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Shine and I were stationed at the laboratory while our two companions accompanied Tata Mar on the field in doing AI. We immediately processed the fecal sample we collected from the calf yesterday and after the sedimentation technique, we observed multiple Toxocara spp. and Strongyloides spp. ova. Sir Dadz said to coordinate with Doc Cla and do appropriate actions to treat the calf.

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Sir Dadz then tasked us to process the fecal samples we collected from Saranay using the sedimentation and flotation techniques. We asked for the help of the NVSU interns and we did fecalysis all morning. We then prepared to go for lunch and Mam Noemi, Mam Jhena, and Sir Dadz went with us.

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What we were excited to taste was the famous and unique Tilapia-flavored ice cream of CLSU which they sell here. Mam Noemi told us that it won  the Innovation Gold Award during the Salon International de L’Agroalimentaire (SIAL) ASEAN in Manila last 2016. Surprisingly, it has no fishy smell and aftertaste. It was served in a cup and in an ice cream sandwich.

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After taking a break and touring CLSU, we went back to the laboratory and did PCR extraction with the same protocol as we always do.We went home tired but happy as we had more bonding time with our fellow interns and our supervisors.

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We waited at the Biosafety and Environment laboratory for instructions about our activity for today when Sir Dadz told us that Tata Mar and Doc Cla were requesting for two clinicians to accompany them in doing AI. We draw lots among ourselves and Shine and I won and went downstairs immediately because Tata mar and Doc Cla were already ready to go. We went to San Jose City, Nueva Ecija in a farm with several heads of buffaloes. We were astonished to see that not only it is a buffalo farm but also a fish farm particularly tilapia. As I have learned from my previous courses, the more appropriate term for this type of farm is “Integrated Livestock-Fish Farming”. The buffalo pens were constructed on the side of dikes which serve as fish ponds. I can recall from high school that one advantage of such farming system is that manure can be used in hastening the growth of natural food organisms that are being cultured in the pond and thereby increasing food for the fish. Another is that excess livestock feeds may be directly thrown to the pond for utilization of fish. With these advantages, small-scale farmers can lessen the need for buying expensive fish farm inputs or in other words, lowers the cost of producing fish. PCC is near a Tilapia Research Center, and one of their studies concluded that not only does this type of farming produce high yields of tilapia, but also provides an efficient way of disposing livestock manure.

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Doc Cla only asks for hot water whenever they do AI. They pour the hot water in a Thermos cup with an attached thermometer. When the temperature reaches the 38-42 degrees Celsius range, Doc Cla retrieves semen straw from the cryocan and places it in the hot water. She lets it sit for some time and then she cuts the plug, places the straw at the tip of an AI catheter and covers it with straw sheath. She then hands it over to Tata Mar who has already inserted his hand on the rectum to guide the AI catheter up to the body of the uterus where the semen will be deposited. Doc Cla and Tata Mar said that the semen is deposited at the body of the uterus to allow sperm capacitation which is an important factor for a successful conception. As mentioned earlier, PCC technicians conduct AI as one of their banner services and provide it to their sponsored farms or whoever requests for it.

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The next farm we went into was found in the middle of an onion plantation. There were also other vegetable plantations nearby such as tomatoes. This is also another type of integrated farming. The manure from the buffaloes can be used as organic fertilizers to reduce the cost of commercial ones. We did usual activities of pregnancy diagnosis and deworming and administration of vitamins A, D and E. After that, the farmer was very thankful that he gave us some freshly harvested tomatoes and onions.

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At the next farm, we encountered a month-old caracalf with some worms protruding out from its rectum. We took fecal samples with the help of Doc Cla and also adult worms to be examined at the laboratory.

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Most of the adult caracows in the farm showed signs of difficulty in breathing and mucous nasal discharges. Doc Cla suspected enzootic pneumonia through pattern recognition and instructed us to administed tiamulin hydrogen fumarate intramuscularly. Based on the carton label, it is an antibiotic used primarily for swine to treat pneumonia. It is a bacteriostatic antibiotic which becomes bactericidal at higher concentrations. It has good activity against Mycoplasma spp., spirochetes and many gram positive cocci such as Staphylococci spp. and Streptococci spp.

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Aside from rectal palpation, Tata Mar also observes for clear mucus discharge for heat detection and timing of insemination. He just inserts a straw sheath into the vulva and aspirates fluid with the use of a 50-ml syringe attached on the other end.

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Before going back to PCC, we encountered more of the farmer’s buffaloes near a river. Tata Mar instructed that he ties it to a tree and we dewormed and gave them multivitamins.

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When we arrived at the laboratory, we stored our fecal samples at the refrigerator. We also made friends with two interns form Nueva Vizcaya State University, Jakee and Jendy. Mam Noemi then called us outside to share to us some food that Doc Bong left for us. So, we ended our day with a delicious ensaymada!

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Sir Dadz handled us at the laboratory in the morning while Doc Daryl was our handler for the afternoon activity. Sir Dadz tasked us to do fecalysis using both the sedimentation and flotation techniques. We observed both stronglye-type ova and Trichuris spp. ova.

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We went back to LBRAF in the afternoon with Doc Daryl and Sir Chito to collect samples from the newly arrived caracalves yesterday. We were not able to do these activities yesterday as it was already dark when they arrived. As part of the quarantine program, the caracalves have to be checked for parasites using fecalysis, blood parasitism especially Surra, and leptospirosis using urine.  All those samples were collected when the animals were restrained either in a chute or with the help of Kuya Ger.

Fecal samples were obtained by using a rectal glove and inserting the hand intrarectally such as in rectal paplpation. Approximately 10 grams of feces was collected since an extra sample is needed for storage and just 2-3 grams of sample is enough for fecalysis. They were placed in sterile small plastic bags and labelled with the animal’s ID number. Blood samples were collected via the jugular vein. Urine samples were collected in Falcon tubes by waiting for the animals to normally void the urine. All the samples were placed in a chest box with refrigerant prior to transport.

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Doc Daryl was expecting to meet us again today to accompany us at LBRAF but as he has still some things to settle, he allowed us to go the lab to help Mam Noemi in DNA extraction. This step is important prior to PCR as it lyses red blood cells and the nuclei to expose the DNA to be amplified and to remove contaminants.

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We bought lunch on our way there just like yesterday but Sir Chito brought additional ulamfor us. He brought ham and sausage made from carabeef which he said were products processed at PCC in a facility near genepool. It was delicious and tasted like quality export. The difference of carabeef from beef is that it is less fatty and is darker.

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We also encountered a caracow which has aborted its fetus. Due to the abortion, the caracow was constantly straining and Doc Daryl said that maybe the placenta was not yet expelled. The contractions grew stronger and then there was a prolapse of the uterus. Doc Daryl, Sir Chito and Kuya Ger led the team and we assisted them in bringing back the uterus inside. Sir Chito administered local anesthesia which is lidocaine injection at the first intercoccygeal space. We placed the exposed uterus above a clean sack. Doc Daryl instructed us to put cold water and sugar powder to the exposed uterus after washing it to minimize its size for facilitation of bringing it back inside. However, the caracow just made stronger abdominal contractions and the uterus just keeps on going out. Sir Chito then decided to call a buyer and sell the caracow. For the mean time, Sir Chito and Doc Daryl brought the uterus inside the abdominal cavity and sutured the vulva to prevent it from opening again. If the procedure should have been succesful, we would have done uterine flushing with diluted povidone iodine solution which was already prepared by Doc Daryl.

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It was beginning to get dark but we did not yet leave the facility because we were waiting for Tata Naro who was escorting an elf with the newly arrived caracalves for quarantine. One important guideline in transporting animals is that the animals must be restrained with minimal stress and less risk for injuries.

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While the caracalves were being unloaded one by one, Tata Naro and Sir Chito were checking their records. Doc Daryl, on the other hand, was observing them for abnormalities in walking, breathing, etc. One of the farm staff filled the water troughs with clean water and fed the caracalves with silage. Silage is a fodder that was stored for a long time without drying first. Feeding the animals and giving them water help them compensate with the stress of transport and may help them adapt to the new environment.

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We started this week at the Livestock Biotechnology Research and Animal Facility with Doc Daryl and Sir Chito. It is located at San Jose City, Nueva Ecija which is just 30 minutes away from the PCC National Headquarters. We bought lunch on the way there since it is quite far from the highway and from stores. It is quite understandable that it is distant since it served as a quarantine facility for newly arrived caracalves or adult buffaloes. These caracalves are “payments” for the buffalo loan programs of the PCC and can come from any of their cooperatives or sponsored families. Quarantine is a very important aspect of farm management for PCC as it is a preventive measure which ensures that no disease enters the genepool or whatever farm these buffaloes will be loaned to in the future. Quarantine usually lasts for a month or two or more depending on Doc Daryl’s observations, physical exam and laboratory results from the Biosafety and Environment laboratory.

We started our activity which is deworming and blood collection later in the afternoon as the sun was high and it was very hot. That was to ensure that the animals will not have additional stress brought about by the temperature. So before lunch, I just familiarized myself with the facility. It is wide approximately 3 hectares and has at least 5 buildings.  There were buildings for the farm staff, a parking building, building where the pens are located, a building where hay is stored, and a milking parlor. Half of the vacant land is intended for plantations of Napier grass which is harvested by mechanical harvesters and forage cutters and maintained by tillers, tractors and rotavators.

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In the afternoon, started deworming the buffaloes with triclabendazole. We started with the youngest age group and move our way pen-to-pen up to the adults. We used neon pink marker paints so we won’t have to see the ear tags for identification of the dewormed animals. Restraint was quite hard since there is no chute to place the animals in. With the help of KuyaGer and other farm staff, we just lassoed the animals, pushed them on a corner or at the fence and tied them there. The most important points is to prevent the animal’s horns and being careful that the animals may step on you as Sir Chito keeps on reminding us.

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The animals that we tested for Surra using PCR last week which were positive were treated with isometamidium chloride. We also collected blood form the jugular vein and transferred the blood to purple- and red-topped tubes, as we intend to do the Mouse Inoculation Test in case we observe Trypanosoma evansi on the buffy coat after centrifugation of the blood in capillary tubes.                 

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One of our learning last week was that the PCC has a team doing research in finding a pure Philippine Carabao using genotyping and chromosome analysis.