THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental is dispersing a total of 37 heads of swine worth almost P928,000 to various hog raisers associations and cooperatives in the province.
Half of these animals were distributed to recipients in the first three districts yesterday.
The remaining half will be dispersed to the other districts in the southern portion of the province today.
Provincial Development Officer Joselito Jaballa, animal dispersal coordinator, said they are distributing 24 heads of gilts and 13 heads of boars.
Jaballa said the gilt costs P19,800 per head while P34,800 for each boar. These stocks were sourced by PVO from a supplier farm in Bago City.
“This initiative is under the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program specifically for swine which aims to upgrade the breed of our local stocks,” he said, adding that this will also augment the livelihood of the animal raisers.
The recipients of the animals include 32 associations receiving one head each, 303rd Infantry Brigade in Murcia for their wellness farm, and two cooperatives in Toboso and Cadiz City with two heads each.
For swine, this is the first animal dispersal conducted by PVO this year.
Last month, it has distributed 3,000 heads of chicken to 30 farmers associations in the province.
Jaballa said that under the program, recipient-raisers have to pay back the province four piglets during the first and second impregnation.
He said the supplier has given them "warranty” period of one year. Meaning, the stocks can be replaced if not suited for breeding due to reproductive failure.
In case of animal death, the corresponding assessment will be conducted by PVO to determine the cause.
If it is not the raiser's lapses, they can be given new stock for replacement.
“This project really aims to boost the breeding aspect of the local swine production,” Jaballa said, adding that piglets to be paid back by the recipients will be dispersed also to their other members.
Through this animal dispersal initiative, PVO eyes to eventually benefit all raisers in the community.
“Aside from improving the genetics of our animals here, we hope to help farmers and raisers boost their livelihood,” Jaballa also said.