One of the most successful artificial insemination programs in large ruminants we have seen lately is in Lanao del Norte. During the recent agri-fair in conjunction with the 50th anniversary celebration of the province, many of the products of AI were displayed, including crosses of the native carabao and Murrah buffalo.

There were also a few crosses of imported dairy cattle and native cows.

Dr. Usodan Samporna, provincial veterinarian of Lanao del Norte, relates that a massive artificial insemination program in cattle and carabaos was initiated by then governor (now congressman) Abdullah Dimaporo in 1993. He said that 60 technicians were trained on artificial insemination at the Philippine Carabao Center in Bukidnon so that they can service practically all the farmers of the 24 towns of the province.

The program continues to this day. The private farm of Congressman Dimaporo, the A&A Farm in Matungao and in Baloi boast of a big herd of purebreed Murrah buffaloes as well crossbred carabaos. It is helping the Philippine Carabao Center in accelerating the spread of improved carabaos. The PCC is sourcing some of its animals for distribution to other parts of the country from A&A Farm.

The next phase of the carabao improvement program, according to Dr. Samporna, is to encourage the farmers to milk their improved animals. He said that milking the carabaos will not only increase their farm incomes, they will also have nutritious milk for their own consumption.

That will further reinforce the reputation of Lanao del Norte as the “Land of MILK, not MILF.” That’s really true because the province boasts of the biggest herd of dairy cattle owned by Lanao Foundation, Inc. The dairy farm has a total population of some 4,000 Holstein-Sahiwal crosses, more than a thousand of which were imported from New Zealand starting in 2005. But that’s another story.

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FREE-RANGE CHICKEN SEMINARS. Dr. Rey Itchon of Solraya will conduct a seminar on the production of Sunshine free-range chickens on July 11, Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. at the Microtel Inn in Davao City. The same seminar will be held on Monday, July 13, also starting at 2 p.m. at the East Asia Royale in General Santos City.