𝗖𝗲𝗯𝘂 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝗴𝘆𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺
Cebu Province is moving to produce Wagyu beef locally through an artificial insemination program implemented by the provincial government in partnership with the Department of Agriculture.
The initiative gives livestock farmers access to Wagyu cattle semen, allowing them to produce Wagyu-cross offspring from their existing herds.
According to Dr. Mary Rose Bahian Vincoy, head of the Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO), the national government has begun distributing Wagyu semen to various provinces, including Cebu.
Wagyu cattle, originally from Japan, are renowned for their exceptional marbling and premium-quality meat. The breed is highly sought after in luxury dining markets around the world.
The production of Wagyu-cross offspring is made possible by preserving Wagyu semen in liquid nitrogen prior to its distribution to livestock farmers for artificial insemination.
“Kaya nato, there will be more (Wagyu) semen para mahatag nato and maka-request ta sa artificial insemination technicians na maoy i-infuse sa mga lungsod,” Dr. Vincoy said during the Istorya Cebu interview.
The provincial veterinarian also clarified that semen from other cattle breeds remains available at its facility, giving livestock farmers more options.
Dr. Vincoy said Cebuano farmers have increasingly embraced artificial insemination technology.
“I’m happy to say nga ang Cebuanos gi-adopt gyud ang artificial insemination program. Kung imong tan-awon sa Central Visayas, number one ta sa cattle head inventory. And even sa whole Philippines by region, ang Central Visayas ang nag-una, and 60 percent ana naggikan sa atoa sa probinsya,” she said.
The livestock development program is also expected to contribute to food security and give a boost to the agricultural sector’s economic growth.
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