Investing in a business, particularly in the carabao-based enterprise, requires not only financial capability but also one’s competence and knowledge about the venture. This is a principle in life of Arnold Cunanan, 45, from Barangay Porais, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

Arnold has always taken the initiative to acquire significant knowledge that he may use in whatever business he intends to embark on. 

He has been a self-motivated learner, always hammering away to gain new knowledge and skills that he can apply on his farm. He learned a lot of pointers and practical applications on buffalo management after attending a series of learning events organized by the DA-PCC. From then on, he made sure to be a keen observer and inquisitive whenever technicians and veterinarians visit his farm.  This, to him, is the key to becoming more competent and independent.

Arnold eventually learned the know-how on detecting pregnancy in buffaloes, testing the milk quality through alcohol precipitation test, deworming, administering vaccines and vitamins, and determining body condition scores (BCS) of buffaloes.
He said he is more than willing to share his knowledge and experiences in buffalo dairying with his fellow dairy farmers who seek his advice.

“I always tell them to maintain the body of their buffaloes and stay alert for the start of the estrous cycle. If the body score is very low or very high, it will be difficult to get the animals pregnant,” Arnold revealed.

Arnold recalled that he became interested in dairying because of the encouragement of his friend, Allan Benitez of the Simula ng Panibagong Bukas Producers Cooperative (SIPBUPCO).

“He was always telling me that carabaos can be of great help to our financial problems especially when they are already producing milk,” he stated. 

Arnold joined SIPBUPCO in 2009 and was grateful that he was one of those who were loaned with Brazilian Murrah buffaloes under the 25-dairy cow module of the DA-PCC in the same year.

As a start, he converted his piggery into a corral for his carabaos. He also planted a portion of his farm with Napier grass. 

In 2014, Arnold received the “Outstanding Dairy Buffalo Farmer” award while his buffaloes won the “Best Senior Cow” and “Best Junior Cow” in 2020 and 2022, respectively, during the National Carabao Conference. 

After receiving several awards, Arnold was all the more motivated to further improve his dairy business and expand the number of his herd. Now, he has 36 buffaloes; five of which are pregnant and six are milking. He collects a total of 26 liters daily, which he sells to DVF, Milka Krem, and NEFEDCCO at PHP80 a liter. 

Through all of these, Arnold has his family to count on. His wife, Angelita, and sons John Carlo and DJ Rafi would help him deliver the milk to the collection center of their cooperative. They also help in record keeping, cleaning the stall housing of the carabaos, and in feeding them.

Since their revenue from milk sales is enough to cover their daily needs, they were able to save what they earn from their other sources of income such as selling onions and palay. They could also afford to send their children to good schools and renovate their house.

Arnold has been a partner of DA-PCC in buffalo dairying since 2009. He has exhibited his ability in taking good care of his dairy buffaloes. He is one of the growing numbers of buffalo keepers who have an increasing herd size through the adoption of DA-PCC’s technologies and serving as a model dairy farmer to others.

With the hard work and determination, Arnold is well on his way toward attaining greater success.