Artificial Insemination team serves 138 animals in Antique town
A total of 138 animals, 70 of which were cattle, 60-carabaos, six goats and two sheep, were artificially inseminated during the three-day Bayanihan Artificial Insemination (AI) project in the town of Anini-y, Antique recently.
The AI Bayanihan team was headed by Mr. Manuel Porque, regional AI coordinator and was assisted by AI technicians from the provinces of Capiz, Antique, and Iloilo and a representative from the Philippine Carabao Center.
According to Mr. Porque the project enables all AI technicians in the region to gather in one venue at the same time so as to maximize the resources and brought project impact in the locality.
"Upgrading of our native animal stocks through artificial insemination is one effective way to ensure quality offspring that is very much suited for farm-labor and milking purposes." said Mr. Porque.
Twenty-seven large animals were successfully inseminated using Holstein and Brahman breed for cattle and carabao, respectively. Thirty-three were injected with hormone in order to induce the heat while the rest of the animals were found either pregnant or not ready for breeding.
The Bayanihan AI was conducted in three venues wherein 63 farmers/livestock owners attended in barangay Magdalena for the first day, 36 farmers/livestock owners from barangay Bayo Grande and Bayo Pequeno on the second day and 25 farmers/livestock owners from barangay Iba and Casay, Anini-y on the third day.
Aside from the AI program, other team members from the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) and Regional Feed Laboratory (RFL) also collected blood samples for Surra and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) testing, and fecal specimens for parasitology examination on the animals.
Dr. Romeo Magdato, the provincial veterinarian answered concerns on animal health, nutrition, breeding and management during the open forum. (JEEO/RAFID 6)