• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The city government of La Carlota in Negros Occidental and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) launched an artificial insemination (AI) program Oct. 6, to upgrade local carabao breeds and increase milk production for the children’s nutrition.
The initiative, dubbed “OMK! Oh mAI Kalabaw”, crossbreeds native carabaos with dairy-type riverine buffaloes to produce offspring capable of producing more milk and meat in the future.
In a press release, Louie Jee Huelar, PCC-La Carlota Stock Farm regional knowledge manager, outlined three primary objectives of the campaign: increasing carabao raisers’ participation in artificial insemination and the carabao upgrading program, recruiting new AI technicians, and documenting best practices for wider dissemination.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jose Luis “Joelu” Jalandoni pledged the full support of the city government to the program.
“The goal of this program is to strengthen our local carabao breeding and milk production,” he stressed in a statement.
Carabao raisers can request free breeding services from the PCC at the La Carlota Stock Farm in Barangay La Granja, or hire trained private technicians at P1,500 per successful birth. | TMD
