By Kenneth Marcos 
A new generation of livestock technicians is being trained to help boost the country’s carabao breeding program and improve milk production in key provinces. The Department of Agriculture–Philippine Carabao Center at Ubay Stock Farm (DA-PCC at USF) has officially launched the 47th batch of the Training Course on Basic Artificial Insemination (AI) and Pregnancy Diagnosis (PD) for large ruminants, which began on October 27, 2025.
The training aims to develop skilled AI technicians who can assist farmers in breeding genetically improved carabaos. These upgraded breeds are known for producing more milk, growing faster, and adapting better to changing environmental conditions — helping raise the income of smallholder farmers and strengthen the local dairy industry.
Participants in the latest training batch come from Bohol, Masbate, and Batangas, three provinces known for their active livestock sectors. The program covers both classroom lectures and hands-on field activities, where trainees learn modern techniques in artificial insemination, heat detection, pregnancy diagnosis, and carabao health management.
According to DA-PCC at USF, the course is part of the agency’s continuing efforts to improve animal genetics and expand carabao-based enterprises nationwide. Since its first batch, the program has produced hundreds of trained AI technicians who now serve in local government units, cooperatives, and dairy associations.
Artificial insemination is a vital component of the National Carabao Development Program (NCDP), which seeks to upgrade native carabaos by introducing superior breeds. This helps increase milk production, provide better draught power for farms, and ensure a sustainable source of meat and income for rural families.
The DA-PCC also highlights that the use of AI technology reduces the cost and logistical challenges of maintaining breeding bulls in small farms. By training more AI technicians, the agency hopes to reach more barangays and make advanced breeding services more accessible to backyard farmers.
Officials added that the training reinforces the government’s goal of achieving milk self-sufficiency and supporting the dairy sector under the Department of Agriculture’s modernization and food security agenda.
Upon completion, the newly trained technicians will be deployed to their respective provinces to help farmers apply AI and pregnancy diagnosis techniques, ensuring healthier, more productive herds across the region.
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