The Provincial Veterinary Office has recorded P42,039,000 in sales from 2,542 lambs purchased by private breeders and local government units in Negros Occidental as of July 16, a PVO collection report showed.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena said they have only 3,046 lambs left for sale at the Negros First Ranch in Sta. Rosa, Murcia.

The lambs were purchased from Perth, Australia early this year for the livestock development program of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., and his plans to make Negros Occidental the lamb capital of the Philippines, Decena also said.

Section 5 of the Negros First Ranch provincial ordinance no. 003, series of 2012 provides that by April 2012, an additional P600 per month is added to the price of each imported sheep to cover the cost of feeds and other utilities.

Decena said the original cost of an ewe is P16,000 and a ram P25,000. As of July, ewe costs P18,400 per head and ram P27,400, he added.

He also said the increase is just enough to cover the maintenance and feeds of the animals while they remain in the farm.

Meanwhile, the PVO purchased 100 Katahdin sheep from a local dealer in Negros Occidental, 73 of which were dispersed to pastors and ministerial groups for breeding, while 27 are housed in the Provincial Livestock Breeding Center in La Granja, La Carlota, Decena said.

The recipients have recorded 27 births they also dispersed the lambs to their members, he added.

He is encouraging those who want to buy sheep from the province to contact the PVO at telephone numbers 434-5924and 433-6264.*LTG

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