The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has distributed cow semen to all village-based artificial insemination technicians (VBAITs) under the local government units of Tarlac as part of efforts to improve cattle breeding in the province.

The distribution, conducted on 1 February 2026, forms part of the Unified National Artificial Insemination Program (UNAIP) of the Department of Agriculture, which aims to enhance the genetic quality of cattle and increase farmers’ productivity and income.

Officials said the initiative seeks to boost genetic improvement among local cattle populations by expanding access to quality artificial insemination services at the village level. Through improved semen quality, livestock raisers are expected to produce healthier and more productive animals, strengthening rural livelihoods.

UNAIP is a flagship program of the DA, led by the BAI, to raise the productivity and competitiveness of the livestock sector, particularly large ruminants such as cattle and carabao.

Under the program, the BAI works with partner agencies including the Philippine Carabao Center, the National Dairy Authority, and DA Regional Field Offices. The initiative institutionalizes artificial insemination services at the village level by training and equipping VBAITs to deliver services directly to farmers.

The Philippines’ cattle population is estimated at around 2.5 to 2.6 million heads, with mid-2025 data showing about 2.52 million, most of which are raised by small-scale farmers.

Despite high cattle concentrations in regions such as Central Visayas, Ilocos and CALABARZON, the country continues to rely heavily on imported beef, as domestic production remains insufficient to meet growing demand driven by population growth.