Physical therapist makes it big in piggery

MANILA, Philippines - He holds a degree in physical therapy, but instead of treating physical injuries and illnesses of people, Ronnel Pascual, 32, of Brgy. Poblacion, Vintar, Ilocos Norte finds contentment – and financial success – in taking care of his 35  sow fatteners, 10 breeders, four purebred boars and hundreds of piglets.

Ronnel is the owner-manager of a modernized piggery farm located in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.

A graduate of physical therapy who passed the board exam in August 2004, Ronnel pursued his dream of having two PT titles – not only becoming a licensed physical therapist but also a successful piggery tycoon.

His journey to becoming a piggery tycoon began at age 13 when he started  raising  pigs,  nurturing a dream of owning a brand new car of his own.

Believing that putting up  a piggery farm would help him fulfill this dream, Ronnel  boldly took the first step in September 2000. While on semester break from Manila Central University where he had his internship, Ronnel took up the National Farmer Leaders’ Course on Pig Husbandry at the International Training Center for Pig Husbandry (ITCPH) in Lipa City, Batangas.

The training opportunity was introduced to him by the Livestock Inspector of the municipality of Vintar who noticed Ronnel’s strong interest in piggery.

Eager to adopt and practice added knowledge he had learned from the ITCPH training, Ronnel convinced his parents to finance his piggery farm. With a startup capital borrowed from his parents, Ronnel was able to put up the 50-square meter hog pens in Brgy. Cabisuculan, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. 

However, being a novice in the business, Ronnel encountered problems, making his parents doubt his capability of running his piggery farm.

Nonetheless, Ronnel’s spirit  was not dampened. He squarely faced  the challenges and continued on with his piggery project. 

Learning from his failures and mistakes, Ronnel sought  technical assistance from experts in the field of livestock raising. Through coordination with the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist in Vintar, and assistance from the Provincial Veterinarian of Ilocos Norte and some private companies, he learned to efficiently manage his piggery farm.

Armed with technical assistance from the LGU agriculture offices, Ronnel now practices good farm management in breeding, reproduction and weaning, feeds and nutrition, bio-security measures, and environmental management.  He ensures that the animals are provided with optimum level of nutrition at all times, and strictly follows instructions on medication.  Through proper management practices and good selection of stocks, every breeder he raises gives birth to around 16 to 18 piglets.

A hands-on raiser, Ronnel initiates farrowing, teeth clipping, ear notching or tagging of his breeders. He also follows proper medication for his piglets and sows, and maintains sow cards for every animal head. He displays the cards in front of the sows’ pen for proper identification and traceability of the health history of the animals.

An innovative hog raiser, Ronnel makes his own feed formulation through the help of a private company.