Wednesday, October 18, 2006 Artificial insemination yields twin calves By James Earl E. Ogatis
"I AM grateful that the artificial insemination program of the Department of Agriculture gives me twin upgraded calves," said Ireneo Naparato, 74, of Barangay Mat-y, Miag-ao, Iloilo, after his F1 cow gave birth on March 6.
Naparato was raising cattle and carabao since he was a child. He used the animals to till his two hectares farmland planted with rice and corn. He was very thankful that at this time of his life, he was able to have twin upgraded calves - one male and one female.
According to Cyrus Depamaylo, the Provincial AI technician assigned in Miag-ao, the mother of the twins was also the product of the AI program that crossbred a native cow with a Bulgarian Murrah Buffalo through artificial insemination.
"The twin was the fourth delivery of the F1 mother. The first offspring, which was three years old, was sold by Naparato for P30,000 at the San Joaquin Livestock Oksyon Market.
"Ako naga-kumbensir gid sa parehas ko nga mga nagasagod sang baka nga mag -angkon man sang serbisyo sang AI agud mapataas naton ang kalidad sang aton kasapatan," Mang Ireneo stressed. (I am encouraging my fellow livestock farmers to avail themselves of the services of artificial insemination program in order to upgrade our cattle and carabaos.)
The twin calves were treated with iron on two to three (2-3) ml dose per head while the mother was given multivitamins four days after giving birth. Today, the calves are seven month old and display upgraded qualities such as fast growth and big body structure, among others.
Ireneo first knew of AI services from Juanito Palacios and Benjamin Nuevaespaña, both provincial livestock technicians who introduced the program to the municipality of Miag-ao in the late 80's. They taught Mang Ireneo the signs of "heat" among cattle in order to have proper timing of the AI services.
Since then, Mang Ireneo constantly watched for signs of "heating" such as reluctance to move, raising tail, allowing other cows to climb on her back, and mucus discharge. When these signs were present, he immediately informed the AI technician.
Naparato has able send his seven children to school out of his income in cattle raising. One of his children was able to earn a degree in education.
Manuel Porque, the regional AI coordinator, said the birth of twin calves is a breakthrough of the AI program in the region. This is concrete evidence that the program is effective in upgrading the native stocks and can counter apprehensions that AI services can result in death of female cows.
"We need to upgrade our native stocks in order to have quality animals really suited for work, meat and even milking purposes," said Porque.
Likewise, Noel Bautista, Provincial Livestock Division chief, said he is happy over the result in Miag-ao, Iloilo. He said the Iloilo AI program has serviced 323 cattle and 150 carabaos and has produced 52 cattle offspring and 16 carabao offspring from January to September this year.
"The Provincial government of Iloilo is supportive of the AI program because through this program our livestock farmers can demand higher price for their upgraded animals," said Bautista.
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