Alvarez backs guv's buy of 7,000 sheep

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - Negros Occidental Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. yesterday said he supported the decision of Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to purchase between 6,000 to 7,000 Dorper sheep rather than cattle during their trip to Australia two weeks ago.

Some quarters have criticized the governor for purchasing sheep rather than cattle as what he originally proposed based on the Letter of Credit with a P78-million budget.

Alvarez said it is more advantageous to the provincial government to propagate sheep than cattle because the Negros First Ranch's breeding farm in Murcia town, where the sheep will be propagated, is ideal for it. The grass plantation in the area is suitable for the sheep, he added.

Marañon, along with Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, went to Broome, Western Australia last October 31 to originally purchase P78 million worth of cattle and sheep to boost the food security program of the province.

They aimed to buy 1,110 Brahman and Charolais cattle and 2,400 Dorper and Danara sheep. But when they arrived in Broome the available cattle were only 350 and were not of good quality, so they opted to buy all the sheep instead, the governor said.

Marañon, in an interview with The Freeman upon returning home, said the provincial government is importing 6,000 to 7,000 Dorper sheep from Australia for breeding.

Sheep give birth every five months to one lamb and if lucky, may have twins, he said. This number will make Negros Occidental the sheep capital of the Philippines, he said. "We will amend our Letter of Credit from buying cattle and sheep, to all sheep," he said.

More farmers could avail themselves of the animal dispersal program of the provincial government if sheep are purchased because each would only cost P13,000 to P14,000, he said.

Sheep of similar kind sold in the Philippines cost P30,000 each, while those purchased in Australia will have a landed cost of about P12,000 for females and P14,000 for males, the governor added.

Marañon said the sheep will be shipped to the province either November or December. Some Negros farmers will also purchase some of the sheep being brought in, he said. — (FREEMAN)