April 11, 2024

Philippines' Carabao Centre achieves record milk yield from crossbred buffalo

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture and Philippine Carabao Centre (DA-PCC) announced a significant milestone in its Genetic Improvement Program (GIP), reporting a ground-breaking yield from its crossbred buffalo, Philippine News Agency reported.

According to Dr Ester Flores, DA-PCC GIP National Coordinator, the crossbred buffalo, identified as 7UP15001, produced 3,883.7 kg or 3,770.58 litres of milk, marking the highest yield among female buffaloes in the DA-PCC's herd during a 299-day lactation period.

Dr Flores attributed this achievement to the centre's strategic backcrossing initiatives aimed at enhancing the genetic selection of dairy buffaloes in the Philippines to produce superior offspring.

The 7UP15001 crossbred buffalo reached its peak yield at 20 kg and maintained a daily yield of over 15 kg during its second trimester of lactation. It holds the highest 100 and 200 days-in-milk, with average daily milk production of 16.6 kg and 15.6 kg, respectively.

Dr Flores expressed optimism that programmes like this would help farmers enhance milk production in the country, emphasising the goal of providing farmers with superior dairy carabao genetics through breeding.

The genetic composition of 7UP15001 comprises 87.5% Bulgarian Murrah and 12.5% swamp buffalo, reflecting the success of the backcrossing approach employed under the GIP to boost milk and meat productivity. This method involves mating purebred riverine buffaloes with native carabaos to produce larger and meatier crossbred offspring.

-      Philippine News Agency