DA-NorMin hosts Mindanao leg of GSEP consultation

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In preparation for the roll out of the Goat and Sheep Expansion Project (GSEP) in Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao Field Office (DA-NorMin) hosted the Consultation for the Development of Small Ruminant Raisers, here.

The consultation convened personnel of the DA’s Regional Livestock Program, provincial veterinarians, and livestock raisers from regions 9, 10, 11,12 and BARMM on April 23-25, to lay down strategic action plans for the GSEP implementation in Mindanao.

The GSEP is a nationwide goat and sheep breeding program of the DA designed to invigorate the small ruminant sector by introducing good genetics, strengthening the livelihood of livestock farmers and providing support to goat and sheep farms and enterprises.

According to DA Assistant Secretary for Ruminant Livestock Benjamin C. Albarece, DVM, under the GSEP, the DA plays a catalytic role in implementing a government-led breeding program to increase goat and sheep productivity and fertility rate in the country.

Under the GSEP, the DA aims to establish nucleus farms for purebred breeder lines of goats and sheep. This will be rolled out by partnering with commercial or smallholder raisers who have existing facilities capable of supporting the production of offspring with high-performance traits inherited from purebred lines.

In his message, DA-NorMin Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, pushes for proactive implementation of livestock programs and projects from the national to regional level. To attain sustainable livestock industry development, he urged for timely and target-oriented implementation of DA’s interventions at the ground level.

As part of the consultation, the participants were apprised on forage development technology, goat and sheep standard breeder farm management, nucleus and multiplier farm breeder program and the Animal Disease Incident Report (ADIR) – an online animal disease reporting application developed by the Bureau of Animal Industry.

The participants also visited Jerasenes Farm, a renowned dairy goat farm in Opol town, Misamis Oriental.

The visit highlighted the farm’s innovative use of silage production as a primary feed source for its goat herd, demonstrating an effective method for year-round nutrition.

In addition to goat farming, Jerasenes Farm also practices integrated farming by combining cattle, goat, swine, and duck production.

The consultation was also attended by the DA National Livestock Program Deputy Director Nover Lee P. Calub, DVM and Regional Advisory Committee for Animal Disease Control and Emergency Chair, Rodner A. Tuquib, DVM.# (ATT/CRS, Photo credits: CRS & Livestock Program)