THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

seasons of the year, it is red. The head is short, wide and
dished; the pole, wide and flat. The ears are mediumsized
and lie horizontally below the horns. The neck is in
proportion to the length of the body. White spots are scattered
below the neck. A pad of muscle develops over the neck
in a masculine male. A white band lies across over the
brisket. The withers are well-formed. The front legs are a
little splay-footed but strong. The body is long and broad.
The chest is deep and fairly white. The ribs are wellsprung,
the underline is low. The rear flank is full. The
hindquarters are long, wide, deep, well-muscled, but
drooping. The rump is wide and sloping. The hip and thigh
are muscular and wide. The hind legs are cow-hocked.
The tailhead is big; the tail, medium long; and the switch,
bushy. The Philippine carabao thrives under adverse
conditions and subsists on local varieties of forage without
supplementary grain feeding. A liberal supply of a mixture
of grass, rice straw, and leguminous forage would improve
its condition. Molasses and copra meal are low priced
concentrates that can be used during the crop season. The
Philippine carabao is gentle and obedient on the plow or
cart. It is strong, steady, and has stamina. A big one can
even haul logs in the forest.
Keywords: Philippine carabao description, work capacity
of carabao
*Livestock Production in the Philippines 1958. Published
and distributed by Agricultural Credit and Cooperative
Financing Administration, Manila. p. 51-52.
98
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO