STA. JOSEFA, Agusan del Sur – Thirty farmers and agricultural extension workers (AEWs) here gained the knowledge and skills in preserving and maintaining the high quality of breeds of swine for more profitable production for both piglets and carcass. Their learnings are courtesy of Training on Artificial Insemination (AI) for Swine held last August 13-17, 2018 at the Agusan Farmers and Producers Cooperative (AFPC) training hall in Brgy. Aurora this municipality.

The said undertaking was in collaboration with Winrock, USDA, PCCP and AFPC. This activity is composed of several lectures given by resource speakers in the field of swine insemination and hands-on activities that complement their learnings regarding AI. Moreover, participants also learned the different techniques and processes of semen. They had actual semen collection, handling and process and then actual insemination. Lectured on animal health, sature and calculation of heart girth. Amy G. Eguia from the International Training Center for Pig Husbandry (ITCPH) discussed the new technology to test the motility of the sperm called isperm, spermeodensimeter and micropipettes. Francisco R. Ramos, also from ITCPH, shared his skills on how to train the junior boar to ride the dummy sow, how to collect semen and other techniques regarding AI.

“The five-day training was a combination of hands-on and lecture discussion wherein we thoroughly absorbed the knowledge given to us. The resource persons were expert in their assigned topics. All of them delivered knowledge well to the participants. The materials needed for the learning process were well provided. The participants participated well and did their part. For the resource persons, I rated them excellent as well as the total impact of the training. I am thankful for the opportunity given to me to participate in this activity,” expressed Joselito Sulla, one of the participants in the training.