With both the hog and poultry industry threatened by diseases like the African Swine Fever and the Bird Flu, government must focus on Cattle, Goat and Sheep Production as sources of meat for the Filipino consumers.
Cattle Raising and Goat Farming stand out as the most exciting activities given the huge demand for both Beef and Chevon.
However, any attempt to revisit the government’s livestock program must take into consideration the lessons of previous programs which failed.
Una, hindi na puede yong basta animal dispersal program lang.
There should be a viable program that looks into the important factors which would contribute to a successful Cattle and Goat Raising Program.
Foremost is the availability of breeding materials and I really believe that to boost our Cattle Population, government must first bring in heifers for breeding.
Australia and Brazil are the two most preferable source of these breeding materials with Australia famous for its Brahman and Brahman crosses while Brazil is known for its Girolando, a dual purpose cattle for meat and milk production.
Second, the production of feeds and silage for the Cattle and Goats, given the assumption that these will be bred in confinement in paddocks, must be ensured.
We already have identified the most ideal crop for this, Sorghum, which offers grains and its green stalks and leaves as materials for Silage.
Sorghum could even be planted just for Silage production and given its “ratooning” character, it is the most practical source of Silage, not to mention its higher crude protein content compared to Corn.
Third, government must establish abattoirs, preferably Halal accreditred, and cold storage facilities to ensure that the needed support to market the meat is available.
Fourth, there must be a direct linkage with established meat importing companies to encourage them to source their requirements locally, rather than importing meat.
Finally, government must review its quarantine protocols, especially in the movement of animals from one province to another because right now, the protocols are very restrictive and unreasonable.
With these issues addressed, we could revive the livestock industry of the country and revitalize the farming sector.
