April 26, 2013

Philippines' Negros Occidental province making headways in dairy industry

The Philippines' Negros Occidental province is making headways in the dairy industry, with the province making it as number 4 in the country's dairy production.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the gains in the local dairy industry, particularly in La Carlota City, is one of the achievements of his Negros First programme and leadership, which has been engaged in cattle and livestock dispersal programmes.

Marañon said, "Through the dairy production, he said, we are also able to reduce malnutrition, citing that grade school pupils who have been given milk in feeding programmes have shown weight increases a week or two after they were fed with milk from the local dairy industry."

He said his livestock development programme includes genetic improvement through insemination, adding that he has been negotiating with the USDA for local animal producers to be able to avail of better quality of breeds for domestic consumption.

Marañon said in April alone, the Provincial Government distributed 30 carabaos in Moises Padila, which have already borne more than 10 calves.

He expressed hopes that the Philippine Carabao Centre in Nueva Ecija will shortly provide the Provincial Government with semen of hybrid carabaos for local artificial insemination.

The development of the livestock and dairy industry, the governor said, is a vital part of his Negros First programme, which is the poverty reduction thrust of his leadership.