THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental has assured
that all Provincial Government farms are fully manned, so operations continue, especially during the 14-day enhanced community quarantine due to prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said they required all farm personnel to stay at the farms for one month starting March 16.
The province manages and operates the Negros First Ranch in Barangay Sta. Rosa in Murcia town and Provincial Livestock Breeding Center and Dairy Farm in Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City.
"Our provincial farms are raising live animals so they also need food like feeds and grasses, water and vitamins to live," he said, adding that activities in the farm include daily milking and egg production, as well as hatchery operation.
Through the Negros First Ranch, the Provincial Government also produces liquid nitrogen for semen storage, the PVO top official also said.
Negros Occidental is currently under 14-day enhanced community quarantine which started yesterday, March 30.
Government offices like the Provincial Capitol have been implementing skeletal workforce scheme during the two-week quarantine period.
For the PVO, Decena said they also have skeletal personnel in six district field units to provide permits for animal during auction market as well as technical services.
Local government unit (LGU)-operated breeding centers and multiplier farms, meanwhile, are also manned by their respective cities and municipalities.
Decena pointed out that continuous provincial farm operation is vital in sustaining the efforts on ensuring enough and quality animal breed stocks.
"It is a daily work and farm work needs physical and technical capabilities of farmers on animal breeding for the upgrading and herd build up," he added.