DA to ‘Strictly Use” Local Plants as Ingredients of Feeds, Veterinary Medicines

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to enforce its plan to strengthen its research on the use of indigenous plants as ingredients of animal feeds and veterinary medicines, DA7 Regional Information Officer Merilyn Talagon, said.

Talagon has quoted DA Undersecretary for Livestock Jose Reaño who stressed this advocacy during his recent visit at the Ubay Stock Farm (USF) in Bohol Province as special guest during the 93rd anniversary celebration of the government’s livestock animals facility.

Talagon said Reaño’s statement on the use of indigenous materials for animal feeds and veterinary medicines is in line with the government agency’s efforts to help farmers attain better profit margin by reducing production cost.

Talagon explained that by using indigenous plants as ingredients for feeds and veterinary medicines, farmers will be able to produce livestock and poultry animals with lesser expenses, based on Reaño’s statements.

According to Talagon, the DA undersecretary identified some indigenous plants in the Philippines which have medicinal potentials, and good for animal feeds, such as oregano and bignay.

Aside from this, Reaño also cited the importance of using the useful “microorganism lactobacillus plantarum” to increase protein in silage for animals, Talagon said.

She also added that plans are afoot to amend the Republic Act governing commercial feed production by including other elements such as amino acids, and cellulose, found in indigenous plants.

Talagon said that with USEC Reaño’s advocacy on the significance of utilizing indigenous components for feeds and veterinary medicines, farmers may be able to raise livestock and poultry at least cost, thereby improving their profitability.

However, she said there is no timeline set to the effectivity on the implementation of this plan, but as soon as possible, the DA has to act on this matter.

The 93rd year of Ubay Stock Farm anniversary,could be considered as one of the oldest government’s stock farm in the country, Talagon said.

Based on record, the Ubay Stock Farm was established in 1917, covered with a proclamation by the Governor General of the Philippines On September 17, 1921, according to Talagon.

The said facility is also considered as the biggest government’s farm in the country with a total area of 3,600 hectares, and mandated to conduct researches in the field of animal breeding, nutrition, health management and native animals conservation, among others, Talagon stressed.