THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

V. S. Subere, Former M. S. Student, Department of Animal Science, College
of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
B. A. Parker, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, College
of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Nine hundred (900) farmers raising carabaos were
interviewed and the same number of Philippine carabao
were measured to: 1) determine some management
practices adopted by farmers; 2) identify some physical
characteristic features of the carabaos; and 3) ascertain the
physiological responses of carabaos under field
conditions. Frequent counts, percentages and means were
used to describe the management practices adopted and
the physiological responses. A 2 x 3 x 3 factorial in a
completely randomized design with unequal number of
observations was used to analyze the data on physical
features. The majority of the farmers in the Visayan region
raised carabaos for draft. They preferred the male carabao
to female for work. Fattening and milking practices were
relatively poor. Working ability of the animal is comparable
to that observed in other parts of the Philippines and other
Asian countries. Mating and reproduction practices were
poor. General management practices adopted by farmers
varied according to regions, households and individuals.
The improved strain of carabao is relatively bigger than the
native strain. Interaction effects among different strains,
sexes, and ages were observed. The 11-20 years old
improved steers had the highest body measurements and
the 3-5 years old native females had the lowest. Pulse,
respiration and body temperature were similar among the
three age groups of carabaos.
Keywords: characteristic features of the carabao,
management practices, Visayan region
*M. S. Thesis. 1978. Department of Animal Science-
College of Agriculture, UPLB. 117 p.
F-72
THE GRAZING BEHAVIOR OF CARABAOS
(BUBALUS BUBALIS LINN.) UNDER NATIVE
PASTURE DURING WET AND DRY SEASONS*
J. S. Viray, Former M. S. Student, Department of Animal Science, College
of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Six yearling female carabaos were used to observe the
grazing and other behavioral patterns under Themeda
pasture. Grazing was observed to be dominant pasture
activity being 38.49% of the 24 hour period. Grazing was
significantly (P