Carabao

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Carabao

Information
Range Philippines, Guam
Scientific Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Genus Bubalus
Species B. bubalis
Conservation Status

Least Concern
The Carabao is a swamp type domestic Water Buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis) found in the Philippines
and Guam. The word "carabao" is borrowed from Spanish carabao which is from Waray-
Waray karabaw. Water buffaloes were most likely introduced to the Philippines by Malay immigrants
in the period 300 to 200 BC. The word carabao and kalabaw in Filipino was derived from the Malay
word kerbau.

Contents
 1 Characteristics
 2 Husbandry
 3 In the Philippines
 4 In Guam
 5 In Malaysia
 6 Gallery

Characteristics
Carabaos have the low, wide and heavy build of draught animals. They vary in colour from light grey
to slate grey. The horns are sickle-shaped or curve backward toward the neck. Chevrons are
common. Albinoids are present in the proportion of about 3% of the buffalo population. Mature male
carabaos weigh 420–500 kg (930–1,100 lb), and females 400–425 kg (880–940 lbs). Height at
withers of the male ranges from 127–137 cm (50–54 in), and of the female from 124–129 cm (49–51
in). Water buffaloes imported to the Philippines from Cambodia in the early 20th century are called
Cambodian carabaos. They have white or yellowish hair on a pinkish skin but the eyes, hoofs and
mouth are dark, and the skin may be speckled. They are slightly bigger and have larger horns.
Males weigh on average 673 kg (1,480 lb) and measure 141 cm (56 in) at the withers.

They have fairly long hair thinly covering their huge bodies, and a tuft of hair on the forehead and at
the tip of the tail. Normally, they are silent and docile, but they will give a trembling snort if they are
surprised.

Husbandry
Water buffaloes are well adapted to a hot and humid climate. Water availability is of high importance
in hot climates since they need wallows, rivers or splashing water in order to reduce the heat load
and thermal stress. Swamp buffaloes prefer to wallow in a mudhole that they make with the horns.
Their objective is to acquire a thick coating of mud. They thrive on many aquatic plants and in time of
flood will graze submerged, raising their heads above the water and carrying quantities of edible
plants. They eat reeds, giant reeds, bulrush, sedges, water hyacinth and marsh grasses. Green
fodders are used widely for intensive milk production and for fattening. Many fodder crops are
conserved as hay, chaffed or pulped. Trials in the Philippines showed that the carabao, on poor
quality roughage, had a better feed conversion rate than cattle.

The carabao cools itself by lying in a waterhole or mud during the heat of the day. Mud, caked on to
its body, also protects it from bothersome insects. The carabao feeds mainly in the cool of the
mornings and evenings. Its life span is 18 to 20 years and the female carabao can deliver one calf
each year.