THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

*Abstract of Completed Researches. 1973-1995. 1996.
IAS-CA, UPLB, College, Laguna. Compiled by A. T.
Banson, N. L. de Castro, S. M. Ramos, F. F. Peñalba
and D. B. Roxas. p. 11. Also in Annotated Bibliography on
Philippine Biodiversity: Livestock and Poultry
(Agrobiodiversity) 1949-1997, Carabaos (2002) p. 316.
B-29
EVALUATION OF GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND
DEVELOPMENT OF BREEDING PROGRAM FOR
SMALL SCALE CARABEEF PRODUCTION*
B. A. Parker, Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
C. Missiaen, FAO Associate Expert
O. A. Palad, Associate Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
A. R. Obsioma, University Researcher, PCRDC-PCARRD, UPLB
Z. M. Nava, Science Research Specialist, PCRDC-PCARRD, UPLB
V. G. Momongan, Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB & Proj. Leader, PCRDC-
PCARRD, UPLB
This study was conducted to: (a) develop a strain or type of
carabaos that will be superior for draft, milk and meat under
the farmers backyard production systems; (b) develop
breeding programs suited to small scale carabeef production;
and (c) evaluate the genetic potentials of the progenies
resulting from the mating of different breeds of river buffaloes
with the Philippines carabao for use as draft, milk and meat
animals. Based on the least-squares data analyses of the
Philippines Carabao, Phil-Ravi crossbred, and Phil-Murrah
crossbred produced by the PCRDC at UPLB and its
cooperators, the following results were obtained: (a) either of
the two water buffalo crossbreds would be the breed of
choice for meat production. The highly significant difference
among the three breeds/strains of sire indicated that at an
average of 12 and 18 months of age the crossbreds were
heavier than the Philippines carabaos. However, at 24
months of age, no significant differences existed between
the two crossbreds. This could be due to the relatively few
animals involved in the analysis. Murrah bulls are available
locally and can be used extensively in any artificial
insemination (AI) programs; (b) locations of production of
crossbreds and Philippine weights. Expression of growth
potentials of crossbreds varied according to location and
other environmental factors; (c) year and month of birth, sex
and age of dam did not significantly contribute to the source
of variations for weights of Philippines carabao and its crosses;
and (d) the breeding scheme of grading up the first cross
carabao females with F1 sires appears to be suitable for
small farmer herds where a stabilized 50:50 mixture of local
and exotic breed is desired.
Keywords: carabao and crossbreds, carabao breeding
program, crossbreeding, growth performance, small – scale
carabeef production
58
ABSTRACT OF RESEARCHES ON
THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO
*Abstracts of Completed Researches, 1981-1995. 1996.
PCC-UPLB, College, Laguna. Also in Abstracts of Water
Buffalo Researches in the Philippines 1981-1995 (1996)
PCC-DA p. 4. Also in Annotated Bibliography on Philippine
Biodiversity: Livestock and Poultry (Agrobiodiversity)
1949-1997, Carabaos 2002) p. 297.
B-30
DATA ANALYSIS OF GROWTH PERFROMANCE OF
CARABAOS AND ITS CROSSBREDS*
B. A. Parker, Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB
Z. M. Nava, Science Research Specialist, PCRDC-PCARRD, UPLB
V. G. Momongan, Professor, IAS-CA, UPLB & Proj. Leader, PCRDC-
PCARRD, UPLB
P. S. Faylon, Director, LRD, PCARRD
L. Demple, FAO-UNDP Consultant for Animal Breeding
S. K, Ranjhan, PCRDC Project Manager and FAO-UNDP Consultant
L. C. Cruz, Project Leader, PCRDC-PCARRD, CLSU
D. B. Peña, Project Leader, PCRDC-PCARRD, LCSF-DA
R. Anacleto, Project Leader, PCRDC-PCARRD, CMU
F. Rellin, Project Leader, PCRDC-PCARRD, CSU
J. Elumba, Farm Superintendent, USF-DA
This study aims to evaluate the crossbreeding program of
the Philippine Carabao Research and Development Center
(PCRDC) in terms of growth performance under institutional
and smallholder farmers’ herd level. Data set contained
information for 737 animals with disproportionate sub-class
numbers covering three farming systems, and two breeds
of sires (Murrah and carabao) collected from 4 institutions,
2 stock farms, and 11 farmer cooperators were analyzed
using the methods of least squares for disproportionate
sub-class numbers. The mean square estimates of the
least analysis of variance showed location and breed were
significantly sources of variations for height, heart girth and
body length for buffaloes raised by farmer cooperators and
in stock farms. Locations was not a significant source of
variations for height and heart girth measurements at birth,
6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months of ages for animals raised at
the institutions (UPLB and CLSU) with different
environmental conditions. Location of farm and genotypes
raised in different farms were significant sources of variations
for body weights and measurements. Murrah F1 were
relatively heavier and larger compared with the carabao
progenies between and within locations. There were no
significant genotype x location interaction observed in the
performance of buffaloes raised by farmer cooperators within
Luzon and between those raised in Luzon and the Visayas.
This is also true for the institutional herds (UPLB and
CLSU), indicating that the F 1S and carabao progenies raised
in different locations did not vary significantly in weights in
spite of the differences in environmental conditions. In the
Visayas, where-ranch type of production is practiced, body
weights and measurements of the genotypes raised in