Agriculture Business Week

Here’s an in-depth look at the world of swine raising and the potential business you can get out of it.

Sows and gilts should be full-fed with a high-energy ration for fourteen days prior to mating to ensure a maximum ovulation rate.

Mating should be done at the most appropriate time for the sow to guarantee the maximum litter size. Signs that a sow is in heat should be closely observed before mating. These include exhibiting restlessness and frequent grunts, mounting other pigs, frequent urination, swelling and reddening of the vulva with possible discharge.

Sows and gilts should be mated to the same boar in one heat period with an interval of 12 to 25 hours. An ideal boar to sow ratio is 1.25 to 30.

Sows should be settled in the furrowing house seven days before expected date of furrowing to give the sow ample time to adjust to her new environment. Sows and gilts should be de-wormed and protected from internal parasites and should be treated for external parasites two weeks before expected furrowing date.

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Posted on August 4th, 2009 under Livestock. Tags: Artificial Insemination, Business, Meat, Pigs/Hogs, Swine. Comments: None

The government’s Unified Artificial Insemination Program has been helping cattle farmers secure good animal breeds although so much more needs to be done.

Cattle are among the most important livestock animals of our agricultural sector. They are the major sources of high protein foods and can provide year-round work and extra income to our farmers.

Securing an improved quality of cattle is an essential function of the two leading government agencies in-charge of cattle production – the Bureau of Animal Industry’s Livestock Development Division (BAI-LDD) and the National Dairy Authority (NDA). The said agencies are coordinating with Local Government Units  (LGUs) to introduce different programs and new technologies in raising cattle.

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Posted on May 7th, 2009 under Livestock, Technology. Tags: AI, Artificial Insemination, Cattle. Comments: 8

Few young men would volunteer to help in a national program, especially when there’s only a little support from the program implementers.

Despite the limited support, 32-year-old Cornelio Agustin of Brgy. Kinalangoyan, Talavera, Nueva Ecija, has become one of the few artificial insemination (Al) volunteers in the country who have made a significant contribution to the promotion of AI among our farmers.

He was one of the million Filipinos who were forced to drop out of school due to financial constraints. He was only a second year civil engineering student of a small college in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija when he had no choice but to go back to the farm.

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Posted on December 2nd, 2008 under Livestock, Technology. Tags: Artificial Insemination, Carabao, Water Buffalo. Comments: 11