NIRS project visits DA Feed Laboratories, SUCs

To forge a stronger collaboration among stakeholders, the Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) project team visited Department of Agriculture (DA) feed laboratories and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) last December 17 to 19, 2020. This is part of the information dissemination strategies of the said project of DTRI on NIRS. Among those visited were the Regional Feed Chemical Analysis Laboratory of the DA (DA-RFCAL) in regions I, II, and III; Cagayan State University (CSU); and Central Luzon State University (CLSU). 

Apart from data accumulation from the laboratories, the project team conducted meetings with representatives from the above-mentioned institutions. In the meetings, DTRI director and project leader Dr. Amado A. Angeles seized the opportunity  to address the need to strengthen research, most especially in the dairy industry. Moreover, Dr. Angeles presented the need for faster and more affordable feed analysis services to cater farmers, students, and researchers to help them in the improvement of their respective fields. In turn, the visited laboratories and SUCs gave their full support for the project in the hopes to further cement contributions of their respected institutions to our agriculture.

The project team targets to visit DA-RFCAL and SCUs throughout the country for wider scope of collaboration and service.

 

PDRC Project 1 Team visits key AI and genetics facility in Australia

In the photo are (from L to R): Dr. Errol Jay Y. Balagan, CLSU; Mr. Rainie Rich Chucky S. Yambao, UPLB; Dr. Shirley S. Villanueva, USEP; Ms. Karla Joy S. Ty, UPLB; Mr. Anthony Shelly, Genetics Australia Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Amado A. Angeles, UPLB DTRI Director; Mr. Peter Thurn Genetics Australia Breeding, Genetics and Production Manager; Mr. Rob Derksen Genetics Australia Export Manager; and Dr. Juan S. Daquioag II, CSU. (Photo courtesy of Rob Derksen of Genetics Australia)

Six representatives from the Philippine Dairy Research Consortium (PDRC) Dairy Enhancement Program under Project 1 Application and Improvement of Embryo Transfer (ET) and Artificial Insemination (AI) Technologies as Tools Toward Achieving the Desired Number of Genetically Superior Breeder Dairy Cattle visited key facilities in Victoria, Australia last November 10-15, including the artificial insemination (AI) laboratory and stud farm at the head office of Genetics Australia; AgriBio Centre at La Trobe University; and Dairy Australia Southbank.

During the visit, the team learned the basics of rectal palpation from Mr. Brad Pickford at his training center and farm in Byuduk, Victoria. Mr. Pickford developed the Breed’n Betsy model (see image below), an artificial cow simulator device, which is a valuable aid for hands-on training on AI and embryo transer (ET).

Mr. Pickford using the Breed'n Betsy model he developed for large ruminant palpation training.
Training- rectal palpation in live animals.
DTRI reps palpating the reproductive tract of dairy cows at the training farm.

The team also participated in a lecture and demonstration at the in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory of Dr. Richard Fry at Speedbreed Donor Centre in Gnarawarre, Victoria.

The activity was conducted under Project 1 headed by Dr. Amado A. Angeles of UPLB-DTRI, and is a part of the PDRC Dairy Enhancement Program funded by the Department of Science and Technology through one of its agencies, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).

PDRC Project 4 benchmarks somatic cell in milk of dairy cows in Batangas

The DTRI Project 4 team, led by Dr. Demetrio B. Marcial Jr., initiated in October 2019 the testing of raw milk in three dairy cattle farms in Tanauan and Lipa City, Batangas using the ImmunoCell California Mastitis Test (CMT) kits. This activity is part of the Philippine Dairy Research Consortium (PDRC) Project 4 on the Development of Farm-specific Protocols for the Reduction of Subclinical Mastitis in a Dairy Enterprise. It aims to establish the baseline for the somatic cell level of milk in cooperating farms.

The CMT is a qualitative cow-side test, which can be used by farmers to determine the somatic cell count (SCC) in raw milk of individual cows and the bulk milk prior to selling to processors.  The SCC in milk is an indication of on-going bacterial infection and may be used as a tool to diagnose subclinical mastitis cases in the farm.

Testing milk samples with CMT reagent. Gel formation indicates high SCC count.

The DTRI Project 4 is funded by DOST-PCAARRD through the Philippine Dairy Research Consortium (PDRC) Dairy Enhancement Program entitled Assisted Reproduction, Nutrition, and Health Interventions For Enhanced Dairy Cattle Productivity and Milk Safety. It aims to create specific management protocols to reduce subclinical mastitis in dairy farms. The reduction in subclinical mastitis should eventually increase the overall milk production of cooperating farms. The project started in December 2018 and will run for three years until the end of November 2021.

PDRC Project 3 Benchmarks Dairy and TMR Operations in Thailand

The team arrives at the DPO Dairy Farm.

Four project personnel under the DOST-PCAARRD funded R&D project, “Development of Farm-Specific Precision Feeding System and Forage Production Protocols for Increased Productivity and Profitability of Dairy Farms” participated in a five-day benchmarking of dairy and TMR operations in Thailand. Project leader, Menandro Loresco, and project staff members Dr. Cesar Sevilla, Christian Lualhati, and Gerard Guadayo participated in the activity which was organized by the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization (DPO) of the Thailand Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The main objectives were to evaluate the efficiency and profitability of feeding total mixed rations (TMR) in dairy cattle herd and to apply the learnings to the project and possibly extend their potential application to the local dairy sector. The travel covered the period December 2-6 in Saraburi Province, Thailand. Mr. Nawanon Chantaprasarn, chief of the Dairy Development Division of the Dairy Research and Development Department of DPO served as the coordinator.

Cows receive a nutritionally balanced TMR in a 'cut and carry' system.

During this activity, the participants observed and studied the system of feeding of dairy cattle in select dairy cooperatives and farms in Saraburi, Thailand. It was observed that in order to maximize income over feed cost, some of the Thai dairy cooperatives produce TMR in large volumes daily to supply the feed requirement of about 10% of their members. The average daily milk production of cows in the visited dairy farms, which are members of these cooperatives, ranged from 12-14 L per day with a lactation period of 10 months. One of the members reported that his income over feed cost from a cow producing 19-20L of milk per day can be as high as 200 Baht (equivalent to 339 PhP) per day when using TMR. The concentrate component of the TMR that they produce has roughly the same formula as ours which is basically corn and agro-industrial protein source-based mixture. The roughage component consists of corn silage, rice straw, grass silage/hay, and soya pulp.

Raw materials used in formulating Thai TMR are basically the same as those available in the Philippines.

One of the main reasons for the viability of dairy farming in Thailand is the strong support from their Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to the dairy cooperatives. Most of the vital TMR production and milk processing equipment and facilities being used by the dairy cooperatives were donated by or loaned from the Ministry. Because of this, the members are able to procure high quality and formulated TMR daily at a very reasonable price. This scheme reduces the farmers’ workload and allows them to focus on feeding the cows and in harvesting and transporting the raw milk to the cooperative’s processing plant for steady profits. In addition, some of the Thai dairy cooperatives maintain a replacement heifer rearing program wherein female calves are bought from the members and reared until sexual maturity. The farmers then have the option to purchase them back as replacement heifers. This system further enhances the efficiency and profitability of the farms as they only need to focus their resources to productive animals.

Thai dairy cooperatives enjoy strong support from their Ministry of Agriculture.

In addition to the strong government support, another advantage of the Thai dairy industry over that of the Philippines is the much cooler weather which is more conducive to dairy farming and reduces the incidence of heat stress to dairy cattle with genotypes coming from temperate breeds like Holstein. However, in terms of the feed resources that they use in the production of the TMRs, Thailand is comparable to the Philippines. The basal/macro ingredients that Thai dairy producers use include corn silage, rice straw, Guinea and Napier grass hay/silage, cassava chips, soya pulp, ground corn, and soybean meal. Except for soybean meal, which is largely imported, the major raw materials in the production of TMR in Thailand are all available in our country. This means that if proper feed production and conservation techniques are applied, it is possible for us to produce TMR on a large scale and sustain the year-round TMR manufacture for consistent feeding of quality ration to dairy animals. Couple this with systems that assist the members such as the replacement heifer scheme from the dairy cooperatives and the local dairy sector will hopefully attain significant growth in the years to come.

DTRI orients young Filipino farmers for training in Japan

A s part of the pre-departure orientation program for the scholars of the Young Filipino Farmers Training Program in Japan (YFFTPJ), the Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI) conducted the Basic Training Course on Dairy and Beef Cattle Production and Management for young Filipino farmer-scholars last February 12–15, 2018.

A total of 22 young farmers were selected by the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) to be this year’s farmer-scholars. With ages ranging from 18 to 27 years, the young farmers represented 14 regions of the country. They were selected at the regional level based on the qualifications set by the ATI.

Through the course, the status of the beef and dairy cattle industry in the Philippines and of the world was discussed. The scholars were also trained on dairy herd management, breeding and physiology of cattle, animal health, milking and milking procedures, milk hygiene and sanitation, feeds and feeding, pasture establishment, and silage and hay making. Hands-on training on the management practices for calves, heifers and milking cows, silage and hay making, and machine milking were also part of the course.

At the onset of the course, the participants took a written examination to measure their knowledge on dairy and beef cattle production. Based on the test results, majority (82%) of the participants had low, very low, or no knowledge on the subject matter. When the same test was administered at the end of the course, majority (73%) of the participants had very high knowledge, while 27% had high knowledge on dairy and beef cattle production and management.

The Philippines, through the YFFTPJ, yearly sends selected young Filipino farmers to Japan to learn new technologies in agriculture. Prior to their departure, the ATI requires the participants undergo several short courses in agriculture (crops and livestock) before their intensive training in Japan. One of the orientation courses they have to undertake is the Basic Training Course on Dairy and Beef Cattle Production and Management. At the end of the program, the farmer-scholars should be able to identify projects that they could pursue in the Philippines.

The course was conducted at DTRI in cooperation with the UPLB Foundation Inc. while the YFFTPJ is managed and funded by the DA-ATI. (RO Batocabe, with photo courtesy of DE Paner)

Source: Aggie Green and Gold (Official Quarterly Publication of the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Science ) , Vol XIX No. 1 January-March 2018, ISSN: 1655924X

DTRI trains PSAU Vet Med Students

Seventeen veterinary medicine (vet med) students of Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) successfully completed the Specialized Training Course on Dairy Cattle Management held on April 16-25, 2018 at DTRI.

The senior vet med students learned from experts and experienced hands-on the rudiments of dairy herd management; reproductive physiology/breeding; feeds and feeding for dairy cattle; pasture establishment, management and utilization; estrus synchronization/cryopreservation; pregnancy diagnosis; dairy chemistry and microbiology; forage conservation; records-keeping; herd health management; semen collection/evaluation/processing; and milking and milking procedures. (R.O. Batocabe)

Source:   Aggie Green and Gold (Official Quarterly Publication of the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Science ), Vol XIX No. 2  |  April to June 2018 ISSN: 1655924X