The Philippine Carabao can't retire just yet.

Holding the history of Filipino farming on its back, the carabao is among the so-called beasts of burden, helping farmers across the country through their versatility, in land and their products. 

But tractors, harvesting machines, and other farm machinery have been proven to reduce the time needed for farming activities. Carabaos are now seen as primitive and less efficient because they require manual labor and take longer.

In the current situation of farmers and agriculture, this poses an important question — has farm machinery actually replaced carabaos? 

“The carabao may be slow, but it still puts in the work.” said Jeffrey Javel, Chairman of the Magdalena Agricultural Cooperative (MAGCO)

While farm machines give more advantages in large-scale farming, there are still small-scale farmers in the Philippines (family farming) who are helped by carabaos because of low costs.

Small farmers may not be able to afford the costs of buying and maintaining machines as fuel and oil prices increase and low income. The Carabao’s capabilities (land work and transportation) reduce most costs.

Carabaos can also move in smaller farmland spaces and more challenging land with steeper hills or sloping terrain. They are also less prone to accidents.

The farmers of Magdalena, Laguna have been milking carabaos for centuries, but it wasn’t until a decade ago that they came together collectively under a government program to form MAGCO. They engage in raising Italian, Brazilian, and Native Carabaos to produce quality dairy products. 

Javel and MAGCO’s staff have been working together with their carabaos since 2017. Although their carabaos focus on dairy production, with the help of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), they still utilize the animal in traditional farming.

The “3-in-1” carabao

A carabao’s life has many paths. As working animals, they prepare farmland and perform farm work while also being a farmer’s cherished companion. 

The Carabao’s power provides versatility in farm work, from land preparation to transporting goods. Mechanisms for land preparation such as plows and harrows are attached to the carabao for tilling, while a Karosa (traditional farm cart) is attached for transportation.

The Philippine Dairy Carabao is now promoted as Beasts of fortune as their dairy products compete through more nutritional benefits and versatility compared to other alternatives. 

Considered a Superfood, Nutritionist-Dietitian and Chef Malou Caudal states that Carabao milk has higher protein and calcium and also contains essential micronutrients for growth, clearer eyesight, and stronger teeth and bones (i.e. Riboflavin, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Phosphorus). 

MAGCO prides themselves on their carabao milk products. They offer fresh regular and chocolate carabao’s milk, pastillas, and their flagship Kesong puti. 

Carabao beef (Carabeef) is also growing in popularity, with less calories and more protein content than other meat products.

An analysis of Carabeef against regular beef showed it had higher oleic and linolenic acid content than regular beef. Oleic acid is a fatty acid that helps regulate cholesterol, while linolenic acid helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular (heart and blood) diseases. 

The carabao’s hide can also be processed to leather. Cara Cuero, was soft-launched by the DA-PCC in collaboration with the Central Luzon State University, just last year with carabao leather crafts such as belts, bags, and more.

With this booming industry, carabaos remain relevant in agriculture. Javel emphasizes these sentiments through MAGCO’s partnership with PCC and their continued use of field carabaos in their farms. 

However, the native carabao population is slowly dwindling because of machine replacement and poor farming practices (slaughtering and lack of knowledge on raising and breeding livestock).

Saving the carabao

Under Republic Act No. 7307 or the “Philippine Carabao Act of 1992”, the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) was established to conserve, propagate, and promote the carabao as a source of meat, milk, hide, and draft. 

It also functions to increase the annual population growth of the Philippine carabao. In 2014, recorded inventory for Philippine carabaos was 2.84 million heads. As of 2023, it declined to 2.74 million. Almost all or roughly 99% of these carabaos are from smallholder farms.

The DA-PCC offers training programs mostly for small-holder farmers and CARP beneficiaries, to transfer technology on the proper care and reproduction of Philippine native carabaos and processing of its meat and milk. MAGCO is a PCC beneficiary.

The farmers of Magdalena often supply MAGCO with milk from a few carabaos for their dairy products. In 2021, MAGCO received the first 38 out of 50 carabaos loaned by PCC,to kickstart a more efficient flow of dairy for the farmers and their families’ livelihood.

“Most of these carabaos will give birth [within] 18 months (after [artificial insemination and pregnancy]). Over the next 2 years, milk will flow,” MAGCO said in a Facebook post.

Raising carabaos is largely associated with crop-dominant farming systems, which regard carabaos as just inputs. A farmer’s perspective has a major impact on the management and overall development of carabaos.

Farmers who primarily use carabaos for draft power find it more convenient to maintain their hand tractors than care for a draft animal. For PCC, this is a constraint causing the slow rate of technology adoption.

Efforts to significantly increase the carabao population had been laid out. A municipality in Isabela collaborated with the DA-PCC for a dairy carabao crossbreeding program.

The program included training for Village-based Artificial Insemination Technicians. It showed outstanding results, reporting 2,854 crossbred carabaos in June 2023.

Farmer perception on farm mechanization

Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) reported that the mechanization level of rice farms in the country stood at 2.31 horsepower per hectare (hp/ha) in 2013. In 2022, this increased to 2.68 hp/ha.

With a 16% increase over this 9-year period, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) identified several factors behind the slow progress in farm mechanization.

FFF national manager Raul Montemayor stated that unless given for free, farmers are hesitant to buy machines because of the low prices of palay with excessive imports discouraging investments. Fuel cost is also identified as a factor.

One study recorded that farmers perceive machines as beneficial in terms of faster labor, lower production costs, less manpower, and less harvest loss. However, mechanization contributes to labor displacement.

In the same study, farmers said alternative sources of income and government subsidies to machines could ease local farm mechanization.

MAGCO Chairman Jeffrey Javel said in an interview that their farm has not experienced much modernization apart from using a harvester. “We do not experience [using machines] when sowing crops. [But] when it comes to harvesting, we use a harvester machine.“

When asked about what carabaos can provide that machines cannot, Chairman Javel stated that the qualities of a carabao cannot be replaced by machinery. “Machines are also not that perfect because in [deep waters], they sink. Carabaos don’t sink”. 

MAGCO’s practice in agriculture remains traditional, joining forces with the mighty carabao as their companion in the fields. “We use [them] to plow and to harrow”

Javel also pointed out the animal’s resilience in natural disasters, specifically typhoons. “When it comes to these animals, there has been no problem. Although these calamities might be frequent, just set them in a nice place where they won’t be affected, in a place they won’t get cold in. There are no problems with them, they’re even happy when it's raining.”

“Kalabaw lang ang tumatanda”

Filipinos see carabaos as faithful partners in life. Javel believes in their emotional capacity, “Carabaos really do have fondness. They know who their owners are. With the way they express their endearments, they are considered like pet dogs. They also express their love.”

Carabaos are seen as companions and bearers of images regarding the localities’ cultural heritage and agro-industries. The Kneeling Carabao Festival and “Kabaw sa Kadalanan” (Carabao Float parade) are some representations to their cultural relevance 

In celebrating the 9th National Carabao Conference (NCC) held in October last year, Pablo John Garcia proclaimed, “The carabao remains the central figure of agriculture in the Philippines!”, asserting the relevance of carabaos in Filipino farming culture.

A familiar idiom, “Kalabaw lang ang tumatanda” (Only carabaos grow old) shows that even with the industrialization of agriculture, an aging carabao remains efficient at work compared to a rusting machine.