CEBU – For eight years now, the municipality of Sibonga has maintained as the top producer of cattle using artificial insemination in Cebu province.
It has so far produced at least 142 offspring and already hit its target of 72 heads for this year with a rating of 197% which is far more from what was expected from the artificial insemination program. The municipalities of Barili and Argao followed with 97 and 92 heads, respectively. There are now 47 of local government units who have availed of the program.
Victorino Lañojan, Sibonga Municipal artificial insemination technician, said the successful program was started by the Provincial Government.
“Dili na secreto, naa na sa mga demand sa among (It is not because of a secret but that is because of the demand of) artificial insemination services. I became an artificial insemination technician ten years ago, ang mga resulta ra ang nanabi ug ang (it’s the result that markets itself and the) commitment to serve,” he said.
Leonito Manzanades, Argao municipal artificial insemination technician, also said that their goal is to have all their breedable animals artificially inseminated to further increase their cattle production.
Argao also is the only town in Cebu that assigned one artificial insemination technician for the production of carabaos. He said this is necessary as not all towns and cities are viable for carabao production, but artificial insemination services in carabaos have lower success rate. This is because the animal’s warmer body temperature destroys the semen before it can fertilize, he said.
Carabao owners are advised to dip their animals first for hours in the water before insertion of semen to its reproductive gland.
Nenita Jaganas, Chief of the Animal Production Division of the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office, said they are also lobbying with the Department of Agriculture for more incentives for artificial insemination technicians through its Agri-Pinoy program.
Some of technicians are only paid P190 per day while others even use their own motorcycles and buy fuels out of their own pocket in performing their job in the field. (Stanley Cin)
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