KABACAN, Cotabato Province (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC), based at the University of Southern Mindanao, has recently acquired a liquid nitrogen (LN2) mini-plant to improve carabao breeds.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded the P1,750,000 mini-plant through the PL480 Intensified Community-Based Dairy Enterprise Development project.
“Ang mini-plant na ito ay magsisilbing pangunahing pasilidad para sa pag-iimbak ng mga semilya na gagamitin ng ating mga AI (artificial insemination) technician,” Center Director Geoffray R. Atok said.
(This mini-plant will serve as the main facility for storing the seeds that our AI technicians will use.)
LN2 is a crucial chemical used to preserve or freeze carabao semen, particularly those from genetically superior sires or bulls, for artificial insemination.
Atok stated that the LN2 plant will enhance the success rate of infusing high-quality carabao breeds.
“Hindi lang tayo ang makakabenepisyo nito kundi maging ang ating mga kabalikat sa pagpaparami ng kalabaw sa kanayunan,” Atok added.
(Not only will we benefit from this, but also our partners in increasing the number of carabaos in the countryside.)
He also explained that once quality carabao semen can’t be maintained, there will be low semen motility that will affect the reproduction process.
Moreover, the DA-PCC also implements the Genetic Improvement Program (GIP), which aims to improve the genes of buffaloes to produce better sires.
The agency maintains a “sire directory of bulls” that can be used for artificial insemination. A male buffalo will be for breeding purposes.
Aside from the GIP, the DA-PCC has been intensifying the implementation of its two other program thrusts, the Carabao-based Enterprise Development and the Research for Development.
Atok said that the goal is not only to conserve, propagate, and promote carabao as a source of milk and meat, among other things, but also to help rural farmers improve their source of livelihood. (SJDM, PIA Region 12)
