The dairy and beef breeding projects of the Negros Occidental government, in line with the food security, livelihood and poverty alleviation programs of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. is getting a boost, with the increase in population of its  cattle and sheep purchased from the National Dairy Authority and General Santos City in Mindanao recently.

In his report, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the 70 dairy cattle purchased in November last year from NDA have increased to 140, with the birth of 70 calves.

Decena said most of the dairy cows are still on the milk line, producing an average of seven liters a day, while others are pregnant.

The 156 sheep purchased from Jolisa Farms in General Santos City, meanwhile, have also increased to 204, with the birth of 48 ewes.

Decena, however, said they recorded three deaths of 100 Brahman heifers purchased in Mindanao last year, due to chronic pneumonia and “tigi” poisoning.  The animals are fed with sufficient amount of roughage, mainly Napier grass, molasses and corn meal, when available.

The 140 cows and calves, Brahman heifers and sheep are under the care of breeding centers in Sagay, Murcia, La Carlota and Kabankalan.

The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently approved a resolution authorizing Marañon to avail of a P100 million loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines, for the purchase of 3,360 heads of breeding cattle and sheep from Australia.*GPB

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