Estimates of growth curve, carcass characteristics and determination of production environment for Philippine swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Cagayan Province, Philippines

Four studies were conducted to determine the estimate growth curve, carcass characteristics, production environment and use of principal component analysis of farmers' profile and production environment of swamp buffalo in Cagayan province [Philippines]. For the first study, weights and heights for the different age groups of Philippine carabao (PC) from birth (0 month) to a 3 month interval up to 60 months and come up with a growth curve model that best fit the data set with higher prediction accuracy, to correlate meat characteristics from ultrasonography from 57 animals to weight and age and to determine and apply principal component analysis (PCA) to the 120 farmers' responses to production environment survey of PC in Cagayan. Data from 7,480 and 3,321 records of body weights of 2001 to 2017 and heights of 2001 to 2015, respectively were extracted and analyzed statistically and used in the development of growth curve models with estimation. Significant increase in body weight (P0.05) of PC were observed from birth until 60 months for all animals but not in all ages. Significantly higher weights (P0.05) were noted in female PC than male PC at ages 6, 12 and 15 months and the reverse were found in ages 36, 39, 51, 57 and 60 months old. There is significant increase in weight from birth until 60 months of age whereas the ADG only increase from the 3 months old (0.36 kg/day) to the 9 months old (0.38 kg/day) PC and then gradually slows down in 12 months up to 60 months. Height of PC increased significantly (P0.05) as the animal grows observed from 0 (at birth) until 12 months old. The Brody growth curve model best fit the data set of weight and height for all, male and female PC. The prediction equation for WT of all is given by W(t-601.32[1+(30.02/601.32)-1] exp (-0.02(age (month)] and for HT of all by H(t)