THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Negros Occidental is implementing the Free-Range Chicken Multiplier Enhancement Program (FRCMEP) in its bid to sustain the genetic improvement of the commodity.

Under the program which will start on the second quarter of this year, PVO will conduct infusion of new bloodlines to avoid in-breeding.

The measure is seen to boost production of free-range chicken with good growth potential, good laying performance, disease resistant and meat quality comparable to native strain.

Provincial veterinarian Renante Decena said breeders at multiplier farm level will be replaced by new bloodlines sourced from the nucleus farm at Provincial Livestock Breeding Center in La Carlota City.

The nucleus farm currently grows cockerels that are ready to breed by July to August.

Decena said these stocks are up for distribution among 13 multiplier farms managed by local government units (LGUs) and 20 privately-operated farms in the province.

“Replaced roosters will be dispersed to the qualified free-range chicken raisers within the community surrounding the multiplier farms, which are properly evaluated by PVO District Field Unit personnel,” he added.

It can be recalled that Negros Occidental ranks first in terms of free-range chicken production in the country.

The PVO said this status has been attributed to the poultry dispersal project of the provincial government.

The province has maintained the nucleus farm in La Carlota City for more than 10 years already.

In 2018, it has released about 17,000 hardened chicks to various people’s organizations and non-government organizations province-wide.

“PVO constantly works on not only to increase free-range chicken production but also to produce a genetically improved strain of the animal called Manok Negros,” it added.