Four breeding boars bolster swine production in Quezon island towns

By Engr. Jay B. Laurino Farmers in Quezon receive a breeding boar under the joint DA-SAAD CALABARZON and Livestock Program initiative to...

By Engr. Jay B. Laurino

Farmers in Quezon receive a breeding boar under the joint DA-SAAD CALABARZON and Livestock Program initiative to strengthen swine production in island communities. (SAAD)

PEREZ, Quezon - Access to breeding animals remains a practical hurdle for hog raisers in Quezon’s island communities, where transporting livestock can add cost, time and difficulty to routine production. The Department of Agriculture has recently placed four breeding boars with farmer groups and a local government to bring breeding services closer to producers and reduce reliance on animals sourced elsewhere.

Two Landrace and two Large White boars were distributed to the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka at Nangingisda ng Brgy. Mascarina (SAMANA), Mainit Farmers Association, Coconut Farmers Association of Villa Gomez and the municipal government of Perez. The animals were provided through a partnership between DA-SAAD CALABARZON and the DA Regional Field Office IV-A Livestock Program as additional support for existing swine projects.

Keeping breeding boars within the island communities gives farmers a nearby source for mating their sows and producing piglets without having to secure breeding animals from farther areas. The arrangement also gives participating associations more control over breeding schedules while supporting the gradual expansion of their swine herds.

The boars arrived during the first week of July and were temporarily placed under quarantine at the Alabat LGU Multiplier Farm before being transferred to the intended recipients. Veterinary personnel completed the required health and safety protocols before the animals were released for use in the beneficiaries’ breeding operations.

The assistance followed a request from DA-SAAD CALABARZON to the regional Livestock Program headed by Dr. Wilmer S. Faylon, who also serves as chief of the Research Division. OIC-Regional Executive Director Engr. Redelliza A. Gruezo and Quezon Agricultural Research and Experiment Station OIC-Chief Marjorie I. Sepina supported the coordination and release of the breeding animals.

Faylon said the Livestock Program remains open to working with other DA programs in responding to the production needs of farmers across the region. He said the partnership with SAAD is intended to expand livestock production while giving organized farmer groups additional resources to sustain their livelihoods.

“The Livestock Program is always ready to respond to the needs of our farmers, and we are prepared to work with programs such as SAAD,” Faylon said. “Through this cooperation, we aim to advance the livestock industry, expand production and strengthen farmers’ livelihoods in CALABARZON.”

SAAD had earlier provided participating groups with gilts, boars, feeds, biologics and other inputs needed for their swine production activities. The four additional boars increase the breeding capacity of livestock projects already operating in the recipient communities and complement the animals and supplies distributed earlier.

For SAMANA, the newly received boar will be used with seven sows previously provided by SAAD together with feeds for the association’s swine project. Association president Jogie Angulo said having a breeding animal within the group means members no longer have to look elsewhere whenever their sows are ready for mating.

“The boar we received is a big help because we no longer have to look for a breeder outside the association,” Angulo said. “The piglets that will become the association’s share will remain with the group so we can continue expanding the project.”

SAMANA plans to retain its share of the piglets and raise them as part of the association’s continuing livestock enterprise rather than treating the assistance as a one-time distribution. By keeping part of each succeeding litter within the group, the association can use the breeding stock already provided to steadily increase the number of animals under its care.