THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

(DDMI) of rice straw per 100 kg body weight (W) was
2.86, 2.31 and 2.45 kg for animals confined in these different
ways. Expressed on the basis of metabolic body weight,
the DMI was 0.116, 0.03 and 0.096 kg/kg W 0.75 . In
experiment 2, the carabaos were given long rice straw ad
libitum and concentrate supplement fed at 1% body weight.
The dry matter intake (DMI) of rice straw was 1.77, 1.45
and 1.76 kg/100 kg W. for each method of confinement,
while the total DMI (including concentrate) was 2.57, 2.27
and 2.53 kg/100 kg W. The DMI of rice straw expressed
on the basis of kg/100 kg W or kg/kg W 0.75 was lower than
in experiment 1 because of substitution by the concentrate
mixture. All animals gained weight during experiment 2.
In experiment 3, the DMI of long rice straw was compared
to that of chopped rice straw and chopped rice straw soaked
in water. Soaking was for two hours after which the straw
was allowed to drain for three hours. All animals were
supplemented with concentrate mix at 0.5% of body weight.
The DMI of long rice straw in the three methods of
confinement averaged 1.51 kg/100 kg W or 0.063 kg/kg
W 0.75 . The corresponding values for chopped rice straw
were 1.62 and 0.67 kg, while those for chopped and soaked
rice straw increased intake, but soaking the chopped straw
had no additional effect on the intake of straw. This was
despite the fact that soluble oxalates decreased from 1.1%
before soaking to 0.2% after soaking, a reduction of about
70% in oxalate content of the straw.
Keywords: carabao intake, chopped, concentrate
supplementation, long soaked rice straw
*Abstracts of Researches, 1981-1995. PCC-DA, UPLB.
Also in OED-PCC-DA Abstracts: Water Buffalo
Researches in the Philippines, 1981-1995. p. 11-12.
F-21
VOLUNTARY INTAKE OF CARABAOS FED RICE
STRAW IN THREE METHODS OF CONFINEMENT*
L. S. Castillo, Professor, Institute of Animal Science, College of Agriculture,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
D. B. Roxas, Associate Professor, Institute of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
M. A. Chavez, Former Research Assistant, Institute of Animal Science,
College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
V. G. Momongan, Professor, Institute of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
S. K. Ranjhan, Former FAO Consultant
Nine carabaos were confined individually; three were
tethered with nose rope, three in box stalls (2x3 m), and
three in elevated metabolism stalls. Each was fed long
rice straw for two months with water given three times a
day in concrete water troughs. Salt lick and salt-bonemeal-limestone
mixtures were provided at all times. The
average rice straw daily dry matter intake (DDMI) per 100
FEEDING AND NUTRITION
kg body weight (BW) was 2.86, 2.31 and 2.5 kg,
respectively, Expressing the DDMI as BW 0.75 gave the
corresponding value of 0.116, 0.103 and 0.096 kg per
BW 0.75 . All animals were losing weight, implying the poor
nutritional value even for maintenance of rice straw only
as feed. In the second experiment, the carabaos were fed
long rice straw supplemented with a concentrate supplement
at 1.0 percent of body weight. The corresponding rice
straw DDMI (with concentrate) was 2.57, 2.27 and 2.53
kg per 100 kg BW for each method of confinement. The
DDMI for long rice straw expressed, as kg per BW 0.75 was
lower compared to the previous experiment because of the
substitution by the concentrate mixture. All animals in this
trial gained weight. With regard to the methods of
confinement, tethering (the common practice used by
backyard farmers) seems to have an advantage over box
stalls or metabolism stalls.
Keywords: carabao, confinement, concentrate
supplementation, rice straw intake, tethering
*Abstracts of Completed Researches, 1981-1995 (1982).
PCC-DA, UPLB. Also in OED-PCC-DA Abstracts: Water
Buffalo Researches in the Philippines. 1981-1995. p. 10-
11 and in the Phil. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 1982 v. 8 (1 and 2).
p. 41-42.
F-22
THE ENERGY AND PROTEIN REQUIREMENT OF
MATURE CARABAO*
L. S. Castillo, Professor, Institute of Animal Science, College of Agriculture,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
D. B. Roxas, Associate Professor, Institute of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
R. M. Lapitan, Supervising Science Research Specialist, Philippine
Carabao Center, Department of Agriculture, University of the Philippines
Los Baños
M. A. Chavez, Former Research Assistant, Institute of Animal Science,
College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
E. E. Abenir, University Research Associate, Dairy Training and Research
Institute, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
L. P. Palo, Associate Professor, Dairy Training and Research Institute,
College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
I. C. Romero, Jr., Former Science Research Specialist, Philippine Carabao
Center, Department of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
V. G. Momongan, Professor, Institute of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
S. K. Ranjhan, Former FAO Consultant
A group of carabao heifers was fed individually with grain
silage for an adjustment period of three months. During an
experimental period of 164 days corn/silage was fed,
supplemented with concentrate to provide 80,100, 120%
of the suggested requirements for energy and protein. The
experimental design was 3x3 factorial for the three levels
of protein and energy. Rice straw was given in small
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