THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

growth performance, physiological responses, reproductive
performance
*Ph.D. Thesis. 1977. DAS-CA, UPLB/ Also in Phil. J.
Vet. Anim. Sci. 1977 v. 3 (3 and 4) p. 109.110.
F-27
EFFECT OF RICE BRAN SUPPLEMENTATION ON
THE DRAFT POWER OF CARABAOS IN STA.
BARBARA, PANGASINAN*
A. C. de Luna, Research Assistant, Institute of Animal Science, College
of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
C. C. Sevilla, Assistant Professor, Institute of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
E. C. Castro, Assistant Professor, AMDP, College of Engineering and
Agricultural Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños
L. M. Manlongat, Research Assistant, Institute of Animal Science, College
of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
R. M. Sanchez, Research Assistant, Institute of Animal Science, College
of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Six farmer-owned carabaos [440-550 kg liveweight (LW)]
were randomly divided into treatment and control groups.
Animals in the treatment group were fed with rice bran at
0.5% of liveweight in addition to conventional feeds of rice
straw; wees, and other farm by-products. Control groups
of animal were subjected to farmer’s system of feeding of
conventional feeds. Draft was measured by allowing the
animals to pull a sledge of varying loads for about 15
minutes. Supplementation of rice bran helped reduce the
seasonal loss of the animals’ weight. There were no
significant differences in the draft and power generated by
the animals in the control and treatment groups. However,
a trend of slower pulse rate and respiration rate among
animals in the treatment groups than those in the control
group indicated positive response to supplementation. A
fatigue test is needed to determine the sustainable work
performance of Philippine carabaos. Preliminary data are
presented to relate nutritional status and draftability of
Philippine carabao on–farm. Rice bran supplementation
was done to minimize if not prevent liveweight loss of
animals.
Keywords: carabao, draft power, rice bran
* Philippine Journal of Veterinary and Animal Science.
1991. v. 17(1-2). pp. 53-54.
F-28
THE YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF
NAPIER GRASS (PENISETUM PURPUREUM
SCHUM.) AND ITS INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY AND
NITROGEN RETENTION BY CATTLE VERSUS
CARABAO AS AFFECTED BY STAGE OF GROWTH
AND SEASON*
110
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
J. R. Escaño, Former Instructor, Department of Animal Husbandry, College
of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
C. B. Perez, Jr., Assistant Professor and Chairman, Department of Animal
Husbandry, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
A. L. Ordoveza, Assistant Professor, Dairy Training and Research Institute,
College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Nine digestibility trials on napier grass were conducted
during the wet and dry seasons from October, 1967 to
March 1968 with cattle and carabao. These trials were
supplemented with systematic field sampling for yield and
chemical composition data. An increase in crude fiber and
a decrease in crude protein content were the remarkable
features observed as the grass advanced in age at 3
stages of regrowth studies, 30, 45 and 60 days. No
definite trend was observed in other proximate chemical
constituents. A general decrease in the digestion coefficients
of all nutrients were observed with age. However,
significant effect was observed only with crude fiber
(P