DTRI employees transfer to newly renovated Dairy Technology Building

On November 18, 2022, DTRI employees transferred to the newly renovated Dairy Technology Building. It houses the Administration Office, Director’s Office, Conference Room, Dairy Technology Office, Breeding and Physiology Laboratory, Dairy Technology Laboratory, Nutrition and
Reproduction Laboratory, and Hot Room.

 

The blessing of the newly renovated building was done during the celebration of DTRI’s 60th anniversary last November 3, 2022.

 

The new workspace is now being utilized by the employees which renders a fresh and more productive atmosphere. It provides a good office environment that is essential for increasing efficiency and easier access to the different
divisions inside the building for DTRI and UPLB employees, students, and stakeholders.

 

The Renovation Committee and Building, Grounds, Maintenance and Transportation Division of the Institute headed the planning of the construction for the renovated Dairy Technology Building.

 

Since the fire incident that happened to the 60-year-old DTRI Administration Building on July 8, 2020, the offices of the different units were temporarily housed in different buildings inside the Institute. 

Along with the 60th anniversary celebration of DTRI is the blessing of its newly renovated building.
The building houses the offices and laboratories of the different divisions.
Administration Office and Director's Office on the right, Dairy Technology Office and Dairy Technology Laboratory on the left.
Inside the Administration Office.
The newly renovated Dairy Technology building.

DTRI Gives Milk to Community Pantry and Nearby Barangays

DTRI has been blessed to be a channel for donations for the milk feeding program. With the bayanihan spirit inherent among Filipinos, some dairy farm owners and concerned individuals donated raw milk or cash. The raw milk was processed into ready-to-drink (RTD) milk and the cash was spent to add more to the volume of milk to be given out.

Through the directive of DTRI Director Dr. Amado A. Angeles, the milk-giving activity initially took place on April 20. Eight hundred thirty-five bottles of 200 ml fresh milk were distributed to barangays Batong Malake, San Antonio, Maahas, Tuntungin-Putho, Mainit and Masaya in Los Banos and Bay, Laguna.

DTRI also handed-over bottles of fresh milk to the trending Community Pantry hosted by OVCCA. The second batch of milk giving happened on April 27 and was distributed to barangays Batong Malake, Mainit and Tuntungin including the OVCCA’s community pantry.

With the help of UPLB Alumni and friends, Dr. Angeles is optimistic that this activity will continue amidst these trying times. (JLRayos and ROBatocabe, Photo DMUrcia and JMDomingo)

DTRI Welcomes New Employees

The Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI) welcomed four new employees to the institute, namely: Dinben D. Buencillo, Agricultural Technician II; Karla Joy T. Gayosa, University Researcher II; Philip O. Abrigo, Farm Superintendent II; and Joy Lorraine S. Tumangan, Administrative Aide III.

Dinben D. Buencillo assumed his farm duties under the Dairy Farm Division as Agricultural Technician II last August 18, 2020. He graduated from the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 2012 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management and started his Master’s Degree in Animal Science in 2016. He previously worked as a project and research assistant and as a University Research Associate I under the Land Grant Management Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Development. His most recent work before becoming hired at DTRI was as a Science Research Analyst under the College of Economics and Management.

Karla Joy T. Gayosa assumed her duty as University Researcher II last January 11, 2021 and is responsible for research and project works under the Dairy Production, Breeding, and Physiology Division. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines Los Baños with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 2006 and passed the Agriculturists Licensure Examination in the same year. In 2017, she earned her Master’s Degree in Animal Science. She first started working under private companies then ventured into the academe as an instructor in the Institute of Animal Science before becoming an Assistant Professor 1. Prior to her current role, she was a University Researcher 1 in DTRI.

Philip O. Abrigo is responsible for supervising day-to-day field operations as Farm Superintendent II since January 12, 2021. He graduated from Cavite State University with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Major in Animal Science in 2002. He previously worked as a Farm Superintendent II in Philippine Carabao Center before working as an assistant farm manager from 2008 to 2011 and farm manager from 2013 to 2017 in New Zealand. He was also a farm consultant in Iloilo and Bulacan from 2018 to 2020.

The newest addition to the institute, Joy Lorraine S. Tumangan assumed her duty as Administrative Aide III last March 12, 2021 and is responsible for secretarial and clerical functions under the Finance and Administrative Services Division. She graduated in 2019 from the University of the Philippines Los Baños with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and earned her license as a Nutritionist-Dietitian in the same year as well. She was a former research assistant in different projects mainly about nutrition and her most previous work was as a contact tracer under the Department of the Interior and Local Government. 

Let us all welcome, Dinben, Karla, Philip and Lorraine!

CJCJ and team visit DTRI

Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. (CJCJ) and his team visited the Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI) last November 27. The team, together with CAFS Dean Elpidio M. Agbisit, Jr., and Institute of Animal Science (IAS) Director Romel C. Sulabo arrived at DTRI in the morning after looking over the facilities and laboratories at the IAS. DTRI Director Amado A. Angeles ushered them around the picturesque environ of the Institute where the dairy farm, processing plant, and the pasture area are located. After which, the DTRI executive committee welcomed CJCJ and his team to the DTRI auditorium where packed lunch was served along with DTRI-produced fresh milk, chocolate milk, yogurt, kesong puti, mozzarella cheese (on pizza), and gouda cheese. (First published in Aggie Green and Gold November 2020 issue)

DTRI Director Dr. Angeles (left) orients UPLB Chancellor Camacho (center) and CAFS Dean Dr. Agbisit on DTRI operations.

DTRI hosts first Aggie Ps Talk Season 2

DTRI hosted the webinar on How to Make Yogurt and Pastillas de Leche, the first among the series of Aggie Ps Talk Season 2. It was held via Zoom and was streamed live on Facebook and YouTube last November 11. The webinar featured a step-by-step demonstration on how to make yogurt and pastillas de leche from raw materials to finished product. Prof. Angelo Tapia, DTRI deputy director and head of the DTRI Dairy Technology Division, served as the resource person for yogurt-making, while Ms. Aida B. Lanaca, plant manager of the DTRI dairy processing plant, discussed the procedures for pastillas de leche.

Ms. Lanaca satisfactorily answered in detail the questions for both yogurt- and pastillas-making during the question and answer portion. There were 91 participants who attended the webinar from all over the country. The Aggie Ps Talk is an initiative of CAFS in response to the information needs on food production and livelihood during the pandemic. (First published in Aggie Green and Gold November 2020 issue)

DTRI tops off Aggie Ps Talk Season 2 with webinar on ruminant nutrition

The Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI) topped off the second season of the Aggie Ps Talk: Pagkain at Pangkabuhayan sa Panahon ng Pandemya with the topic on ruminant nutrition. The webinar’s focus was a special request from the participants during the Aggie Ps Talk Season 1. It was then decided that this webinar will be offered during the second season. And before the holidays, the webinar was successfully held on December 11 via Zoom.

A total of 182 individuals from all over the Philippines participated in the CAFS webfresher course. It is comprised mostly of students, teachers, agriculturists, farm workers, extensions workers, researchers, administrative workers, and agricultural technologists. During the webinar, the participants were taught about the characteristics and peculiarities of the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract of ruminants, importance of balance rations in animal production, nutrients considered in satisfying feed requirements, common feeds as nutrient source for ruminants, and the principles in ration formulation.

Dr. Amado A. Angeles, UP scientist and ruminant nutritionist, served as resource person. He is currently a faculty member at the UPLB Institute of Animal Science and the incumbent director of DTRI. The ruminant nutrition webfresher course served as a prelude to the short course (via distance mode) on ruminant nutrition that will be offered in 2021. (First published in Aggie Green and Gold December 2020 issue)

DTRI, DA-BAR launches NIR Technology-based project

DTRI, UPLB – With the aim to have a fast, effective, and inexpensive feed analysis system, the project “Calibration and Optimization of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy for Nutrient Content Determination of Feedstuffs: A Tool for Reduced Feed Analyses Cost for Small-Hold Farmers and Government Research/Regulatory Institutions” was launched last September 3, 2019 at the Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI) Auditorium.. The project, funded by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) is a collaboration of DTRI-UPLB, DA Regional Feed Laboratories, state universities, and other stakeholders that would benefit from the project. This project is just among the various projects being launched and conducted by DTRI in gearing towards modernization and collaborative dairy science research.

Those present in the project launch were Dr. Elpidio M. Agbisit J. (Dean, College of Agriculture and Food Science); Dr. Amado A. Angeles (Director, DTRI) and project staff; DA-BAR representatives: Marnelie Gadong-Subong, Jay Bermas, Rhea Desalesa, and Ian Panaga; and the UPLB Accounting Office represented by Joan Mendoza, Rhodora Violanta, and Ellen Asegurado. 

The results of the research project will enable feed manufacturers and users decide on what feed and feed ingredients they will use for their animals. This will also pave the way for farmers to afford services on identifying nutrient composition of their raw materials and complete feeds. Lastly, the study results will also benefit the different DA laboratories in the Philippines.