Negros Occidental will receive 30 pregnant Holstein Freisan cattle from the National Dairy Authority as part of the dairy development program of the province, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena, said yesterday.

Decena said the province has an agreement with NDA as a qualified local government unit multiplier breeder farm where milk producing animals will be provided by the agency and the LGU representatives will grow and disperse them to their identified and accredited beneficiaries.

He said the cattle is from New Zealand and is expected to arrive on Friday.

The animals will be placed at the Sagay Breeding Center, Decena said, adding that the animals are additional to the 270 cattle that were given by NDA to the province in 2010.

Decena said that the province is not paying cash to NDA but in kind, and a dairy development fee of P100 per head. The payment will be first born calves and heifers that are given to identified and accredited beneficiaries of the province for breeding purposes, he said.

“Since the province is the multiplier breeder of NDA, we distribute the new born calves and heifers to our accredited breeders,” Decena said.

He also said that the breeding center in Sagay is now producing an average of 11 liters of milk per day from about 300 milk-producing cattle.

The milk is used in the feeding programs of the province where malnourished school children are given priority, and that a liter of milk can feed five children, Decena also said.

He added that NDA has recognized the potential and accomplishment of Negros Occidental in dairy production, and he hopes that the milk production will be sustainable to be able to feed all undernourished children particularly those living in remote barangays. *LTG

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