THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

*Abstracts of Completed Researches. 1987-1992. 1993.
PCRDC-PCARRD, CLSU, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Also in
Abstracts of Water Buffalo Researches in the Phiippines.
1981-1995. 1996. PCC-DA. p. 76-77. Also in Annotated
Bibliography on Philippine Biodiversity: Livestock and Poultry
(Agrobiodiversity) 1949-1997, Carabaos. 2002. p. 391.
R-70
SUPEROVULATORY TREATMENTS AND EMBRYO
TRANSFER IN BUFFALOES*
H. V. Venturina, Science Research Specialist, PCRDC-PCARRD, CLSU
F. A. Venturina, Science Research Analyst, PCRDC-PCARRD, CLSU
N. Lorenzo, Science Research Aide, PCRDC-PCARRD, CLSU
E. C. Atabay, Science Research Specialist, PCRDC-PCARRD, CLSU
L. C. Cruz, Prof., DAS, CLSU and Project Leader, PCRDC-PCARRD, CLSU
Studies were conducted to determine the response of buffaloes
to different superovulation treatments using Porcine Follicle
Stimulating Hormone (FSH-p). Experiment 1 involved
treatement with 44 mg FSH-p on a declining dose initiated either
on mid or late luteal phase. The second experiment tested the
effect of pFSH priming (12 mg) given in two consecutive days
initiated 3 days prior to the main gonadotropin treatments. The
last experiment involved non-surgical transfer of MB embryos
to PC recipients. Embryo was collected and transferred on day
5 of the cycle. The results of experiment 1 showed that the
average number of ovulations per cow were 2.12 (n=19) and
1.0 (n=3) for mid and late luteal phase treatments, respectively.
Number of unovulated follicles greater than 5 mm were almost
similar with a mean of 2.8 + 1.07 and 2.0 + 0.0 for mid and late
luteal phase groups, respectively. Primed animals had a mean
ovulation of 2.6 + 0.74 compare to 2.0 + 1.54 in the unprimed
group. Mean of 2.8 unovulated follicles greater than 5 mm were
observed in both treatments. Results of the non-surgical embryo
transfer showed that the average embryo recovery rate was
2.0 (n=7) per head and percent embryo recovery was about 70
percent. Transfer of four embryos to three recipients resulted to
25% pregnancy rate. Purebred Murrah buffalo calf with
birthweight of 310 kg was delivered normally by the surrogate
mother (PC) after 310 days of gestation period.
Keywords: Philippine carabao, Murrah buffalo,
superovulation, pFSH, embryo transfer
*Technical Report, PCRDC-CLSU. 1991. p. 25. . Also in
Abstracts of Water Buffalo Researches in the Phiippines.
1981-1995. 1996. PCC-DA. p. 77.
R-71
A STUDY ON THE ESTROUS CYCLE LENGTH,
ESTRUS DURATION AND OVULATION TIME IN
PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALOES IN CONFINEMENT
WITH AND WITHOUT COOLING FACILITIES*
90
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
P. Q. Vinh, Graduate Student, DAS-CA, UPLB
V. G. Momongan, Associate Professor, DAS-CA, UPLB
T. A. Abilay, Assistant Professor, DAS-CA, UPLB
A six month experiment using 24 (2 ½ to 3 years old)
caraheifers was conducted at U. P. Los Baños to determine
the effects of different cooling facilities on the estrous cycle
length, duration of estrus and ovulation of Philippine carabaos.
Four treatment groups consisting of I no cooling system; II
with concrete water wallow; III with overhead water sprinkler;
and IV with muddy wallow were evaluated with six animals
per lot. The results obtained from July 1974 to January 1975
indicated no significant effects of cooling provisions on the
parameters studied. Average estrous cycle length of 97
observations was 20.9 + 2.7 days (range: 13 to 28 days)
and estrus duration was 18.5 + 12. 7 hours from the onset of
estrus or 15.3 + 1.7 hours after the end of estrus in 81
observations. Ovulation took place more frequently at night
time than at day time. Carabaos appeared to be left-ovulators
(63.0%) as detected by rectal palpation.
Keywords: caraheifers, cooling facilities, duration of estrus,
estrous cycle length, ovulation time
*Phil. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 1976. 2(4):214 (Abstr). Also in
Momongan, V.G., ed., 1984. A Compendium of Research
Reults and State of Knowledge Report on Smallholder
Buffalo Production System. p. 56. Also in Annotated
Bibliography on Philippine Biodiversity: Livestock and
Poultry (Agrobiodiversity) 1949-1997, Carabaos. 2002.
p. 143.
R-72
SOME REPRODUCTIVE DATA OF THE PHILIPPINE
CARABAO IN CONFINEMENT*
P. Q. Vinh, Ph.D. Student, IAS-CA, UPLB
T. A. Abilay, Consultant, MADECOR
V. G. Momongan, Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
Twenty four estrous cycling carabao heifers, about 2 to 6
½ years old were used to gather benchmark information as
to their reproductive status. Data collected were estrus
cycle, estrus duration, ovulation time and gestation period.
Estrous cycles of carabao heifers had a grand mean of
20.9 + 2.7 days while 21.0 + 1.56 days for carabao cows.
Estrus duration range from 5 to 36 hours in carabao heifers
and 16-35 hours in carabao cows. On the average,
ovulation occurred 34.9 + 12.9 hours after the onset of
estrus or 15.3 + 1.7 hours after the end of estrus.
Caraheifers seemed to ovulate more often at night than at
day time. Carabaos were confirmed to be left ovulators in
51 or 635 of 81 observations recorded. Gestation period in
carabao cows was 345 days, a range of 330 to 359 days.