THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

of about 18 million swamp buffaloes in South-East Asia.
Within this group, all the countries in Indo-China together
with Indonesia recorded average annual population growth
rate of between –1.7 and 3.3 percent decreased. Their
value, especially to draft and beef production, is indicated.
The Philippine carabao development program involves
lengthening the gene pool, upgrading carabao for milk and
meat, enterprise development, and research and
development activities. Major researchable issues are
breeding and genetic feeding and nutrition, reproduction,
animal’s health, socio-economic aspects, technology
delivery and policy matters. The restraints to research are
technical manpower capacity, sustained funding, formation
flow, system orientation, failure to translate the efforts and
programmed continuity. The research and development
efforts in the Philippines, and the implication of the activities
to the South – East Asian region and elsewhere are
emphasized.
Keywords: development of Philippine carabao, indigenous
animals genetic resources
*Devendra C., Gardiner P. (eds.). ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya.
Global Agenda for Livestock Research. Proceeding of the
Consultation for the South–East Asia Region, Nairobi
Kenya, ILRI. 1995. p. 5. Also in Annotated Bibliography
on Philippine Biodiversity: Livestock and Poultry
(Agrobiodiversity) 1949-1997, Carabaos (2002) p. 289.
B-19
ULTRASONIC SCANNING FOR ESTIMATING THE
CARCASS TRAITS OF LIVE WATER BUFFALOES*
H. Harada, Professor, Miyazaki University, Japan
P. G. Duran, Superivsing Science Research Specialist, PCC-CLSU, DA
F. V. Mamuad, Director, PCC-CLSU, DA
L. C. Cruz, Executive Director, PCC-OED, DA
I.. J. Domingo, Assistant Professor, DAS, CLSU
T. Ohashi, Professor, Miyazaki University, Japan
A total of 341 live water buffaloes that consisted of 180 hd
of Murrah buffalo (MB) (male=79 and female=101); 108 hd
of Philippine carabao (PC) (male=24 and female=84); and
53 hd of Crossbred (CB) (male=18 an female=35) from
six locations were ultrasonicaly analyzed of their meat
characteristics. These animals were ultrasonically scanned
on the left side of the body between the 6 th and 7 th , and
between 12 th and 13 th rib sections. Ultrasonic machine
used was Super-eye MEAT with B-mode electronic linear
probe that operates at 3.5 MGz. Data obtained were
statistically analyzed using LSMLMW procedures by
Harvey (1990). Results indicated that ultrasonic scanning
in water was made possible with clear scan image obtained.
Boundaries of fat and muscle and M. longissimus thoracis
54
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
area (MLTA) are traceable and can be identified. Analysis
of variance for ultrasonic estimates of carcass traits of MB,
PC and CB, male and female among six locations and the
interactions of breed x sex indicated that breed effects
were significantly on MLTA (P