A total of 33 research papers were presented for evaluation in this year’s research and development (R&D) review held May 23-25 at the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) headquarters in Munoz, Nueva Ecija.
The studies focused on priority thematic concerns that include animal health, reproductive biotechnology, reproductive physiology, forage and pasture, milk production, socio-economics, animal nutrition, and breeding and genetics.
The R&D review is an annual activity of PCC that is undertaken in the context of the agency’s overall efforts aimed at improving productivity and efficiency in the carabao industry and ultimately the economic and social well-being of thousands of small-hold farm families.
Scientists and researchers from the office of the executive director and PCC regional centers as well as student researchers hosted by PCC participated in the two-day in-house review.
Dr. Eric Palacpac, incoming national R&D coordinator, said that since 1997 PCC has followed a focused R&D program direction toward, among others, improving carabao productivity for milk and meat, increasing buffalo calf production in the villages, developing sustainable village-based dairy buffalo enterprises and contributing to policy formulation.
He likewise took note anew of the importance of concept of operational research at PCC which was introduced to proactively address the various issues encountered in the course of implementation of the Carabao Development Program (CDP).
Two researches were cited as this year’s Best Papers. In the operational category, the award went to “Carcass Yield of Native and Crossbred Buffaloes Slaughtered at Two Years of Age” by Rosalina Lapitan, Arnel del Barrio, Jesus Rommel Herrera and Thelma Canariawon . In the non-operational category, the award went to a reproductive biotechnology study entitled “”Effect of All-trans Retinoic Acid during In-vitro Maturation on the Development, Carbohydrate Uptake and Midline Expression in Water Buffalo Oocyte” by LilibethCajuday, Annabelle Herrera and Danilda Duran.
On the other had, Dr. Daniel Aquino, an animal nutrition expert, was named Best Presenter for his presentation on “Augmented Feeding with By-Pass Amino Acids and Slow Release Non-Protein Nitrogen (NPN) Supplements for Dairy Buffaloes.”
The panel of evaluators was composed of seasoned veterinarian Dr. Jose Arceo Bautista of the Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI) of the University of the Philippines (UP) at Los Baños (UPLB); animal scientist Dr. Synan Baguio of the Livestock Research Division of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) ; scientist Dr. Windell Rivera of the UP System; and Dr. Luzviminda Galang, developmentalist and economist, of the College of Agriculture of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU).
The presentations were followed by a workshop where concerns relevant to a sound R&D program implementation at the regional center level were discussed.
Issues discussed included the need for PCC’s program management committee to formulate policies conducive to motivating and bringing out the best in researchers, improving the technical capability of researchers to conduct studies that are aligned to the PCC R&D agenda, mentoring young researchers and retooling those who have not been in research work for some time, strengthening linkages with state universities and colleges hosting the regional centers, strengthening of logistical and technical support for PCC researchers, and enhancing focus among researchers, particularly to carve time solely for conducting research out of their daily routines.
