The Negros Occidental provincial government is offering a bull loan under the Abanse Negrense Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program for cattle raisers.

Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said in a statement on Wednesday they are urging local raisers to avail of the program in line with the province’s efforts to make Negros Occidental the center of cattle production in the Visayas.

He noted an increasing trend in the local cattle population in the past five years.

Data showed that in 2016, the province had produced 49,306 heads of cattle, which increased to 49,371 in 2017. In 2018, total cattle population reached 50,052 then 51,319 in 2019; and 55,075 in 2020.

“This is attributed to natural breeding through the bull houses and artificial insemination (AI) centers established by the provincial government,” Decena said, adding the program is also supported by the local government units and United Cattle Raisers Association in Negros Occidental and the Visayas.

A recent delivery of the Provincial Veterinary Office under the loan program is a pure brahman junior bull to a local businessman who has a cattle multiplier farm in Murcia town.

The bull loan program is open to private cattle raisers in Negros Occidental with an existing herd of at least 10 cows. Each head of bull must be paid with one female calf within two years.

Those who may not qualify still have an option of getting their cattle bred artificially through AI using semen under the unified AI program of the Department of Agriculture.

Decena said the bull loan is one of the province’s livestock production services aimed to improve and upgrade the genetic makeup of the existing local cattle breeds, increase the supply of beef to support the domestic and tourism demand of the province, and improve beef quality.

He added that the PVO is also encouraging Negrenses to engage in cattle raising through improved breeds.

“There’s a greater potential for production and profitability in cattle raising,” the PVO chief said.

Decena said that the provincial government is also promoting value-adding and marketing of cattle meat as prime beef cuts to maximize the profit of fattening cattle among raisers.

Also, the PVO plans to further boost the cattle industry by pushing for the expansion of AI service areas, using semen of new cattle breeds like Angus, Wagyu, Simmental, Charolais, and Sahiwal. (PNA)