MANILA, Philippines - The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is offering a new course that will give training on artificial insemination (AI) in animals, which is now becoming a highly in demand skill in the country.
“There is a career in helping pigs, cows and carabaos get pregnant so we have developed a course for future AI experts,” TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva said yesterday.
Villanueva said AI in animals is a process in which the sperm of pigs or cows is extracted and injected into a female farm animal.
Unlike in the natural process of mating, Villanueva said, breeding through AI reduces cost because the animals need not be transported.
“It minimizes, if not control the spread of reproductive diseases,” he said, adding that the process also allows the use of physically-handicapped or crippled yet superior animals that cannot perform mating.
Villanueva said there is a need to produce more AI experts to boost the country’s animal production.
“TESDA regularly conducts consultation with concerned sectors to determine their skills needs. We take into consideration all their input in formulating our training regulations,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva said the Pork Producers Federation had said AI technicians are needed to boost their livestock production.