PCC holds Annual R4D In-House Review

The PCC has demonstrated its research for development (R4D) efforts, as 41 completed and on-going papers were presented and evaluated during the R4D In-House Review last July 4-6 at the PCC national headquarters in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

R&D Division chief Dr. Annabelle Sarabia said the review provides a venue for researchers and scientists to engage in a meaningful discourse. Expectedly, she added, this should lead to opportunities for learning and sharing of scientific knowledge.

The studies were assessed based on the merits of technical integrity and relevance. Three external evaluators were invited namely Dr. Jose Arceo N. Bautista, Associate Professor IV at the University of the Philippines Los Baños; Dr. Fe Porciuncula, Central Luzon State University Vice President for Research, Extension and Training; and Peter James Icalia, Instructor III at the Mariano Marcos State University.

Six awards were given.

The study on the “Development of Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay-Based Test Kit for the Detection/Screening for Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV)” was awarded “Best Paper” for completed research. It was conducted by Dr. Daryl Dela Cruz, Dr. Joram Gautane, Dr. Michelle Balbin and Dr. Claro Mingala.

Dr. Jesus Rommel Herrera bagged the “Best Paper for Completed Research-Student Thesis” for his dissertation titled “Genome-wide association study for milk traits in Philippine dairy buffaloes”.

Dr. Daniel Aquino was named “Best Presenter” for the study on the “Nutritive Value, Digestibility and Performance of Buffaloes using Banana By-Products and Water Lily as Alternative Feed Sources”.

Special recognitions were accorded to the Animal Breeding and Genomics Section for “Most Number of Presentations” (9 studies) and “Most Number of On-going Researches Presented” (7 studies). On the other hand, PCC at Ubay Stock Farm was recognized for “Most Number of Approved Research Proposals for the Year 2017”.

The researches reviewed were categorized according to the R4D Agenda’s Thematic Fields namely Product Development, Socio-Economic Dimensions of Carabao Development Program Implementation, Production Management System, Genetic Improvement-Animal Genomics or Genetic Diversity and Cryopreservation, Genetic Improvement-Reproductive and Cryopreservation Techniques, and Biosafety.