern state of Kelantan.
 
"The test results show that the buffalo belongs to Zulkifli," state department director Idris Kadir was quoted as saying by the Malay-language Berita Harian newspaper.
 
Department officers conducted the test, using blood and hair samples from the contested animal and other buffaloes belonging to the two men, he said. Both farmers agreed to share the 500-ringgit ($143) cost of conducting the test.
 
The buffalo, which is worth about 1,500 ringgit, was immediately returned to Zulkifli.