February 18, 2013
 

Philippines launches buffalo-breeding facility
 

A modern laboratory where it will breed superior water buffaloes using advanced techniques in biotechnology, semen preservation and artificial insemination (AI) was launched by the Philippine Carabao Centre (PCC) in Nueva Ecija province.

Built in Barangay Joson in the province's Carranglan town through a US$3-million grant given by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) and inaugurated on February 8, the PCC facility has a bull farm, a semen-processing centre and a cyrobank. The complex is expected to support the sustained and aggressive breeding of superior carabaos in the country to benefit 500,000 farmers.

Those who attended the inauguration were South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Hyuk, Koica representative Kim Jinoh, Agriculture Undersecretary for Special Affairs Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, PCC Executive Director Libertado Cruz, some PCC personnel and hundreds of Nueva Ecija farmers.

The US$3-million grant was given under the Enhancing Livestock Sector Performance in the Philippines through an Institutionalised and Sustained Genetic Improvement Programme (GIP) project, created in 2010. The project aims to improve institutionalised data-capture systems, genetic-data analysis and evaluation systems and unified Web-based genetic-information systems.

The project was designed to intensify the organised use of reproductive bio-techniques such as AI and embryo technologies in concert with DNA-based technologies toward the enhanced breeding of superior animals, improve the cryobanking system of the animals' genetic resources to ensure sustained support for the GIP programme, and improve the capability of technical personnel in animal-breeding genomics, bioinformatics, biotechnology and other related fields.

"The enhanced bull farm is a major support to the semen-processing and AI activities of the PCC that ensure sustainability and quality production of frozen buffalo semen for the national upgrading programme," said Edwin Atabay, director of the PCC at Central Luzon State University.

The cryobank repositories, consisting of six huge cryotanks and liquid nitrogen depot, will be used to store frozen animal genetic materials.

"After two years of construction and involvement with local communities, I join the PCC in thanking the Koica for these wonderful, high-tech facilities for genetic improvement and conservation of livestock animals," Romulo-Puyat said. She added that with the new facilities, the PCC will be able to double its semen production for wider AI services in the country.

Lee said the partnership between Koica and the PCC aims to strengthen and sustain the carabao agency's existing genetic-improvement programme for livestock animals. Cruz said that with the new facilities, coupled with trained PCC staff members, the PCC would be able to address concerns affecting not only the water-buffalo industry, but also the livestock sector as a whole.

"These facilities allow us to cover three to four [times] more than the usual number of farmers we service yearly. Now we are confident that we can cater to half a million more farmers in the country every year," he said.