NFHFI ties up with DA to improve hog genetics

Hog genetics is an entirely scientific and technical aspect of hog production, which until now has not been perfectly mastered by any one single local hog farmer. This makes the local hog raiser totally dependent on imported hog breeds to improve their locally-raised stocks, an expensive system which is dollar-draining for the Philippine economy.

With this lopsidedness for imported breeds, the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. believed that it is their foremost responsibility to all their members to turn to a more viable and non-dollar draining alternative. A positive clear response is their establishment of the Philippine Genetic Technology Center, Inc. (PGTCI), which will primarily promote the artificial insemination method (AI) for hog breeding.

The NFHFI has set up a national genetic improvement program that will improve our local stocks genetically, and shall result in the production of better quality pork, expected to be well-received by the local and even the international market.

PGTCI experts revealed their proposal for the establishment of a Great Grand Parent (GGP) and a Grand Parent (GP) Main Breeding Farm and several strategically-situated regional and provincial parent stock terminal stations. It is in the main breeding center that parent stocks or terminal sires will be produced. These in turn will be distributed to the regional and provincial stations. From here, local hog farms can avail of the boar semen through artificial insemination. This improved facility opens its services to all hog farmers in the country -- both the commercial and backyard raisers. With this set up, even the small and backyard producers have a crack at being world class.

Initial discussions have actually been made a year ago with DANBRED, the state-organized hog breeders corporation of Denmark. Currently, PGTCI officials have contacted the Clark Special Economic Zone for the rental of a facility there to put up their boar station and the laboratory equipment of the implementation of the AI program.