By KCR Santos

PSAU-CVM in partnership with DA-ATI and BAI hosted the “1st Philippine Smallhold Cattle Raisers Congress: Streamlining the Philippine cattle industry through a more progressive and productive smallhold cattle sector” on June 19-20, 2019 at the Bren Z. Guiao Multi-purpose Hall of the Pampanga State Agricultural University. With the theme “Streamlining the Philippine Beef Cattle Industry through a More Progressive and Productive Smallhold Cattle Sector” the two-day event aimed to initiate the development of the Philippine cattle industry into a higher level of livestock farming efficiency.

The event was attended by more than 200 participants that were affiliates of the LGUs of Pampanga, veterinarians and other staff of different provincial veterinary offices, faculty members of several SUCs, smallhold cattle raisers, and large-scale beef cattle operators. An opening ceremony was conducted in the morning of the first day and it was graced by BAI director, Dr. Ronnie Domingo, PSAU VP for Planning, Dr. Rogelio Cosio, and the dean of CVM, Dr. Maria Fe S. Bulao. The opening ceremony was followed by the plenary sessions in the afternoon. The topics in the plenary sessions mainly focused on the development initiatives in the beef cattle industry as well as the possible financing schemes for the smallhold cattle raisers. A simple socialization party was also held on the evening of the first day.

The presentations on the second day dealt with the technicalities of raising beef cattle. Topics about beef cattle management, feeding practices, upgrading programs, artificial insemination, farm waste management, and guidelines on marketing and importation were presented. An open forum was held at the end of the morning and afternoon sessions to accommodate the queries from the participants. The event officially ended with closing remarks from the chairman of the congress, Dr. Jorge S. Villamil.