SAN CARLOS CITY -- The local government in this northern Negros city targets to serve at least 700 heads of large animals for artificial insemination (AI) this year, which is almost six percent higher than its accomplishment of 664 heads in 2015.
Cesar Carballo Jr., farm worker II of the City Agriculture Office, said they are targeting to provide AI to 450 heads of cow and 250 heads of carabao, with calf drop or conception rate of 35 to 40 percent.
As of this month, the city’s AI Center lodged at the Livestock Breeding Center in Sitio Medina, Rizal village has served at least 114 heads of cow and 79 heads of carabao, Carballo said.
“During the first quarter of the year, we already accomplished about 28 percent of the last year’s accomplishment for AI,” he said, adding that with the strong support of different agencies, they are optimistic to exceed the target heads this year.
The practice of AI is one of the banner projects of the Provincial Government through its Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program, which aims to improve the genetic make-up of local stocks.
San Carlos City is also getting support through the provision of AI paraphernalia and semen from other agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6 and Philippine Carabao Center (PCC).
Carballo said the City Government’s eagerness to further develop its livestock industry complemented with the strong awareness among the residents which also contributed to its efficient AI services.
The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) has considered San Carlos City as the lead-implementer of AI in the province mainly due to its high success rate.
“Part of our initiatives is to increase our efficiency rate to 50 percent from only about 40 percent last year,” Carballo said, adding that of the total heads served last year, calf drops were 211 heads, comprised of 52 carabaos and 159 cows, respectively.
The city’s AI initiative, which started in 1998, has impacted positively the local livestock sector, particularly in increasing the production every year.
Carballo said to further improve the delivery of AI services in the locality, they are pushing to increase the number of technicians, from two to six, this year.
Aside from hosting the AI Center, the LGU-run Livestock Breeding Center also houses 16 breedable carabaos, six calves, one breeder, and three heads ready for dispersal.
The farm utilizes the breeder for AI, which produces offspring used by the city for its dispersal project.
