THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday that the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) was developing heat-tolerant water buffaloes that can sustain milk production and reproduction amid a severe El Niño.
"We aim to strengthen the ability of water buffaloes to adapt to changing climatic conditions while helping farmers better understand and manage heat stress," said Excel Rio Maylem-Abriam, head of the Philippine Carabao Center – National Institute for Animal Sciences' Reproduction and Physiology Section, said.
She added that prolonged exposure to high temperatures can adversely affect the health, milk production, reproductive performance, and overall well-being of water buffaloes.
Aside from reducing milk yield, heat stress can compromise milk quality and lower conception rates, creating additional challenges for dairy buffalo farmers.
In response to the growing challenges, PCC-NIAS is implementing the “Development of Climate-Smart Interventions to Enhance Water Buffalo Production in Heat-Stressed Conditions in the Philippines" project.
Funded by the Department of Agriculture Biotechnology Program, the initiative aims to identify water buffaloes with natural heat tolerance, while developing reproductive interventions to sustain their productivity during hot weather.
The research builds on the agency’s Genetic Improvement Program, which aims to enhance the genetic potential and overall productivity of water buffaloes.
Researchers are now incorporating thermo tolerance or the ability to withstand high temperatures, as an additional trait in selecting breeding animals.
Maylem-Abriam said the initiative aimed to strengthen the ability of water buffaloes to adapt to changing climatic conditions while helping farmers better understand and manage heat stress among their animals.
