More livestock auction market transactions in NegOcc last year

THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) noted a significant increase in the number of transactions among livestock auction markets in Negros Occidental last year.

Based on its 2017 Accomplishment Report, PVO recorded a total of 207,746 animals heads registered or brought to livestock auction markets in the province from January to December.

The figure is 66,464 heads higher than only 141,282 heads registered in 2016, the report said.

In terms of animals sold, reports showed that livestock auction markets disposed 200,352 heads last year, which is 64,849 heads higher than 135,503 sold animals in 2016.

All in all, the total number of registered and sold animals increased by about 47 percent. From 276, 785 heads in 2016, it went up to 408, 098 heads last year, it added.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the higher livestock auction market transactions is mainly attributed to increase in animal production, which also resulted to sufficient supply of livestock and poultry commodities in the province.

“The improvement in the province’s animal production output is due also to the operationalization of multiplier farms in different local government units,” he added.

At present, there are six livestock auction markets in the province registered with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

These are situated in cities of Sagay and Kabankalan, and towns of Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Moises Padilla, and Hinoba-an.

Run by local government units (LGUs), these auction markets have been catering to local backyard raisers whose products are being bought mainly by livestock traders with shipments to other provinces.

Per commodity, PVO noted that the highest number of registered and sold animals through auction markets last year was for chicken, at 177,627 heads.

It was followed by swine at 177,318 heads; goat – 57,765; carabao – 30,296; cattle – 23,771; and horse – 1,321.

Decena cited the stronger participation and support of different PVO-organized associations as one of the contributors to higher auction market transactions.

In December last year, the PVO formed the Association of Broiler Integrators of Negros Occidental, which was added to the existing livestock and poultry associations assisted by the Provincial Government.

Decena said the PVO was able to reach its goal of increasing animal production through the people’s participation, especially by the member-raisers of different associations, in the development process.

“Increasing auction market transactions is one of the impacts brought by the collaboration with partner-associations in the hog, poultry and other livestock sectors,” the PVO chief said.

The increase in the membership of local livestock and poultry associations also indicates the people’s trust and confidence in government initiatives, he added.