More than just the milk and meat, science has found its way to the small ruminants industry. This was the resounding realization among the guests, participants, and enthusiasts at the 2nd Cagayan Valley Goat & Sheep Expo ’07 hosted by Isabela State University (ISU) Echague, Isabela recently.
The expo kicked off with a techno forum lecture on Goat Raising Success Stories. Retired General Alexander M. Bellen, also a /Magsasaka Siyentista /(MS) of the Farmer’s Information Technology Services in Gamu, Isabela and chairperson of the National Small Ruminants Board warmly shared his experiences on goat and sheep raising.
Dr. Gumersindo D. Lasam, Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit 2 (DA-RFU 2), and ISU President, Dr. Romeo Quilang, also chairman of the expo served as resource persons together with Gen. Bellen and other DA officers at the press conference that followed. Local media and the National Broadcasting Network (NBN-PTV4) covered the three-day expo.
The highlight of the expo focused on the goat and sheep competition, which aimed at two important things - to develop science-based conformation show; and to showcase the good genetics of goats and sheep from Region II.
"We want this conformation show to be the start or benchmark in the next conformation shows to be organized in other regions," said Dr. Synan S. Baguio, senior science research specialist at PCARRD.
"All the traits, characteristics being evaluated in the conformation show centered on the effects of the productive and reproductive qualities of the different breeds of goat and sheep that are available in the country," observed Dr. Edwin C. Villar, Director for Livestock Research of PCARRD. "We aimed to show that there is a pool of good genetics among the goats and sheep raised in the Philippines," he added.
The expo also aimed to bring awareness on the potentials of the small ruminants industry, and encourage the farmers and various businessmen to take part in the growing industry.
"We intend to make this expo an annual event, we want to boost this growing interest in the small ruminants, and encourage all the stakeholders from the academe, the private sector, government units and develop support from them," said Lasam.
With Echague’s top quality small ruminants, Echague Mayor Leoncio O. Kiat sees the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) program of Department of Trade and Industry being fulfilled in Echague. He expressed hope in the future that "every house or family in Isabela would be venturing into the industry of sheep and goat."
With PCARRD’s commitment of support, science and technology will be there to help realize that vision.
"There was a tremendous improvement on how this 2nd Cagayan expo was conducted. More importantly we integrated science in the field of raising goat and sheep. More than the costumes put on by the animals, the good genetic traits developed through good breeding techniques, would encourage the raisers and the future raisers to improve more on the scientific aspects of raising goats," Edwin Villar stressed.
Professionalizing the animal show, giving scientific background on raising goats would serve as the benchmark in the industry of livestock," added Villar as he formally closed the Expo.
Adding color to the event were the kiddie rodeo and sheep herding contests, wherein kids, while having a great time, showed their potentials in sheep herding. The expo also featured an auction for goats and sheep brought in by participants and guests.
With the multi-sectoral participation demonstrated in the Expo, a bright future for the small ruminants industry in the country certainly awaits.
Korean Scientists Share Expertise
Two Korean experts participating in the Exchange Scientists Mission Program between PCARRD and Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) arrived in the Philippines last month to share their experiences with local experts.
Dr Jae Gwan Choi, expert in the field of animal breeding graced the 3rd National Goat and Sheep Conference held recently in Cagayan de Oro City. As conference resource person, Dr. Choi presented the status, market trends, opportunities and directions of the goat industry in Korea. In his observation, there are also big opportunities for the Philippines’ goat industry.
To complete his mission in the Philippines, Dr. Choi conducted a seminar at PCARRD on Korea’s goat production.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ho Young Chung, animal biotechnology specialist visited Muñoz, Nueva Ecija as one of the guest speakers at the founding anniversary of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC).
Dr. Chung presented his paper on the "Potentials of Transgenics and Bio-informatics in Livestock Industry" at the "Symposium on Livestock Biotechnology," which is one of the highlights of PCC’s anniversary.
Drs. Choi and Chung are both research scientists at the National Livestock Research Institute-RDA. The Exchange Scientists Mission Program is part of the RDA-PCARRD collaboration for 2007. (With the report of Jocelyn Amarante, & Evelyn Q. Carpio,) /MP
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