BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
The Negros First Ranch in Murcia town produced twin calves of Simmental-Brahman-Charolais breed, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said yesterday.
Decena said the calves were born on April 30 and named Covida and Asfa, derived from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the African swine fever.
He said they were bred on July 20, 2020 through natural means under the Provincial Genetic and Improvement Program of the province.
PAGIP aims to enhance the quality and population of animals in Negros Occidental. The high-quality breeds of farm animals are produced at the NFR in Brgy. Sta. Rosa, Murcia under PAGIP, which is one of the flagship programs of the provincial government aimed at improving and upgrading the genetic makeup of local breed of livestock and poultry animals.
NFR-produced cattle is best known for its superior quality in terms of being resistant to adverse weather conditions, good maternal ability, excellent libido/aggressive, and for high quality of beef, Decena said.
Recently, triplet goats, named Tony, Carla, and Denise were also born at NFR and are considered the first locally born dairy goats produced of Anglo-Nubian breed, whose date of breeding was November 19, 2020 and date of birth April 18, 2021.
Decena said that another twin kids, a female and a male, whose date of breeding was December 2, 2020 were also born on the same day as the twin calves.
He said this only shows that the technical capability or expertise of PVO farm personnel, brought about by years of hands-on experience in the field of livestock production and animal husbandry, matched with animal superior quality breed, could result in multiple birthing or production of two or more offspring that presupposes good production practices or methods employed.
Decenal said the provincial government is scaling up its livestock and poultry production by increasing animal population through the infusion of genetically-improved breeds. He said that with these efforts, it is expected that there will be more superior breeds of livestock and poultry animals to be born.*