THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

characteristics, production and reproductive traits imply
potential and practical basis to accurately distinguish
genetic differences between breed groups, especially in
the absence of breeding history and factual pedigree and
identification records on-farm. Results of the karyotype
analyses and their relationships with production and
reproductive traits in water buffaloes can be applied in the
design and development of local selection, crossbreeding,
and/or conservation programs. Differences between pure
breeds and their crosses in terms of percent heterosis and
advantage over the Philippine carabao will be useful in the
design and development of systematic crossbreeding
programs useful in the dominant local production and
marketing systems. Indirect selection for overall
productivity based on the karyotypic characteristics of
breeding animals can be practiced at a much earlier age,
thereby reducing generation interval considerably. Because
of the requirements for laboratory facilities and expertise,
the use of karyotype analysis is however recommended
for the gene pool and institutional herds such as those
maintained by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in aid
of the establishment of a national buffalo registry and
implementation of a national breeding program for water
buffaloes.
Keywords: Philippine carabao, Indian Murrah, Bulgarian
Murrah, karyotype, karyotypic characteristics, economic
traits
*Completed Research Studies, 1996-2002, (2003) PCC
at UPLB.
B-10
ESTIMATED BREEDING VALUES AND GENETIC
TRENDS OF BODYWEIGHTS AT BIRTH UP TO 36
MONTHS OF AGE OF WATER BUFFALOES AT PCC
AT UPLB*
O. L. Bondoc, Assistant Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
C. D. Salazar, Undergraduate Student, IAS-CA, UPLB
Using the Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) mixed
model methodology, the bodyweight record at birth, six,
12, 24 and 36 months of age of 171 water buffaloes born
between 1983 and 1994 from 30 sires and 93 dams of
PCC at UPLB were evaluated. Male water buffaloes
were heavier than the females at birth by 0.97 kg, at six
months by 6.67 kg and at 24 months of age by 3.10 kg.
However, males were lighter than females at 12 and 36
months of age by 5.47 and 7.8 kg, respectively. Maximum
body weights at birth, sixth and twelfth month of age were
recorded in the months of May, December, and January,
respectively. The Murrah buffaloes were found to have the
50
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
highest sixth and 36 th month bodyweights, while the 50%
PC: 50% Nili-Ravi produced the heaviest bodyweights at
birth and twelfth month of age. On the other hand, the 50%
PC: 50% Murrah had the highest 24 th month bodyweight.
In general, the Murrah sires produced offsprings with heavier
bodyweights at all ages. In terms of producing bodyweights
of offsprings from birth up to twelfth month of age, the 50%
PC: 50% Murrah and pure PC’s seemed to be the best
breed of dams at PCC-UPLB. The phenotypic trends of
all body weight measurements were the same from 1983
to 1994 except for bodyweights at 24 and 36 th months of
age that were observed to decrease from 1983 to 1986.
On the basis of the average phenotypic change per year,
bodyweight measurements of buffaloes at all ages
decreased at a range of –8.7 to 0.35 kg/yr except at six
months of age. On the other hand, the genetic trend for
each bodyweight from birth to 36 months fluctuated from
1983 to 1994. Yearly genetic gains of bodyweights at all
ages were almost zero. Based on the results, the cow
indices and sire proofs obtained can be used as one of the
criteria for selecting breeding animals. In order to obtain
higher selection intensity for sires, fewer tested sires must
be used relative to the number of dams.
Keywords: Philippine carabao, Murrah buffalo,
crossbreeds, estimated breeding values, genetic trends of
bodyweight
*PCC-OED-DA Philippine Carabao R & D Highlights
1994-1996 (1997) p. 1-2.
B-11
CORRELATIONS BETWEEN BODY WEIGHTS AT
DIFFERENT AGES OF WATER BUFFALOES*
O. L. Bondoc, Assistant Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
C. D. Salazar, Undergraduate Student, IAS-CA, UPLB
A. S. Sarabia, Supervising Science Research Specialist, PCC-DA,
UPLB
Correlation between body weights at different ages were
studied using records of one hundred and seventy-one
(171) water buffaloes born between 1983 and 1994 at the
Philippine Carabao Center, PCC at UPLB. Highly
significant phenotypic correlation coefficients involving body
weight at one year of age were high (r = 0.57 to 0.80). On
the other hand, phenotypic correlation of various body
weights with birth weight were low (r = 0.20 to 0.33).
Correlation studies within subgroups of breed, sex and
breed-sex combinations showed that significant
relationships between body weights were most consistent
among Phil-Murrah crosses, among female buffaloes, and
among Phil-Murrah females. Correlation in terms of