BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental provincial government is working on expanding the province’s nucleus farms to further boost the livestock population.
The program is one of the alternative livelihoods introduced for distressed animal raisers such as those hit by the African Swine Fever (ASF) and hog cholera, according to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.
A nucleus farm is a facility where elite breeders are maintained that will be the source of reputable parent and breeder stocks to sustain multiplier farms and other eligible farms.
In February this year, PUM Expert on Hog Nucleus Farms Peter Geesink assured Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson of the continued partnership program dedicated to ensuring food security of the provincial government and the PUM Netherlands senior experts.
Geesink played a vital role in recommending enhancements in genetics and animal waste disposal and contributed valuable insights to the establishment of a nucleus farm at the Negros Farm Ranch in Murcia town.
Meanwhile, Diaz and provincial veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana led the formal turnover of feeder cattle under the provincial government’s Cattle Fattening Program to animal raiser beneficiaries on Friday, Dec. 1.
The program aims to provide alternative livelihood or source of additional family income to hog raisers affected by natural disasters and calamities particularly the recent incidence of Transboundary Animal Diseases such as ASF and hog cholera.
The beneficiaries are animal raisers from the Murcia, E.B. Magalona, Bago City, Valladolid, Pontevedra, San Enrique, La Carlota City, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, and La Castellana. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
