CATTLE PRODUCTION. The Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office is set to use artificial insemination as a breeding method to accelerate genetic improvement and production of cattle in the province and also help address the country’s dwindling cattle population. The Provincial Semen Processing Facility will soon rise at the Negros First Ranch in Murcia town. (PNA-Bacolod file photo)
BACOLOD CITY -- The Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) and the United Cattle Raisers Association in Negros and Visayas (UCRAIN-V) will use artificial insemination (AI) to boost cattle production.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said on Monday that AI, as a breeding method, can accelerate genetic improvement and production of cattle in the province and also help address the country’s dwindling cattle population.
He added that they are re-tooling AI technicians to prepare for a more intense cattle breeding drive this year once the Provincial Semen Processing Facility at the Negros First Ranch (NFR) in Murcia town begins its operation.
Technicians from various local government units and raisers actively involved in cattle breeding and beef production recently attended a seminar-demonstration on proper semen handling, identification, storage and management with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
The participants enhanced their skills to improve the efficiency of AI as a breeding technique for a higher rate of pregnancy.
To support AI as a breeding initiative, the provincial government established a Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) production plant at the Murcia ranch last year.
Decena said the plant has a production capacity of 50-kilogram per day which caters to the needs of the breeders for semen preservation.
“The NFR will soon operate the semen processing plant which will serve as the source of semen from various cattle breeds for AI programs of the province under its animal genetic improvement initiative,” he said.
Decena noted that through the facility, Negros Occidental will have its own source of frozen semen from superior cattle breeds like Angus, Wagyu and Brahman.
“It will cater to both small and commercial cattle raisers,” the PVO chief added.(PNA)
