THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

tract and ovaries, there was no significant difference
(P>0.05) among breedtypes indicating that size and weight
of the animal at puberty had no bearing on the development
of the reproductive system. At pre-pubertal and follicular
stages, the plasma progesterone concentration was below
0.5 ng/ml. As sexual maturity was attained, the plasma
progesterone level subsequently increased, as the corpus
luteum {C} was formed after ovulation. The mean plasma
progesterone concentrations at first luteal stage were 2.68
+ 1.16 ng/ml for the PC, and 2.5 + 1.03 ng/ml and 2.32 +
0.93 ng/ml for PM and PR crossbreeds, respectively.
Breedtypes did not differ in their post-partum reproductive
performance with respect to uterine and cervix involutions,
ovarian activity, behavior estrus, service period and calving
interval.
Keywords: Philippine carabao, crossbreed, confinement,
puberty, progesterone concentration,
*Proceedings of the PSAS at the 32 nd Annual Convention,
PICC, October 26-27, 1995. p. 245-260. Also in PCC R
& D Highlights 1994-1996. 1997. p. 14-16. Also in Abstracts
of Water Buffalo Researches in the Philippines 1981-1995.
1996. PCC-DA. p. 74. Also in Annotated Bibliography on
Philippine Biodiversity: Livestock and Poultry
(Agrobiodiversity) 1949-1997, Carabaos. 2002. p. 285.
R-60
POST-PARTUM UTERINE INVOLUTION AND
OVARIAN ACTIVITY IN PHILIPPINE CARABAO
COWS*
A. S. Sarabia, Science Research Specialist, PCRDC-PCARRD, UPLB
O. A. Palad, Associate Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
V. G. Momongan, Prof., IAS-CA, UPLB & Proj. Leader, PCRDC-PCARRD,
UPLB
Sixty-four post partum suckled carabao-cows, five to ten
years old, which calved between January, 1983 and
December 1986 were used in the study to establish the
post-partum uterine involution and resumption of ovarian
activity so that recommendations can be made with regards
to subsequent breeding of carabaos after calving to reduce
service period. Results of the study indicated that uterine
and cervical involution in female carabao-cow was
completed on day 50.33 + 11.77 post-partum. Based on
this observation, carabao-cow could be bred as early as
55 days post-partum provided it shows cyclicity and nothing
abnormal is detected in its reproductive organs by rectal
palpation. However, the first post-partum estrus did not
come until after 133.32 + 78.92 days. Findings of rectal
palpation showed that of the 64 pregnancies, 59% was
maintained in the left horn while 41% was in the right horn.
The gestation period in carabao-cows averaged 316.94 +
86
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
8.99 days. The service period or the duration from the time
of parturation until conception was classified into (a) early
(between 60-150 days); (b) medium (151-240 days); and
(c) late (241 days above). It was observed that more than
50% of the experimental carabaos fall under the late service
period category. The overall calving interval or the duration
between two consecutive calvings averaged 627.84 +
190.77 days or 1.72 + 0.52 years. The results indicated
that the return of the reproductive tract of carabao-cows to
normal non-pregnant condition was longer than in the other
buffalo breeds reported. Furthermore, the results of other
reproductive parameters showed the reproductive efficiency
of the female Philippine carabao. This implies that there
are a lot more to be done to improve the reproductive
performance of the animal, particularly the shortening of the
service period or the early induction of the post-partum
ovarian activity.
Keywords: calving interval, gestation period, post-partum
ovarian activity, service period, uterine and cervical
involution
*Abstract of Completed Researches 1981-1995. (1985).
PCC-DA, UPLB, College, Laguna. Also in Phil. J. Vet.
Anim. Sci. 1985. 11 (3 & 4): 37 (Abstr.). Also in Abstracts
of Water Buffalo Researches in the Philippines. 1981-1995.
1996. PCC-DA. p. 72-73. Also in Annotated Bibliography
on Philippine Biodiversity: Livestock and Poultry
(Agrobiodiversity) 1949 - 1997, Carabaos. 2002. p. 326.
R-61
BLOOD PLASMA PROGESTERONE PROFILES
DURING PREGNANCY, PARTURITION AND POST-
PARTUM IN PHILIPPINE CARABAO COWS (Bubalus
bubalis Linn.)*
A. S. Sarabia, University Researcher, PCRDC-PCARRD, UPLB
N. P. Roxas, Assistant Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
O. A. Palad, Associate Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
M. Singh, FAO-UNDP Consultant for PCRDC
V. G. Momongan, Prof., IAS-CA, UPLB & Proj. Leader, PCRDC-PCARRD,
UPLB
Studies were conducted to establish the plasma
progesterone levels in relation to pregnancy, parturation
and post-partum in thirteen pregnant and twenty post-partum
carabao cows in confinement. Both plasma progesterone
and rectal palpation were utilized to determine post-partum
ovarian changes. The result indicated that plasma
progesterone was very low at the time of insemination
(1.45 + 0.145 ng/ml). The value gradually increased
above 2.07 + 0.25 ng/ml on the third trimester of pregnancy
(days 183-320). However, at about 15 days pre-partum,
plasma progesterone increased to a peak of 2.590 + 0.906