Author: Ludivina J. Estimo

The national Genetic Improvement Program (GIP) of PCC recently launched  the 1st Northern Luzon Artificial Insemination (AI) Congress at Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Training Center in Batac City, Ilocos Norte last September 5-7.

Bearing the theme “Defining the Roles and Standards of an Artificial Insemination Technician in National Livestock Genetic Improvement and Enterprise,” the AI Congress aims to discuss issues and concerns pertaining to AI program implementation and to plan-out strategies on how to increase the number of AI services and improve its success rate.

PCC Acting Executive Director Dr. Arnel del Barrio emphasized that the objective of the congress is to enhance the appreciation of AI technicians about their work and that their contribution to the success of the GIP is crucial.

Hosting this AI Congress, PCC at MMSU director Grace Marjorie Recta said the three-day seminar is an avenue for AI technicians to acquire broader understanding and appreciation of their role in PCC’s efforts to genetically improve the Philippine carabao.

According to Recta, the congress is a combination of a refresher course (lectures) and a lessons-learned (sharing of experiences) methodology led by the best AI technicians in northern Luzon to inspire the other participants.

This learning method ensures that the participants get richer knowledge upon completion of the seminar.

Among the pool of experts from PCC who served as lecturers were Dr. Edwin Atabay, Scientist I, who discussed the standard protocol in the actual AI practice and advances in AI technology;  Dr. Ester Flores, PCC GIP national coordinator who was the resource person on carabao breeding program and sire directory; and Dr. Thelma Saludes, officer-in-charge of PCC at University of the Philippines – Los Baños (PCC-UPLB) who explained semen processing and handling.

The program was highlighted with the sharing of best practices on AI program implementation among other PCC regional centers.

PCC at Central Luzon State University (CLSU) AI program coordinator Dr. Fe Venturina shared the case in Region III, on how the AI diffusion rate was increased; Mr. Jose Canaria, counterpart of Dr. Venturina at PCC-UPLB shared the status of implementing the AI program in Regions IV-A, B, and V; PCCt-UPLB CBED coordinator Ms. Anna Reylene Montes shared “From AI to Enterprise: The Experience of Local Dairy Farmers in General Trias, Cavite and Rosario, Batangas; and Dr. Caro Salces, PCC at Ubay Stock Farm center director, explained how uterine flushing improved the success rate of AI in Bohol.

Moreover, PCC operations chief Mr. Honorato Baltazar discussed the role of AI technicians in PCC programs, and PCC at Cagayan State University center director Prof. Franklin Rellin explained the stipulations in the AI contract.

National Gawad Saka Awardee for 2012 Mr. Alex Pasion inspired the 156 participants attending the congress about how he met success through AI.

Pasion was hailed in 2015 by PCC-MMSU as outstanding Village-based Artificial Insemination Technician (VBAIT) among its roster of VBAITs for seven months.

“From tricycle to sarao (jeepney), I now have my own Hyundai Starex,” Pasion proudly testified his story of success. “I just want to say, there is a bright future here [AI].”

Two panel discussions addressed issues on the standards for AI practice, commitments for higher AI diffusion rate and herd build-up.

The Mindanao edition of the AI Congress is set on September 18-21.

 

An attempt to extend anew the benefits of Carabao Development Program (CDP) to local dairy farmers was done during the interaction meeting between Buffalo Raisers of the Philippines (BRP) and Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) last August 26.

In his opening remarks, PCC acting executive director Dr. Arnel del Barrio, who also acts as co-administrator of BRP Facebook page mentioned that the event was a beginning of a strong partnership to propel the carabao industry in the country.

Dr. Del Barrio challenged the 84 members of BRP who joined the meeting to strengthen their commitment in developing their lives thru carabaos and make a way in the CDP which will open-up opportunities in producing good milk, meat, and hide output.

“We will help them to know the best practices and technologies in the carabao-based industry to make them experience the fullest benefits that their dairy animals can give to them,” Dr. Del Barrio said.

Moreover, operations chief Mr. Honorato Baltazar gave an introduction about the mandate of PCC since most of the members of BRP are not yet assisted by the agency.

Included in the objectives of the open-forum style program is to determine the kind of assistance PCC will provide to the members of BRP, thus Baltazar identified possible areas that can be worked on such as policy formulation, capital formation, convergence for socio-economic development, and public image building.

Baltazar explained that the intervention of PCC’s program to the workflow of BRP can lead to job generation and local dairy development.

Meanwhile, the interaction meeting featured selected farmers to share their stories in carabao raising which included Mr. Richard Reyes, a former OFW in Taiwan who started in the carabao-based industry in 2010 and now owns 42 carabaos.

Reyes is the chairman of the newly-formed Villa de Bacolor Dairy Farmers’ Association, and during his testimony, he recalled how his father influenced him to love carabaos and appreciate its advantages over other ruminants. From two liters of milk output in 2010, he now gets a minimum of 42 liters a day enabling him to acquire a 100-hectare land property.

Aside from Reyes, Mr. Charlie Suarez, a cock fighting specialist who owns the Candice Jean Gamefarm; Ms. Catalina Visda, member of Pulong Buli Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Mr. Leoncio Callo, chairman of Catalanacan MPC; Mr. Melchor Correa, chairman of Eastern Primary MPC; and Mr. Amado Cruz from Bulacan shared their respective beginnings in the carabao industry.
“1000%, there is a huge profit with carabaos. We just need to take good care of them,” Reyes said.

Also, present in the open-forum were Planning and Information Management Division chief Dr. Liza Battad, and PCC at Central Luzon State University center director Dr. Daniel Aquino.

PCC at Central Mindanao University (PCC-CMU) recently added 16 Artificial Insemination (AI) technicians to its roster of allies in the field when it comes to genetic improvement of carabaos.

The batch, which was named “Sharp Shooters”, was trained at the PCC at CMU Regional Training Center on “Basic Training Course on Pregnancy Diagnosis and Artificial Insemination for Cattle and Water Buffalo” from August 8 to 31, 2016.  Four of the participants are village-based AI technicians, seven are from local government units (LGU), three are private individuals, one from PCC-CMU and one from the university dairy cattle project. The participants represented the provinces of  Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, Surigao del Sur, North Cotabato, Davao del Norte, and Sarangani.

The training is seen by PCC-CMU as one of its strategies to intensify the realization of the genetic improvement program for carabao and cattle in the region and to capacitate its partner LGUs and other stakeholders on the necessary skills and proficiency in the conduct of pregnancy diagnosis (PD) and AI for large ruminants.

Lectures, discussions, and practicum exercises were used as methods of learning and the participants were encouraged to actively get involved with actual AI and PD.  Pre- and post-training evaluations were administered to the participants to measure their knowledge gain from the course.

The training team is composed of Dr. Lowell Paraguas (PCC-CMU center director), Vicenta Canatoy (training coordinator), and PCC-CMU’s pool of AI experts: Ramon Jumawan, Armando Racho, Ramon Soliven Jr., Virgilio Abon, Jesus Colipano, and Ariel Asong.

After 15 days of practicum, five days of lecture-discussions and a day of re-entry plan presentation and evaluation, the participants were confirmed as newly trained AI technicians.

 

Additional equipment and upgrading of facilities necessary  to implement the project: “Strengthening institutional capability to improve reproductive efficiency, milk quality and safety in water buffaloes” was discussed and agreed upon by collaborating partners PCAARRD and PCC in an inception meeting held at the PCC headquarters in the Science City of Muñoz last August 18.

Said meeting which is a follow-up of the first inception meeting in February 10 this year reviewed the guidelines, expected outputs, schedule of activities, and possible problems that may be encountered further leading to a need of upgrading.

The collaboration project was subdivided into five component studies: development of feeding protocols and practices to support the nutritional requirements of dairy buffaloes with Dr. Daniel Aquino as the project leader, reproductive management program of water buffaloes under the supervision of Dr. Edwin Atabay, animal health care technologies and practical farm practices led by Dr. Michelle Balbin, milk quality and safety assurance from farm to milk processing plant headed by Ms. Mina Abella, and strengthening of the Carabao-based Development Program in San Agustin, Isabela led by Dr. Annabelle Sarabia.

PCC acting executive director Dr. Arnel del Barrio presented the current accomplishments of the project after six months of implementation and said that PCC is on track based on its commitments.

Dr. Edwin Atabay, overall head of the PCC-PCAARRD collaboration project, explained the distribution of Php 10,730,000 approved budget for needed equipment. He said the fund will be utilized to acquire milk analyzer worth Php 8,500,000; portable understand machine, Php 800,000; direct tube mixer, Php 500,000; centrifugal evaporator with pump, Php 500,000; centrifuge table top, Php 200,000; pipettes, Php 150,000; and multi-channel pipette, Php 80,000.

PCAARRD, on the otherhand, through Engr. Wilmar Lastimosa, Senior Science Research Specialist of the Institution Development Division (IDD) reminded PCC project leaders on the monitoring and evaluation of the project, funding management and procurement procedures.

A site vitiation to the location of the five projects was also scheduled in the inception meeting.

PCAARRD officials who also attended the meeting were Dr. Juanito Batalon, director of IDD, Dr. Synan Baguio from Livestock Research Division, and IDD administrative assistant V Ms. Eleanor Ocampo.

PCC forged an agreement with McBride Corporation last August 12 to help develop and promote the local dairy industry by helping Filipino farmers achieve sustainability in dairy entrepreneurship. This will be made possible through assistance in the areas of research for development, product development and marketing of carabao’s milk products.

Dr. Arnel N. Del Barrio, PCC Acting Executive Director, and Harvey S. Keh, Vice President for Operations of McBride Corporation, formalized the agreement through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing at the PCC Manila Liaison Office in Quezon City. As witnesses were Karla Pastore Keh, wife of Keh, and Dr. Annabelle S. Sarabia, PCC’s national coordinator for Research for Development.

McBride Corporation is a trusted private company that provides high quality plastics packaging in the ASEAN Region. It also carries other product lines that address the needs of the following industries: food and beverage, chemical, agriculture, pharmaceutical, and household products.

As stipulated in the MOA, McBride Corporation will help improve the competitiveness of PCC-assisted dairy associations and/or cooperatives through development initiatives along the aspects of research and marketing. “The role of PCC in this agreement is to collaborate with McBride Corporation in developing appropriate protocols for the processing of quality carabao’s milk products, to supply milk to the corporation, and to cooperate for the promotion and marketing of these products,” Dr. Del Barrio said.

Keh, on the other hand, said his company will be in-charge of the following: putting-up necessary storage facility including refrigerated transport vehicles for milk products, forming-up of a product development team that will develop appropriate protocols for market-driven carabao’s milk products, and promotion and marketing of these products.

He likewise added that his company will allocate 50% from the net sales of these products to serve as Dairy Development Trust Fund that will be used as capability building fund, among other forms of assistance, for the dairy farmers.

The 10th edition of Nueva Ecija’s annual “Gatas ng Kalabaw (Carabao’s Milk) Festival” was showcased anew last August 10 as the province continues to prove its unofficial claim as the “Dairy Capital of the Philippines”.

With the San Jose City acting as host for the second time, this year’s celebration coincided with the City’s 47th charter anniversary with the theme “Sa Bagong Lungsod ng San Jose, ang Lahat ng Mamamayan ay May ‘K’ – Kalinga, Kalikasan, Kabuhayan, Kalusugan, Kaligtasan, at Kaalaman”.

In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the annual “Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival” aims to promote carabao’s milk not only for its economic benefits but also for its important contribution to the health and nutrition of small-hold dairy farmers and their families as well as milk consumers in general.

The celebration, which was the most-attended so far with an estimated 2,000 people according to the event organizers, started with a parade. The participants, who donned in their cowboy/cowgirl attire, were officials from government agencies, local government units (LGUs), teachers in private and public schools, and dairy cooperatives from Guimba, Lupao, Aliaga, Llanera, San Jose City, Science City of Muñoz and Talavera towns.

“This year’s anniversary celebration showcases the upcoming activities and programs for the ‘new’ San Jose City in terms of health, shelter, environment, livelihood, security, and knowledge,” newly elected San Jose City Mayor Mario “Kokoy” Salvador said in his opening remarks during the program held at the city’s gymnasium.

Highlight of the celebration was the symbolic “tagay pugay (toast of salutation)”, a simultaneous milk toasting and drinking featuring schoolchildren and representatives from partner private institutions and government agencies. It underscored the significance of multi-sectoral efforts in the increased programs of the local dairy industry in Nueva Ecija.

Nueva Ecija is the National Impact Zone (NIZ) of the national Carabao Development Program (CDP) where all supports for a sustainable carabao-based enterprise are being modeled.

Also part of the celebration was the ceremonial slicing of the 115x183x3.5cm (LxWxH) kesong puti (white cottage cheese) prepared by PCC, which was eventually served with pan de sal as breakfast fare for the participants.

Other activities included were ecumenical service, trade fair, jobs fair, products launching of Eastern Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative (EPMPC), oath-taking of 2016 “Little” City Officials, launching of “Search for Makakalikasang Barangay”, awarding of plaque of recognition to partner-institutions, and search for “Best cow-boy and cow-girl attire”.

PCC was recognized as one of the city’s development partners while EPMPC chairman Melchor Correa was adjudged for the “Best cow-boy attire” with a cash prize of Php5,000.

On the other hand, PCC Deputy Executive Director Dr. Felomino Mamuad encouraged everyone in his message to help uplift the dairy industry in the country by patronizing the products from carabao’s milk.

DTI Provincial Director Brigida Pili, meanwhile, made a pronouncement about the province’s possible declaration as the “Dairy Capital of the Philippines”.

“The dairy industry is a sustainable source of income for the farmers. It can help alleviate poverty in the country. However, in order to uplift small and medium enterprises such as dairying, we need to have and continue practicing these ‘Seven Ms’ – right mindset, mastery, mentoring, market-access, money, machines, and models of business,” she emphasized.

She likewise announced that EPMPC bagged the “Best Shared Service Facility” award (Provincial Level) under DTI.

“Why did we obtain this award? It is because of convergence, cooperation, and coordination with all the branches of national agencies, LGUs and other government agencies,” she said.

The yearly Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival is made possible through a technical working group participated by DTI, PCC, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA) as well as the provincial and local government units. It will be hosted next year by Rizal town.

 

Another “BIZ Talk’’ activity titled: “Value Chain Analysis (VCA) Team Business Talk: Business Workshop and Project Viability Analysis” was conducted at the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) National Headquarters and Gene Pool in Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija last August 3-5.

“BIZ Talk”, an abbreviated form for Business Talk, is a series of activities conducted by the Planning and Information Management Division (PIMD) to enhance the business sense of farmers, PCC Carabao-based Enterprise Development (CBED) coordinators, and other industry partners related to the CBED Program being implemented by PCC.

Said BIZ Talk was organized by PCC-PIMD in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).

PIMD Chief Dr. Liza Battad said the activity was an opportunity for the participants to improve their current businesses in the processing and marketing of milk and meat products. She added it is also a venue to mentor the CBED coordinators to teach business to farmers.

Zadieshar Sanchez, Administrative Officer IV of PIMD, served as the speaker during the activity. Sanchez explained topics on Basic Business and Financial Concepts, Product Costing, Pricing and Discounts Offering; Breakeven Point; Elementary Marketing Principles; and Cost and Benefit Structuring of a Processing Plant.

Samuel Potante, chairman of General Trias Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Cavite, said the training helped them understand how a CBE should be conducted. He said he specifically liked topics on what are the requirements in the business, how to market products, how to look for store location, how to compute the return of investment, and how to compute costing of products based on inputs.

“The activity was meaningful because we learned a lot from it. We’re so happy that we were given the opportunity to be one of the participants in this activity,” he said in Filipino.

Dr. Arnel Del Barrio, emphasized that the activity was a good venue for the participants to appreciate their contribution in achieving the goal of the Department of Agriculture in the production of sufficient and affordable food.

The newest BIZ Talk activity was based on the result of SEARCA’s study on “VCA for Carabao Milk and Meat Product” which aimed to strengthen the weaker link in the dairy value chain such as addressing the need of farmers for processing equipment and increased business literacy.

The participants were composed of 39 dairy farmers from 13 PCC-assisted dairy cooperatives in Luzon and 16 CBED coordinators from PCC at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), PCC at Central Luzon State University (CLSU), PCC at Cagayan State University (CSU), and PCC at University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).