Celebrating 12 long years of partnership

THE Cecilia Stock Farms Inc. (CSFI), one of the leading hog raisers in Mindanao, spearheaded the celebration of its successful 12-year partnership with Pig Improvement Company (PIC) at the Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) recently.

Dubbed as the “12.12.12.12,” the party was held last December 12, 2012 to commemorate the partnership between CSFI and PIC, which began 12 years ago and has since been strengthened through the years.

The endeavor of both firms has resulted in the delivery of 200 gilts and 25 boars from PICs UK Nucleus Farm to Davao City since the tie-up began on December 12, 2000.

With the new technologies now in place, the pigs are now able to bear more, which allows Cecilia Stock Farms to put in place practices at par with international standards. Also with the aid of these technologies, increase in production has been achieved by the farm.

The event highlighted not only the significant increase in production each year but also the maintenance of a high-health-herd status from the original stock of 200 sows, in which a higher yield was noted from 400 sows in 2004 to around 500 sows today.

CSFI also boasted that they are free from the most dreaded diseases that continuously hounding other nations like Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and mycoplasma with the strict implementation of bio-security in the farm.

Andrew Bateson, the Business Development director of PIC Asia, shared that the 12 years of partnership goes beyond the contract alone, but sustained it because of the people behind this endeavor have been working hand-in-hand to build the trust and the respect to one another.

The celebration was joined in by the suppliers and farm owners from different parts of the country. It was also graced by some government officials.

To hype up the party that day, a colorful Bagobo costume contest was conducted. All contestants, clad in their Bagobo attires, rendered some songs, dances, and plays before the crowd of distinguished guests.

Winners of the contest took home none of the cash prizes, as they donated all to the victims in areas devastated by Typhoon “Pablo.”

It was indeed a day to celebrate the success of the partnership between CSFI and PIC through the years.