GROWTH CURVE AND WEIGHT ESTIMATES OF PHILIPPINE SWAMP BUFFALO (Bubalus bubalis LINN.) IN CAGAYAN

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the weight and height of Philippine swamp buffalo (PC) in Philippine Carabao Center at Cagayan State University from birth (0 month) to 60 months of age with 3-month interval and establish a growth curve model that best fit the breed. Data of weight from the year 2001 to 2017 and height from 2001 to 2015 were analyzed. The data of PC were used to determine growth curve using four nonlinear models (Logistic, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy and Brody). Three parameters used in the model were mature weight and height (W∞ and H∞), birth weight and height (W0 and H0), and maturing index (k). The Brody model had the lowest Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and had a high degree of accuracy in predicting weight and height regardless of sex. The Brody growth curve model best fit the data set of weight and height for all, male and female PC. Multiple linear regression of body weight on three body measurement parameters (Age-Cat, HG and BL) was performed. The model BW = -131.377244 + 2.818707(Age-Cat) + 1.095026(BL) + 1.150713(HG) had an R2 of 0.94.