ILOILO City – Working on the significant components of the Artificial Insemination (AI) Program, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas mounted the Basic Training Course on Artificial Insemination (AI) and Pregnancy Diagnosis in Large Ruminants in Iloilo City on July 4-8.
The program looked into upgrading local stocks of small and large ruminants such as cattle, carabao, and goats by infusion of genetically superior breeds to improve livestock performance and production.
AI is a reproductive tool used to produce animals with better productivity for milk and meat, without disregard for draft power through harnessing superior genetic materials of small and large animals.
The strategy is to cross the native animals with the meat and dairy breed following sustained backcrossing to at least four generations to produce animals with milk and meat growing potentials equivalent to the purebred parents.
DA partnered with the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), National Dairy Authority (NDA), and Local Government Units (LGUs) in capacitating AI technicians across the region.
“We are conducting this five-day basic training to allow our active AI practitioners from Panay and Guimaras to refresh their learnings on this technology. We upgrade to produce quality animals in terms of genetics that can give more and better milk; this shall help our farmers get upgraded ruminants,” said Jhover Alegre of PCC Panay.
Alegre delivered topics on proper handling and maintenance of field tanks; semen thawing, loading, and AI gun preparation; data recording, and record-keeping.
The introductory training courses also emphasized topics on: -the PCC Carabao Development Program delivered by PCC Panay Director Arn D. Granada; -Anatomy and Physiology of the Female Reproductive Organ, Estrus Cycle and Estrus Detection; Hormonal Interplay in the Regulation of Etrsus; Pregnancy Diagnosis in Large Ruminants; Best AI Practices and Recent Advancement in Improving AI Efficiency; and body scoring by Dr. Myrtel C. Alcazar. (DA-6/PN)
