IMAO Upgrades Native Buffaloes For Future Dairy Production

Ibaan native buffaloes are artificially inseminated
using semen of dairy producing cattle breed.

Ibaan Municipal Agriculture Office has started upgrading the native buffaloes in Ibaan for future dairy production through artificial insemination with the help and in coordination with Provincial Agricultural Coordinating Office, Philippine Carabao Center and National Dairy Authority.

According to Ms. EJ Caiga, Municipal Agriculture Officer, the upgrading of native buffaloes is actually part of Cattle Genetic Improvement Program which is being pushed by Mayor Danny Toreja through her office. Coordinations have been made with Philippine Carabao Center and National Dairy Authority for their assistance and expertise for the said program.

"Mayor Toreja is hoping to have dairy production in Ibaan in the future and we're starting it out by upgrading our present buffaloes", says Ms.Caiga.

Ms. EJ Caiga conferring with Provincial Agriculture
Coordinating Office representative during the meeting.

Moreover, Mayor Toreja is also targeting to genetically improve native atle into dairy type such as Brahman and Holstein Freisian, the same with  carabao to Murrah type, also for better beef meet.

Last April, IMAO has visited four barangays with Provincial Agriculture Office-San Agustin, Talaibon, Mabalor and Catandala for the same purpose. The said barangays were able to present 26 carabaos for rectal palpation to determine their suitability for AI. Out of which, eleven (11) went through artificial insemination. The rest were either found to be pregnant already or not fit for breeding and genetic improvement.

However, such program can only have its continuity if Ibaan can have its own AI Technician. And having one, Ibaan can avail free frozen semen of dairy producing cattle breed from Philippine Carabao Center and National Dairy Authority.

As of present time, IMAO still have to ask the Provincial Agriculture Coordinating Office for their Artificial Insemination Technician.

Mayor Toreja with Provincial Agriculture Coordinating
Office representatives, Municipal Administrator Rico
Caringal, Ms. EJ Caiga, Mr. Roland Mendoza and
IMAO staff.

In a meeting with representatives from Provincial Agricultural Coordinating Office representatives Mr. Fidel Libao and Mr. Tony, Ibaan was given one (1) slot where Ibaan can send a representative to attend a 24-day Artificial Insemination Training Program in Palawan this year. IMAO has chosen Mr.Roland Mendoza from Brgy. Tulay, as recommended by Mr. Lalamunan,  to attend the training program.

Once Mr. Mendoza has completed the training, he will be appointed as Village-Based AI Technician. He will be in an "on-call" duty basis where his services will be called for to conduct artificial insemination whenever a native carabao/buffalo is "in heat".

IMAO is currently looking for one more applicant to be trained and who will be sent to UPLB for the same training program and purpose. The applicant only needs to be a highschool graduate, not more than 40 years old and has a means of transportation for mobility. Interested applicants may inquire at Ibaan Municipal Agricultre Office.