PCC Newsletter vol 11 no 1

Official Publication of the Philippine Carabao Center of the Department of AgricultureISSN 1655-2496 • VOL 11 NO 1 • January - March 2012PCCNewsletter

preachpracticing what we

Good dam management,good calf production

Best practices on shorteningof calving interval

Feeding canonsat the PCC regional centers

of carabao upgrading

in the PCC networkExemplars

Official Publication of the Philippine Carabao Centerof the Department of Agriculture

Vol. 11 No. 1January - March 2012

INDUSTRY NEWS

FEATURES

Rowena Galang-BumanlagJoahna G. Goyagoy

Khrizie Evert M. Marcelo

Rowena G. BumanlagJoahna G. Goyagoy

Khrizie Evert M. MarceloAnselmo S. Roque

Eric P. Palacpac

Leinefe B. LibresAnna Reylene J. Montes

Marlowe U. Aquino Carla F. Padilla

Mark Lyndon F. Antaran

Annabelle S. SarabiaDaniel F. Aquino

Anselmo S. Roque Eric P. Palacpac

Editor-in-ChiefManaging EditorEditorial Assistant

Writers

Contributing Writers

Subject Matter Specialists

Editorial ConsultantChief, Knowledge Resource Management Division

Editorial Staff

COVER STORY

Libertado C. CruzExecutive Director/Editorial Adviser

Contributors are welcomeThe PCC Newsletter welcomes industry-related articles not exceeding 800 words, with photos and corresponding caption.

Success stories of farmers, cooperatives, and other beneficiaries and stakeholders of the Carabao Development Program are preferred.

PCC encourages reproduction of articles from this publication with proper acknowledgment.

Topic suggestions and comments are also welcome.

Please send your articles and comments to email address [email protected] or mail them to

THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEFPCC Newsletter

Applied Communication SectionKnowledge Resource Management Division

Philippine Carabao CenterNational Headquarters and Gene Pool

Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecijaor call Tel. No.: 044-456-0731 (loc) 479

www.pcc.gov.ph

7 Practicing what we preach 8 Good dam management, good calf production

10 Best practices on shortening of calving interval exhibit best results at PCC at USF, MLPC, CMU, and CSU

12 At PCC at CMU: Lactating cows benefit from full-time grazing

14 Feeding canons at PCC at USM

15 Like Dr. Doolittle, she talks to her carabao to give her more milk

16 Reap from what is fed: How technology breeds better life and times for the dairy farmers

25 Cassava leaves as buffalo’s feed supplement

26 In reproduction: Nothing beats the bull, so treat the bull well

28 Breeding calendar aids in efficient, profitable herd production

30 Alternative to commercial fertilizer: Vermicomposting is an environment-friendly venture

32 Good milk practices yield good milk harvest

33 Efficient waste management system permits effective herd management

34 Bago City launches its 1st Karabag-o Fest

3 More precised breeding of livestock high in production traits, achievable soon

4 Philippines to host 9th ARBS Conference

4 Buffalo technologies up productivity of farmers

5 PCC takes part in ‘good news’ at Kabisig Gov’t expo

5 KOICA installs new equipment in PCC; GIP expected to boost

6 Ecija dairy farmer coops empowered to monitor, evaluate NIZ operations

CONTENTS

pcc newsletter

18 Exemplars of carabao upgrading in the PCC network

COVER PHOTO Good feeding systems, starting from the calf until it reaches its productive age, are practiced at the PCC National

Gene Pool in Nueva Ecija and regional institutional herds. These are considered exemplary routines and efficient

management interventions that ensure high productivity among dairy buffalos. [Photo by Jaime Giancarlo Ramos]

3

Accurate prediction of genetic merits in water buffaloes is expected to pave the way for hastened genomic selection of animals with attributes that spell out

high economic importance.Precision in the selection of animals

with, for instance, excellent milk and meat production capabilities, helps breeders propagate animals with high genetic merit only. This then ensures that the utilization of resources is done with high degree of efficiency.

International research efforts are currently focused toward the achievement of this goal. Scientists working on this field see this possibility with the imminent completion of the buffalo genome sequence.

During the first meeting of the International Buffalo Genome Consortium, held last January in San Diego, California, USA, where the Philippines is a member country represented by Dr. Libertado Cruz, executive director of the Philippine Carabao Center, the status of the completion of the buffalo genome was one of the topics presented.

It also aims to establish tools and schemes that will hasten genomic selection of water buffaloes according to traits of interest.

Related to the achievement of the consortium’s objectives, the following were also presented during the meeting: the buffalo transcriptome, discovery of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) across buffalo breeds, searching for copy number variations in the buffalo genome, and domestication and genetic diversity in domestic buffalo.

Main country representatives from USA, Italy, Brazil, India, and Pakistan also attended the meeting.

Italy, based on presentations made, has already completed the sequencing of Mediterranean buffaloes.

These breeds have high milk production capabilities ranging from eight to 10 kg a day in a standard 305 days lactation period. Some of them are raised in other countries for meat production.

Studies on other breeds, such as Murrah, Surti, and Mehsana from India, have also contributed initial data in the consortium system.

Representative data from swamp buffaloes will be submitted by the Philippines as its

More precised breeding of livestock high in production traits, achievable soon

counterpart in the consortium. India, being the major buffalos country,

takes major steps in buffalo genomics. A project was initiated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

In its website, the perspective of the initiative states that “Buffalo is the first tropical animal to be sequenced and is likely to provide the biological basis for adaptive traits. Buffalo genome sequence, thus, shall help in understanding the genetic and environmental interactions which is a major focus of present day production as well as future biomedical research.”

Under this initiative, the scientific team, with members from other related research centers in India, has completed the whole genome sequence of one female Murrah buffalo

of dairy production and health in cattle and buffaloes.

The project overview states “the central aim of this project was to develop genomic tools to aid characterization of the structure and function of both the bovine and water buffalo genomes, then apply these tools using novel statistical methodology to accelerate genetic improvement for traits of economic importance in both species.”

A major result of the project included the generation of billions base pairs of sequence data from water buffaloes for SNP discovery and genome assembly.

With the current status of data generation, Illumina, a worldwide company that applies innovative technologies for studying genetic variation and function with headquarters in California, indicated support to the consortium’s goal.

The company said it can develop a genome chip for buffalos with 50,000 SNPs and 30,000 SNPs as add on. Said chip will be available to the consortium members by September this year.

Dr. Cruz said there is a growing interest both from Illumina and the consortium members in this development.

“This is due to the consideration that the magnitude of demand from buffalo breeders for the chip for genomic selection in water buffaloes can significantly grow,” he said.

Dr. Cruz was formerly the president of ABA and IBF.

In his post-meeting recommendation, he said the Philippines should seriously focus on building human resources for the country for it to be able to harness the advances in biotechnology.

“It is important that we train young batch of scientists in this fast growing molecular approach to genetics, bioinformatics, proteomics, among other important disciplines,” he said.

He also underscored the importance of strengthening infrastructure and equipment related to the application of biotechnology and establishing linkages abroad.

“There should be corresponding aggressive efforts to establish strong linkages with the institutions, laboratories, and scientists in more advanced countries to hasten the capacity development of our own system,” Dr. Cruz said.

In the future we can envisage that the sequence of an individual will allow us to predict its phenotype with high accuracy, thus, for farmed species, genomic information will facilitate the selection of animals optimised to live, and be productive, in particular environments. -Dr. John Williams

using the next generation sequencing (NGS) platform.

NGS is currently used for sequencing target genes to perform association studies that are sequence-based.

ICAR puts it this way, “The buffalo genome sequence shall be continuously improved by filling the gaps and annotation of genes.”

Pakistan, through the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), meanwhile, embarked on an S&T collaboration program with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the discovery of genetic variation that enhances improvement

PCC takes important role in International Buffalo Genome Consortium

By: Rowena G. Bumanlag

Dr. Williams, an eminent animal geneticist, is currently leading the International Buffalo Genome Consortium.

3

4 PCC Newsletter • January-March 2012

It guarantees the production of calves and consequently, it leads to the improvement of dairy production.

This was the response made by several farmers who were asked in a study on the acceptability of artificial insemination (AI) technology in so far as breeding of their carabaos was concerned.

The study pointed to a unanimous verdict on the acceptability of the AI technology: “very high”.

A team of social science researchers of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) conducted the study on the acceptance, application, and adoption of animal-related technologies particularly on the use of AI and milk handling technologies.

Specifically, the research, conducted during the last quarter of 2011, focused on determining the extent of farmer’s capacity to improve the buffalo production management system and skills enhancement on dairy

Buffalo technologies up productivity of farmers

Philippines to host 9th ARBS conference

NEWS

Deliberate efforts on livestock biotechnology development are continuously being done in the Philippines and are constantly

translated into promising results.Because of this, the executive committee

of the Asian Reproductive Biotechnology Society (ARBS) chose the Philippines, through the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program (DA-Biotech), as the host for the 9th ARBS conference on October 23-28. The event will be a joint activity between ARBS and the Philippine Society of Animal Science (PSAS) which will be holding its 49th Annual Convention.

The ARBS, established in 2004, functions in promoting the educational and scientific interests of reproductive biotechnology research community throughout Asia.

With the emerging issues on food and health, the organizers adopted the theme:

“Frontiers in Biotechnology for Food, Health, and Biodiversity” mainly to underscore the great promises that biotechnology offers in terms of addressing food and health issues as well as highlighting the various efforts and innovations that are continuously being undertaken in the participating countries.

This joint conference is also aimed at providing a venue among scholars, scientist, extension practitioners, and policy makers from Asian countries in stimulating interaction and wide-range sharing on how to harness biotechnologies in addressing the issues on food, health, and biodiversity. More importantly, it aims to highlight the recent advancements in the different areas of reproductive biotechnologies both in animals and humans, technological developments in increasing the productivity and profitability of livestock, and opportunities for collaborative research and business activities among scientists, students, and practitioners across the Asian Region.

livelihood.The AI, as explained by experts, is a

technology that makes use of quality semen in improving the genetic make-up of animals in order for female buffaloes to produce better calf and ensure the production of quality milk. The process well-trained and skilled technicians.

In AI, the animals are bred on a timely manner to ensure pregnancy and eventual production of offspring.

From 211 farmer-respondents who are engaged in buffalo production management, 80 per cent said they embrace the AI technology as a viable intervention in animal breeding. They likewise indicated that they follow the requirements to make the female animals ready for breeding like proper nutrition and good health condition.

The farmers’ positive response was further validated during the conduct of focus group discussion (FGD) among members of farmers’ cooperatives.

They said the AI technology was made available to them for their respective animals by village-based AI technicians (VBAIT) and PCC technicians who went around the different villages for the last two years under the unified provision of technical assistance and services program of the government.

In addition, the study found out that the high adoption percentage of the AI technology was significantly attributable to the PCC’s technology dissemination initiatives. These included providing farmers with localized reading materials and necessary avenues in obtaining knowledge, improving skills and changing of attitude toward the effective and efficient use of introduced technologies.

These interventions are done during regular capability building activities like demonstrations, field visitations that included monitoring and evaluation activities, and exchange of ideas based on sharing of actual experiences.

Because of these initiatives, the farmers’ positive response to the technology showed an increase of 15 percent.

Based on a baseline data of 50 percent to 60 percent level of knowledge on AI and acceptance of animal service prior to the farmer’s engagement in buffalo production, the study revealed that the farmers’ positive response to the technology is manifested through the preparation of their animals for the service. At the same time, they indicated their confidence to the AI technician who is administering the service in their locality.

Although it was found out that the AI technology is positively adopted by the farmers, the study also revealed some negative feedbacks from farmers. These could be attributed to the immaturity of the female animal’s reproductive organ in response to the AI service, the ability of the farmers to manage the animals well and, more importantly, the inappropriate skills level of the AI service provider. These feedbacks were noted during the validation of results through personal interviews and FGDs between the research team and the farmers.

On the other hand, the success level of the AI technology consequently results in the farmer’s increased application of improved milk handling practices. Based on the trainings provided and the farmers’ experiences in dealing with the lactating buffaloes, the milk handling technology is massively accepted and applied with 87 percent adoption rate.

This adoption rate was analyzed through adoption indicators such as farmer’s capability to appropriately practice the technology, ease of management, and availability of resources like labour and time allocated during the milking

By: Joahna G. Goyagoy

By: Marlowe U. Aquino

55

With its banner programs, services, and accomplishments, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) joined in the drive to show the

‘good news’ from the government. Along with other government agencies,

PCC showcased its contributions in helping Filipino farmers through its programs and notable accomplishments in the area of, for example, carabao-based enterprise development. Said event was held during the Kabisig Government Expo & Trade Fair 2012 at the SM Megamall, February 22-26.

Kabisig People Movement is a non-partisan, multi-sectoral voluntary movement of concerned citizens who advocate for the best interest of the country and the Filipino people. The four-day exposition showed innovations and progress related to the programs of more

PCC takes part in ‘good news’ at Kabisig Gov’t Expo

than 20 agencies that profess benefits for the Filipino people.

In the opening ceremonies, Kabisig chairman Daniel Guillen said the event is meant to prove that there are more of ‘good news’ from the government than of negativity as what people often see and hear from the media

“Ito ay para sa taong bayan para iparating sa inyo ang tama at magandang balita mula sa pamahalaan (This [expo] is for the people to be aware of good stories from the government government),” said Guillen.

“Magtulungan tayo, magkapit-bisig tayo. Purihin ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan na gumagawa ng mabuti (Let’s help each other, link arms. Commend the government agencies that do good),” he added.

Bearing the theme: “Kapit-bisig sa Matuwid

na Daan Gabay sa Kaunlaran”, the exhibit was supported by the Office of the President, which issued a memorandum calling for active participation in the expo and trade fair.

In his message to Kabisig organizers, President Aquino recognized the group’s efforts to inform and update the public of the programs and accomplishments of government agencies.

Shoppers and viewers that included foreigners, who visited the PCC booth availed of free copies of its publications and showed keen interest by fielding several questions related to the programs of the agency.

Among those that captured their attention were the bull loan program and the carabao upgrading program through the artificial insemination technology of PCC. Others requested information on how to establish livelihood projects particularly on raising buffalos for milk production.

One of the exhibitors expressed deep appreciation for the activity saying that the government has many good programs and many dedicated employees who truly contribute to the country’s development efforts contrary to many negative news reports against it.

process. Furthermore, the study showed that factors including farmer’s skills and the availability of milking paraphernalia such as milking pails, disinfectants and maintenance of cleanliness during the process are factors necessary to ensure the production of quality fresh milk.

The two PCC viable technologies proved to have surpassed expectations from the farmers and cooperatives.

However, the study emphasized that these technologies should be constantly monitored during the implementation of the carabao-based production management system in order to determine further innovative cases arising from the use, application and adoption activities.

Moreover, it was pointed out that such technologies must complement each other to achieve a greater impact to the animal and farmer engaged in the management system.

Finally, when farmers are assured of the availability and the application of the technologies, they will gain more knowledge, improve their skills, and experience a change of attitude toward better animal productivity. In the end, they and their respective families can score greater profitability.

Buffalo technologies...from pg. 4

By: Mark Lyndon F. Antaran

KOICA installs new equipment in PCC; GIP expected to boost

The Philippine Carabao Center’s (PCC) genetic improvement program (GIP) has been strengthened some more with the installation of various laboratory

equipment provided by the PCC-Korea International Coordination Agency (KOICA) project.

The project titled “Enhancing Livestock Sector Performance in the Philippines”, made possible the installation of 50 new pieces of equipment in the PCC main headquarters and at the PCC at Central Luzon State University (PCC at CLSU) last February 12-17.

The state-of-the-art laboratory equipment was installed to further advance the existing PCC GIP which is aimed at improving the productivity of the buffalos in the country.

The laboratory equipment will be used in performance test, genetic evaluation, distribution of prepotency, and conservation of genetic resources.

The installation of the office equipment is also expected to improve the institutionalized data capture system, genetic data analysis and evaluation system, and unified web-based genetic information system which are very

much needed in the program.Earlier, PCC personnel were sent to Korea

for the needed training and workshop on the proper utilization of the installed equipment.

In addition, 10 pieces of laboratory equipment were put up in the Artificial Insemination Center at Barangay Joson in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija which is under the PCC at CLSU office.

Thirty representatives from KOICA came to help in the installation of the equipment. They were composed of seven members of the project management committee, seven researchers, and 16 suppliers.

The Department of Agriculture-PCC-KOICA project started in November 2010. The government of the Republic of Korea, through the KOICA, made the equipment available.

The Korean government, as stipulated in the memorandum of understanding, shall provide a grant aid in the tune of $3,000,000.

The memorandum of understanding was signed in November last year by the representatives of the Department of Agriculture and KOICA.

By: Mark Lyndon F. Antaran


Dairy farmer cooperatives are now taking active role in the improvement of the operations of the National Impact Zone (NIZ) through their own

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation Team (PMET).

The empowerment of the cooperatives for this important responsibility was an offshoot of a discussion made by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) with the members of the 52 cooperatives in Nueva Ecija.

In the discussion, the need to systematize and operationalize the vast data in the Carabao-based Enterprise Development (CBED) in the identified impact zones came out.

According to Dr. Marlowe Aquino, PCC NIZ coordinator, although they have been doing a system of monitoring and evaluation (M and E) on issues arising on the carabao-based enterprise field, the system still needs improvement.

The potentials of the dairy farmer cooperatives in local cooperative documentation, along with the PCC-NIZ team, came out as a feasible and a plausible solution to the problem.

Under the agreement reached at, each farmer-cooperative establishes its own PMET comprising of one leader and four members. The team is duty bound to the guidelines set by PCC in relation to the agency’s M and E system.

The areas needed to be monitored and evaluated are based on the PCC’s Carabao Development Program. It should cover, among others, animal breeding, animal health, animal nutrition, herd management, milk production, and waste management.

StrategiesIn order to encompass these areas, the

PCC-NIZ team came up with seven forms which will be used for the paper-based documentation of updates and changes on the carabaos, farmers, and the cooperatives.

Each form focuses on one area which includes: (1) Details about the carabao, (2) Animal health and disease, (3) Animal nutrition, feeds and feeding management, (4) Animal breeding and production management practices (5) Carabao-based farmer’s activities and handling practices, (6) VBAIT service delivery details, and (7) Animal manure management practices.

By getting regular feedbacks from the farmer-cooperatives, the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the carabao-based enterprise is certain to be strengthened.

Also, it ensures and serves as a barometer for appropriate R&D activities at the farmer and cooperative levels.

“We really need to involve the farmers and their cooperatives so that they’ll also take responsibility and accountability,” Dr. Aquino said.

The key to a successful participatory M&E is the active involvement of the key players through data collection, processing, analysis, and interpretation.

These activities are regularly done in order to support and improve the delivery of the services of PCC to its farmer-partners.

He said there is a counterchecking of whatever data obtained among the farmer-members and also about their cooperative through field validation and face to face interaction with them.

PMET establishmentPMET was first introduced to the farmers

during their first quarter meeting last year. Immediately, after the framework presentation, each farmer-cooperative established its own PMET.

Formal endorsement through cooperative resolutions were submitted and served as the official document to operationalize the PME.

The PMET members underwent trainings on the roles and responsibilities and functions of PMET, PME system for local carabao-based development program, characteristics of PMET, and data for collection, packaging and processing.

Capability-building activities to strengthen the skills of the farmers and cooperatives were also provided.

Crosschecking and validation“Because the farmers are required to give

feedbacks on a monthly basis, we can see the changes immediately,” Dr. Aquino said.

He said it can be determined readily if the animals are bred through AI or natural mating.

In animal feeds, he added, it will be known if they are given grass or supplements.

In line with this, successful cases and improved practices will be documented and be further used by other farmers involved in the CBED at the NIZ and for the different regional impact zones in the country.

Using a more systematized M and E system, the feedbacks coming from the farmers can be transformed into usable data for decision-making to improve the NIZ operations.

Dr. Aquino said this system, which was implemented last July, has now enough paper-based data which will be transferred into a database program to make updates and information available for farmers in just a click in the computer.

Ecija dairy farmer coops empowered to monitor, evaluate NIZ operationsBy: Carla F. Padilla

Dr. Aquino explains the responsibilities and functions of each PMET member to ensure an efficient and more systematic way of monitoring and evaluating the operations of their respective cooperatives.

77

Since its establishment in 1992, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) has been a prime catalyst of favorable change in the

countryside. In its desire to promote carabao-based enterprises in traditionally rice-farming communities, the PCC has spearheaded the upgrading of native carabaos through artificial insemination and introduced purebred dairy buffalos and accompanying technologies for improved production.

In the previous issues of PCC Newsletter, we featured many farmers who have benefited from the above undertakings. We featured, too, in the past, “champion” or “model” farmers who are practicing what they learned from

their engagement with PCC and even innovating on their own with remarkable successes at that.

In this issue of the PCC Newsletter and on the occasion of the agency’s 19th anniversary on March 27, our team of development communicators has once again scoured the villages to document the innovative practices of champion buffalo raisers across the country. Equally significant this time, is that we have also endeavored to feature the “best practices” of our National Gene Pool and some of our regional centers with particular focus on their institutional herds, which serve as “business-techno demo modules”. Our intention is to clearly show that we, at PCC,

are “practicing what we are preaching”. The “best practices” cover the areas

of breeding and reproduction, feeding and nutrition, animal health, milking, and waste management. These are key elements in improving the profitability of a dairy buffalo operation.

We also included succesful strategies being employed by the regional centers in carrying out expanded artificial insemination program in the villages.

We hope that by communicating these innovations or best practices and their outcomes, we can help engage more buffalo farmers and other stakeholders to become active partners in rural development efforts.

preachPracticing what we

7

By: Eric P. Palacpac


FEATURE

“A healthy calf starts with a healthy dam during pregnancy.”

For four years now, this guiding principle resulted to calf management “best practice” for PCC at Cagayan State University (PCC at CSU) in Tuguegarao City, with zero percent mortality in calves in age range of 1 day up to 1 year. In the past, the center hit a record high of 52 percent mortality rate.

On how exactly the center did it, Prof. Franklin Rellin, PCC at CSU’s center director, happily shared their open secret.

Pregnant cows, he said, are separated from the rest of the buffalos in the herd in the early period of pregnancy. They are provided with good quality pasture and supplemented with concentrates.

“Every day, we give the pregnant cows about 2 to 3 kg of concentrates with 18 to 16 percent crude protein (CP),” Dir. Rellin said.

Measured in CP, the protein requirement among pregnant cows serves well for their body maintenance and growth, and development of the fetus.

Pregnant cows, studies showed, need about 25 to 30 percent more nutrients than their usual maintenance requirement to support the development of fetus and regeneration of mammary tissues. This is particularly true during the last trimester of pregnancy.

“In the last three months of pregnancy, pregnant cows are given flushing ration with at least 10 percent above their maintenance requirement,” Dir. Rellin said.

Flushing ration or nutrition flushing, done during the last full term of the pregnancy, is recommended whether the cows are grazed or fully-confined.

A grass and legume ratio of 70:20 or 60:30 is also advised to reduce the cost of the ration.

Dir. Rellin said the birth weight of the calves will increase from 28 to 35 kg because of proper nutrition.

During delivery, cows lose weight from 60 to 80 kg or even more. The body condition score (BCS) will be down to 3.0 to 3.5. About 10 to 15 li of electrolytes are given to the cows after calving for them to regain energy and appetite.

He explained that this technique puts back the cow to a BCS of 3.5 to 4.0 within two to three weeks.

BCS is an expression of the nutritional status of dairy buffalos. It serves as reference in keeping the animals healthy. It is also closely related to the high-performance of the dairy animals, such as in milk production.

It should be remembered that good cows start from being good replacement heifers

Good damgood productioncalf



9

The ideal BCS for dairy cows are: 4 to 4.5 at calving, 3 to 3.5 at 1 to 2 months after calving, and 3.5 to 4 during the dry period.

“The pregnant cows are also allowed to graze during the day and are given a supplement of concentrates during the night when they are back to confinement. During this time, only 50 percent of the feed requirement is given to the cows. The feed is composed of cut grasses and chopped legumes mixed with concentrates,” Dir. Rellin said.

The ration consists of 70 percent grasses, 20 percent legumes, and 10 percent concentrates. This mixture is given to the cows at 3 percent of their body weight.

At two months before calving, the pregnant cows are subjected to full feed ration plus additional 10 percent and grazed at minimal number of hours.

“Pregnant cows are also offered with mineral supplements, salt, and clean water all the time,” Dir. Rellin said.

Mineral supplementation is essential in regulating metabolism and transport of nutrients in the cow’s body. It is added to the ration in small amount to supply the deficient nutrients in the basal diet.

Water supplied, on the other hand, is neded for easy digestion of feeds and absorption of nutrients.

The addition of salt in the water, Dir. Rellin expounded, is observed to shorten calving interval by 20 to 30 percent. It also increases milk production and improves the behavior of the animals.

For 15 to 20 animals, he explained, 1 kg of salt is added to 500 liters of water. This means, 50 grams of salt is

supplemented for one animal per day.“All these efforts are generally geared

toward ensuring the good well-being of both the dam and the calf,” Dir. Rellin said.

Calves usually weigh between 28 and 35 kg at birth, he said. Others reached as high as 43 kg.

“After cutting the umbilical cord, the calf is immediately cleaned and kept in an elevated individual rearing pen,” he added.

The establishment of elevated pens is also an identified best practice for PCC at CSU.

“The system prevents the calves from scouring. The individual pens eliminate the case of ‘bossy’ calves and the occurrence of hair ball, and meets each calf ’s requirements,” Dir. Rellin explained.

Hair ball, he said, accumulates in the small intestine when a calf ingests hair as a result of its suckling reflex or urge to lick other calves. When it becomes big, hair ball obstructs the passage of food until the calf can no longer eat and results to eventual death.

In the past, there were cases of hair ball in the PCC at CSU herd causing a number of deaths among the calves.

“Aside from keeping them in individual pens, the newly-born calves are fed with colostrum at 10 percent of its body weight,” Dir. Rellin further said.

Colostrum, the first milk produced by the mammary glands of the cow after calving, is an essential nutrient in the first five days of the calf with high antibodies content that can give immunity to the calf against common diseases.

“A cup of starter feeds and a handful of hay is introduced to the calf to get them accustomed to the taste and odor of feed stuff,” Dir. Rellin continued.

He said calves are also offered with clean water for drinking at all times.

The dam’s milk is also offered to the calves twice a day, between six and seven in the morning and between four and five in the afternoon. This is adjusted weekly based on their requirement until they reach 90 days old.

“At 10 days old, the calves are given injectable dewormer. They are also assigned an identification number and ear-tagged,” Dir. Rellin said.

Follow-up deworming is done at three and six months intervals, he added.

When they reach six to 12 months, the yearlings are fed with 10 percent grower feed, 70 percent grass, and 20 percent legumes offered at 3 percent of their body weight.

Still kept in their individual pens, the heifers, this time, are allowed to graze in the pasture three to four hours daily.

With this calf management system, calves at the PCC at CSU are observed to have shiny hair coat, no case of scouring and with BCS of 3.0 to 4.0.

According to Dir. Rellin, these practices have significantly accorded them good results as against their previous records of very high mortality rate at 52 percent and with a low BCS at 2.0 percent.

“It should be remembered that good cows start from being good replacement heifers. We are still looking for good practices that will help the heifer to reach 320 to 350 kg at 24 months,” Dir. Rellin said.

Good management, damgood productioncalf

9


Best practices on shortening of

calving interval

FEATURE

It needs the right technology to sustain a successful breeding program. But more than that, it entails regular and proper application of the

technology.The female carabao is known to

have a natural sluggish reproductive performance; hence, it results in slower production of offspring.

While the carabao can be bred throughout the year, the breeding or mating season usually takes place between the months of August and January. Because of this, the dry season usually counterweighs the fertility of the carabao, both male and female, resulting in poor conception rate. The prevalence of “silent heat” also aggravates this sluggish performance among carabaos.

To mitigate the above concerns, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) has developed a management protocol for breeding and artificial insemination (AI) of dairy buffalos in 2009. From this protocol, the regional centers were advised to use AI as a priority mating system.

In support of the mating system, the regional centers at Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Bukidnon, Mindanao Livestock Production Center (MLPC) in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte, Ubay Stock Farm (USF) in Ubay, Bohol, and Cagayan State University (CSU) in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, developed interventions to ensure the protection of an un-involuted postpartum uterus from infection.

Their respective practices are also aimed at guarding the newly calved cows from infection, lessening the delay of successive occurrence of heat postpartum, and most importantly, shortening the calving interval.

PCC at USFThe regional center at USF highlights

the use of uterine flushing and teaser bull in support to the protocol.

The PCC at USF dairy herd is raised under a ranch production system which contributed to the low reproductive

exhibit best results at PCC at USF, CMU, MLPC, and CSU PCC at CMU

Even before the protocol was mandated among the regional centers, PCC at CMU has already established a breeding routine for its herd.

Combining heat detection at 3 a.m., and uterine flushing, the center maintains a calving efficiency of 60 percent and a calving interval of 16-17 months.

In employing heat detection at 3 a.m., the teaser bull is placed in the pen of dry cows. When the cows are already in heat, AI is administered in the afternoon and is given a follow-up service in the morning.

For the “AM-PM rule”, also called the AI rule of thumb, the caracow showing estrus in the morning is immediately inseminated and is serviced again in the afternoon, if estrus is still observed. After that, a follow-up AI is done after 21 days.

To ensure a high reproductive performance, the center also utilizes uterine flushing to free the cow’s uterine tract from infection. Once the carabao has calved, it is immediately administered with antibiotic bolus (intavaginal) as a preventive measure for infection. After this application, oxytocin, a hormone that acts primarily as a neuromodulator in the brain, is given to cause uterine contraction and eventual milk letdown.

From this deliberate effort, the calving

performance of the buffalos. The center, due to the ranch-type

setting, relied on natural mating for the animals’ reproductive performances. This practice resulted in a calving interval among caracows of 22 to 24 months among caracows.

With the help of a teaser bull for estrus (heat period) detection, the center was able to establish a definite time of the buffalos’ estrus which comes between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. (before morning milking) and between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. (after afternoon milking).

Combining the use of a teaser bull with uterine flushing, the center was able to reduce the calving interval of the buffalos from 181.8 days to 62.32 days in 2009.

Uterine flushing involves the use of 200 ml of 10 percent betadine solution mixed with 800 ml water. This solution is then flushed to disinfect the dam’s uterus and reproductive tract to prepare it for the next cycle. It is administered within 48 hours after giving birth.

From this, the calving interval was even shortened to 49.20 days in 2010.

“From this study, we were also able to conclude that AI is best administered within 60 days after calving contrary to the traditional practice of conducting it 60 days after calving,” says Dr. Caro Salces, center director.


11

Best practices on shortening of

calving intervalexhibit best results at PCC at USF, CMU, MLPC, and CSU

interval of the cows has been shortened from 18-19 months to 16-17 months.

“Being one of the oldest regional centers of PCC, we feel obliged to develop and practice technologies that can hasten the production of the animals and serve as a model for other centers to follow,” says director Lowell Paraguas.

PCC at MLPCThe regional center of PCC at MLPC

was given a special mandate to focus and intensify its production activities.

Being such, the center also developed a breeding routine to abate the recurring instances of low reproduction rate in its herd.

Through the employment of uterine flushing with iodine, the caracows returned to estrus state within 18-21 days as opposed to the usual routine which is 60-90 days. Likewise, the uterus of a newly-calved carabao is immediately healed after a month.

The center applies 10 percent iodine with 90 percent of distilled water to the uterine tract of the caracow the following day after calving. If the uterus of the caracow didn’t show any sign of immediate healing, the center uses 20 percent of iodine with 80 percent of water for five consecutive days.

“We apply uterine flushing with or without retained placenta to make sure

that the caracow will be able to get back to its normal reproductive state in a shorter time,” said Dr. Cecelio Velez, center herd manager.

For employing this new breeding routine, center director George Realiza said, the calving interval of the caracows at PCC at MLPC has decreased from 22 months to 18 months since the first quarter of 2012.

PCC at CSUAt the PCC at CSU, strict monitoring

in the herd is implemented. It is meant to enable the center to regularly check on the developments in the animals.

For a dam that has given birth, it is closely monitored to determine if it is in estrus from “day 22” to “day 32” and then it is observed for another 43 days. Within 41-62 days, the dam usually becomes pregnant as compared to the usual pregnancy state at 180 days after calving.

In implementing this routine, the center shortened the calving interval from 22 months to 14-16.4 months.

Aside from that, the center exerts a great deal in the water consumption of the animals. Water, being the cheapest but most important nutrient source of animals, plays a vital role in the digestion of feed and absorption of nutrients, proper cellular functions, regulation of body temperature, normal functioning of

waste excretion, and as a lubricant of the animal’s body.

With this consideration, the center practices a daily provision of salt as supplement to the herd. Aside from putting the salt in the salt box for the animal to partake, the salt is added to the drinking water of the pregnant animal.

For every 1 kg of salt dissolved in 500 liters of water, it can already provide for 15-20 animals. In other words, each subject animal is consuming 50 g of salt daily or more.

“With the addition of salt to the daily nutrition of the animals, the calving interval is shortened by 20 percent,” said director Franklin Rellin.

Other than shortened calving interval, the supplementation of salt also increases milk production and improves the behavior of the animal.

“Although we do not have a concrete study on this, salt supplementation in cattle as reported by Japanese and Canadian consultants, validated our observation that the pregnant animals given with salt are likely to have an improved behavior particularly in docility, increased milk production, and manifestation of estrus after delivery,” adds director Rellin.

Key to successThe success of these regional centers

in modeling best practices for a wide-scale genetic improvement program can be attributed not only to how effective the technologies are but also to how the regional heads empower and motivate their staff members to practice what they preach.

Director Paraguas puts it succinctly this way: “The key to every success are the people themselves.”


FEATURES

condition.Dairy animals are in need of the

following crucial nutrients: energy, protein, calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin A.

These nutrients may be available or made available in different feeding systems such as grazing, cut-and-carry under complete confinement, roughage and concentrates diet, and combination of grazing and confinement.

In an extensive management system, buffalos are allowed to graze or stay in the pasture areas planted to pure grasses or combination of grasses and legumes.

This system is economical, optimizes the use of available pasture, reduces the incidence of mastitis among dairy cows,

Genetically superior buffaloes are expected to express their optimum potential by posting outstanding performance.

This, though, can only be attained with the implementation of a strategic and sustainable feeding system.

In dairy buffalos, feeding is on the basis of providing the animals with ration that is not only cost-efficient but also a good source of balanced nutrients for them to have good performance in different physiological, metabolic, and production phases.

Thus, proper feed sources should meet the nutritive values necessary for the animals’ maintenance, lactation, reproduction, growth, and good health

Lactating cows benefit from full-time grazing

Proper feed sources should meet the nutritive values necessary for the animals’ maintenance, lactation norms and superior reproduction, growth, and good health conditions.

and allows the animals to freely select the succulent and nutritious parts of the forage and not the obnoxious plants in the pasture.

Aware of these benefits, the PCC at Central Mindanao University (PCC at

FEATURE

At PCC at CMU


13

Lactating cows benefit from full-time grazing

CMU) in Musuan, Bukidnon, implements a full-time grazing system for its milking cows.The only time that they are returned to full-confinements is when they reach their dry-off period.

The center started adopting the grazing system in 2008.

“After calving, cows are given oxytocin for the expulsion of placenta and milk letdown. We also practice uterine flushing to prevent infection of the reproductive tract. Five days after calving or once the placenta is expelled from the cow, it is separated from the pen of pregnant cows and is joined with the rest of the milking animals in the grazing area,” Dr. Lowell Paraguas, the center chief of PCC at CMU, said.

During milking, animals are observed

for estrus and allowed to rest for 30 minutes to 1 hours after milking then sent back to the grazing area. Animals in estrus are examined and inseminated using the “AM-PM rule”. Teaser bulls are used for estrus detection.

“The milking cows are fed with very minimal amount of concentrates only at the time of milking. After each milking session, they rest for a while before going back to the paddocks to allow the closing of the teats’ orifice. This prevents the udders from being infected,” Dr. Paraguas added.

At 12 noon, he said, it’s milking time again. The schedule for the milking cows goes about that routine every day.

Simply put, the PCC at CMU practices a feeding system of 80 percent roughage and 20 percent concentrate for its milking herd.

Currently, the center has 44 grazing milking cows with an average milk production of 5.72 li per day or 19 li at peak lactation periods. They feed, mostly, on signal grass.

Signal (Brachiaria decumbens) is an improved grass that provides high dry matter (DM) and 7 to 8 percent crude protein for the dairy animals.

Rootstocks are replanted annually during the rainy season.

The center’s grazing area is divided into 35 paddocks per hectare. Each paddock, Dr. Paraguas explained, can feed 40 dairy cows in a day.

“Rotation of paddocks for grazing is based on the kilogram DM per hectare, which means that the paddock that has the highest DM content should be grazed first,” he said.

Each cow requires about 8 to 12 kilograms of DM per day, Dr. Paraguas added.

A supplementation for the cows, he further revealed, is an innovation on feed source which he personally formulated.

Given only to the milking cows to meet the nutrients required for milk synthesis, the dairy concentrate is

composed of copra meal, rice bran, dried spent grain, molasses, dicalcium phosphate powder, and salt.

This feed concentrate, he said, is rich in many critical nutrients, such as energy, protein, calcium, and protein, required for the high productivity of the cows.

Compared to commercial dairy concentrates pegged at Php22 per kg, Dr. Paraguas’ ration only costs about Php10 per kg.

“Each cow is fed with dairy concentrate at milking time. We increase their concentrate intake by 1 kg for every 2 kg of milk produced,” he expounded.

Dairy concentrates, Dr. Paraguas added, provide additional nutrients that are deficient in many forages.

This, he said, is observed to complement well with the grazing practices of the milking cows.

Grazing, though, is not without cons.“When the cows become full, they

wallow and smudge mud on the grasses. When this happens, they no longer want to eat that portion of the pasture and move on to another. Pot holes are also developed which damage the pasture area,” Dr. Paraguas said.

He added that they also do periodic maintenance of the fence lines, which is made of barbed wires cinched on wooden posts.

Because of this perennial concern, the center will switch to the use of electric fence, which can be easily moved from onea area to another.

Pasture weeds also compete with the forage. When this happens, a horse is placed in the pasture. Horses, Dr. Paraguas explained, would rather eat pasture weeds than signal grass.

Despite the said drawbacks of grazing, he emphasized that the PCC at CMU location is abundant with grasses and pasture area.

“That explains why we made the right choice for a feeding system,” Dr. Paraguas said.

Simply put, the PCC at CMU practices a feeding system of 80 percent roughage and 20 percent concentrate for its milking herd.


Feeding canons at PCC at USM

For newly-born calves, they are supplied mainly with milk which is 10 to 12% of their body weight.

FEATURE

A healthy herd depends greatly on the right feeding management coupled with interventions that are sure-hit formula for an

exemplary feeding routine.Take the case of the Philippine

Carabao Center at the University of Southern Mindanao (PCC at USM) wherein the animals are strictly taken cared of right after they were born.

For newly-born calves, they are supplied mainly with milk which is 10 percent to 12 percent of their body weight as per nutritional requirement. This routine goes on until the calves are aged two months. To make sure that the calves consume the recommended amount of daily milk intake, they are

are no longer supplemented with milk. They are fed mainly with feeds, starter mass, and hay. This gradual shift from milk to hay and concentrates helps in the development of their rumen.

The center, however, are developing gradual changes in decreasing the weaning age from four months to 3.5 months this year.

According to Dr. Lopez, once the rumen of the animals is already functioning well, the animals will be able to digest forage and concentrates which later on will become their main source of feeds for their growth and production. The animals are then ready for the feeding of forage (at least 5 percent of their total body weight) and maintenance of a daily supplement of concentrates (at least 2 percent of their total body weight).

When the calves reach 4 months old, they are given 3.5 percent of dry mater

from forage and legumes and 0.3 percent concentrates based on

their body weight. This formulation facilitates proper growth of the

animals and prepares them for early weaning. Early weaning is economical

as this will reduce cost of feeding calves.

After the calves are weaned from feeding at four months old, they are

placed for 15 days in group pens while being fed with starter feeds, hay, and fresh grass. After 15 days, when their conditions are observed to be functioning normally, they are turned to pasture for four hours a day (a.m.) and are penned again in the afternoon. In the pen, they are again fed with starter feeds, hay, and

fresh grass.Weaning the calves to pasture at

this period allows them to adjust to the outside environment to which they will be exposed later as they become older. This scheme also allows them to digest forages ad libitum which facilitates rapid growth. Placing them in pens and giving the feeds ensures that they are getting enough nutrients to support their growth requirements.

Corn is also fed to the animas all year round. The corn feed constitutes 40 percent of the total forage supply of the animals. Napier, on the other hand, is supplied to them, for 45-50 days.

For lactating cows, a daily mixture of 40 percent corn, 50 percent Napier or other grass, 7 percent legumes, and 3 percent add-ons which could be in the form of feeds, is given twice a day. And for pregnant dry cows, they are provided with ad libitum feeding which means they are freely grazed in the pasture and feeds that are available on the area. This scheme helps in maintaining the cow’s requirements for milk production, pregnancy, and basal metabolism.

To sustain this kind of feeding routine, the center maintains a 24-hectare grazing area, which is planted with Napier and legumes, four hectares of which is planted with corn.

Dr. Lopez said that since they started practicing this feeding routine in 2000, the center has maintained the 750g average daily gain (ADG) of the calves on its first four months, 500g ADG of calves aged five to 10 months, and 600g ADG up to its first three years.

penned individually.“Having individual pens also

facilitate strict monitoring of their health condition,” explained Dr. Virgilio Lopez, herd manager.

Slowly, as the calves turn two to four months old, they are transferred from individual pens to a group pen. Once the calves are in their 4th month, they


15

As she saunters into the animal shed, Valentina Balaba, 39, approaches with regard their family’s female crossbred and its calf. Then she talks to the calf and after a while to its mother.

“Do, palayo sa gamay kay buhingan nako ang gatas sa imong inahan aron mahatagan nako siya og mas daghang pagkaon para mas daghan imong matutoy gikan niya (Please go away for a while, Do. I will get your mother’s milk and then give her more feed so that you can also suck more milk from her),” she told the calf.

Meekly, the calf walks to a corner and gestures to sleep.

Turning to the dam, she said: “Ikaw pod, Neneng, ayaw kaayo lihok kay kuhaon lang nako imong gatas aron naay pang tuition imong manang (Neneng, please be still. I will get your milk so that your “Ate” will have money for her tuition fee)”.

The mother-carabao meekly lowers her head as a sign of submission for the milking activity.

These scenes and “talk-tos” are repeated daily in the backyard of the Balabas in Benliw, Ubay, Bohol. Valentina, who does the milking, as her husband is always busy with his duties as a “barangay-tanod” (village watchman), never tires of relating her experiences with milking their crossbred carabao and how their animal made a difference in their lives.

Speaking in the Visayan language, Valentina said she herself decided to do the milking of their carabao a few weeks after giving birth. She said that her husband, because of his busy schedule, had already thought of foregoing with the milking of their carabao and just allowing the calf to consume the precious “white gold.”

“The dam was exhibiting violence when I first tried milking her,” Valentina said. “I was afraid then. But then I told myself to do something in order to milk it daily,” she added.

She befriended the animal and begun

talking to her. She also whispered sweet-nothings into the animal’s ears. She noticed a significant change in the animal’s behavior after only two days.

When she decided to milk the animal on the third day, which was last April 24, she talked to it and even pleaded it to stay still while she was performing the activity.

To her surprise, the animal calmly yielded to her wishes. So with the calf who gave way and restrained its desires for her mother’s milk.

She gets from three to four liters of milk daily which she sells in the neighborhood for Php40 a liter.

At the time, she recalled, she just told her second eldest daughter, who had just finished her secondary education, that she wouldn’t be pursuing higher education as the family’s meager income couldn’t afford supporting it. The eldest, a son, is taking up BS Accountancy on a scholarship program in Balayan, Batangas.

Because of the daily milk sales, she decided to send her second eldest to college to pursue computer education.

“My eldest was surprised to know that I was sending her sister to college. She asked me where I was getting the money from to support her needs. I told him, from our carabao’s milk,” Valentina said.

She also said that because of the milk from their crossbred carabao, she and her children even had the opportunity of drinking milk which in the past they weren’t able to experience.

“Our milking carabao is a big help to us,” Valentina said. “I want to have more milking carabaos so that we can continuously have a good life,” she added.

She added: “You only have to talk with them and show your love and concern for them. They will give you what you need from them which could be more than what you expected.”

What Valentina said was affirmed by Barangay Captain Venerando Ballecera. He has three female carabaos which are all pregnant. He said they were artificially inseminated through the help of technicians trained by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) at the Ubay Stock Farm.

“They are like humans who can understand you. They know when you are angry at them and also when you are friendly to them,” he said.

He said it would do a lot of good for those owning carabaos to regard their animals as if they are humans who are imbued with feelings and emotions.

“In return”, Ballecera said, “they will be good to you.”

she talks to her carabao to give her more milkLike Dr. Doolittle,

Valentina Balaba of Benliw, Ubay, Bohol and the ‘understanding’ calf.

By: Anselmo S. Roque


FEATURES

“Mahirap ang buhay noon dito at malungkot ang mga tao. Baon kami sa utang dahil sa pagsasaka (Life used to be very difficult around here and people were sad. We were neck-deep in debts because of farming),” sighed “Rey”.

Reylito Monzon or “Rey” is only one of the many dairy farmers in General Trias who used to rely on rice and vegetable farming until they discovered the boundless opportunities offered and laid out by buffalo dairying technologies. Currently, he is the chairman of the General Trias Dairy Raisers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GTDRMPC).

Brgy. Navarro is one of the 14 farming villages of General Trias which rely on carabao for land preparation. Once every four to five years, when their native animals get pregnant and calved, the farmers milk the animals and sell their milk to kasilyo (white cheese) makers. Native carabao usually produces 1 to 2 liters of milk which is only enough to feed its calves.

Rey recalled that this “beast of burden” used to be left grazing alone on rice fields because they were only good and used merely as draft animals.

Things changed, however, after PCC introduced buffalo dairying in the community. People experienced having a daily income out of milk alone and were able to earn resource capital.

Yet, adopting the technology was not easy or spontaneous for the farmers who preferred testing, seeing, and experiencing the benefits of the technology rather than being taught about it.

better life and times for the dairy farmers

Reap from what is fed:

how technology breeds

We learned to properly take care of dairy buffalos through farmer field school training. The training venue was rotated among different barangays where we learned proper buffalo management,” recalled Rey.


By: Anna Reylene J. Montes

Reylito Monzon, chairman of the General Trias Dairy Raisers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GTDRMPC).

17

Learning by trying, leading by adopting

Adopting technologies was an experiential learning among the farmers and at the same time a response to the cooperative’s pressing need for more supply of quality milk.

“I have been demonstrating to them that by following PCC recommendations, especially in feeding, they can optimize the benefits that they can get from dairy buffaloes,” says Rey.

“To adopt PCC’s technologies is in itself a demonstration of sorts for others. It takes to be a risk-taker for one to do that,” he added.

Aside from Rey, Celestino delos Santos or “Les”, Rey’s brother-in-law, who once served as a member of the cooperative’s board of directors, is also an advocate of PCC technologies in managing dairy buffalos.

“We learned to properly take care of dairy buffalos through farmer field school (FFS) training. Every week, the venue was rotated in different barangays where we learned its proper management,” recalled Rey.

This FFS was a series of hands-on training on the general management of dairy carabaos conducted by the PCC at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (PCC at UPLB) together with the Agricultural Training Institute. It was conducted simultaneously for six Fridays in 2006.

During those days, General Trias had about 600 crossbred buffalos. Having a good breed was already an established critical criterion among the farmers as

they realize the benefits of improved breed of carabaos brought about by artificial insemination (AI) and the bull loan program.

But with the increasing demand for raw milk made them further realize the need to adopt PCC’s feeding recommendations along with the establishment of the forage plantation.

From merely housing their animals under the tree, they learned how to build concrete housing, therefore better structure for their dairy buffalos. These structures have four walls or one-sided type of housing which can accommodate more than three lactating animals.

Improved feeding management Rey leads in demonstrating the

sustained benefits of having an established forage plantation as reflected in his own practice.

He currently owns a 5,000 sq-m plantation of napier and paragrass.

Rey related that he used to spend PhP200 every day with Php100 of it for diesel and the other hundred for labor.

“Now,” he said, “I need not source out grasses from far places anymore. I only spend Php200 for diesel to water the area during the initial land preparation. After that, I water the plantation only during extreme summer months. With this, I am assured of a regular supply of grasses for my cows and calves.”

He easily agreed to demonstrate the benefits of maintaining a forage

plantation because most of his co-members in the cooperative have a hard time finding sources of forage especially during seasons of extended drought just like what happened in 2009.

With the increasing demand for raw milk, Rey said the farmers should not take for granted the extreme weather conditions for it will greatly affect the source of forage for their lactating animals.

“Now, I am sure my animals will no longer experience inadequate food supply anymore,” Rey happily mused.

When the demand for more volume of raw milk among the members of the GTDRMPC members gradually increased, they became more vigilant on their feeding practices.

Improved milk production Like Rey, Les is reaping the benefits

of feeding recommendations of PCC at UPLB. In 2011, with only two lactating animals, he and his wife Precilla, earned a total of PhP270,319 from the sales of milk alone.

“We always follow what PCC teaches us. Sometimes, though, we try to modify our ways depending on the available resources,” Les said.

Les is an exceptional dairy raiser which is evident on his way of taking care of his buffalos like a father to a child. He shares with conviction how proper

better life and times for the dairy farmershow technology breeds

continued on page 3517

Dr. del Barrio and delos Santos prepare

soya pulp and concentrate feed

mixture for the latter’s dairy buffalos.


AI is seen to hasten the dairy herd buildup in the country.”

By 2015, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) expects to post a 30 percent production efficiency on its artificial insemination (AI)

program that will ensure to accelerate current accomplishment rate.

An impeccable catch-up plan and execution course, which were fashioned out recently, are meant to ensure that deliverables are met.

AI, a major technology in reproduction that makes use of quality semen from superior bulls of desirable genetic merit, remains to be the flagship service of PCC that is seen to create a wave of significant outputs felt right on the ground, where a significant number of farming families are expected to benefit from.

In support of the agency’s Carabao Upgrading Program (CUP), AI is seen to hasten the dairy herd buildup in the country. It is complemented by natural mating which is carried thru the bull loan program.

In five years’ time, the deliberate efforts of the PCC network in the villages all over the country are expected to service 556,000 carabaos and expected to produce 53,538 female animals. In turn, this number is calculated to potentially translate to 7,992 tons of milk by the end of 2015.

With this output scenario, 273,801 farmers will directly benefit from the program.

The positive expectation is particularized in the agency’s first phase of strategic plan, covering the period

2011 to 2015. This, though, may not be a general buy-out proposition for the AI frontliners because of the magnitude of groundwork that the anticipated performance outcome demands.

Yet, despite the odds of frequenting rough terrain and enduring endless hours of legwork, the AI service providers are eagerly and dedicatedly taking on the new challenge.

Support mechanisms for the AI service providers, particularly AI technicians, are institutionalized.

A national aim of expanding AI services to accelerate the buildup of a dairy buffalo-based called for the provision of basic AI paraphernalia such as AI gun, field tank, and liquid nitrogen, among others.

Liquid nitrogen plants are strategically located in several regions to ease the access for liquid nitrogen supply. These are managed by concerned Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Units (DA-RFUs).

PCC also provides the superior genetics for propagation, in the form of frozen semen, to AI technicians.

Capacitating the technicians is another aspect that is not to be overlooked. PCC has already trained a total of 1,319 AI technicians since it started.

The designated PCC regional training centers for AI are located in the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija,

exemplars


Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Bukidnon, Cagayan State University (CSU) in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) in Los Baños, Laguna, and Ubay Stock Farm (USF) in Ubay, Bohol.

Only recently, PCC initiated a move to professionalize AI services in the country through trainings on standardizing AI in large ruminants. Collaboration with TESDA is also pursued for the corresponding accreditation of AI skills and competencies.

As mounting expectations continue to stare on them, the technicians’ capacities and commitment to deliver have been optimized.

Through time, provision of AI service is now the best practice among some of PCC’s regional centers which met their 2011 targets. Such are the cases of PCC at CSU, Mariano Marcos State University (PCC at MMSU), PCC at CMU, PCC at UPLB, PCC at USF, La Carlota Stock Farm (PCC at LCSF), and Mindanao State University (PCC at MSU).

of carabao upgrading in the PCC network

COVER STORY

19

Teamwork spells good work

For PCC at CSU, one of the pioneering centers that began its operation in 1993, its success in the AI program is a payback of a neat execution plan.

From an average of 2,000 AI services provided in the villages in 2010, the center scored a record high of 6,214 last year.

“We created five teams to execute our plan,” said its center director, Prof. Franklin Rellin.

Team 1, he continued, is the coordinating group, which is composed of himself and the Unified National Artificial Insemination Program (UNAIP) coordinator; Team 2 is the AI technicians; Team 3 is the group that handles logistic support, such as the provision of liquid nitrogen and other supplies; Team 4, the monitoring group; and Team 5, the administrative support group that processes claims or travel allowances, as well as encoding of reports.

This core group, Dir. Rellin said, has mastered the routine job that resulted in an organized way of implementing the

schedule.Currently, PCC at CSU has 58 active

village-based AI technicians (VBAITs) whose efforts are complemented by technicians from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) and from the local government units (LGU).

To hasten the AI program, estrus synchronization (ES) is used by PCC technicians as a complementary technique to bring the animal to estrus or make it “in heat”. This is done through the injection of an estrus inducer, prostaglandin.

The coordinating team, Dir. Rellin said, was able to enlist at least 26 barangays a week to join the program. About three or five of this number, however, often turned out to be “not coming up to expectations.”

In terms of acceptance of the program, Dir. Rellin said this issue is no longer a problem in PCC at CSU’s service areas.

“In fact, farmers who heard about the program for the first time instantly became interested and immediately enlisted their animals in the next AI schedule,” he said.

PCC at CSU covers the whole Region II and a portion of Cordillera

Administrative Region (CAR).

Although ecstatic to the fortunate turn of events last year, PCC at CSU never ceases in doing the hard work. With more than a doubled target assigned to it this year, which is about 12,500 AI services, Dir. Rellin is confident that they can still deliver “as long as there is support in mobility and supplies.”

This year, each AI technician committed to perform 120 AI services a month. Estrus synchronizations are scheduled on Mondays and Tuesdays and AIs on Thursdays until Saturdays.

“We realized that we can get out of our comfort zone and that we can do better,” Prof. Rellin said.

This core group, Dir. Rellin said, has mastered the routine job that resulted in an organized way of implementing the schedule.”

exemplars

19

Dir. Rellin

of carabao upgrading in the PCC networkBy: Rowena G. Bumanlag


Synergy and energy do the trick

From its “rowing” function in terms of implementing the AI program in the Ilocandia region, PCC at MMSU has now shifted to “steering” the helm and is consistent in delivering outstanding performance.

This can be attributed to the yet undefined source of strength and energy there is for the PCC at MMSU team.

Most probably, it’s the captain of the ship, so to speak, personified by director Grace Marjorie Recta who made a bunch of gentlemen to follow her challenging navigation.

From an average of 1,200 AI services a year in the past, PCC at MMSU was able to post 3,103 services by the end of 2011.

To hit the target of 3,000 AI services, Dir. Recta said, the AI technicians had to work practically round-the-clock.

“They scheduled field work even during the Christmas season,” she said.

In the spirit of giving, she said, they conducted a “Handog Pamasko” or free AI

service in Ilocos. They hit 500 AI services from that activity alone.

To accomplish the remaining number in the target, she said, they decided to move to areas which have not been fully served yet, such as the province of Abra.

“We previously had our focus on Marcos town in Ilocos Norte as our impact zone. For some time, we have not penetrated Abra because of safety issues,” Dir. Recta said.

During those times, technicians from the regional and the provincial AI coordinators’ office did AI services in the province.

From PCC at MMSU office in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Abra is a two to three-hour drive using a motorcycle. That means that a technician has to leave Ilocos Norte at dawn so that he can start providing AI service first hour in the morning.

Because of its practical functionality, VBAITs use motorcycle to reach for servicing the target villages.

The VBAITs, though, can reimburse their gas expenses from PCC. They also get a travel allowance of Php800 when they stay overnight in the villages or Php320 to Php640 for a round trip.

Aside from Abra, PCC at MMSU also covered the towns of Sta. Praxedes and Claveria in Cagayan, which are PCC at

CSU’s coverage areas, for the massive AI program. It was an agreement that the heads of the two centers reached at due to the distance of these towns from the PCC at CSU office.

“I am optimistic that as we do this massive AI program, we will not run out of breedable carabaos. We always make it a point to go back to the villages we’ve already served, because we recognize the probability that we might have missed out a good number of them,” Dir. Recta said.

More than hitting its target, the PCC at MMSU ensured a 100 percent monitoring


I am optimistic that as we do this massive AI program, we will not run out of breedable carabaos.”

The AI program: A convergence system for carabao-based entrepreneurship

Dir. Recta

If only in this aspect, PCC at CMU landed the rolls of honors of regional centers who hit the mark for its 2011 AI targets.

“Before we go to the villages to conduct massive AI, we make sure that the activity had been fully coordinated,” Dr. Lowell Paraguas, the center director said.

Either he or the AI coordinator does personal coordination with the LGUs involved.

Presentation of the AI program is usually done at the provincial level, he said. This is where the plan and the schedule are agreed by each stakeholder and then cascaded to the municipal and barangay levels.

“We coordinate the activity and the schedule one month before so that we can have an elbow room for sudden changes,” Dr. Paraguas said.

“We make sure, though, that everybody agrees with the plan and schedule so that from there, we can proceed with the implementation as smoothly as possible,” he added.

From an average of 1,200 annual AI services, PCC at CMU recorded 4,340 last year.

The center covers eight provinces under Regions 10 and Caraga. It recently expanded

Deliberate coordination for optimized coverage

For us to be felt in our coverage areas, we give importance to pursuing proper coordination.”

Implementation of the AI program is not solely of PCC. A clear-cut way to its success is the development and nurturing of strong partnership with concerned local government units, from the regional level down to the barangay level.

Dr. Paraguas

21

Promoting to be in-demand

PCC at UPLB posted a total accomplishment of 6,256 AI services in 2011, a 130 percent leap from its previous output of 2,718 in 2010.

“We attribute our accomplishment to better promotion strategy in the villages, increased number of LGU partners, improved logistics for the distribution of liquid nitrogen, and provision of AI paraphernalia and supplies for the actively performing technicians,” Dr. Arnel del Barrio, PCC at UPLB’s center director, said.

LGU technicians brought the biggest contribution in the total output, followed by the VBAITs, then by the PCC technicians.

Massive orientation, he said, was scheduled in the course of implementing their plan to achieve their target. These were done at the barangay level one week before the scheduled conduct of ES and AI.

A promotions group, which focuses attention on this aspect, was created.

“The team basically promotes PCC’s end-goal of doing AI. We give emphasis on the benefits of owning a crossbred, which is a product of AI,” Dr. del Barrio said.

In PCC’s information campaign for AI which is Sa kalabaw na mestisa, hataw ka sa kita, a farmer earns an additional income of as much as Php75,000 based on sales from milk and male calf.

Other salient benefits of owning a crossbred include its ability to reach breedable age faster than the native carabao and the appreciation of its market value.

They present the benefits, Dr. del Barrio said, in a program which they succinctly called Negosyo sa gatasang kalabaw sa pamamagitan ng AI (Dairy carabao-based enterprise through AI).

“We motivate our participants to view AI not just a tool for breeding but as a vehicle that can bring about progress in the lives of smallholder farmers,” he emphasized.

He added that supplementary information, education, and communication materials were distributed to the participants of the orientation for them to better understand the program.

Through their promotional strategies, PCC at UPLB aims to transform the mindset of farmers from mere recipients of the AI program to partners in alleviating poverty in the villages through a social program.

“We were deliberate in our efforts to see this transformation happen,” Dr. del Barrio said.

Posters and flyers, carrying the benefits of AI, were posted in different municipal and city halls and distributed to stakeholders. This move, attested Dr. del Barrio, created the demand for AI.

Complementing the information campaign, the team is also aware that active involvement of the LGU in the program is contributory to the overall success of implementing the AI program.

To achieve this, PCC at UPLB forged new linkages in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur. Previous linkages were also renewed.

rate in performing AI. This simply indicates that all the animals that were artificially inseminated were followed up, either for pregnancy diagnosis or repeat AI, to ensure pregnancy.

The success of the program, or monitoring for that matter, could not have been made possible if not for the exemplary commitment of its program coordinator, William Gudoy, who is right beside her at the helm, Dir. Recta said.

“William Gudoy, the big brother of the VBAITs, has steadily rubbed on his energy among the technicians,” she added.

Such energy, as it can be seen, has been translated and has resulted in a high-achieving PCC at MMSU in terms of its capability to empower the team.

PCC at MMSU currently has 31 active VBAITs.

VBAITs in the Ilocos area are continuously gaining high recognition among carabao owners for being a privatized service-oriented individuals. PCC at MMSU reported that majority of farmers in Ilocos now pay the VBAITs Php500 per service once pregnancy is assured.

With the current efforts that have been instituted by PCC at MMSU, the center hopes to sustain at least 5,000 AI services a year.

21

With these efforts, PCC at UPLB reaped positive results, such as increased number of active technicians and heightened individual performance.

In terms of logistic support for the technicians, the center made sure that performing AI technicians are provided all the supplies they need to implement the plan.

As of December of 2011, PCC at UPLB has 107 active technicians.

“We also improved the distribution of liquid nitrogen through a schematic route. We did this by determining the frequency of purchase and distribution,” Dr. del Barrio said.

PCC at UPLB, which covers provinces in the CALABARZON (Region 4-A), MIMAROPA (Region 4-B), and Bicol (Region 5) regions, aims to deliver anew a target of 11,000 AI services this year.

With this new resolve, he said “We are ready to take on the challenge, even if that means doubling the number of our partners to cover more farmers.”


Dr. del Barrio

We nurtured the partnerships that we have already created and developed new ones. We regularly coach our partners to plan, monitor, and evaluate strategies.”

its services to Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte.

“For us to be felt in our coverage areas, we give importance to pursuing proper coordination,” Dr. Paraguas emphasized.

Through this, he continued, PCC at CMU gained the full cooperation of its partners.

In fact, some LGUs provide the technicians with necessary logistics support that are crucial for the implementation of the planned activities, such as mobilization and supplies.

“There are very supportive LGUs who readily fill in the gap when, for example, there is lack of liquid nitrogen supply. Others volunteer to shoulder transportation and accommodation arrangements and expenses for our technicians,” Dr. Paraguas said.

Support mechanisms, he added, spell out the success of implementing their strategic plans.


breedable carabaos. Through this effort, we expect to increase our diffusion rate,” Dr. Salces said.

PCC at USF served a total of 612 barangays and 90 municipalities in 2011. Efforts in 2010 delivered a total of 341 calves monitored on the ground.

“We attribute our success largely to the pooled efforts of our privatized and LGU-based AI technicians who actively participated in our strategic planning workshops,” Dr. Salces said.

Currently, a total of 127 active AI technicians contribute to the overall success

that they organized are willing to enlist their animals for AI.

“We did information campaign about the benefits of AI for a month,” Dr. Salces said.

With the turnout of AI recipients and the increasing number of farmers who willingly signified their interest in the program, his team’s strategy paid off, he added.

For its 2012 target, which is 10,000 AI services, Dr. Salces said they are more focused in delivering and accomplishing what are expected of them.

“We will be more focused on achieving our goal this year. We will do our activities as organized as possible to ensure that outputs are achieved as scheduled,” he emphasized.

Keeping score, he said, is very important for the team. That means each individual is held accountable for his or her targets.

To do this, Dr. Salces continued, we are giving each technician a weekly planner that has all the measurement parameters necessary in monitoring outputs.

“Calf drop, pregnancy diagnosis, number of animals artificially inseminated, and number of information materials disseminated will be closely monitored, recorded, and evaluated each quarter,” he said.

He added, “With this simple tool, we expect each technician to be more aware of their actual accomplishments versus their target.”

Each individual, Dr. Salces said, is then reminded to sustain, if not further improve, efficiency.


Capacitating for a cause

From an average of three AI services per technician a week, three barangays or about 120 services a week was delivered by each of PCC at USF’s active AI technicians last year.

This remarkable increase resulted in the accomplishment of the center’s target of 5,500 AI services in 2011. The


center registered a 108 percent actual accomplishment of its target or a total of 5,969 services.

To achieve this, PCC at USF focused on capability building.

“By capacitating our partners, we also increase efficiency and productivity. It gives us the confidence in providing only the best service to our farmers,” Dr. Caro Salces, center director of PCC at USF said.

Two training courses on basic AI and pregnancy diagnosis for large ruminants were conducted with the aim of recruiting more active technicians in the field. Aside from this, six batches participated in an advanced/ refresher course on ovarian palpation.

These courses, Dr. Salces added, purposively equipped the technicians to be more proficient in doing AI and related activities in the field.

About 30 new technicians, from the provincial and municipal offices, were trained and are now ready to be deployed for field work, he said. They will also be trained to induce heat in carabaos through estrus synchronization, an activity that is previously done only by technicians of PCC.

“The technicians that we trained are from municipalities with 500 or more

of PCC at USF in implementing the AI program in its coverage areas in Region 7.

“Capacitating technicians is easy but to encourage farmers to participate in the program is the more challenging task for us,” Dr. Salces said.

Most of the time, he added, only 50 percent of the participants in orientations

By capacitating our partners, we also increase efficiency and productivity. It gives us the confidence in providing only the best service to our farmers.”

Dr. Salces

Bonifacia Hingpit, PCC at USF’s AI coordinator, explains how the

weekly planner for AI technicians can aid in the efficient monitoring of important activities/parameters

related to AI service.

23

Focusing on the target, hitting the high mark

In target shooting, to hit the periphery of the “bull’s eye” is considered good enough, but hitting the dead center is marksmanship.

“I like to believe that we deliberately focused on the bull’s eye and pursued it. That is why we hit our target of 3,000 AI services last year,” Ariel Abaquita, the center director of PCC at LCSF said.

Just like in target shooting, he said, it is pointless to aim and shoot unless an intention to hit the target is there.

“You aim, fix your line of sight to the target, manage your trigger, and establish follow-through and it is likely that you will hit the target,” Dir. Abaquita continued.

PCC at LCSF is averaging 500 to 700 AI services in the past years, covering the province of Negros Occidental.

“We are very happy that we hit our target. At first, we thought it was impossible,” he said.

In implementing the program, PCC at LCSF focused on three cities and two municipalities with dense population of breedable carabaos. They are the cities of Bago, Kabankalan, and Sipalay, and the municipalities of Hinoba-an and Cauayan.

“We believed that if we focused on these areas, our efforts and resources will not be futile. It turned out that we did the right strategy,” Dir. Abaquita said.

In terms of coordination, he added: “we make sure that we talk with the person who decides or has the influence on the decision-maker,” he added.

The team also reactivated AI technicians from the LGUs and “inspired them to contribute in accomplishing the tasks at hand.”

“Everyone in the team has a very clear understanding of the purpose. If we have a clear direction in mind, we are halfway there!” Dir. Abaquita said.

Still on the way to charting a new challenge ahead, he said the team is very positive that it can deliver a doubled target of 6,000 AI services this year.

True to being a marksman, Dir. Abaquita’s stance now lies heavily at establishing a foundation of trust among the team members in his leadership.

“Nothing compares to an inspired person because he will surely deliver,” he said.

Truly an inspirational leader in


You aim, fix your line of sight to the target, manage your trigger, and establish follow-through and it is likely that you will hit the target.”

his right, Dir. Abaquita added that “It is not all about material support but recognizing these gentlemen and making them feel a sense of ownership of the program as well as their importance in accomplishing whatever challenge there is at hand.”

“Once people know what they are doing, are inspired, and with sense of belongingness, they will perform. Plotting the strategy and how to execute it will then be very easy,” he said.

The same principle is replicated in terms of establishing relationship with

farmers, he continued.“I have realized that when farmers see

our sincerity in helping them through the program, we develop a very good relationship with them,” Dir. Abaquita revealed.

He said he did not just “sell” the AI program but, more importantly, built relationships with the stakeholders in the Carabao Development Program.

Dir. Abaquita hopes to sustain

his team’s efforts in creating a massive base of buffaloes with high production capabilities in the villages through the intensified efforts in providing AI services.

His allegory: “AI is my working clay and I intend to mould something creative out of it.”

“Carabao upgrading is our stairway to creating enterprises in the countryside. We are now on our way to make that happen,” Dir. Abaquita concluded.

Dir. Abaquita

Each month, four teams are deployed in the villages for 17 days. Each team is composed of a PCC AI technician and an agricultural or AI technician from the LGU. A team covers up to six barangays in a day.

“Our overall target is to cover 16 municipalities in a month. Although we have difficulty reaching far-flung areas and those that pose high security risks, the team is still hopeful that we can deliver our doubled target of 8,000 this year,” Dr. Paraguas said.

To hit the increasing target in the following years, he said, PCC at CMU is planning to organize a trainers pool for

Deliberate coordination... from page 21

AI. To complement the PCC AI technicians doing the training solely, technicians from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit (DA-RFU) will be tapped to conduct trainings.

In this way, he said, PCC technicians will have more time to join the team who does actual legwork.

“In the future, we see the payoff of our efforts through organized breeder associations in the Caraga region,” Dr. Paraguas shared.

These breeder associations, he said, will eventually become suppliers of dairy animals to the impact zone in Bukidnon.

“In five years, PCC at CMU will become the central milk processing hub for all the milk produced by the dairy cooperatives,” Dr. Paraguas said.

23


Building trust among program beneficiaries

Do not promise the moon and the stars; commit only within the means.

With this principle, PCC at MSU performed well and it definitely deserves a high rating, worth more than a promise of moon and stars, for accomplishing 109 percent of 2,000 AI services in 2011. It registered a total of 2,195 animals

Nasrola Ibrahim, the AI coordinator, agreed to this.

He said that being flexible as program implementers had been their practice. Simply put, he continued, PCC at MSU sensibly adjusts to the needs of stakeholders and that is when they get good results.

PCC at MSU enumerated the team’s major efforts in making the carabao upgrading program (CUP) in Region 12 progressing at a faster pace. Some

AI Coordinator, is about expanding our services to cover more farmers. We revived partnerships and focused hard in keeping it intact,” Ibrahim said.

The revival of CUP in the province meant consistent and painstaking labor of coordination and orientation about the salient points of the program.

Organized mainly through the efforts of PCC at MSU and concerned government units, the MOAITO continuously strengthens its capabilities through a monthly meeting. The meetings are conducted from one municipality to another.

“MOIATO is an organization of about 30 village- and LGU-based AI technicians. We conduct meetings from one municipality to another to establish better linkage with our partner LGUs and to get them really involved in the program,” Ibrahim said.

During these meetings, he said, one lucky member will be happy to bring home a raffle prize. “The cash prize comes from our own pockets. Everyone shells out Php100; half of it is given away as raffle prize and the remaining half goes to the organization for capital build-up,” he added.

Related to this, Dr. Masanang said, “Simple perks are given to AI technicians to make them feel appreciated.”

“We thought of giving our top performing technicians awards and other incentives to make them feel also that we fully appreciate their good work. What we give them is nothing compared to their dedicated service for the benefit of farmers,” he said.

If only for the teams’ current efforts and unfaltering hard work, PCC at MSU is sure to achieve yet another commendable accomplishment this year, with 5,000 AI services soon to be performerd.


of these were: reactivation of the CUP in Misamis Occidental in the second semester of 2011, sustained nurturing and coaching of partners, improved logistics support, and development initiatives.

“These efforts all redounded to earning the trust of our stakeholders,” Ibrahim stressed.

After a decade of dormancy, the CUP in Misamis Occidental is now gradually activated. A proof of this is the establishment of the MOAITO or Misamis Occidental AI Technicians Organization.

In this province alone, which is located in the northern region of Mindanao, about 2,000 breedable carabaos will be enlisted to the AI program.

“Our effort to reactivate the CUP in Misamis Occidental, through the Regional


serviced with AI.PCC at MSU has 40 active AI

technicians, including village- and LGU-based technicians.

“We promise our partners nothing spectacular. But we assured them of practicing honesty in dealing with them in each single moment so that we can gain their full trust in us as well as in the program,” Dr. Pendatun Masanang, chief of PCC at MSU, said.

Trust, he said, is also about making them see the program as their own.

“We explain the program as clearly as possible with emphasis on the benefits. As much as possible, we let them own the program in a way that they feel comfortable with their participation. We, at PCC, only do the steering,” Dr. Masanang added.

By capacitating our partners, we also increase efficiency and productivity. It thus ensures for us the confidence that we are providing only the best service to our farmers.”

Dr. Masanang

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Cassava

It’s a grinding, laborious work but it’s worth it!

That is how Cresencia Orjalisa of Tuburan, Ubay, Bohol, a dairy farmer’s

wife, briefly described their day in tending their dairy buffaloes.

As early as 4 o’clock in the morning, his husband Felixberto Orjalisa, 62, commonly called as “Mang Dongdong”, heads off to his farm to cut Napier grasses and cassava leaves for feed to their milking carabaos which is just a few walks away from their house.

She, on the other hand, busies herself in preparing breakfast while awaiting her husband.

Mang Dongdong returns momentarily with bundles of Napier grasses. That done, he leaves, and Aling Cresencia takes over. She begins to chop the grasses reducing them to about 2-4 inches long and then mix them with cassava leaves. The task takes her about 20 minutes long.

One dairy buffalo is usually prepared with not less than 3.5 kg of cassava leaves and 6.5 kg Napier, both fresh.

Simultaneously, Mang Dongdong prepares the dairy buffaloes for milking.

Milking is done while the buffaloes are eating.

“My wife feeds the animals while I do the milking,” says Mang Dongdong. “But most of the time, I do these jobs all alone,” he added.

This same manner of milking and feeding the animal is one good practice adopted by milkers of the Philippine Carabao Center at Ubay Stock Farm (PCC at USF). Aside from the fact that it increases milk production, it also relaxes the animals making them behaved while being milked.

Mang Dongdong conducts milking twice daily which usually happens at 5 a.m. and then repeated at 2 p.m.

As responsible and caring as he is, Mang Dongdong makes sure that his dairy animals will not suffer the effects of drought, flood, or whatever dire conditions that may destroy his grasses.

He also feeds his dairy animals with hog mass like pollard, yellow corn, rice bran or a mixture of any of them for supplementation every day.

Experts, such as Dr. Caro B. Salces, an animal nutritionist and at the same time center director of PCC at USF, said supplementation is a good management practice. Hog masses are usually complete feeds containing energy, proteins, minerals and other nutrients necessary for the growth and milk production of dairy animals.

Aside from feeding his dairy animals during milking time, Mang Dongdong also allows them to enjoy the green lushes of his pasture area teeming with Napier, cassava and other grasses starting at 3 p.m. or after the afternoon milking session.

When Dr. Salces was asked if the feeding of cassava leaves is tolerable considering its toxic content, he confidently answered: “Well, by nature, carabaos as ruminants, have the ability to detoxify them.”

If the farmer still doubts this fact, he can dry the cassava leaves for a while to lessen its toxic content, Dr. Salces advised.

Heeding the expert’s recommendation for dried leaves, Mang Dongdong did just that.

However, he found out later that his dairy animals has low appetite for dried leaves, thus, he mixes molasses to the grasses, as instructed, to add flavor to it. This system, he found out, worked well with the animals.

“Ensiling cassava leaves is also another option to lessen its toxicity,” added Dr. Salces.

“People just need to go out of their traditional shell in order to improve. They should follow what Mang Dongdong did. He

courageously took the risk despite his belief that cassava leaves could be harmful to the animal,” he added.

In reality, according to him, cassava leaves have 22 percent protein which is higher than Napier with only 6-8 percent. It is also richer in energy and minerals, thus, increases the milk production.

“Sauna, duha ra ka litro kasagaran ang iyang makuha sa usa ka kabaw, karon tag-lima ka litro na (Before, he averages two liters of milk per day per dairy buffalo, but now he can get 5 liters of milk a day),” Mrs. Orjalisa enthusiastically said as she emphatically attested that the output is really of great help to them.

With the income they generate out of the raw milk collected, husband and wife are able to buy pieces of farm equipment, a motorcycle, and a freezer not to mention their increasing number of livestock, crop, vegetables, and other commodities being raised.

Mang Dodong’s dedication to dairy farming also brought him great honors. In 2010, he was chosen as an “Outstanding Gawad Saka Awardee” by the Department of Agriculture in Region 7 (DA-RFU) and landed in 3rd place in the search for “Outstanding Gawad Saka Awards” in the national level.

The PCC at USF and the provincial government of Bohol also recognized Mang Dongdong as one of Boholanos’ pride for his exemplary practices in the field of agriculture.

Truly, as the couple commented, feeding cassava leaves is a laborious practice on their part but with all the windfalls they got and are still getting, all that they can say is: “It’s fulfilling!”

as buffalo’s feed supplement leavesBy: Leinefe B. Libres

25


As far as upgrading the breed of the swamp buffalo is concerned, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) has made much headways

in its determined efforts. These initiatives have borne fruits in terms of thousands of island-born Murrah buffaloes which are of the superior kind.

The PCC is bent on using various reproductive biotechnologies for genetic improvement, such as artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer to further intensify and fast-track its mandate in propagating superior quality breeds of livestock.

But knowing that nothing beats the bull in terms of reproductive process, PCC

record-keeping to resolve this recurring problem. Called the “breeding record book”, it records the number of visits to the farm by the monitoring team, number of services rendered by the bull, and certification of the service from the carabao owners as noted by the municipal agricultural officer and agricultural technician. The book also reflects how many calves were produced by the breeding services rendered by the bull.

and certification from the municipal agriculturist, veterinarian, or livestock inspector. A fertility-tested and socialized bull (three years old and above), on the other hand, is considered paid when it has sired 50 calves.

After the bull has serviced not less than 200 breedable female carabaos and has produced not less than 50 calves based on a validated document, the bull’s ownership is then transferred to the

farmer-recipient or borrower. The program, however, requires

enormous effort in the aspect of monitoring to ensure its success and maximization of the productivity of the loaned-out bull.

One of the main setbacks in ensuring the efficiency of the program is the half-hearted commitment of some recipients. Many of them failed to attain the requirements stipulated in the program contract. Aside from not satisfying the required bull services and calf drop, some farmers also resort to selling the bull and/or trade it with a female carabao which is against the agreed term in the contract.

In the case of PCC at Central Luzon State University (PCC at CLSU), which is fully implementing the program, it put up a record book for a more organized

The program does not only aim at producing more superior quality animals on the ground but more importantly, it also provides additional income for the farmers.

FEATURES

Aside from an organized record-keeping scheme, Dr. Fe Venturina, AI and Bull Loan Program coordinator of PCC at CLSU, said regular or religious monitoring activity should strictly be followed.

Since 2010, the monitoring team has made sure that it conducts personal visits to the farmer-recipients at least two months after the awarding or releasing of the animal to them. This way, Dr. Venturina said, the agreement made in the contract, such as proper housing of the animal and enough forage area, are assured. After such, the team schedules twice a year follow-up visit to the farm.

Due to this activity, the PCC at CLSU has chalked up a 100 percent monitoring success in 2011 against the 70 percent accomplishment in 2009 and 80 percent in 2010.

also launched its bull loan program. In 2010 alone, 323 bulls were loaned

out to qualified farmer-recipients all over the country. Following the bulls’ breeding services, a total of 1,723 calves on the ground were recorded.

The bull loan program of PCC is about lending purebred dairy-type Murrah bulls to qualified farmer-recipients or bull handlers. These bulls are then used for natural mating with native breeds or crossbred carabaos in areas where AI service is inaccessible.

Per agreement with PCC, the bull can be owned by the farmer-recipient upon satisfaction of the agreement’s provision.

A junior bull (2.5 years old and below), is considered paid in full when it has sired 25 calves. This is subject to proper proof

so treat the bull wellNothing beats the bull , so treat well the bull

In reproduction:Dr. Venturina

2727

“While we ensure proper recording and monitoring of the program, we also see to it that, as much as possible, the bulls loaned out to the farmers, in their maturity age, are at least aged 2.5 years,” says Dr. Venturina.

Dr. Venturina and her team also encouraged the bull handlers or borrowers to religiously scout for farmers with breedable carabaos in their area to be serviced by the bull.

“The program does not only aim at producing more superior quality animals on the ground but more importantly, it also provides additional income for the farmers,” she added.

Dr. Venturina explained that for every

service of the bull, the handler is paid Php500 by the breedable carabao owners.

She added that if all of these considerations are combined and followed, there is no reason why the bull will not be able to produce 25 to 50 calves in just two to three years. Eventually, the ownership of the bull will be transferred to the recipient.

“Monitoring of the loaned out bulls is not easy,” Dr. Venturina relates.

She said there were countless times that they had to walk under the scorching heat of the sun for half an hour or more just to check on the bull and the borrower. Sometimes, too, she said, they had to sate their hunger with some

biscuits or chips alone. Dr. Venturina also related that there

was even a time when they scheduled a visit with the farmer and walked an hour or so to reach him only to find out that the farmer was nowhere to be found.

“We have several painstaking experiences in doing personal visits to the farm. But if you really have passion in what you do, you will endure the difficulties,” she mused.

This year, Dr. Venturina said, their team’s efforts have been planned out well.

“We will maintain that good record and see to it that the program is well implemented,” she concluded.

so treat the bull wellNothing beats the bull , so treat well the bull



Further, it aids in tracking both herd and individual buffalo cow performances.

This intervention, eventually, helps identify which cow is healthy and ready to conceive, or can readily be culled. More importantly, it can also be used as a stand-alone dairy management system alongside computer-based dairy management programs.

This tool, already proven effective,

in various countries that provides the needed information for herd management in just a glance.

The calendar, strategically posted in the herd’s shelter, provides an easy access to needed information for herd management on a daily basis such as calculating heats or estrus, servicing dates, calving dates, pregnancy checks, drying off, and calving preparation dates.

Improving the genetic merits of livestock depends greatly on efficient herd management. An important consideration in this respect is

making sure that the chain of efficient breeding cycle is uninterrupted.

One particular tool which aids in easy and consistent monitoring of the herd is the breeding calendar. It is a robust and easy-to-use medium being utilized

aids in efficient, profitable herd productionBreeding calendar

The breeding calendar, according to Dr. Lopez, has been a very important device in their farm as it aids them in easy monitoring of the developments and needed actions in the herd

FEATURES



29

buffalo cows served by a bull; and arrow indicators.

The insemination date serves as the baseline data. Each day, the disk is turned to signify one day.

The buffalo cows are identified by their numbers which are written on adhesive, colored plastic material.

Certain colors are also assigned to each particular stage. Red is for pregnant animals, blue for newly calved but not showing estrus yet, black for dry cows, and green for those which were naturally bred or were artificially inseminated.

In using the breeding calendar, the starting date is the day when A.I. is applied indicated by the third arrow from the right. Any animal showing estrus on a specific day is inseminated and its identity is placed under the insemination arrow (green) on the second ring (representing first AI).

“The third arrow also specifies the expected date when the animal will drop a calf,” Dr. Lopez explained.

“The second arrow represents the date of the day, date of calving, and the time or period when each activity (or event) was undertaken as reflected by the

arrow indicators, such as those A.I. and pregnancy diagnosis,” he added.

The fourth arrow is meant to show if the previously inseminated animals will return to estrus after 21 days.

The fifth arrow shows the status of the animals 42 days after insemination whether they will manifest estrus or not. On the other hand, the schedule of pregnancy diagnosis is indicated by the sixth arrow which also represents the 63rd day after insemination.

“This tool is very cheap, handy, and very reliable,” said center director Benjamin Basilio.

“Therefore, it can be easily replicated at the farmers’ level,” he added.

He further said: “With this tool, it will allow or assist farm technicians as well as caretakers to remember important activities associated with systematic breeding management of the animals. This calendar is also useful to A.I technicians and bull handlers in the villages to monitor the fertility status of the farmers’ animals.”

With ease in its use and the valuable and relevant information it readily offers, the breeding calendar helps in decision-making toward reducing calving intervals, improving conception rates, reducing involuntary culling for reproductive reasons, focusing labor for reproductive management to specific time periods, and improving the overall reproductive performance and profitability of the herd.

This calendar is no doubt an indispensable tool at PCC at USM in so far as effective breeding of dairy-type water buffalo is concerned.

is being carried out at the Philippine Carabao Center at the University of Southern Mindanao (PCC at USM). It has its roots at this center since 2004.

But since the gestation period of cattle is only 280 days (at most) while buffaloes is 310 days, Dr. Virgilio Lopez, PCC at USM farm production manager, modified the cow breeding cattle to fit the longer gestation period of the buffalos. To make this possible, Dr. Lopez changed the placement of arrows between the calving date and the AI date (equivalent to 310 days), and between the date of calving to drying-off which is equivalent to 305 days.

The breeding calendar, according to Dr. Lopez, has been a very important device in their farm as it aids them in easy monitoring of the developments and needed actions in the herd.

Similar with the cow calendar, this calendar consists of 12 sections with each section indicating the equivalent of one month and is subdivided into 30 days; a revolving disk with five rings showing the first, second, third, fourth artificial insemination (AI) service with an innermost circle that represents the

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Dr. Lopez shows here how the buffalo breeding calendar is used in monitoring the developments in the herd.


Alternative to commercial fertilizerFEATURES

Vermicomposting is an invaluable practice of converting wastes that come from disposed foods or animal manure into organic

material with the help of earthworm upon ingestion. The waste materials are converted and excreted by the earthworms as vermicast.

The process is an efficient way of waste reduction and ideal for producing environment-friendly and high quality natural fertilizer.

Realizing these potentials, the management of the PCC Gene Pool for Dairy Buffalos in the compound of PCC Headquarters in the Science City of Muñoz, implemented the operationalization of a vermicomposting project.

The solid waste generated from the 450 heads of dairy buffalos housed in the facility was the main consideration for the setting up of this project. This effort addresses the need to manage the daily wastes excreted by the animals and reduce also the recurring foul smell coming from the buffalo’s manure.

On a daily basis, these buffalos produce an estimated total of 8 to 9 metric tons of fresh buffalo manure. They translate to 270 metric tons in a month’s time. With this volume, a possible income of more than a million pesos can be generated if turned into a high value organic fertilizer.

”We have started this project as part

By: Khrizie Evert M. Marcelo

of our initiative to implement a more efficient waste management system. Through this, we were able to convert this amount of wastes into a useful high quality organic fertilizer and a significant way of generating additional revenue,” Dr. Daniel Aquino, farm manager, said.

The wastes are collected every third day. About 24 tons are being collected and allowed to undergo pre-composting in the ageing area for 20 to 25 days before putting the African night crawler worms.

Ageing allows the fermentation process and the release of heat which can kill the worms. During the fermentation period, Effective Microorganisms (EM) solution is applied to the manure to reduce odors and multiplication of flies as well as enhancing the compost process and quality,” Dr. Aquino said.

EM is a mixed culture microbial inoculant composed of several species of beneficial bacteria, yeasts and fungi that co-exist together in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

“We need to meet and maintain the desired temperature of 38°C to 40°C for the decomposition process. It is covered with a plastic sheet to minimize evaporation and help recondition the manure until such time it reaches the ideal temperature before introducing the worms. When the manure is properly aged, that is the time it will be transferred to the prepared worm’s beds,” he added.

Mr. Bienvenido A. Rara of BARFARM Agro Ventures of Bunsuran, Pandi Bulacan serves as the consultant for the vermiculture project.

He suggested that the recommended height for the worm’s beds should be as high as two hollow blocks or two feet. In between layers of the aged manure there should be beddings of grasses or rice

straws to avoid compaction. This will help worms to penetrate deeply the prepared manure, he added.

The facility at the genepool currently has six worm’s beds for vermicomposting. One bed can hold up to 12 tons of composts. Two kilos of African night crawlers are added to the compost for the process of hastening the decomposition of the waste.

While processing, Mr. Rara said, it is necessary to cover the beds with net to avoid the presence of birds and insects and to maintain the moisture level to a minimum of 70%. Regular watering should be done to keep the right amount of moisture in the worm’s beds.

Dr Aquino said that vermicomposting usually takes a minimum of four to eight weeks of processing. A recovery rate of 60 percent or 7.2 tons of vermicasts is produced from the 12 tons that is processed for vermicomposting.

“While doing this, you’re also able to produce cultured worms. In one cycle, the worms will produce an additional 25% of its kind,” he said.

“We utilize the vermicasts as fertilizer for our forage areas. The output from the operation helps us to save more money as it is no longer needed to buy chemical fertilizer to induced regrowth in the forage area,” Dr. Aquino said.

The forage is harvested after 45-55 days. After one week of harvesting, the fertilizer is introduced to the soil. It is recommended to add 7.5 tons of vermicasts to a one-hectare forage area to recondition it for the regrowth cycle.

According to studies, the application of organic material in the forage area benefits both the plant and the soil. It promotes better root growth and absorption of nutrients while improving

Vermicomposting is an environment-friendly venture


31

Alternative to commercial fertilizer the hollow blocks for the construction of vermi beds and a 2 ½ kilo of African night crawlers.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) donated the fund used for the vermiculture kit, hollow blocks, cement and African night crawlers. This was distributed to 156 farmer cooperator from 24 barangays.

Epitascio Arsega, 44 years old, started culturing worms in his backyard. He currently produces 20-25 bags of vermicasts from his five worm beds harvested every two months. Each bag can be sold at Php200.

“I was able to save more money because I am now using my own manufactured fertilizer in my farm,” Arsega said. He owns a five-hectare rice farm.

He used to consume 15 bags of inorganic fertilizer per hectare to meet his desired yield results. He only uses nine bags of organic fertilizer now per hectare. He only sells 10 bags of his produce to the LGU.

Herminia Mallari who serves as the manager of the coop generates an income of Php5, 000 in vermicasts every month aside from her earnings of Php1, 200 a week from selling the excess carabao manure that she did not use for composting.

The LGU of Llanera buys the produced organic fertilizer at Php200 per 50-kg bag from the farmer-cooperator. The cultured worms are priced at Php400 per kilo.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the farmer cooperator and the LGU that the produced fertilizer will only be sold to the local government. The stocks are distributed to other barangays that wished to join the project. This is part of the vision of the local government unit of Llanera to become the “organic fertilizer capital of the country”.

Recently, the LGU gave a loan of Php50,000 to the coop for the construction of the coop’s office. It will be repaid with organic fertilizer that the members of the coop produce.

Barangay Bayani currently has a total of 100 farmer-cooperators engaged in the vermiculture project. It now serves as the model project in Llanera, Nueva Ecija.

Vermicomposting is an environment-friendly venture

were able to lessen our expenses from buying commercial fertilizer, address the problem of waste management and at the same time generate income from it”, Salces said.

“The technology is shared to the farmers who are interested in doing it. We give them a free sack of organic fertilizer with worms inside so they can start reproducing it. There are farmers now who are selling their produce,” he added.

Dir. Salces suggests that a composition of 30 percent manure and 70 percent available resources like rice hull, grasses or legumes can be used for vermicomposting. Most importantly, the farmer should have the passion for doing this kind of work, he added.

The profit gained is used for the waste management expenses, additional salary for the two staff who manage the project, and as a revolving fund for this particular project.

Better livesIn Barangay Bayani, Llanera, Nueva

Ecija, one organization that is promoting vermicomposting is the Kapitbahayan Cooperative.

In 2010, they received a 25-dairy cow module. The coop-members never thought that the carabao manure can also be their alternative source of livelihood aside from milk.

Five of its members are now reaping a good amount of money out of producing organic fertilizers coming from their dairy buffalos. These members are Brgy. Captain Epitacio Arsega, who is also serving as the coop chairman, Herminia Mallari, Felomina De Guzman, Ernesto Botones and Mylyn Espiritu.

Luck must have been on the side of these five members. After receiving the entrusted buffalos, the LGU of Llanera offered them training for the vermicomposting project as one of the components of the Llanera Techno Pinoy Program of Mayor Lorna Mae Vero.

Ten slots were given to the coop-members but only five of them got interested and attended the training. Most of the members did not believe at first in this project.

After attending the training, they with materials were provided such as

the soil aeration, texture and tilth, hence the reduction of soil compaction.

The management plans to generate revenues from the sales of the excess vermicasts to interested buyers as soon as all of the forage areas have been rehabilitated with the organic fertilizers. The construction of 20 more worm beds are on going in order to process more substrates.

“The project is believed to be helpful to our dairy farmers. Vermicomposting will not only provide them with good quality organic fertilizer for their forage areas but also give them an additional income from the sales of this fertilizer and the earthworms they can harvest out of it,” shared Dr. Aquino.

PCC at USFPCC at Ubay Stock Farm in Bohol,

generates income from vermicompostingSimilar with the PCC Genepool, the

PCC at Ubay Stock Farm, Ubay, Bohol (PCC at USF) is now reaping the good harvest from vermicomposting.

The center is now producing 180 bags of vermicasts in one month from the processed manure of its herd. Each bag contains 50 kg of organic fertilizer. One hundred bags are allocated for sales to the community and the rest are kept for forage use.

One bag of vermicast costs Php200. A sure profit of Php20, 000 a month

has been generated from this venture, according to the PCC at USF report.

“These organic materials are sold to the organic market association,” said Dir.Caro Salces, center director of PCC at USF.

“We harvest these vermicasts every three to four months. We spray effective microorganisms (EM) to hasten the decomposition process twice a week. We

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“Dreams can only be fulfilled dreams when they are achieved through self-determination and

hardwork,” expressed Greg Cueco, a champion dairy farmer from Brgy. Gabas, Baybay, Leyte.

Hardworking as he is, his passion for doing his chosen field for nine years was recognized by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) during its 17th Anniversary in 2010. His buffalo was chosen as the “best dairy buffalo” in the senior cow category.

Mang Greg has been tilling his borrowed land for their vegetable farming but never received any recognition for doing it. It was only when he engaged himself in dairy farming that he experienced this kind of a fulfillment.

With good practice in managing his herd, Mang Greg’s 12-year old best performing buffalo chalked up a milk production record of 2, 208.8 kg of milk during its 289 days in lactation.

Mang Greg gladly shared his daily work routine. Starting at five in the morning he’d makes sure that all the things needed for milking his animals are well-prepared. The animals are washed first before the milking process. Then, they are allowed to dry off and their teats are properly sanitized.

He also observed fore stripping and conducts mastitis testing before the actual milking.

Her wife, Nadie, collects the milk and with the use of a strainer, she transfers the milk to a canister.

That done, Nadie collects the leftover in strainer and uses it as her own version of a facial wash. Her rosy-cheek face she said, is attributed to her secret beauty

regimen–the use of buffalo’s milk.Mang Greg said all of the practices he

has been following were actually taught by the PCC. He just made sure that he strictly adheres to ensure his dairy management.

Currently, he has seven dairy buffalos, three of which are lactating, one is pregnant, and the others are new offsprings. He was able to collect 16 liters from the three animals which are being milked once a day. His average earning from milk alone is Php4,000 a week.

With these earnings, he was able to send three of his children to school. The two already graduated from college. He was also able to buy two motorcycles for his two sons, one motorcycle for the delivery of milk, another new motorcycle bought for himself just recently and a multi-cab being used for collecting forages.

He hopes to buy someday a patch of land where he can raise more dairy buffalos.

In TuguegaraoJuan Soriano, 46, of Brgy.

Namabbalan Sur, Tuguegarao shared his best practices in managing his dairy buffalos.

At 5:30 in the morning, Mang Juan milks his four lactating purebred buffalos. He is able to collect 40-gin bottles or equivalent to 13 liters of milk and another two-and- half liters from his one lactating native carabao. His milk collection translates to Php658 daily income.

Every week he is able to generate more than Php4,000 earnings from his milk collection.

“While milking, the animals are fed with Napier grass. After milking, I give them water to drink and then they are transferred to a place where they can

freely graze. At 9:00 in the morning, after washing the animals, I serve them salt. The salt serves as an appetizer. From what I observed, giving them salt makes them produce more milk,” Mang Juan said.

The animals are shepherded in an area where grasses are available for them to eat the whole afternoon. Before putting them back in their corrals, the animals are bathed again then later fed with Napier, rice straws and one ganta of mata-mata (fine rice bran).

“All of these techniques that I learned from PCC helped me manage the buffalos more efficiently,” Mang Juan said.

In PangasinanA dairy farmer in Pangasinan is known

for producing dairy buffalo’s milk with a different taste. His milk, according to his customers, tastes like corn.

Allan J. Aquino of Sitio Cabaruan of Brgy. Bantug, Asingan, feeds “Joana”, his best-performing dairy buffalo and his other buffalos with corn stubbles and Napier grass every day.

“Joana” produces 8 to 9 liters of milk twice a day.

Before milking the animals, he brings them to the Agno River for their daily bath. He allows them to wallow freely up to 15 to 20 minutes after which he washes them with soap.

While being milked, concentrates are given to them.

Mang Allan’s milk collection reaches up to 12 liters which is equivalent to an average earning of Php420 a day.

His earnings made it possible for him to acquire a tricycle for delivering his milk and a motorcycle as his service vehicle.

“I always see to it that I provide all the needs of my animals. They give me money and they deserve to be treated the best way possible,” Mang Allan said.

FEATURES

Good milking practicesyield good milk harvest



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For a herd that maintains more than a hundred animals, tons of wastes accumulated every day is a sure headache. But with an

efficient waste management system, the problems can be done away with virtually without much effort and time constraint. And it can produce cash money, too.

Take for instance the case at the Philippine Carabao Center at Mindanao Livestock Production Center (PCC at MLPC) in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte.

Every day, the center accumulates approximately five tons of manure from 106 animals. But as one strides to the vicinity of the center, he/she would be staring in awe as the center looks like a cut-clean golf course area. On top of that, there is even no foul odor around.

The secret for those extra-ordinary attributes? The employment of a manure sump.

The manure sump or pit of PCC at

MLPC is 80 square meters in width and one meter deep. It has a total capacity of 10 tons.

Once a week, the wastes undergo three stages. From the central sump, the wastes are pumped into the aeration lagoon “to produce an environmentally-safe fluid waste stream and a solid waste suitable for disposal or reuse”. The filtered wastes are then directly delivered to the paddocks or pasture areas.

The processed manure excreted from all the 106 animals fertilizes the 100-hectare pasture area of the center.

“Since we built our manure sump in 2001, we have saved much from fertilizer cost from using four sacks of commercial fertilizer per hectare down to two bags per hectare. We have saved much from labor resources, too,” said center director George Realiza.

This, he further explained, was

because of the timely collection and removal of manure with minimum time and effort required from the farm caretaker.

The system, he added, is easily run by an unskilled personnel.

In designing a manure sump, however, director Realiza said that it should be built at least 10 meters away from the barn. This consideration requires only minimum water consumption for the collection and removal of manure, thus, it saves on water supply.

Provided that the wastes are regularly flushed to the paddocks at least once a week, he added, the use of manure sump becomes more convenient.

During dry season, however, the manures should be flushed everyday so as to avoid clogging in the pipes, he emphasized.

“Having a systematic waste management will also help prevent the spread of diseases through the manure,” director Realiza said.

With its convenience and efficiency in use, the manure sump can be easily replicated at the farmers’ level. After all, a well-planned manure storage system is an asset to a successful herd management and profitable dairy business.

herdmanagementpermits effectiveEfficient waste management system


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Bago City launches its 1st KaraBag-O Festival

For the first time, Bago City held a festivity to honor an important mammal-the carabao-and to celebrate a program built around

it.The festival, “KaraBag-O”, served as

an avenue to increase the awareness of the Bagonhons about the city’s Carabao Development Program. It was also meant to change their traditional view that carabaos are merely for draft and meat purposes and let them appreciate the fact that these animals can be an important source of milk and a propeller of a profitable dairy business enterprise.

Vice Mayor Nicholas Yulo emphasized these important directions in Bago City in his message during the opening program of the festival held at the Bantayan Park, last February 16.

KaraBag-O is coined from two words: Kara, which means “Karabaw” and Bag-O, from the name of the city.

Bago City is a 2nd class city which is in Negros Occidental. It is 21.5 kilometers or 30 minute drive away from the center of Bacolod. Based on the 2007 census, it has a population of 159, 933 people.

The festival was one of the attractions during the celebration of the city’s 46th charter anniversary.

It took off with the theme, “Dako nga Kita sa Dako nga Kalabaw”. It was launched as part of the initiative of the local government to recognize also the active support of farmer-beneficiaries of the program.

Farming and fishing are the main sources of income of the people. Acting on its goal to improve the quality of life of every Bagonhon for sustainable development and good governance, the city decided to adopt and implement the CDP of the PCC for the city’s different

barangays (villages). The CDP of PCC is a continuous and

organized effort to increase the genetic potential of the native carabao as a source of milk, meat and draft resulting to the creation of buffalo-based and related enterprises aimed to provide additional income and improve the nutritional status of the farming communities.

Ms. Rutcheli Dilig, Bago City’s CDP Program Implementer, said that dairying is not traditionally a very popular activity in their community.

“We want to create an impact with the carabao as a centerpiece of a development effort. We want the people to know that we have this kind of program for them to appreciate more the carabao. We hope that with this we can change the mindset of the people that carabao is just for draft and meat, we want to underscore to them that the carabao is also for milk and for the many benefits that dairying can provide to the people,” she said.

The one-day event was also conceptualized by program implementers to showcase the results of Bago City’s CDP especially on its Artificial Insemination (AI) component.

Dilig said that the LGU is very supportive when it comes to implementing the AI program. Working side by side with PCC, they were able to contribute to the massive AI program of PCC last year.

“Our six active AI technicians were able to provide services to 582 heads of native carabaos,” she added.

Gifts and rewards provided by the city government were given to those who did well in raising the offsprings of the native carabaos that went through AI.

One of the highlights of the event was the giving of awards for the carabao handling masters, categorized in two groups-one for the native and the other

for crossbred carabaos. Special awards were also given, such as Pinakauna nga Bata Paagi sa AI (first calf born out of AI), (most beautiful and good looking crossbreds) and the Carabao Got Talent competition.

During the festival, the festive mood reached a crescendo when 15 carabaos from different barangays marched in the center area of the Bantayan Park along with “CB”, the official mascot of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC). As they marched, “Papugay sa Kalabaw”, a marshall music of PCC, filled the air.

The adjudged first prize winner for the carabao handling master native category was Mr. Jonny Contreras of Brgy. Busay for aptly handling a four-year old named “Busayna”

Ms Corazon Ebro of Brgy Balingasag won first place in the crossbred category for her well-managed “Sam Milby” (1 year and 10 mos.old).

For the “Pinakauna nga Bata Paagi sa AI” special award, the recipient was Mr Alfredo Grullo of Brgy. Malingin. The first calf born out of AI, and called “Llana”, was named after Bago City’s AI technician Ms. Llana Marie Gelongo who serviced Mr. Grullo’s carabao in March 2009. Ms. Gelongo is the first AI technician in Bago City. She is now serving as the record officer for the AI program.

“Palot” of Ms. Sarah Veloso from Brgy. Ma-ao was hailed as Pinakagwapa nga Crossbred and “Sam Milby” got his second award for being Pinakagwapo nga Crossbred.

“Pedro” named after his owner, Pedro Bacaoco, got the best in talent and costume award for the “Carabao Got Talent” contest.

All the winners received cash prizes from the local government unit of Bago City.

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With PCC as their steady guide in adopting technologies for dairy buffalo production, Les (left) and Rey (right), among many other dairy farmers in Gen. Trias, Cavite, will always wear their happy smiles as their benefits from dairying will keep coming.

at UPLB center director Dr. del Barrio remarked about Les’ performance: “Les is the real dairy farmer who knows how to select the best breed and manages it excellently.”

Visitors at the GTDRMPC are often touched and amazed by the smiles of women bringing raw milk and receiving their earnings at the barangay collection site.

“Everyday is a feast day, especially when they are collecting their earnings from milk. This is the livelihood that we wanted to pass on to the next generation,” Rey, in conclusion, said.

Carabao raisers of General Trias, no doubt, have realized the need to adopt PCC technologies on feeding management and forage production. This happened as they started to feel the direct impact of extended drought and decreasing pasture area brought about by massive land conversion in their communities. This development has impacted on their animals which enabled them to yield more milk.

Producing and selling carabaos milk has become a significant source of daily income and long-term source of livelihood of carabao raisers in the municipality. And this has a big effect on the PCC at UPLB efforts.

If the center used to have a hard time in encouraging farmers to test the technologies, nowadays, it is different. The farmers are more aggressive in seeking solutions to improve their animal’s productivity, that is, to term out, healthier animal, shortening the calving interval, and realize higher milk production.

feeding provides higher milk production and helps in shortening calving interval.

Aside from serving napier ad libitum, Les has a personalized feed formula for his carabaos. At 5a.m., he is already up for his morning routine carrying a huge stainless basin. From it, he scoops about three kilograms of sapal ng soya (soya pulp) and mixes it with three kg of concentrate lactating feeds.

He prepares this type of feed mixture three times a day (morning, lunch time and evening), which he divides it equally and feeds to his thee dairy buffaloes.

“Dr. Arnel N. del Barrio provided this lactating feed formulation. Since I have my own mixing equipment, I prepare it myself. I only spend PhP670 for every 50 kg or barely Php14 per kilo),” Les related.

He added: “Lactating cows should have high protein diet. There is a nearby source of soy pulp here which I used to feed to my lactating sows and has been very effective. Since then, I feed it to my buffalos, too.

From then on, Les said that in a day, he is able to get 37 bottles [or 12 liters, 3 bottles are equal to 1 liter] from a single lactating cow alone. At PhP20 per bottle of raw milk, he earns PhP740 per animal or a net income of Php617.80.

Aside from practicing proper feeding management, Les also applies flushing technology to the animals which results to shortened calving interval.

“Lolo Les’ cows easily get pregnant in

just two to three months after calving,” boasted Louie Villalobos, Les’ milker.

Flushing is the daily feeding of a minimum of 2 kg of concentrate feeds to pregnant buffalo, depending on the animal’s weight, one month before and 90 days after calving. During lactation period, animals are fed a minimum of 1 kg of concentrate in the morning during milking and another in the evening. This technology was proven to ensure high and steady volume of milk production, promote good body condition of the animals, and shorten the service period, which consequently reduces the calving interval of dairy animals.

Flushing is a component of the Science & Technology Project of PCC-UPLB and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquaculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

Based on the calving records of Les’ two cows, which produced three, and two offsprings, respectively, and are about to calve again in the next 2-3 months, the average calving interval was computed at 15.42 months which is even shorter than the 16-18 months target calving interval of PCC. This implies that his cows give birth every 15 months and assures him continuous supply of raw milk for sale and also increasing the number of animals in his herd.

“The farmers need to understand and see for themselves the benefits of following the technology and doing it the right way. It certainly means more cows and more income for them,” he explained.

With this exemplary practice, PCC

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As the number of high-performing dairy buffalos is multiplied to a thousandfold, the Philippine Carabao Center sustains its deliberate effort to translate technologies to best practices on the ground for the greater benefit of the smallholder farmer. [Photo by RGBumanlag]

PCC Newsletter vol 11 no 1

Documents

Transcript of PCC Newsletter vol 11 no 1