THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

Early pregnancy diagnosis was conducted in 12 lactating
Philippine caracows to determine the effectiveness of
measuring progesterone concentration in milk at 20 to 24
days post-breeding. Milk samples were collected on the
day of artificial insemination (AI) and every other day
thereafter until day 20 to 24 post-breeding, wherein daily
sampling was done. Based on the values attained, pregnant
animals were set for early pregnancy test. Rectal palpation
was done three months months after AI to confirm
pregnancy. Pregnant animals showed consistently high
levels of progesterone concnetration than non-pregnant
animals. Animals that were not pregnant were observed to
return to estrus within three or four weeks after AI. Results
indicated that the rate of success in pregnancy diagnosis
(positive diagnosis) using milk progesterone concentration
was higher (83%) on days 22 to 24 while in the nonpregnant
(negative diagnosis), 100 % accuracy was
attained on day 24 post-breeding. The lower limit in milk
progesterone concentration indicating non-pregnant status
was set at 11.82 ng/ml).
Despite the limited number of pregnant animals used in this
study (6), clearcut limiting concentrations were evident in
classifying pregnant from non-pregnant animals.
Keywords: Philippine carabao, milk progesterone,
pregnancy diagnosis
*Anim. Prod. Tech. 1986. 2(1):45 (Abstr.). Also in Abstracts
of Water Buffalo Researches in the Philippines 1981-1995.
1996. PCC-DA. p. 70-71.
R-58
MILK PROGESTERONE RADIOIMMUNOASSAY: ITS
USE IN THE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT OF
LACTATING PHILIPPINE CARABAO*
N. P. Roxas, Assistant Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
A. S. Sarabia, Science Research Specialist, PCRDC-PCARRD, UPLB
V. G. Momongan, Prof., IAS-CA, UPLB & Proj. Leader, PCRCD-PCARRD,
UPLB
M. Singh, FAO-UNDP Consultant for PCRDC
O. A. Palad, Associate Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
A study on the utilization of milk progesterone by
radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique as a tool in the
characterization of estrous cycle and early detection of
pregnancy was conducted in the six post-partum caracows.
Direct RIA, which is done without steroid extraction, was
carried out with successful classification of different
progesterone levels to the corresponding reproductive status
of the carrabaos. Acceptable precision was attained even
when incubation time was reduced from 16 to 4 hours
REPRODUCTION
through a correctly optimized assay system. Milk fat
content did not influence progesterone values during estrus.
However, at peak progesterone levels, there was positive
correlation (r=0.47) between milk fat and milk progesterone
values. Peak progesterone levels occurred from day 6 to
24 of the estrous cycle. The onset of the follicular
development based on rectal palpation incurred 48.42 +
6.33 days after calving but the first post-partum estrous
cycle did not start until after 95.58 + 22.90 days based on
milk progesterone concentration. Rectal palption related
well with milk progesterone concentration in detecting
animals in estrus or those which had luteal tissue. Postpartum
anestrus can be attributed to failure in the resumption
of ovarian activity as indicated by the basal levels of milk
progesterone. Early pregnancy determination using milk
progesterone level was possible. Accuracy of positive
diagnosis (diagnosed pregnant) was highest (83%) on
day 22 to 24 while in the non-pregnant (negative diagnosis),
100% accuracy can be attained on day 24 post-breeding.
A prositive correlation was observed between plasma and
milk progesterone concentration during the estrous cycle
(r=0.60) and pregnancy (r=0.50). However, progesterone
in milk was observed to be higher than and ran parallel
with that in blood.
Keywords: lactating Philippine carabao, plasma and milk
progesterone, radioimmunoassay, early pregnancy dianosis
*Phil. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 1986. 12(3&4):71-72. (Abstr.).
Also in Abstracts of Water Buffalo Researches in the
Philippines 1981-1995. 1996. PCC-DA. p. 71.
R-59
REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE
PHILIPPINE CARABAO AND CARABAO CROSS-
BREEDS UNDER CONFINEMENT*
A. S. Sarabia, Supervising Science Research Specialist, PCC-UPLB, DA
V. G. Momongan, Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
O. A. Palad, Associate Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
N. P. Roxas, Assistant Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
S. S. Capitan, Assistant Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
A. R. Obsioma, Supervising Science Research Specialist, PCC-UPLB, DA
A study was conducted to evaluate the reproductive
performance of the Philippine carabaos (PC) and
crossbreeds [(PC x Murrah buffalo or Phil-Murrah (PM)
and PC x Nili-Ravi (PR)]. Data gathered in 1985 to 1994
from 49 pre-pubertal and pubertal buffaloes, 49 post-pubertal
and parturient buffaloes and 50 postpartum buffaloes were
analyzed using unbalanced one-way ANOVA. The PM
and PR crossbreeds reached the age of puberty, conceived
and gave birth to a calf, a year earlier than the PC. In
terms of the anatomical measurements of the reproductive
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