Philippines: islands of opportunities

Even with the current situation right now in which the country is being flooded specially in Metro Manila area due to monsoon rains - still the country's economy is doing well.


A BOOMING economy and growing middle class provide fertile ground for increasing beef and lamb exports to the Philippines.
The Philippines has developed rapidly in recent years, and is projected to become the largest economy in South-East Asia - and 16th largest in the world - by 2050.

Australian beef exports have grown five-fold to the island nation since 2005. In 2011, Australia’s beef exports to the Philippines totalled 19,800 tonnes swt, while lamb exports were 411 tonnes.

Beef consumption is currently estimated at 4kg per head (compared to 34kg in Australia). Local production accounts for 60 per cent of consumption; however, the shortfall from local production continues to grow.

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Article courtesy of farmweekly

Philippine's Agriculture Sector Continues to Grow

The DA said the combined positive performance of the three subsectors served as a cushion, as the fishery subsector registered negative growth due to dwindling fish population caused by overfishing, illegal fishing practices, and successive typhoons during the second semester of 2011.

Total farm production was valued at P1.4 trillion at current prices, 11.5 per cent more than in 2010, it said.

The crops subsector — which contributed one-half or 49.6 per cent to total agricultural output — registered a 4.82 per cent increase, led by palay (paddy rice) and corn.

Likewise, palay harvest totaled 16.68 million metric tons (MMT), 5.8 per cent more than in 2010 (15.77 MMT), while corn production amounted to 6.97 MMT, 9.3 per cent more than in 2010 (6.38 MMT).

Sugarcane production also grew significantly to 28.38 MMT, 58.3 per cent more than in 2010 (17.93 MMT). Tobacco, pineapple and rubber also posted positive gains last year.

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How to Grow Hydroponics Grass Fodder

Citrus offers healthy benefits to cattle

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists and their collaborators have conducted a series of studies that explore non-antibiotic methods to reduce foodborne pathogens that are found in the gut of food animals.

The team consists of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) microbiologist Todd R. Callaway, with the agency's Food and Feed Safety Research Unit in College Station, Texas; ARS animal scientist and project leader Jeffery Carroll with the agency's Livestock Issues Research Unit in Lubbock, Texas; and John Arthington at the University of Florida in Ona.

ARS is USDA's principal intramural scientific research agency, and this research supports the USDA priorities of promoting international food security and ensuring food safety. [More]

Recent Farm Visit - September 2011

Posting some pictures taken during our farm visit last September 2011

Armando - frontal view

Armando at 3 years old

At this stage 2 weeks more and it's harvest time

The lake beside the farm which never run out of water even during summer

My first kuliglig ride. it was fun

A stop over at the creek for a fresh swim

Philippines: Smallholder Livestock Development Project

This article is all about the current status of a livestock development project in the Philippines but somehow didn't materialize for a lot of reasons. The report also indicated on what has been done and what has been achieved based on the objectives.
I still believe that this effort can still be push for a possible success. I just don't know how. Read on.

Animal Identification System and History

Given the opportunity and time this is a very good thing to do on a farm system as it helps farm owners identify and track animals and livestock easily.

With the current situation such as backyard cattle raising I believe this is not appropriate to do at this time as it involves investment on the actual tool in implementing. At the moment this is only applicable for large scale cattle raising.

LIVESTOCK IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

Animal ID system, and from farm to fork products world-wide tracking is a system which must be implemented. 

Today, animal identification and tracking system for animal health and food security are very important tools in the management. In many countries, domestic animals and animal products to ensure follow the implementation of these legal procedures is required.

Traceability system for each different type of animals or a homogeneous group of animals in their movements by making identification of the tracks, to detect precursors and that the correct information to be recorded with the appropriate receiver is connected. 

Disease prevention and control of animal products, food security and export certificates and principles related to the impact of activities to increase the World Animal Health Organization member countries and the state of animal identification and traceability system implemented in that direction is helping. Traceability for the first time in 1998 at Argentina-Buenos Aires the international "From the farm to the fork of the Permanent Animal Identification and Traceability Systems" meeting has been presented by OIE

Why national or regional animal traceability systems? 

First, manufacturers and facilities to manage more effectively in animals are helping, cattle/sheep animals or animal health programs, or applications of genetic improvement programs provide. 

In response to outbreaks or illness in the context of prevention, traceability in the region to countries that emerged to prevent the spread of disease, monitoring, early detection of outbreaks and notification, faster response, animal movement control and documentation or help on how to partition.

OIE and International Food Standards set by the Commission according to the standards and animal production throughout the food chain-from farm to fork-tracked to ensure origin of live animals and animal identification and tracking system with traces of animal products between has an important place. 

Various factors, national or regional animal identification and traceability system may affect the structure. In this sense, factors as the country's animal and public health status, changing the population of animals (sex and reproduction, number and geographical distribution, etc.), production type of animal activity areas, appropriate technology and costs, animals and animal products trade organization shape up must take into account. The system developed, the cultural perspective as well as cost / benefit analysis and other economic, geographical and environmental conditions also must not be neglected. 

Production and gene transfer in animal cloning with animals (Transgenic) animals, such as new technologies being created in the future regulations may require additional animal tracking. Authorities in certain situations, and this in itself is an animal all animals were obtained from the newly developed methods to track every product will have. New technologies will also offer new solutions. For example, DNA identification in the retail level for the creation of animal identification and monitoring system would allow. However, advanced technology or with a method is simple on paper, the "Land of the animals living in the Health Code" is defined as the universal principles and traces can be applied in all cases.

Food chain to be assessed even Traceability system, control of diseases in animals and is a tool for food safety and animal as our starting point for a product from the farm track provides. Traceability systems, animal health, food safety and food origin, extending the organoleptic (sensory) creates a link between properties. 

And other domestic animals used to determine the identity of the ear tag is made of plastic material. 

The animal identification numbers that belong to seal the ear usually does. This identification number (ID) only to be determined by national organizations with specific, usually in the form of Property Identification Code will be found. National Live Animal Identification System (NLIS) regulations in all the areas of bovine animals before being removed from the ear marked with the seal or a rumen bolus and requires this action to be notified of NLIS'ye. Besides, if animals in the herd or farm is labeled, in the wider region does not have identification numbers only. Seal of the ear tags also NLIS for cattle and sheep running conditions. This seals and monitoring rumen and are used for identification bolus identity and supplied by the vendor with the transport document is complete. 

Livestock identification system with the ear tag yet to be discovered in 1913, despite tuberculosis test in the UK BSE epidemic is visible with the emergence of an increase was recorded. Today, in many different ways, designed to provide ear tagsl, to prevent theft and to get to the epidemic under control is widely used all over the world.

In 1953, the first two parts, the plastic ear seal itself invented by the patent has been received. Options and visibility of the color of plastic with easy-to-use features metal extension application in the process of this seal also reduces the risk of infected blood through. 

Some insect control bovine animals to ensure that seals the ear contains chemical substances. 

How should Ear Tag be Applied?  In implementing a successful ear tag of the principles are the same for cattle and milk cows. To correctly apply the ear tag of the animals should be avoided piercingg ear again. 

Best time of using for ear tag begins to show the features of beef and milk is taken from the period. 

Ear Tag to the use of time to the maximum level of use of the ear tag you should read the user manual carefully. After a time, ear tags can not be reused. 

Ear tag or stud cattle breeding period to ear a time before being sealed need. If the cattle is tagged, do not remove the ear tag or not installing a second ear tag. 

You must use the correct applicator. If an incorrect applicator is used, the ear tag into the ear remains in danger of seal can be crushed. 

Application for selecting animals to be the most peaceful moment and must be clean applicator.

Source

Coconut Fronds as feed for Cattle and Water Buffalo

Technical Description

Feeding livestock with coconut fronds is resorted to only during dry months when the supply of forage, weeds and tree leaves is low. The coconut frond is the green woody part of the palm leaf.

Green fresh fronds are collected and the leaflets or blades are removed (Fig. 12). The woody frond is cut into foot-long sizes and then peeled of its outer cover just like sugarcane. The cut fronds are split into halves and then hand-fed.

Uses and Merits

Cattle and water buffalo relish the peeled and split fronds because they are soft and succulent. Backyard cattle raisers use coconut fronds as an emergency feed during dry months or inclement weather, when feed resources are limited. Through hand feeding, the animal becomes tamer and easily handled by the raiser. This feed resource is commonly available on the farm and adds bulk and dry matter to the daily feed intake.

Reservations on Its Use

The feed value of coconut frond is relatively low. The preparation of the coconut frond as feed is relatively laborious. Also, when coconut trees have grown tall, the collection of fronds becomes very difficult.

Read more: http://www.pinoybisnes.com/livestock-business/low-cost-feeds-and-feeding-methods-for-livestock/

Artificial Insemination in Cattle

Artificial insemination (AI) is a popular, simple and inexpensive treatment of infertility in animals, in which the sperm from the male is collected and introduced artificially into the reproductive tract of the female for conception. It was in 1780 that the first scientific research in AI of domestic animals, was carried out on dogs. Lazanno Spalbanzani, an Italian scientist, conducted experiments that proved the power of fertilization vested with the spermatozoa and not with the liquid portion of the semen. These studies spearheaded the commercial utilization of this technique for breeding across the globe. Today, AI has emerged as one of the best techniques devised for genetic melioration of farm animals. This is a remarkable method of breeding quality cattle in the most natural way possible. AI is being carried out in a large number of buffaloes and cows and is extremely useful in countries like India, wherein quality sires have been scarce. Artificial insemination in cattle has taken care of this major obstacle in the path of cattle improvement. More

An Update on Paiwi or Paalaga System

For the last 8 years as practiced we are on a paiwi or a paalaga system for backyard cattle raising. As we understand the advantages we think in having this kind of setup is that we don’t extend that much effort in taking care of the cattle at the same time we’re helping small time farmers to have the opportunity of having their own cattle and the option of an additional income for them since the farmer’s share can always be convertible into cash with an agreement with the cattle owner.




But recently we saw a disadvantage in this kind of method. We encountered a situation in which the care taker sold the cow without the owner’s consent and knowing. The owner have only known about what had happened after 3 days in which the caretaker disappeared with the cash in hand and bound never to return back.

In this kind of scenario this is what has been learned.
1. Get to know the person in which the owner will in-trust the cow
2. Make sure that the cattle is marked so that it can’t be sold right away since it bears the mark of the owner and for identification purposes as well.
3. The cattle owner or in-trusted person of the owner should visit the cow on regular basis.
4. Another option would be to implement latest technology for cattle identification. This is a good option but requires investment for implementation

Backyard farmers to benefit in P167B program for ruminant industry

BY PAUL ICAMINA
WHAT may look like obstacles are opportunities.

All that’s needed is a well-coordinated push for the ruminant animal industry to be a vibrant agribusiness, according to the Ruminant Animal Industry Road Map 2010-2034.

The government will spend P167 billion starting last year until 2034, or P7 billion annually, to kick-start the country’s moribund dairy and ruminant industry.

The aim is to increase the 3.9 million ruminants in 2010 to 6.9 million by 2034.

The output: increase in breeding stocks every generation of about five years, with corresponding increase in the production of milking animals for distribution to small farmers.

One of the perceived opportunities – instead of obstacles – is the ever-increasing demand for milk and meat due to the high population growth rate, urbanization and rising income.

Ruminants – dairy cattle, carabaos, goats and sheep – can produce high-value products such as milk.

But each year, the country imports 99 percent of milk and dairy products worth $712 million (in 2008). About 84 percent of that is in powdered form.

While it is rising ever so slowly, domestic milk production is only about 35 percent of total liquid milk supply.

With meat, local ruminants contribute only about half of the carabeef and beef.

All these because of the small local herd: less than 30,000 heads of dairy buffaloes, cattle and goats.

Ruminants are also raised basically in smallholdings; nearly all of beef cattle are raised in backyards – 98 percent of the beef cattle and 99.9 percent of buffaloes, cattle and goats.

The formula to correct the dire situation, as charted by the road map, is simple enough: raise more ruminants by using crop by-products and idle lands. More.

Scientists discover how FMD virus begins infection in cattle

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have identified the primary site where the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) begins infection in cattle. This discovery could lead to development of new vaccines to control and potentially eradicate FMD, a highly contagious and sometimes fatal viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals that is considered the most economically devastating livestock disease in the world.

The discovery was made by scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center at Orient Point, N.Y. ARS is USDA’s principal intramural scientific research agency, and this research supports the USDA priority of promoting international food security. More

The Philippines Beef Cattle Farming Sector: A Briefing for Canadian Livestock Genetics Suppliers

This is a very good article on the current status of Beef Cattle Industry in the Philippines.

1. Introduction
This briefing has been prepared by Stanton, Emms & Sia for Canadian exporters of livestock genetics, the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines and the Southeast Asia Regional Agri-Food Trade Commissioner, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The objectives of this briefing are to provide exporters and the Canadian government with:

* a snap shot of conditions in the Philippines market for beef;

* an update on the government policies covering the beef cattle farming industry and its future development;

* a review of the state of the beef cattle farming industry and its operations;

* A SWOT analysis on the beef cattle farming industry;

* an assessment of the future strategic direction of the beef cattle farming sector; and,

* insight into potential opportunities for Canadian exporters of breeding animals and genetic materials in the Philippines in future.

The research supporting this briefing was performed in February and March 2010.

2. The beef market in the Philippines, a snap shot

The beef market is the smallest of the mainstream meat markets in the Philippines. Beef is not a staple food. While it is extremely popular, beef is more a luxury item because of its high retail price, when compared to pork and chicken.

Beef supply currently amounts to about 240,000 tonnes per annum. Additionally, around 140,000 tonnes of carabeef is produced from buffalo, known as Carabao in the Philippines.

According to the government, imports comprise around 20% of beef supply and are needed mainly to deal with shortages in supply of manufacturing beef and bovine offal for use by the Philippines processed meat industry.

Beef is a secondary meat within Philippines agriculture. The supply of pork is much larger at around 1.8 million tonnes in 2009. More