MANILA, Philippines — A leading breeder of purebred Brahman cattle in Batangas has come up with a liberal investment package for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as well as for interested retirees.

The proponent is the King Ranch in Rosario, Batangas which has a 24-hectare breeding farm in the province and another confinement area in Magalang, Pampanga. It is owned and managed by the father-and-son tandem of Alex Carlos and his son King.

The investment offer comes in three packages that are considered investment-friendly because the investor only pays a down payment of 25 percent and the rest is payable in monthly installments in two years.

The animals are purebred so they are quite expensive, and they are two years old when they are turned over to the owner. By that time, they are ready for breeding and would already give birth to their calves before they are fully paid.

Package I consists of one purebred Brahman bull and three females with a total cost of P280,000. The investor will only give a down payment of P70,000 and pay P8,750 monthly for two years.

Package II costs P420,000 and the animals consist of one bull and five females, and the down payment is P105,000. The monthly installment is P13,125. Package III, on the other hand, consists of one bull and 10 females. Total cost is P770,000 and the down payment is P192,500. Monthly installment is P24,062.50.

Kin Carlos says that the ROI in this kind of investment is 86 percent which is better than putting one’s money in the bank. Along with the investment package, King Ranch will provide the basic information (i.e., supplier of vaccines, medicines and equipment) as well as free training or consultation that the investor needs.

The investors will be the ones to choose what initials should be branded on the cattle that they choose. The brand will serve as cattle identification for the investor’s reference. The management will take care of the animals until they are two years old. It includes feeding, maintenance, medication and vaccines. Beyond two years, the investor will have to pay for the lodging of their animals.

Carlos says that there are income opportunities in raising purebred Brahman. The bull can be used to service the insemination requirements of other raisers. One successful insemination is worth P800 to P1000. The investor may also opt to sell the male calves which could command as much as P35,000 for yearlings (8 months old). The females could be retained for future breeding. They could be bred as early as 18 months old. With proper nutrition, they could produce a calf each year.

Carlos says that Brahmans are not susceptible or prone to fatal diseases. In the seven years of their farm experience, King Ranch has never recorded a mature cattle that died of disease. Brahmans, he said, are hardy and have strong immune system.

Brahmans also have the advantage of having a big size compared to the native cows. A mature Brahman may weigh 750 to 850 kilos compared to the 250 to 300 kilos of the native strain.

Brahmans are docile animals and they require low maintenance. They only need forage (grass, hay) and protein source that may be available in the area. They can be raised in confinement or under the grazing system. King Carlos can be reached at ark.carlos@yahoo.com.

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AGRI-KAPIHAN THIS SATURDAY – The first session of the 2012 Agri-Kapihan will be held on Saturday, January 7, at the AANI Weekend Market at St. Vincent Seminary along Tandang Sora, Quezon City. Rowena Bienes of Allied Botanical Corp. will discuss production of high-value vegetables and other crops.

CACTUS SOCIETY MEETING – Members of the Cactus & Succulent Society of the Philippines will meet on Saturday, January 7, at Mett’s Plant Art shop at the Manila Seedling Bank in Quezon City. They will discuss their participation in the forthcoming Horticulture 2012, and their trip to Dasoland, the agri-tourism resort of Nards and Kay Jimenez, in Dasol, Pangasinan.

AANI FARM TOUR – On Saturday, January 14, AANI will conduct a farm tour that will bring the attendees to the Harbest Training Center in Carmen, Rosales, Pangasinan. There they will attend a techno forum that will discuss the use of Effective Microorganisms (EM) in agriculture and aquaculture. There will also be demonstrations of small tractor and shredder. Also, the Agri-Kapihan in Pangasinan will be launched with talks on successful agri-people.

HORTICULTURE 2012 – The annual Garden Show of the Philippine Horticultural Society, headed by Dr. Romeo Gutierrez, will be held on January 26 to February 6 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. By the way, a special membership meeting of the society will be held at 2 o’clock today at the Elevated Garden (formetly Planas Garden) at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

FLORA FILIPINA INTERNATIONAL EXPO – This will be held at the Quezon Memorial Circle on February 25 to March 5. This is under the auspices of the Philippine Orchid Society.

NATIONAL GOAT & SHEEP CONGRESS – The 5th National Goat and Sheep Congress will be held at the Stotsenberg Hotel in Clark, Pampanga on March 22-24. This is under the auspices of the Federation of Goat and Sheep Producers Associations of the Philippines, Inc. headed by Ben Rara.

The Congress will showcase the progress that the goat and sheep industry has achieved in the past years. There will be an exhibit of upgraded animals to show how far the breeds have improved.

Another highlight will be the competition in which only island-born animals will be entered. There will be seminars that will tackle artificial insemination, common problems in diseases, housing, nutrition and others. There will also be exhibits of goat products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, ice cream and others.

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