9 - NSF Digital Library

Q: N. H. Shah - The swamp buffalo is generally used for draught
purposes and I would like to know whether both male and female animals
are used for draught purposes.
A: V.G. Momongan - Yes, both male and female animals are used for
draught.
Q: N. H. Shah - Have you made any study to evaluate the working
capacity of the male and the female buffaloes.
A: V.G. Momongan - This study has focused on the male and not on
the female animal. In other countries such as Indonesia they have studied
the worktng capacity of the female.
Q: S.K. Ranjhan - With increased mechanization of agriculture which
is bound to come in 20 years, what do you think will be the role of the
swamp buffalo in South East Asia. To give you an example fiom Indta, \,
twenty years back draught animal power accounted for around 70 per
cent, but today it has come down to 26 percent. The rest are going for
mechanized agriculture. Ifwe restrict the functions of the swamp buffalo
for draught purposes alone the data from many countries like Malaysia
and Philippines will indtcate a decrease in the animal population. What
would be the W re scenario in the South East Asian countries with
increased mechanization if the swamp buffalo is not developed as a milk
and meat animal?
A: V.G. Momongan - With increased mechanization I would predict
that more buffaloes would be utilised for milk production and beefd
production. It is for this reason that we in the Philippines have started
a crossbreeding programme with Murrah, and the F1 has been shown to
produce much more milk than the native animal. However, we have a
difficulty in the inter se mating of the F1 because the F2 would have a
very variable result and it could discourage the farmer. For example, a
farmer having -a good female would breed it to a crossbred male and get
a smd F2 calf which is very discoauagng and the farmer may not readily
understand why it is so. Therefore to prevent the misconception that this
crossbreeding programme is not good we would only maintain the F1
crossbreds and backcross these either to native animals if the fanner
wants it for draught or to the Murrah if the farmer is more inclined for
milk production. We would also go for castration of all F1 bulls to
prevent inter se mating under village conditions.