Author: Charlene S. Joanino

More than 60 village-based artificial insemination technicians (VBAIT) and representatives from local government units (LGU) across Region III discussed the ways and means to further improve the efficiency of the AI and Bull Loan programs.

The strategies for the PCC-led programs were taken up during the 1^st PCC at Central Luzon State University (CLSU) Calf Drop Summit held last December 6-7 at the PCC National Headquarters and Gene pool.

Recent data by PCC at CLSU showed that the AI and natural mating (via Bull Loan) efficiency rate are 46% and 58.13%, respectively.

These findings goaded Dr. Daniel Aquino, PCC at CLSU center director, to hold the summit and engaged those involved in the programs to discuss strategies to ensure the birth of more calves, which is the primary aim of the two programs.

In relation to this, Hernando Venturina, Genetic Improvement Program coordinator, urged the participants to regularly monitor their progress of work. According to him, this attitude can lead to a possible means of increasing the number of calves as it would pave the way to the identification of problems that may arise as regards conduct of their services.

Dr. Aquino noted the number of AI services had decreased by more than 10,000 in the last six years. The highest recorded AI services was about 81,000 in 2012.

According to Dr. Apolinario Salazar Jr., Bull Loan coordinator, a total of 637 bulls was loaned out by PCC at CLSU. He said that based on the performance of the bulls from 2011 to 2017, a total of 3,263 services by the bulls were recorded that resulted in the production of 1,399 calves.

In 2018, he added, the latest record showed 388 services were performed by the loaned out bulls with 214 calves’ produced.

Top officials of PCC also imparted important messages in the event. They included PCC National AI Coordinator Peregrino Duran and PCC Socio Economic Policy Research Head Ma. Theresa Sawit. Some provincial AI coordinators and PCC staff members of PCC at CLSU also participated in the discussions.

AI is one of PCC’s frontline services aided by relevant training of technicians from different villages, LGU, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Offices and PCC regional centers. It is a reproductive tool utilized to cross the swamp-type carabaos with purebred dairy buffaloes.

In the Bull Loan Program, purebred dairy-type bulls are lent to select farmers for use in natural mating in areas where AI services are not available.

A delegation of high profile officials of Malaysia which also included a World Bank (WB) official visited the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and got first-hand knowledge on what the agency has done and is doing as regards carabao dairying and related industries that it has spawned in the country.

The delegation, headed by Mr. Samuel Taffesse, Senior Agriculture Economist of the WB, was composed of ten members who were mostly officials of Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry.

It included Engku Zakir Hussein bin Syed Abdullah, Deputy Director, Agriculture Section, Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of Malaysia’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA).

The study visit was part of the WB-funded “Agricultural Transformation and Inclusive Growth: Malaysia-Philippines Two-Way Knowledge Exchange Program.”

After their visit to the PCC, they also toured other attached agencies of Department of Agriculture (DA) such as Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). They are also scheduled to visit various agricultural projects in Mindanao.

Welcomed by PCC officials headed by Executive Director Dr. Arnel N. del Barrio, the delegation started off their visit to this agency by having a walking tour of its Central Collecting and Processing Facility (CDCPF). It then later provided opportunities for the tasting of the dairy products  produced by Milka Krem, which serves as the PCC’s showcase of buffalo milk-based business utilizing farmer’s milk produce.

Dr. del Barrio, in his message to the delegates, said that their visit, coupled by their sharing of their own experiences, knowledge, best-practices, and technologies in the fields of agriculture, would surely benefit Malaysia and the Philippines.

The PCC executive director also briefed the delegation about the agency’s Carabao-Based Enterprise Development (CBED), adding that more than 300 cooperatives nationwide are currently involved in the program with assistance from PCC.

He expressed gratitude to the World Bank for selecting PCC as one of the agencies to be to be visited by the delegation.

Dr. Eric P. Palacpac, chief of PCC’s Knowledge Management Division, on the other hand, discussed the breeding technologies developed by PCC in relation to the agency’s Genetic Improvement Program (GIP).

The visitors were also given a tour and briefing of the PCC’s national buffalo genepool and cryobank facility.

“I urge the mothers to make it a habit to have their child drink milk,” Mayor Nerivi Santos-Martinez underscored in her message during the launching of a milk feeding program last November 14 at Brgy. Pinagpaanan gymnasium, Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

The collaborative effort of Talavera’s local government unit (Talavera-LGU) and PCC targeted 100 children, ages 4-6 years old, from Pinagpaanan and Dimasalang Norte.

According to municipal health officer Arjhay Bernardo, the initiative is geared towards addressing malnutrition problem in Talavera by making sure that the children drink carabao’s milk.

The feeding will last in the span of one month. Fresh buffalo milk in 200ml packets will be supplied by the Nueva Ecija Federation of Dairy Carabao Cooperatives (NEFEDCCO), which is being assisted by PCC.

“This milk feeding program will not only make children healthy but also contribute to the livelihood of dairy farmers who will provide the milk,” said Dr. Eric Palacpac, PCC Knowledge Management Division chief.

He added that Talavera and PCC have been partners for a long time on similar activities and that the approval of RA 11037 or the “Masustansiyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act” paved way to the institutionalization of milk feeding program in the country.

Meanwhile, Mayor Martinez said that in Talavera, NEFEDCCO and DVF farm both usher the progress of carabao’s milk as One Town, One Product or OTOP. She also proudly shared the news that the town was dubbed as one of the most child-friendly towns in Nueva Ecija.

NEFEDCCO is organized from selected dairy cooperatives in Nueva Ecija and it collects as well as processes carabao milk-based dairy products.  DVF dairy farm, on the other hand, is a private milk processor whose market includes Nueva Ecija, Metro Manila, Pampanga and Cebu.

Earlier this year, the 12th Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival was hosted by Talavera. It highlighted the ceremonial cutting of a white cottage cheese made from 400kg carabao’s milk from PCC.

The research of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) on the development of pen-side Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) test kit for goats bagged the “Gold Award” during the 30^th National Research Symposium (NRS) of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) last November 8 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The research paper, titled “Development of Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay-Based Test Kit for the Detection/Screening of CAEV”, was conducted by a team composed of Dr. Claro N. Mingala, Dr. Michelle M. Balbin, Dr. Daryl G. Dela Cruz, and Dr. Joram J. Gautane.

Dr. Mingala presented the paper during the symposium.

It won the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) Best R&D Paper Gold Award under the category “Applied Research (Technology Generation/Information Generation) – Agriculture Animal Science”.

The paper also clinched the “Bronze Award” for the AFMA Best R&D Poster category.

The test kit referred to was CAEV dry – LAMP. It is a rapid and cost-effective molecular-based test kit which detects CAEV in goats even at the farm level.

Thirty-one of the 176 research papers submitted made it to the symposium proper of the 30th NRS.

“The 31 research paper entries scored 85 percent and above during the initial evaluation that qualified them for the final presentation and deliberation at the symposium proper,” the BAR said in a statement.

From the 31, 8 were selected for the gold award, 10 for silver, and 13 for bronze.

They were selected from eight categories, namely: (1) Applied Research (TG/IG/ TA/TV) – Fisheries, (2) Applied Research (TG/IG/TA/TV) – Agriculture Crop Science and Crop Protection, (3) Applied Research (TG/IG) Agriculture Animal Science, (4) Applied Research (TG/IG/TA/TV) – Agriculture Engineering and Postharvest, (5) Applied Research (TG/IG/TA/TV) – Soil and Water Science, (6) Socio-economics Research, (7) Basic Research, and (8) Development-Agriculture Research.

The AFMA Best R&D Paper Gold award received a cash prize amounting to Php100,000 and a research grant worth Php2M. The silver award received Php75,000 and Php1M worth of research grant while the bronze award took home Php50,000 and Php500,000 worth of research grant.

Meanwhile, the AFMA Best R&D Poster winners, received Php50,000; Php35,000; and Php25,000 for the gold, silver and bronze awards, respectively.

“My team at the PCC’s Biosafety and Environment Section will do its best to come up with a good proposal for the 2M research grant,” Dr. Mingala said.

The NRS is a major annual event of the BAR that recognizes the works of the country’s scientists and researchers contributing to agriculture and fisheries R&D. It also serves as a venue for sharing and expounding the results of scientific researches leading to significant technologies and breakthroughs in the sectors of agriculture and fisheries.

This year’s NRS event carried the theme “Generating and Integrating Best Practices in Agriculture and Fisheries through Participatory R&D [research and development].”

Another milestone was set as PCC at Central Luzon State University (CLSU) launched its new administration office at CLSU compound, Science City of Muñoz (SCM), Nueva Ecija last November 8.

A number of researchers from the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) received various awards and recognitions during the 55th Scientific Seminar and Annual Convention of the Philippine Society of Animal Science (PSAS) held on October 16-19 at the Grand Menseng Hotel in Davao City.

Dr. Eric P. Palacpac, chief of PCC’s Knowledge Management Division, was bestowed the “PSAS Outstanding Professional in Animal Science Extension” award in recognition of his leadership in spearheading various learning platforms and development of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for the benefit of the carabao-raising sector.

On the other hand, Dr. Marvin A. Villanueva, PCC’s Senior Science Research Specialist, was hailed as the “2018 PSAS-UNAHCO, Inc. Outstanding Young Professional in Animal Science” awardee for his innovative researches that led to the development of technologies particularly on animal health.

Three papers from the PCC also won the “Best Paper” award under different categories.

Dr. Ma. Wynne A. Pagaduan’s study “Monitoring of Aflatoxin M1 and Dairy Farm Management of Water Buffalo” was chosen as the “Best Paper” under the applied research category. The other authors of the study were Dr. Villanueva and Gemerlyn G. Garcia.

The study “Effect of Different Prostaglandin (PGF2) Analogues during Synchronization in Dairy Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)” conducted and presented by Rebecca Ruby G. Gabriel of PCC at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), bagged the same award under the biotechnology category. Her co-authors were Dr. Eufrocina P. Atabay, Dr. Edwin C. Atabay, Dr. Jessica Gay M. Ortiz, Dr. Edgar A. Orden, and Jhon Paul R. Apolinario.

Finally, the study “Identification of Bacterial Community in Mastitic Milk Water from Buffalo in Selected Cooperatives of the National Impact Zone Using PCR and DGGE Method” presented by Paula Blanca Gaban was chosen the “Best Paper” under the disease and diagnostics category. The other authors of the study were Dr. Claro N. Mingala, Niña Rica A. Pagaduan, and Jervin R. Undan.

During the convention, different papers were presented under various categories, which included anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, nutrition, applied research, undergraduate thesis, breeding and genetics, biotechnology, disease and diagnostics, production and processing, socio-economic, and development.

More than 10 posters were exhibited during the course of the scientific sessions.

In the election for the governing council members and PSAS chapter officers for 2018-2019, Dr. Synan S. Baguio of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) was elected vice president and is automatically the incoming president after next year’s convention.

During the closing ceremony, Dr. Enrico Supangco, PSAS incumbent president turned over the flag of responsibility to Dr. Ester B. Flores, head of PCC’s Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, the incoming PSAS president.

Dr. Flores bared her plans and directions saying: “I can probably promise that we, the association and the governing council, will try to cultivate more or expand the reach or even the collaborations and the linkage of PSAS outside the country.”

She added that they will also have more collaborative activities with their local chapters and that they would want and plan to formally have PSAS as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) provider both for veterinarians and agriculturists.

Addressing the new members of the association which are mostly “millennials”, she said: “It is also high time that the PSAS will move forward a bit more to become tech-savvy by exploring the use of internet and electronically-based services for registration and member’s database, among others.”

“We will try to explore that because that is what we will be needing now that we are in the internet age,” she further said.

The PSAS is a professional non-profit organization comprised of veterinarians, animal scientists and practitioners in related fields across the country conducting researches relevant to the developments in the field of animal science. Its annual scientific seminar and convention serves as venue for knowledge-sharing through presentations of scientific papers and posters as well as plenary sessions tackling issues and challenges confronting the industry.

This year’s convention revolved on the theme “Animal Health Management: A Critical Control Point for Food Safety”, which was meant to highlight the role of animal producers in providing nutritious and safe food for Filipino families.

Over 500 representatives from across the industry and academe participated in the annual convention.

In keeping with the assiduous celebration of San Agustin town’s “Nuang Festival”, proud owners of hundreds of crossbreds and native carabaos paraded their hulking animals along the streets of the town last September 28.

Their 440 crossbreds and native carabaos “blackened” the streets where they were paraded. Majority of them are crossbreds which are products of continuing crossbreeding program in that town.

The parade was one of the highlights of the twin celebrations of San Agustin – the “14^th Nuang Festival” and the commemoration of the town’s “69th Araw ng San Agustin” (founding day).

“Nuang” is an Ilocano term for carabao. The festival is a much-anticipated occasion for carabao-owners as they are given the chance to flaunt their beloved crossbreds at the center stage of the festivities. It serves also as an occasion for gaining public recognition of their significant achievement in participating and sustaining a program designed for the improvement of the breed of native carabaos.

No doubt, the crossbreeding efforts in this town have already paid off as evidenced by the 2,068-head crossbreds inventoried by a research team at the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC). The said research project is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

The town is long girding to be called the “Crossbred Carabao Capital of the Philippines.”

The increasing number of crossbred carabaos in San Agustin has been made possible through the continuous efforts of the town’s local government unit to implement the use of artificial insemination (A.I.) program specifically for the production of improved breed of carabaos.

Thousands of the town’s carabao owners partnered with the PCC and various agencies and entities for the crossbreeding program.

In the recently held “Nuang Festival”, competitions involving the crossbreds were also held. The titles vied for were “Best Buffalo in Milk Production”, “Best Dairy Caracow”, “Best Dressed Buffalo for female”, and “Best Draft Carabao for native male”.

The owners of the winning carabao crossbreds received cash prizes. The farmers who participated in the parade, likewise, were given Php300 each as incentive.

Four officials of PCC took part in the event and spoke during the program. They were Dr. Annabelle Sarabia, Research for Development Division Chief at PCC National Headquarters and Gene Pool; Ma. Theresa Sawit, PCC Head of Socio Economics and Policy Research; and Prof. Franklin Rellin and Edelina Rellin, Center Director and Senior Science Research Specialist of PCC at Cagayan State University, respectively.

Concerting efforts in organizing the Nuang Festival were accorded by Hon. Virgilio Padilla, Municipal Vice Mayor and Acting Municipal Mayor; Joel Pascual, Sangguniang Bayan Member; Engr. Blas Lamug, Municipal Agriculturist, and the whole local government unit of San Agustin town.