Agri office to implement 5-year genetic program

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Eastern Visayas will implement a five-year genetic improvement program that will raise the quality of farm livestock in the region in the next 10 years.

Dr. Renato Distrajo, DA-Eastern Visayas planning and report officer for Livestock Program, said the department will introduce superior quality genetics through male breeder loan program, unified national artificial insemination program, and production farm development.

DA aims to increase the existing counts of livestock to 316,000 heads of carabao; 23,000 heads of cattle; 186,000 heads of goats; and 900,000 heads of hogs.

Under the Male Breeder Loan Program (MBLP), a distribution scheme will be implemented where superior quality bulls, carabulls, bucks, and rams are loaned out to farmers for use in their genetic improvement programs.

As a requirement, farmers must have at least 10 to 15 head breedable females and must be willing to insure the breeder animal with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC).

In terms of unified national artificial insemination program, DA will integrate all efforts to upgrade cattle, carabao and small ruminant for chevon, beef and dairy in one program.

Under the program, DA will train technicians or private individuals willing to conduct artificial insemination, provide calf-drop incentive at P200 per viable calf on the ground, provide liquid nitrogen supply for one year and frozen semen, and provide technical assistance and mentoring.

About 12 local government units (LGUs) in the region have already availed of the artificial insemination program this year.

As of August this year, a total of 1,701 carabaos, 717 cattles, and 100 goats were assisted through artificial insemination.

Production farm development, on the other hand, will assist interested LGUs and private individuals in the establishment of a sustainable livestock production farms and centers.

“Nucleus farms will serve as sources of superior genetic materials in support of the animal dispersal programs,” Distrajo said.

“With the genetic improvement program, along with other livestock programs, we expect an increased meat production by at least three percent per year within five years,” Distrajo added.

DA also targets to increase livestock inventory by at least five percent within five years with at least one to two percent increment per year until 2016. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)