Month: January 2013

PCC highlights efforts in addressing climate change

Posted on | by Robinson Valenzona

As the lead agency for livestock biotechnology, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) takes innovative actions to deliberately address climate change.

These techniques were presented by Dr. Eric Palacpac, PCC National R&D coordinator, during the “Consultative Workshop on Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA)” of the Department of Agriculture.

In his presentation titled “PCC’s Projects and Activities in Addressing Climate Change”, Dr. Palacpac highlighted some mitigating measures in reducing methane emission from livestock animals, particularly the carabao. He cited previous research studies that stated the comparative impact of methane on climate change is over 20 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.

To help address this issue, the PCC adheres to the application of improved management practices in buffalo production system, organized breeding and selection, utilization of crop residues as feedstuff, waste management thru vermicomposting, and cryobanking livestock genetic resources that provide important medium for addressing changes in the environment.

The workshop was held at the PCC national headquarters last January 21-23. The three-day activity was participated in by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), and the National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (NFFTC).

KOICA-assisted project with PCC expected to boost NEFEDCCO’s milk collection

Posted on | by Khrizie Evert M. Padre

An improved milk processing system is expected to enhance the daily operation of the Nueva Ecija Federation of Dairy Carabaos Cooperative (NEFEDCCO) with the installation of new equipment under a project with PCC and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The project, with the technical assistance of Engr. Dal Sun Park, who is Korean Overseas Volunteer (KOV) for PCC and NEFEDCCO, provided for the installation of one unit of refrigerated container van and sanitary centrifugal pump in the NEFEDCCO processing plant. Fifty units of aluminum milk cans with 40 liter capacity each were also distributed to select dairy farmer-members.

This equipment which were installed to further improve the milk processing practices of the processing plant are expected to accommodate more milk from NEFEDCCO’s primary cooperative-members, ensure food safety and quality of milk and eliminate cleaning-in-place (CIP) problems.

Said equipment were officially turned-over last January 23 at the NEFEDCCO processing plant in San Ricardo, Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

The event was led by KOICA resident representative Kim Jinoh, PCC deputy director Felomino V. Mamuad and NEFEDCCO chairman Florencio Collado. NDA deputy administrator Naomi K. Torreta, KOV administrator KIM Jaekwang, mayor Nerito Santos and Ju Wonseok of Korea SBS Broadcasting Station also graced the event.

During the project, Engr. Park also shared his expertise to PCC staff and NEFEDCCO’s dairy members in dairy product’s development and in improving the methods of processing PCC’s dairy products.

The project lasts from May to December 2012. The project worth Php1.1M was jointly funded by KOICA, PCC and NEFEDCCO.

This initiative, according to project documents, supports the objective of the government in fast tracking the dairy development in Nueva Ecija. //

PCC forges partnership with Meijo University on nutritional development among ruminants

Posted on | by Joahna G. Goyagoy

Provision of optimum nutrition is essential to the growth of animal. To female animals, particularly, nutrition is imperative to boost their reproductive capacity.

On the basis of this guiding principle, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) welcomed a partnership with the Laboratory of Plant and Animal Science Experimental Farm in Meijo University in Japan through the initiative of Dr. Yoshiaki Hayashi.

Dr. Yoshiaki, an Associate Professor in Meijo University, worked on researches in animal feeding and management in the Philippines from 1996 to 1998.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU)between PCC and Meijo University, which was forged last January 19 at the Milka Krem (dairy products outlet) in PCC, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, will carry out a research on the evaluation and utilization of available feed sources for ruminant production.

Its objective is to develop a reference material on feeds specifically for ruminants in the Philippines. According to Dr. Daniel Aquino, PCC’s animal nutrition expert, the research output will be that of determining the nutrient digestability of the available feed source during wet and dry seasons. This research, Dr. Aquino added, will help the farmers formulate proper food ration for their animals in their respective areas.

Further, the partnership aims to foster technical capability endeavours among PCC technical staff members that will result in producing better research interventions in addressing animal health, nutrition, and reproduction of livestock in the country.//