THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

ight side. With the exception of the first intercostals vein,
all intercostal veins drain into the vena hemiazygos. It
collects blood from the radicles of the first to the fifth intercostal
veins. The hemiazygos empties into the coronary sinus
below the opening of the caudal vena cava on the right
atrium while the azygos terminate at the cranial vena cava.
Keywords: intrathoracic vessels, Philippine carabao
*The Philippine Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 12(1&2):
1-14, 1973. The scientific name of the water buffalo, and
that includes the carabao, is Bubalus bubalis.
A-71
ANGIO-ARCHITECTURE OF THE EXTERNAL EAR
OF THE PHILIPPINE CARABAO*
J. A. Solis, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the
Philippines Diliman
A. B. Diaz, Jr. Instructor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the
Philippines Diliman
A study on the gross anatomy of the external ear of the
Philippine carabao with particular emphasis on its angioarchitecture,
based on the dissection of the auricular organs
and adjacent structures of (12) adult animals of both sexes,
is herein presented. The gross features of the bubaline ear
generally resemble those of the bovine’s with some
exceptions. There appeared no obvious differences with
regard to the external characteristics of the carabao’s ear
between the sexes or between the left and right ears of the
same animal. The vascular supply and drainage of the
external ear of the carabao essentially followed the same
pattern as that of cattle except for a few minor differences in
the course, relations and ramifications of the auricular
vessels, and the formation of extensive vascular networks
and plexuses along the borders, apex and ridges of the
pinna.
Keywords: angio-architecture, external ear, Philippine
carabao
* The Philippine Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 9(1 & 2):
17-26, 1970.
A-72
MUZZLE PRINTING AS A METHOD FOR IDEN-
TIFICATION OF CATTLE AND CARABAOS *
J. A. Solis, Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the
Philippines Diliman
C. P. Maala, Instructor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the
Philippines Los Baños
A new system for identification of animals, particularly
cattle and carabaos, is reported in this paper. It is called
28
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
muzzle printing. This method has evolved out of a detailed
study in which the anatomical features of the muzzle, or
planum nasolabiale, were found to vary greatly from animal
to animal. Muzzle prints taken from two hundred cattle and
carabaos of both sexes, young and old, were so different
from one another that no two prints appeared exactly alike
or identical. Muzzle printing as a means of identification is
simple, practical and reliable. Its use eliminates the
undesirable aspects of such methods as branding with hot
irons or chemicals, tattooing, ear tagging and ear notching.
Not only in veterinary jurisprudence is the need for an
infallible system like muzzle printing to great value,
especially in cases where the identity of prized animals
and claims to their ownership and involved, but also in
sound livestock management and practice where the
individual animals of a valuable herd have to be properly
identified for obvious reasons.
Keywords: muzzle printing, method for identification,
carabao, cattle
*The Philippine Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 14(1): 1-
14, 1975.
A-73
SCANNING ELECTRON, MICROSCOPIC CHARAC-
TERIZATION OF HAIR CUTICLES AND MEDULLARY
PATTERN OF SOME ESPECIALIZED HAIRS OF THE
PHILIPPINE CARABAO (Bubalus bubalis Linneus)*
R. M. Tamayo, Student
Especialized hairs and long hairs of thirty adult male and
female Philippine carabao were examined for surface
morphology and medullary patterns by means of scanning
electron microscope and light microscope, respectively.
Site of collection includes the eyelids, above the eyelids,
muzzle, concave surface of the external ear and the switch
of the tail. The study showed that hairs from the ears,
eyelids and tail of both sexes exhibited an imbricate crenate
cuticular pattern while hairs from the muzzle and the region
above the upper eyelid did not exhibit any scales. Difference
observed between sexes was the more stacked cuticular
scales in the male. The scales on the hair of the external
ear and eyelid of female and tail of male were transversely
oriented, scales of hair from ears of male and tail of female
were irregularly oriented and the hairs from the upper eyelids
of male were obliquely oriented. The dorsal margin of all
the scales observed was serrated. Hairs from the concave
surface of the external ears showed absent, fragmented
and continuous medullary pattern. Highly pigmented hairs
from the ears of male animals showed fragment to absent
medulla. In unpigmented hairs, continuous medulla was