With the aim to provide the participants with essential knowledge and skills in preserving and maintaining high-quality breeds of swine for more profitable swine production, the Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center 02 (ATI-RTC 02) conducted  Walang Aray sa AI: Swine Artificial Insemination (AI) Training for INSPIRE Beneficiaries in Department of Agriculture - Isabela Experiment Station, Gamu, Isabela on August 26-30, 2024.

The 5-day training was attended by the 25 beneficiaries of the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) project from different parts of Cagayan Valley region.

The participants were also capacitated in a hands-on practice for AI and semen dilution and extension. They had also practiced  heat detection techniques,  and semen collection and evaluation.  The skills enhancement training was reinforced with the discussion of the following topics such as anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system boars and sow, biosecurity procedures for AI, management of boars, artificial insemination process, and economics of AI. These topics will help the beneficiaries to understand new technologies that will help them to produce good quality of pigs.

The training was in line with the goals of the Department of Agriculture-National Livestock Program  to help recover the swine industry from the damage caused by African Swine Fever and to ensure food supply in partnership with Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

Mr. Eduardo Manalanzan, Jr., from Dacque Farmers Agriculture Cooperative in Cabagan, Isabela said that with the knowledge and skills he obtained from the training, he is now ready to help his fellow animals owners. “Malaking tulong ito sa amin. Determinado na po ako sa pagtulong sa mga kapwa ko mayroong alagang hayop at makatulong sa kanila,” Manalanzan said.