THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental is distributing this month 33 heads of high-quality breeds of bulls and heifers worth P1.1 million produced at the Negros First Ranch (NFR) in Barangay Santa Rosa, Murcia.

Of the total number of animals, 20 heads of Holstein Friesian cattle with crosses of sahiwal will be dispersed all over the six districts in the province.

Joselito Jaballa, officer-in-charge of PVO’s Livestock Service Division, yesterday told SunStar Bacolod that these animals worth about P700,000 are mainly intended for dairy production.

Jaballa said each district, through their respective Veterinary District Office, will receive at least three to four heads of dairy bull.

“They will use it for breeding with upgrade stocks to improve dairy production in the province,” he said, adding that the bull distribution is implemented through the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program (Pagip).

Pagip is one of the flagship programs of the provincial government, through the PVO, aimed at improving and upgrading the genetic makeup of local livestock and poultry animals.

It is complemented by the Negros First Animal Livelihood Program which targets to augment the livelihood of raisers in the province.

Jaballa said that another 13 heads of cattle worth about P400,000 are also up for distribution to the province’s satellite breeding centers this month. Of which, three are bulls and 10 are heifers.

Jaballa said these beef-type cattle with crosses of Brahman and Charolais are still produced at NFR.

“The NFR breeds are tested and proven to be efficient and fast growers resulting to more gains on the part of the farmers compared to native breeds,” he said, adding that aside from better growth rate, these high-quality breeds are already acclimatized and resistant to diseases.*