THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

M. S. Banes, Research Assistant, Department of Animal Science, College
of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Microbial counts on the rumen contents of slaughtered
carabaos showed that carabaos from Cebu had the highest
mean total bacterial counts per ml of rumen fluid (51.79 x
10 10 /ml). Followed by carabaos from Iloilo (37.93 x 10 10 ),
Zamboanga (25.93 x 10 10 ). On the other hand, the mean
total protozoa counts of carabaos from Cotabato was the
highest (22.91 x 10 5 /ml) compared with those Iloilo (13.50
x 10 5 /ml) and Zamboanga (8.93 x 10 5 /ml). On the bacterial
population 89 to 98% are Gram negative cocci. Grampositive
cocci ranged from less than 1% to 8%. The rods
are of minor class. Total bacterial count (TBC) for the
fasted female carabaos ranged from 15.96 to 57.97 x 10 10 /
ml while that of the non-fasted ranged from 37.55 x 10 10 /ml.
On the other hand, TBC for male (steer and bull) showed
higher mean values for non-fasted and lower mean values
for fasted. The mean TBC for steers was 26.74 x 10 10 /ml
and 30.63 x 10 10 / ml for the fasted and non-fasted
respectively. Similarly, the mean TBC for bull was 30.63
x 10 10 /ml and 41.50 x 10 10 /ml for fasted and non-fasted,
respectively, these values were higher than those of the
steers. The mean total protozoal control (TPC) for the
fasted and non-fasted animals were 10.58 x 10 5 /ml and
11.78 x 10 5 /ml, respectively. Similarly, the mean TPC for
the fasted steers (16.07 x 105/ml) and bulls (9.22 x 10 5 /ml)
were slightly lower than that of the non-fasted (15.41 x 10 5 /
ml and 12.06 x 10 5 /ml, respectively), although their
differences were not as marked as compared to TBC. A
high percentage of bacterial population were mostly Gram
(-) cocci. The mean value for female (88.72%) was
slightly lower than that of the male (90.08%) and also for
fasted carabao (92.72%). On the other hand, the other
minor constituents, (Gram (+) cocci and rods and Gram (-
) rods were higher for the females than for the males and for
the non-fasted than for the fasted carabaos.
Keywords: microbial counts in the rumen, slaughtered
carabaos
*Abstracts of Completed Researches. 1973-1995. (1976).
IAS-CA, UPLB. Compiled by A. T. Banzon, N. L. de
Castro, S. M. Ramos, F. F. Peñalba and D. B. Roxas. p.
32-33.
F-37
BOTANICAL COMPOSITION OF HERBAGE GRAZED
BY CARABAOS FROM NATIVE PASTURE DURING
DRY SEASON*
P. A. Mallari, Student, Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture,
Central Luzon State University
114
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
D. D. Lorenzo, Instructor, Department of Animal Science, College of
Agriculture, Central Luzon State University
S. S. Bumagat, 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
Nine (9) yearling native carabaos were utilized for grazing
observation to determine the species and the relative
herbage composition of grazed forages and the effect
stocking rate on grazed herbage composition and their
relative proportion. Experimental animals were randomly
assigned into three (3) different stocking rate of 0.3, 1.5 and
0.7 a.u. per hectare and were grazed on native pasture
over a three-month dry period. Themeda was consistently
the dominant botanical/forage component consumed by
carabaos grazing on native pasture during the dry months
of January to March; Heteropogon and Imperata were 2.7
and 3.8 times lesser than Themeda. Interspecific viability
in the botanical composition displayed a constant pattern
all throughout the duration of observation. Stocking rate did
not affect the botanical composition and relative apparent
intake by grazing carabaos. Stocking rate of 0.5 a.u.
however, encouraged a little higher intake of heteropogon
and imperata, as compared to the other stocking rates.
Keywords: dry season, herbage species, stocking rate,
yearling native carabaos
*Abstracts of Completed Studies. 1981-1996. (1981).
PCRDC-PCARRD, CLSU, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Also
in OED-PCC-DA Abstracts: Water Buffalo Research in
the Philippines. 1981-1995. p. 136.
F-38
A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE SERUM CALCIUM,
INORGANIC PHOSPHORUS AND CHOLESTEROL
LEVELS OF CATTLE AND CARABAOS
SLAUGHTERED AT THE NATIONAL ABATTOIR*
A.C. Maza, Analytical Chemist, Bureau of Animal Industry
C. M. Dizon, Animal Feed Technologist, Animal Disease and Parasite
Research Division, Bureau of Animal Industry
Blood samples collected from 337 cattle and 121 carabaos
slaughtered at the national abattoir, Valenzuela, Bulacan
were analyzed for serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus
and cholesterol. Cattle had mean serum calcium of 10.92
± 1.2 mg percent. Age and sex did not affect the serum
calcium level. The inorganic phosphorus in the serum of
cattle was 3.97 ± 0.16 mg percent and in that of carabaos,
4.03 ± 0.13 mg percent. Age and sex did not influence the
level of inorganic phosphorus in both species. Serum
cholesterol was a variable blood constituent even between
sample in a group. Cattle showed a level of 138.29 ±