Presentation during the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) Seminar Series on May 30, 2019 at RDMIC Bldg., cor. Visayas Ave., Elliptical Rd., Diliman, Quezon City

1. “PROMOTION OF ARTIFICIAL
INSEMINATION AS BREEDING TOOL FOR
CATTLE PRODUCTION IN REGION 02”
WILLIAM C. MEDRANO, Ph. D.
Project Leader,
Isabela State University
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE -
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY

2. RATIONALE
 Cattle production is considered as one of the very
important integral part of the farming systems in the
country which contributes to rural income;
 The Philippine is a major global importer of beef and
milk. For milk, the average import was 1.8 M tons/year
valued at US$710.4M/year

3. RATIONALE
 The total cattle inventory in the country at the end of
2016 stood at 2.5 million heads. Of this population, only
181,628 heads are found in Cagayan Valley or a share
of only 7.13%. Of this inventory, 85% are found in the
backyard of farmers (PSA, 2017);
 Region 2 offers great potentials for cattle production
considering huge idle lands and available feed
resources from dominant farming systems;

4. RATIONALE
 Dairy and beef cattle production has been identified as
priority commodity to be developed under the World
Bank funded PRDP of the DA hence government support
is ensured;
 Moreover, beef and dairy cattle farmers association in
the region 2 are becoming stronger with the presence of
a federation and government support

5. RATIONALE
 However, the cattle industry is now confronted with big
challenges foremost of which include:
• Limited number of quality breeders stocks
• Poor genetic make up or composition of existing
breeder population
 Artificial Insemination (AI) provides great potential to
improve the genetic composition and increase the
breeder population base of cattle in Region 02.

6. Artificial Insemination (AI)
is the technique in which
semen with living sperms
is collected from the
male and introduced into
female reproductive tract
at proper time with the
help of instruments.
What is Artificial Insemination?

7. Brief Description of Technology
 Artificial insemination is a technology that
uses frozen semen from a superior purebred
bull inseminated to a cow that has been
induced to exhibit estrus or heat period using
prostaglandin.

8. AI Process/Procedure
Inserting the AI Gun:
The gun is inserted
through the vagina
into the reproductive
tract. The gun must
pass through the
three muscular rings
into the cervix and
into the body of the
uterus.

9. AI Process/Procedure
Locating the Cervix:
The technician
should insert one
hand into the cow’s
rectum to locate
the reproductive
tract and cervix

10. AI Process/Procedure
Depositing the
Semen:
Once the technician
is sure the gun passed
through all three rings
of the cervix, the
semen is deposited
into the body of
uterus.

11. AI Process/Procedure
Removing the Gun:
After the semen has
been deposited, the
gun should carefully
be removed from the
reproductive tract

12. Advantages of AI
A. Advantages of breeding animals artificially.
 Maximum use is made of outstanding sires.
Semen can be used after the sire has died
or can be shipped anywhere in the world;
 Uniformity of offspring is increased;
 Certain physical handicaps to mating may
be overcome.

13. Advantages of AI . . .
 Regular examination of semen after
collection and frequent checking on fertility
make early detection of interior males and
better breeding efficiency is ensured;
 There is no need of maintaining expensive
breeding bull for a herd; hence the cost of
maintenance of breeding bull is saved;
 It prevents the spread of certain diseases and
sterility due to genital diseases.

14. Advantages of AI . . .
 The progeny testing can be done at an
early age;
 The semen collected can be taken and
used in the remote rural areas for
insemination;
 It makes possible the mating of animals
with great differences in size without injury
to either of the animal.

15.  It helps in maintaining the accurate
breeding and cowing records;
 It is helpful to inseminate the animals
that refuse to stands or accept the male
at the time of estrus.
Advantages of AI . . .

16. Limitations of AI
B. Artificial insemination also has several
limitations.
 Highly skilled technicians are required.
 Physiological principles must be followed.
 Frozen semen processing is critical
 Sire market may be limited.
 Diseases may be spread.
 Artificial breeding organizations require
large investments of capital and competent
management.

17. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
General Objective:
To promote the utilization of artificial insemination
as breeding tool for cattle production in Region 2.
Specific Objectives:
More specifically, the project aims to:
1. Determine the sustainability of cattle production
in Region 02 using AI technology;

18. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
2. Capacitate farmers on the management of
cattle production using AI technology;
3. Increase the number of farmers engaged in AI
technology;
4. Increase production of frozen semen for AI;
and
5. Develop a business through TBI.

19. METHODOLOGY
Selection of Project Sites and Cooperators
 Project sites selection criteria:
 LGU recognizes cattle raising as an
important livelihood and their willingness to
cooperate;
 Willingness of the LGU to assign
Technician to be trained under the project;
 The LGU can allot budget for the
mobilization of technicians; and
 Highest population of cattle.

20. METHODOLOGY

21. METHODOLOGY
 Massive promotion of AI as breeding tool
for cattle
 Establishment of AI Center
 Conduct of laboratory and field activities
oSemen processing
oArtificial insemination procedure
oCoordination with LGUs, DA, BAI and
PCC
 Monitoring and Recording
 Report Submission

22. EXPECTED OUTPUTS
 At least 1,000 cows inseminated
 At least 450 calves produced (45%
conception rate)
 Sustainable frozen semen production
for cattle
 More farmers and AI Technicians
capacitated
 Business Model on AI technology utilization
 Policy recommendation

23. POTENTIAL INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
 Publications
 Patents of products
 Copyrights

24. POTENTIAL OUTCOMES AND IMPACT
 Increased in beef and milk production
 Increased in income of farmers
 Improved nutrition of children
 Entrepreneurship developed

25. HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 Conducted inception meetings and consultation with
LGUs and other stakeholders
 Conducted baseline survey of existing cattle
production and socio-economic backyard raisers:
 Identified and selected the project sites (6
Municipalities in Isabela such as Jones, San
Agustin, Echague, Angadanan, Cordon, and
Cauayan City and 4 Municipalities in Quirino such
as Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Diffun, and Maddela
 Coordinated/conferred with the Provincial
Veterinarians regarding the baseline data of cattle
population in their respective provinces

26. HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 Capacity building activities were conducted:
 At least five (5) trainings were conducted involving
the project beneficiaries covering the topics on
Artificial Insemination, Care and Management,
Feeds and Feeding of Cows and Calves;
 IEC materials were prepared, reproduced and
distributed during trainings;
 Four project staff completed Hands-on Training on
Semen Collection, Processing, and Freezing at PCC
Station in Digdig, Nueva Ecija

27. HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 AI field activity conducted
 At least 114 heads of cattle were synchronized and
inseminated with only 35 cows diagnosed as
pregnant
 Frozen bull semen (Brahman/Holstein) were sourced
out at Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit
Region 2

28. HIGHLIGHTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 Establishment of the AI Center
 Construction of the AI Center , Laboratory and
Cattle Shed are ongoing;
 Two donor bulls were purchased;
 Laboratory supplies such as liquid nitrogen tanks
glass wares, chemicals and powders, bovine
artificial vagina were already procured for semen
collection, processing, and freezing.

30. Thank you!