MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija - The inherent poor reproduction performance of water buffalo inspired researchers based here to study the possibility of enhancing their twinning by non-surgical embryo transfer technique.

Researchers Danilda H. Duran, Prudencio B. Pedro, Apolinario Salazar Hr., Hernando V. Venturina, Peregrino G. Duran and Libertado c. Cruz of the Philippine Carabao Center conducted the study.

The researchers explained that twinning is a rare occurrence in water buffalo unlike in cattle, hence, result of this study is of big economic importance of superior genetics buffaloes.

To enhance twinning, the researchers transferred two or three artificially produced embryos non-surgically to twenty-six recipient animals. Twenty of these animals received two embryos and six received three. The process resulted to twenty three percent calving rate of which 16.6 percent were twins.

The result of the study shows for the first time birth of twins in water buffaloes out of artificially produced embryos, thus the possibility of enhancing twinning in this animal by embryo transfer techniques.

The study was part of the project "Production of high genetics water buffaloes through the use of recent reproductive biotechniques," funded by the Department of Science and Technology and monitored by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources, Research and Development (PCARRD).

With its economic significance, the study conducted by the PCC researchers is one of the finalists in the National Symposium on Agricultural Resources Research and Development that was held last November 10, 2005 in time for the 33rd Anniversary celebration of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development.

The PCARRD-initiated activity recognizes the outstanding contributions of the Filipino researchers in the field of agriculture, forestry and natural resources.