14 Bulgarian Buffalo Bulls To Upgrade Iloilo’s Native Carabaos

14 Bulgarian Buffalo Bulls

To Upgrade Iloilo’s Native Carabaos

By: James Earl E. Ogatis

A total of 14 Bulgarian Buffalo Bulls (dairy type) from PCC-Ubay Stock Farm, Ubay, Bohol were imported by the Philippine Carabao Center based at West Visayas State University (PCC@WVSU) Calinog Campus to upgrade native carabaos in the province of Iloilo.

According to Dir. Arn G. Granada, PCCWVSU OIC- Center Director, the carabulls are given to identified coconut farmers who are members of Philippine Association of Small Coconut Farmers’ Organization (PASCFO) duly accredited farmers’ Organization by Iloilo Provincial Government which advocate carabao development in their villages thereby benefiting other carabao raisers out of palais or pakasta system.

The beneficiaries are Perlito Echeche, Rolito Cajilig, Ave Calagday and Arison Calugas from Leon; Rodrigo Gamarcha and Ruperto Tady of Sara, Rolando Pabilona and Elpidio Batallones of San Dionisio, Rogelio Ansuyon of Lemery, Pedro Palencia of San Enrique, Zoilo Suplemento of Dingle, Andrew Tiples of Dueñas, Nestor Alimpuyo of Alimodian and Franciso Eola of Igbaras, Iloilo.

Granada stressed that Iloilo Province which has a population of 93,872 native carabaos, around 18,774 of which are females ready for breeding that need Bulgarian bulls to upgrade. Said stocks will produce mestiza/mestizo that are proven as fast grower, bigger animals for meat, milk and work purposes.

“These bulls/stocks are about two years old and are expected to mate after a year or two. One carabull can produce at least 25 offsprings within a 5 kilometer radius area (or clusters of sitios/barangays) for the beneficiaries to fully own the bull.”Explained Granada.

He said that the beneficiary can also charge a minimal fee to the owner of caracows who wishes to avail the services of the bull. This will defray the maintenance cost of the bull while waiting for the completion of 25 offsprings.

The PCC @ WVSU conducted training on proper handling, housing, feeding and diseases control and related technologies on the management of the carabulls to the farmer beneficiaries.

Granada encourages the beneficiaries to take extra care for the bulls for the first two months to one year to develop a symbiotic relation with the local carabaos and socialize with the new caretaker.

This project is one of the major interventions of PCC @ WVSU to coconut farmers in Iloilo. Other services offered and being done by PCC are: artificial insemination, deworming, vaccination, project monitoring and technological assistance to carabao raisers/crossbred buffalo dairymen.

This is realized with the cooperation of the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Provincial Government of Iloilo. /MP