Five farmer groups in the provinces of La Union and Ilocos Norte are expected to benefit from the Department of Agriculture’s Modified Loan Breeder Program worth Php3.9M.

Under this program, identified beneficiaries were provided 60 heads of Island-born Purebred Heifer American Brahman, a breed well known for its remarkable climate adaptation and potential as a source of livelihood either for its meat or dairy produce.

On May 25, these cattle were received by the members of Timpuyog ti Mannalon iti Nalvo Norte iti Luna La Union Incorporated, Duplas Bulalaan Livestock Raisers Association, and Rosario Municipal Indigenous Tribal Council Incorporated – all from the province of La Union.

Meanwhile, recipients identified in the province of Ilocos Norte were members of Bacarra Dayo Association and Bacarra Zanjera Multipurpose Cooperative.

These animals are given to the recipients as loaned-out breeders and will be inseminated with Purebred Brahman semen sourced out from the Bureau of Animal Industry under the Unified Artificial Insemination Program.

Recipients will maintain the animals until the offsprings are weaned and own it afterwards. The heifer will be collected for distribution to the next qualified beneficiaries.

Before the distribution of animals, recipients had undergone Farmer Livestock School on Integrated Cattle Management as training on the basic to advance cattle raising.

Cattle shed, feed, labor, and other operating expenses were shouldered by the recipients.

This program aims to increase the number of recipients by 250% for five years.#