A semen laboratory seeking to ensure the supply of good quality semen for native pigs has been established at Marinduque State College (MSC), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the agency's Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) supported the establishment of a semen laboratory at MSC “to sustain the genetic improvement of the Markaduke native pigs, and to ensure supply of good quality semen for the institutional nucleus herd as well as for the private adopters of the Markaduke native pigs.”
The establishment of the laboratory is part of the Markaduke Native Pig Research and Development (R&D) projects, which are under the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) of the DOST.
“To date, the MSC nucleus herd has a population of 90 sows and 9 boars, which are of the genetically improved Markaduke pigs,” de la Peña said during his weekly report on Friday, Aug. 27.
He said records showed that 50 percent of the sows are producing 10 or more piglets per litter.
The DOST chief said 40 sows have been distributed to farmers within the community to start the testing of these pigs’ performance in the field.
“This inventory of breeders coupled with their significantly improved prolificacy is expected to jumpstart the multiplication and eventual commercialization of the Markaduke pig,” he said.
He said application of DNA marker aided selection has been started to hasten the improvement of the productivity and meat quality of the Markaduke pig.