Mindanao Cattle Research and Development Project

by Anggie Angliongto & Cecilio Felix, DVM

Ribbon cutting of MCRDP, 02/28/14

l-r: Dr. Obsioma (No. 1 Team Leader, MCRDP, and Vice Pres. for Administration), Dr. Mercado (Assistant Regional Director, Davao), Dr. Cecilio Felix (Donor/Resource, USA ), Anggie Angliongto (Liaison/Businessman, Davao), Dr. Catbagan (Undersecretary for Livestock, DA) representing Procy Alcala (Secretary of Agriculture), and Dr. Limson (Artificial Insemination, Natl. Coordinator)..

The photos of 24 Philippine Native heifers were taken from the Mindanao Cattle Research and Development Project (MCRDP), UP Mindanao. More than 50% of these heifers were artificially inseminated with semen from a certified line bred Miniature Hereford bull from the US. The semen was donated by Brod Cecilio T. Felix, DVM, a retiree from Rancho Murieta, CA. The MCRDP was established through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last February 12, 2012 between the three parties: the University of the Philippines Mindanao, the Bureau of Animal Industry, DA and Cecilio T. Felix, DVM, US. The first generations or F1s will come out during the last four months of the year, 2014. Through a tested line breeding procedures, the project will develop a Philippine bull that can reproduce itself down through generations, and develop as well the cow population as a breed.

WHY MINIATURE CATTLE? Its economic impact is manifold: it grows on less space (2.2 heads of miniature cattle to 1 standard size cattle), eats less feeds (30% less), grows and gains weight faster on forage pasture without special rations, it can be raised by small farmers in a backyard setting, and they are easy to handle by people.
 

Blessing of the MCRDP by the Parish Priest

My role here is bridging the connection between the three parties. If you will recall I was with the late Brod Tony Lu in 2009 attending the convention of the Beta Sigma of North America that took place in Seattle. After the convention, we joined Brod Regadio by land back to Sacramento. It was Brod Tatang who made arrangement with Brod Cecilio Felix to take care of me and Tony for one day in Sacramento. It was on that day that Brod Cecilio brought out the idea of developing the Native Cattle by line breeding them with pure breeds of Miniature Cattle from the US  in Davao City. Do not be confused by the name Miniature Cattle. The Miniature Hereford steers develop desired musculature. The project is in the UP Mindanao campus near the Betan Clinic. Dr. Felix is coming to Davao during the last quarter of 2014. -- Anggie
 

Brod Anggie with baby during the Betan Medical mission also on same date, 2/28/14
         

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