VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – The 2025 Ilocos Sur Festival Agriculture Day featured the “Ang Pinaka” livestock contest, showcasing exceptionally large and high-quality animals such as carabulls, caracows, bulls, heifers, and purebred anglo-nubian bucks.
Held at Narvacan Farmer’s Market on Feb. 6, the contest sparked interest in animal husbandry among farmers and non-farmers, encouraging livestock farming as a livelihood.
Saloc Cabuag, a resident of the neighboring town Santa Maria shared his admiration for the livestock on display, noting the sheer size of the animals each year.
“I am in awe of these massive animals … I visit here every year to witness this event and each year, the animals that raisers sign up for this event are different but they become bigger and bigger, and it is amazing to behold,” Saloc said.
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Donna Rosario meanwhile said that the event aimed to reward livestock raisers and connect residents with the farmers for livestock sourcing.
“This event is a way to showcase the animals, as well as to connect the residents to farms where they can source stocks from, if they want to start livestock farming,” she said.
Farmer Melvin Piano of Barangay San Isidro, Bantay town, expressed gratitude for the event.
“It is a day for livestock raisers and farmers, so I am really glad that I am here joining this joyful event that gives honor to us—I am grateful to the provincial government for this activity,” Piano said.
Bantay won the “Pinaka Productive Local Government Unit” prize, receiving a P25,000 cash prize for its success in the contest. This recognition underscores Bantay’s commitment to promoting sustainable livestock farming.
The contest celebrated the hard work of Ilocos Sur’s livestock raisers, motivating others to explore livestock farming, which contributes to the province’s agricultural growth and economic sustainability, the local government said. (CCMT/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)
