Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday met with mayors and livestock breeders in Negros Occidental to discuss the dispersal and breeding of 6,000 sheep purchased by the provincial government from Australia.

“A lot of people have expressed interest in breeding sheep in the province, it is very promising,” said the governor, who hopes to make Negros Occidental the sheep capital of the Philippines.

The provincial government allocated P82 million for the purchase of the sheep from Australia and the structures to house them at the Negros First Ranch in Brgy. Santa Rosa, Murcia, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said.

Decena said the 6,000 damara and dorper sheep are expected to arrive in Negros Occidental on the last week of January or the first week of February, depending on the weather, and 2,000 will be retained by the provincial government for its breeding program.

The 4,000 will be sold to interested town and city governments for their own breeding and livelihood programs, and to livestock breeders in the province, he said.

The provincial government is purchasing 300 rams, or male sheep, that will cost P20,000 each, including shipping cost to the Philippines, and 5,700 females at P15,500 to P16,000 each, he added.

Decena said the pure breed sheep they are buying from Australia are cheaper than the ones they bought from General Santos in Mindanao that were cross-breeds.

Businessman Nene Abello has expressed interest in buying some of the cattle being brought in, and may start with 500 heads, Decena said.

Sheep eat only 2 kilos of grass a day unlike pigs that require full nutrition, he noted.

Sheep also give birth two times in 13 months and their meat sell at P500 to P700 a kilo, he added.

The sheep being brought in will boost livelihood opportunities and the culinary tourism drive of the province, Decena said.

Decena said the provincial government is offering training to interested parties on how to handle and feed sheep, and veterinary assistance.

Silay Mayor Jose Montelibano said his city plans to avail of some of the sheep arriving for livelihood dispersal and to support the food security program of the governor.*CPG

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