Carabao is a hero.

This is how Susan Trazo, a resident of Purok Rosal, in the town of Mainit, Surigao del Norte regard her farm animal.

“Our carabao is a partner in our livelihood. She is a great help for our rice and coconut farm,” she said.

Susan said that without their carabao, it wouldn’t be easy for her family to till their three hectares rice farm and to haul coconut harvests.

As a reward for their farming partner, she gladly brought her hero to the DA-led Livestock Outreach Program in their town.

“I want my carabao as healthy as possible, so I brought her to avail the free services extended by the government through DA and I hope that the administration of Artificial Insemination would be successful so I can see her offspring  and it would be an additional asset for our family,” Susan added.

The Livestock Outreach Program is an initiative of DA-Caraga through the Livestock Section of the Field Operations Division (FOD) and the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) of the Integrated Laboratories Division (ILD) in partnership with local government units.

The recent round of the activity was conducted at Mainit and Tubod, Surigao del Norte last September 23-28, 2019 with services ranging from blood sampling, fecal analysis, vitamin supplementation, pregnancy diagnosis, heat synchronization, artificial insemination, and animal health consultation.

Federico Busal, also a farmer said that his carabao is his partner in livelihood. Without his carabao, he would have to spend around P700.00 on plowing every land preparation for his one-hectare rice farm.

Aside from savings, he would also earn additional income every time his neighbor hired him with his carabao to haul farm produce.

“I am grateful that DA brought the services in our place, it is a great help for us,” he said.

A total of 293 farmers were served with 363 animals such as carabao, cattle, goat, and sheep. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA-Caraga)