The provincial government of Negros Occidental opened the P1.05-million Swine Artificial Insemination (AI) and Laboratory Center in E.B. Magalona yesterday.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the inauguration of the center in Barangay Gahit, with other provincial and local officials present.

Lacson said the facility is expected to improve livestock quality and increase the productivity of swine raisers in the Third District, adding that it will produce genetically improved livestock with its quality breeding materials.

He said the project aims to provide quality breeding materials through quality genetics within the reach of backyard raisers.

Lacson also advised the beneficiaries to take good care of the project, and said he hopes that more swine raisers and farmers will benefit from it.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the facility was the fourth AI swine center in the province. The others are in the cities of Cadiz and Himamaylan, and Candoni town.

Decena said the facility, equipped with a microscope, semen storage, and other paraphernalia, aims to increase the hog population.

“One ejaculation of a boar can process 15 to 30 female pigs, but through AI, a boar can cater to 200 sows,” he said.

Among the benefits of AI include production of more sows compared to natural mating, prevention of transfer of diseases between swine, and cost-efficiency in terms of food ratio, he added.

Meanwhile, a Pekin Duck Multiplier Farm located in the area was also inaugurated.

Dr. Ruffa Mae Gersaniva, PVO district veterinarian, said the pork industry is currently under threat not only from the African swine fever virus, but also the high cost of feeds and raw materials, to which genetically improved livestock is the answer.*