It’s likely that the province of Leyte may soon become known an excellent producer and source of meat and dairy products if it continues its top performance in Artificial Insemination (AI) program to native Cattle and Carabao. This, as Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla said, “aims for genetic improvement of Leyte’s native cattle and carabao through its current crossbreeding program.”

Interestingly though, reports furnished by the Provincial Agriculture’s Office (PAO) show that “Leyte had the highest number of AI services for cattle and carabao (approximately 30-35 per month) as compared to the rest of the provinces in Eastern Visayas from 2003-2005. reports further claimed that through AI services, a considerable increase of calves production was lately seen, adding up to more or less 180 heads.

If this trend ill continue, PAO believes that “eventually farmers will have a changed perception of raising these animals merely for working purposes into viable options in meat and dairy pursuits.” Obviously, though at present the former remains yet the dominant perception prevalent among local carabao and cattle raisers.

Acting provincial agriculturist Dr. Alfredo Guevara disclosed that it currently use the Bulgarian buffalo breed in its artificial inseminations to native carabao and the Brahman and Holtien kinds. Offspring of which, according to him, “are known to be excellent sources of meat and dairy products and good working animals with higher feed efficiency.

AI is the method of depositing of semen to the female reproductive organ through the use of an AI instrument in the absence of the male donor. It eliminates not only the high cost of maintaining purebred bulls for breeding but also the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

The recent crossbreeding headway using the said AI method resulted the [province to earn recognition from the Department of Agriculture during the recently held presentation of accomplishments through the Unified National Artificial Insemination Program (UNAIP) at the CAP building, Tacloban City.

Top performing AI coordinators and AI technicians of the Provincial Agriculture's Office namely Marivick Torres, Cornelio Somera and Felix Bacunawa likewise received awards of recognition for a job well done.