By Kenneth Marcos 
In the lush fields of Los Baños, farmers carefully tend their carabaos, a vital source of milk, meat, and livelihood for countless communities. Behind these everyday scenes, the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) has spent more than three decades shaping a thriving carabao industry across Southern Luzon and beyond.
This year, as DA-PCC celebrates its 33rd anniversary, the UPLB center highlights its role as a pioneer in breeding, research, and enterprise development. Covering four regions—CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, and the National Capital Region—the center has become a key driver in improving carabao productivity and supporting rural livelihoods.
Under the leadership of Dr. Thelma Saludes, DA-PCC at UPLB has trained 466 staff, local government partners, village-level technicians, and farmers in advanced practices such as artificial insemination (AI) and pregnancy diagnosis for large ruminants. Since 2021 alone, the center has conducted 39,074 AI services, resulting in 10,562 calves, strengthening the genetic quality of carabao herds across its service regions.
One notable achievement is the center’s crossbred buffalo, 7UP15001, which produced a record 3,883.7 liters of milk over 299 days, setting a benchmark for female buffalo performance in institutional herds. Beyond breeding, the center also produces high-quality dairy products, including flavored milk, yogurt, and pastillas, alongside processed carabeef items under its CaraBest and Kardeli brands.
DA-PCC at UPLB also supports farmer cooperatives through its Carabao-based Enterprise Development program. More than 1,000 partner farmers manage over 3,400 dairy animals, collectively producing 3,885,224 liters of milk. This output has fed over 1.5 million malnourished pre-school children in DepEd-assisted programs and generated a gross income of PHP1.07 billion, reflecting the center’s impact on both nutrition and local economies.
The center’s success is strengthened by strong partnerships with local governments, national agencies, cooperatives, and private stakeholders, leveraging an additional PHP209 million in resources to support carabao development initiatives. Over the years, DA-PCC at UPLB has earned numerous recognitions, including Outstanding Regional Center awards and consistent top performance in milk production and enterprise sales.
As DA-PCC at UPLB celebrates 33 years of service, its achievements illustrate the power of science, innovation, and community partnerships in transforming the carabao industry. Through continued breeding excellence, enterprise support, and training, the center remains a cornerstone of rural development and sustainable agriculture in the Philippines.
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