Following the declaration of the International des Epizooties (OIE), or the World Organization for Animal Health, that the Philippines has already been declared as foot and mouth disease (FMD)-free, the Philippine Society of Animal Science-Cagayan Valley Chapter (PSAS-CV), Region 2, organized the Livestock and Poultry Seminar at the Crown Pavillion in Tuguegarao City last November 16.
The theme of the event was “Potential of Livestock and Poultry products for export”.
Related to this theme was a previous statement made by Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala underscoring the crucial contribution of the new developments in the livestock and poultry sector to increase the market of the Philippine products worldwide. This will mean that the Filipino farmers can market their live animals or processed products to other countries instead of concentrating in the domestic market.
The Livestock and Poultry seminar aimed to: a) provide a venue for sharing of new ideas and relevant technologies that would improve farm management, increase animal productivity, improve income from live and processed animal products; b) provide information on various animal products marketed locally and exported, including access to credits and funding assistance from government and non-government financing institutions; and c) learn new business opportunities that will be shared by various organizations, companies, and government entities.
It was participated in by the provinces in Region 2 like Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya, wherein they sent their provincial and municipal agriculturists, provincial and municipal veterinarians, livestock inspectors, and artificial insemination technicians. Dairy cooperatives, animal science and veterinary graduates, ranchers and private farm owners also attended the seminar.
According to PSAS-CV chapter’s outgoing president and center director of Philippine Carabao Center at Cagayan State University (PCC at CSU) Professor Franklin T. Rellin, Region 2, has a huge land area, numerous livestock and poultry resources, and strong livestock organizations, thus, has the potential to produce more good quality and safe animal products like milk, meat, eggs and breeding animals.
The region, though, needs good animal genetics through purebred animal infusion and continuous crossbreeding of the native animals to increase the herd size and quality of animals, Prof. Rellin said.
Dr. Arnel N. del Barrio, center director of Philippine Carabao Center at University of the Philippines-Los Baños (PCC at UPLB), discussed the Carabao-Based Enterprise Development (CBED) program. He emphasized the aim of CBED program which is “to showcase viable carabao-based dairy enterprise for the greater benefit of the smallhold farmers and rural farming communities”.
He presented the experiences of the management of General Trias Cooperative in Cavite in implementing the CBED program.
Dr. Jonathan N. Nayga, PSAS-CV chapter’s treasurer, discussed “Good Animal Husbandry Practices” while Director Marilyn T. Estrada, Regional Agricultural Statistics Officer (RASO-BAS 02), discussed the current status of livestock and poultry industry in Region 2.
Dr. Philip Watson, Canadian Executive Service Organization-Volunteer Adviser (CESO-VA), government of Canada, presented the Artificial Insemination (AI) program in dairy carabao and cattle; Dr. Joel L. Reyes, presented the Organic Chicken farming; and Ms. Rani C. Tilwani, Gromax technical associate, discussed the potential of Gromax dairy feeds.
On the latter part of the seminar, new set of officers of PSAS-CV was elected.
Mrs. Edelina B. Rellin, senior science research specialist of PCC at Cagayan State University, was elected as the PSAS-CV chapter’s auditor.
All the new members and new sets of officers of the PSAS-CV took their oath which was led by Dr. Del Barrio.
