A buffalo farm in Tsar Kaloyan will open to visitors on 24 October from 10:00 to 14:00, the Bioselena Foundation for Organic Farming said. Entry is free and no advance registration is needed.

The hosts are the farm's owners, a family of veterinarians. Guests will see how the farm is switching from conventional to organic livestock farming. The day is also suitable for families with young children.

Visitors will learn about the Bulgarian Murrah breed, how the animals are looked after, and how buffalo milk and cheese are made. They can feed and water the buffaloes, and children will meet the young calves. There will be a tasting of freshly milked buffalo milk, cheese and local foods.

The owners started keeping buffaloes in spring 2005 with 10 animals. The herd now numbers 100, about 80 of them milking, and the farm produces an average of about 85 tonnes of milk a year. The animals are kept in barns and on pasture. Some of the herd have won prizes in competitions, including the title "Miss Buffalo Cow".

In 2015 the farm won a gold medal at the Agra exhibition for an eco-friendly hot water system powered by renewable sources. According to the organisers, it was among the first of its kind in Bulgaria. The same year, the farm held an open day to show the system in operation.

Moving to organic production is the family's new step this year. "We are still in transition and still learning, but we believe we will succeed," the owners say.

The day is organised together with the Bulgarian-Swiss project "Together for Nature – Citizens for a Green Future", which is carried out with support from the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme. The project promotes nature protection by involving citizens and working with responsible businesses and local communities.

This farm is the fifth to hold an open day under the initiative.