Swine artificial insemination facilities available now in the villages

The laboratory facilities where collected semen are being processed.

The “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita” as the Department of Agriculture’s battle cry, envisions to make smallholder Filipino farmers and fisherfolks more prosperous, with the goal of doubling their incomes. Modernizing Philippine agriculture could be done with the use of relevant and innovative technologies and sustained empowerment and skills development of farmers and fisherfolks. Increasing the low income of small Filipino farmers and fisherfolk could be the key to leveling up the country's agriculture sector.

The Artificial Insemination (AI) in swine becomes enormously popular for the selection of superior traits such as prolific, stress-free, better meat quality, and disease resistance. It is a very cheap and practical way to carry out genetic improvement. Processed semen from quality and genetically superior boars allows genetic diversity, which can be used to optimize crossbreeding systems on backyard farms and increased genetic progress. AI decreases the number of boars needed by a farmer is an economic benefit because fewer boars mean less feed and maintenance costs. Moreover, higher prices for particularly good sires can be justified because fewer boars are needed.

The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center VI (ATI-RTC VI) is implementing the "AI sa Barangay", a project under the National Livestock Program of the Department of Agriculture. ATI-RTC VI provided each recipient with a 2-Boar Artificial Insemination service and AI laboratory equipment that includes a semen refrigerator, microscope, sperm densimeter, water bath, dummy sow, semen bottle, catheter, and collecting cup. It will also provide capability building/training for the recipients for the successful operation of the AI Centers.

The AI laboratory equipment that includes semen refrigerator, microscope, sperm densimeter, water bath, dummy sow, semen bottle, catheter and collecting cup.

The recipient’s counterpart for the establishment of the AI Center includes housing and other facilities, labor and consumables for the operation of the AI center, and medicine for animal welfare and maintenance.

Processed semen from the quality and genetically superior boars will be sold at a competitive price to ensure the financial viability of the intervention. A total of sixteen (16) AI sa Barangay were established in the different provinces of Region 6. The AI technicians were trained at the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry in Marawoy, Lipa City, Batangas on swine artificial insemination.

Mr. Anthony G. Ortiz, AI recipient from Mobo, Kalibo, Aklan.

For more details, you may contact the following AI-trained Technicians from different AI sa Barangay Centers: