THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

supportive structures of hyaline cartilage which separates
the convex from the concave surface. The mammary area
had sparse and fine hair follicles with well-developed
apocrine sweat glands and sebaceous glands which were
not multilobulated. The dermis was characterized by loose
collagenous tissue. Lymphocytes were also present in the
papillary layer of the dermis. The prepuce was characterized
by long bristle-like hair follicles with apocrine sweat glands
and sebaceous glands were not always related to the hair
follicle. Lymphatic nodules were present in the area just
below the epidermis. The stratum corneum of the scrotum
was not very well developed. Hair follicles were not
abundant and they were short and fine. Large apocrine
sweat glands were present and sebaceous glands were
located on the upper portion of the hair follicle. The scrotum
was characterized by the presence of smooth fibers of the
tunica dartos. The interdigital space also had a thickened
and highly cornified epidermis but not as thick as that of the
muzzle skin. It had very few small apocrine sweat glands
and the hair follicles were large but few. Regional skin
variations relating to amount and type of pelage, distribution
and type of glands, and skin thickness were observed and
these are functional adaptations to suit the animal to its
environment.
Keywords: histology, skin, Philippine carabao, Bubalus
bubalis
* Undergraduate thesis, College of Veterinary Medicine,
University of the Philippines Los Baños, 1998.
A-13
OSSA CORDIS OF THE CARABAO (Bubalus
bubalis)*
T. David, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the
Philippines Diliman
Two bones were found in each heart of Philippine water
buffalo 7-19 years of age. The bones were embedded in
the aortic fibrous ring. The right bone measured from 4-5.5
cm long and weighed about 1.5 - 2g. The left one about 2.3
– 3cm long and its weight was 0.2 – 0.4g. No bones were
found in the heart of 1.5 years old Philippine water buffaloes.
The measurements obtained for the Philippine water
buffaloes were smaller than those of cattle. The microscopic
features of the bones were similar to compact bones. The
ossa cordis in the Philippine water buffalo may provide a
firm and secure attachments for the semilunar cusps of the
aortic valve.
Keywords: ossa cordis, carabao, Bubalus bubalis
*The Philippine Journal of Animal Industry, 4(6): 521-528,
1937.
6
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
A-14
EVALUATION OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AND SEMEN
QUALITY OF MURRAH AND CROSSBRED
BUFFALOES*
E. C. de la Peña, Senior Science Research Specialist, Philippine Carabao
Center, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
A. N. del Barrio, Supervising Science Research Specialist, Philippine
Carabao Center, University of the Philippines Los Baños
J. C. Canaria, Farm Superintendent, Philippine Carabao Center, University
of the Philippines Los Baños
B. R. Arenda, Science Research Assistant, Philippine Carabao Center,
University of the Philippines Los Baños
B. A. Oliveros, Associate Professor, Institute of Animals Science, College
of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Ma. F. V. Templado, Student
C. P. Maala, Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University
of the Philippines Los Baños
Four each of Murrah (M), PMF 1 or Phil- Murrah F 1
(Philippine carabao (PC) x M] and PMF 2 (PMF 1 x PMF 1 )
bulls were evaluated for their sexual behavior, semen
quality and sperm biometry. The sexual behavior of bulls
differed significantly (P0.05) was observed in the volume of semen ejaculated
by the bulls. However, the MB tended to give more (2.91
ml) semen than either PMF 1 (2.20 ml) or PMF 2 (1.94 ml)
bulls. The MB had the highest (P0.05) was observed for the length of the
head tail, and the entire length of spermatozoa. However,
the width of the sperm cell heads from the MB and PMF 2
were wider (P