VBAITs, LGU techs undergo AI and PD training in Bohol

The DA-Philippine Carabao Center at Ubay Stock Farm (DA-PCC at USF) culminated its month-long trainings on basic artificial insemination (AI) and pregnancy diagnosis (PD) on large ruminants for village-based and LGU technicians and intensified reproductive management training on March 9.”The advanced training aimed to capacitate and improve the efficiency of our existing AI technicians in their services, since we have noted low pregnancy rate that affected our targets,” said Bonifacia Granada, training coordinator and chief of the extension services of DA-PCC at USF.

The technicians who have the most carabao-populated areas were prioritized in the scheduling of the said training. These include Pinamungajan, Danao City, Dumanjug, San Remegio, Compostela, Alegria, Cebu, and Candijay, and those municipalities covered by the Bohol Dairy Cooperative (BODACO). One staff member from DA-PCC at USF was also included in the list.

Two staff members of the First Consolidated Cooperative along Tañon Seaboard (FCCT)-Tuburan also participated in the training. This is DA-PCC at USF’s extension and advisory service to the cooperative for it to effectively and efficiently manage its increasing number of animals as it is a conduit of the Carabao-based Improvement Network (CBIN) project of DA-PCC.

Both trainings are comprised of four- and two-day lectures for basic and intensified reproduction management, respectively. A practicum in the institutional farm and actual demonstrations in the field were also part of the learning module. After completing the trainings, participants are expected to achieve at least 75% of the combined score in the written exam and skills assessment as demonstrated during actual PD, AI gun insertion, and semen thawing.