Ilonggo farmers urged to try ‘genetic improvement’

FARMERS in Iloilo were encouraged to branch out into genetic improvement of their livestock, especially carabao, for meat and dairy production.

The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), however, is also encouraging farmers to preserve the native Philippine carabao as a tool in rice field production.

PCC executive director Dr. Annabel Sarabia said there is currently a high demand for carameat, milk and other dairy products, and this can be answered with the propagation of high yielding Bulgarian Murrah hybrid carabao.

The genetic improvement through artificial insemination (AI) and bull loan are currently being implemented by PCC in 13 national centers in the country: Five in Luzon, four in the Visayas and four in Mindanao.

The PCC center in Iloilo is located at the Calinog Agroindustrial College in Calinog, Iloilo, while the PCC administrative office is at the West Visayas State University in Iloilo City. These centers facilitate AI and bull loan and research and development of the carabao population in Western Visayas.

Sarabia said there an estimated three million carabao population and 2.5 million cattle population in the country, adding there is an urgent need for the development of carabao as an important source of meat and dairy.

She also said that at the Calinog PCC, there are 50 hybrid carabao heads ready to render AI services and bull loan to farmers.

Usually, farmers use the male carabao to till the farm while the female carabaos are used for milking and carameat, she added. (LCP)