THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

FEEDING AND NUTRITION
F-1
OBSERVATION ON THE GRAZING BEHAVIOR OF
CARABAO (BUBALUS BUBALIS LINN.) UNDER
THEMEDA PASTURE DURING WET SEASON*
L. B. Aglibo, Student, Department of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, Central Luzon State University
D. D. Lorenzo, Instructor, Department of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, Central Luzon State University
J. S. Viray, Instructor, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture,
Central Luzon State University
Twelve (12) yearling native carabaos grazing on Themeda
grassland were observed from May to October, 1980 to
determine their grazing behaviour under different stocking
rate of 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 animal unit per hectare. Average
daytime grazing was 410.64 min. (approximately 6.8 h) or
around forty-eight (48) percent longer compared to night
time grazing period of 211.48 min. (3.5 h). Daytime grazing
has insignificantly affected P=0.14) by daytime temperature
(26°C). Carabaos spent around 244.89 min (4.08 h)
wallowing equivalent to 34% of the daytime (12 h) activity
of the animals. Animals ruminated for 170.41 min. percent
while wallowing. The animals spent around 70% of their
total wallowing time for ruminating. Shade-seeking activity
of the animals was recorded at 33.57 min. (0.56 h) for the
month of June and at 86.75 min. (1.4 h) during the month of
October.
Keywords: carabao grazing behavior, themeda pasture,
wet season
*Abstracts of Completed Researches. 1981-1986. (1982)
PCRDC-PCARRD, CLSU, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Also
in OED-PCC-DA Abstracts: Water Buffalo Researches
in the Philippines. 1981–1995. p. 129.
F-2
DIGESTIBILITY AND VOLUNTARY FEED INTAKE
STUDIES OF GRAZING CARABAO UNDER
THEMEDA (THEMEDA TRIANDRA FORKS) RANGE
PASTURE. III. DETERMINATION OF VOLUNTARY
INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY BY CHROMIC OXIDE-
FECAL NITROGEN RATIO TECHNIQUE WITH
CARAHEIFERS DURING DRY SEASON*
E. E. America, Student, Department of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, Central Luzon State University
B. H. Romulo, Instructor, Department of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, Central Luzon State University
D. L. Aquino, Science Research Specialist, Philippine Carabao Research
and Development Center, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources
Research Development, Central Luzon State University
FEEDING AND NUTRITION
G. T. Concepcion, Science Research Assistant, Philippine Carabao
Research and Development Center, Philippine Council for Agriculture and
Resources Research Development, Central Luzon State University
A total of six caraheifers with ages and weight varying
from two to three years and from 280 kg to 297 kg,
respectively, were used in the study during summer to
determine the voluntary dry matter (DM) intake and
digestibility of grazed Themeda using chromic-oxide
nitrogen ratio technique. The mean digestibility coefficients
obtained from DM, digestible fiber (DF), ether extract (EE),
and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) were 25.13 ± 3.34, 47.18
± 2.83, 50.35 ± 6.55, and 42.46 ± 2.00 percent,
respectively. The mean voluntary DM intake of grazing
caraheifers was found to be 3.01 ± 0.11 kg or around 1.04
percent of the body weight of the animals. The digestible
energy of Themeda was 356.08 ± 74.84 cal/gram.
Regression equation for digestibility of DM (Y) on fecal
nitrogen concentration (X) was calculated as Y = 24.17 =
0.83 X.
Keywords: caraheifers, chromic oxide-fecal ratio,
digestibility and voluntary feed intake, Themeda pasture
*Abstracts of Completed Researches. 1981-1986.
PCRDC-PCARRD, CLSU, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Also
in OED-PCC-DA Abstracts: Water Buffalo Researches in
the Philippines. 1981-1995. p. 8-9.
F-3
UREA-MOLASSES-MINERAL BLOCK (UMMB) AND
UREA-TREATED THEMEDA (THEMEDA TRIANDRA
FORSK) HAY AS SUPPLEMENT TO GROWING
CARABAOS GRAZING DURING THE DRY SEASON*
D. L. Aquino, Science Research Specialist, Philippine Carabao Research
and Development Center, Central Luzon State University
S. P. Neric, Professor, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture,
Central Luzon State University
S. K. Ranjhan, FAO Consultant
Thirty-two grazing buffaloes of two age groups (6-12 months
and 12-24 months old) grazing on themeda pasture were
subjected to the following dietary treatments: T 1 – untreated
themeda hay; T 2 – untreated themeda hay + urea-molassesmineral
block (UMMB); T 3 – urea-treated themeda hay;
and T 4 – urea-treated themeda hay + UMMB to determine
their growth performance during dry season. Urea-treated
themeda hay was prepared by sprinkling 4% urea solution
to an equal weight of themeda hay treated for three weeks.
UMMB and mineral mix were fed at the rate of 300 g and
70 g, respectively per head daily. Supplementary themeda
hay (treated or untreated) fed to 6-12 months old carabaos
without UMMB was comparable in terms of average daily
gain (ADG) dry matter intake (DMI), total protein efficiency,
99