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MinDA urges LGUs to lead cattle production program

By Prexx Marnie Kate Trozo

February 28, 2021, 4:21 pm

DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is urging local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao, especially populous provinces, to lead the region's cattle production program to ensure sufficient meat supply for their constituents.
 
In a statement Sunday, MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the cattle production program, which is supported by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) through low-interest loans, aims to establish cattle breeding and fattening projects in each of the 29 provinces of Mindanao.
 
“The cattle fattening project involves the establishment of feedlots where steers and culled cows to be sourced from Australia or other cattle-producing countries would be fed for 100 days before these are slaughtered for meat. A component of the cattle fattening project is a modern abattoir which would process the fattened cattle into market-ready products,” he said.
 
The cattle breeding project, Piñol said, would involve the upgrading of the local stocks of cattle through artificial insemination using semen from outstanding breeds. 
 
“It would also include the procurement of heifers or cows for local breeding to increase the cattle population in Mindanao,” he said.
 
Piñol said MinDA will integrate the cattle production program with its sorghum development program which will provide the needed silage.
 
“Initially, the program which is expected to start production in two years, would aim to fill the local beef requirements then gradually increase the number of cattle in the program to supply the big cities in the Visayas and Luzon,” he added.
 
Piñol said Lanao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and North Cotabato have signified intention to join the program.
 
“On Tuesday (March 2), I will personally present the program to Misamis Occidental Governor Philip Tan to complete the number of pilot provinces needed for the program. Each of the provinces will start with an initial 1,000 steers or culled cows to be fattened,” he added. (PNA)
 
 

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