BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) continues to improve on the province’s pig and cattle breeds to boost the local animal industry.
The third quarter assessment conducted in the second week of October showed that about 75 percent of the swine population in Negros Occidental have already genetically improved.
This was done through the infusion of the provincial pig breeder bloodline through the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program (PAGIP).
According to the PVO, the number of its genetically-improved swine stocks continues to increase, meeting current production needs in various market environments.
The initiatives to improve the genetic makeup of local animal stocks, particularly swine, started in 2005.
The 2018 swine production mapping conducted by the PVO’s District Field Units showed the increased production of quality breed of hogs in the province through infusion of new bloodlines, whether by natural and artificial means, reached a sustainable growth in the past years.
The infusion of parent stock gilts and boars resulted to higher litter size compared to local breeds and improved market weight of fattened pigs.
The PVO credited the development to the initiatives of provincial farms, satellite production centers, and backyard animal raisers.
On top of the increasing numbers of backyard raisers, animal production centers are also operating in 15 local government units in Negros Occidental supporting the PAGIP.
Figures of the Philippine Statistics Authority as of Jan. 1, 2017 showed that Negros Occidental ranks first among the provinces in the country in terms of swine inventory-backyard level.
Meanwhile, the PVO added that the Negros First Ranch (NFR) at Barangay Sta. Rosa in Murcia town has initiated a cattle-fattening project using culled and meat-type breeds like Brahman, Simmental and Charolais.
The cattle, with an initial weight of 272 kilograms each, has gained about 120 kilograms each in four months, which shows that NFR-fattened cattle are in favorable conditions with a guaranteed better quality meat.
The PVO said 20 heads of cattle subjected to fattening are intended for marketing and research purposes.
Given the proper technology and feeding program, the fattened cattle can be more saleable and can be an option for livelihood for backyard raisers, it added.
The NFR cattle fattening is a livestock production practice that reduces animal movements to fatten them quickly to yield more meat while culling is practiced in the farm to select best breeder cattle for meat and milk purposes. (/PNA)
