Pangasinan (14 May) -- Urdaneta City Mayor 'Amadito' Perez was quoted as expressing alarm at the dwindling number of carabaos in the province. He knows since his city is considered the cattle capital of the North.
Provincial veterinarian Benedicto Perez however believes there is no cause for alarm as the province has enough carabao heads and the work animal is not an endangered species.
Rarely do we see now carabaos or cows used in farm activities like plowing and harrowing of the field. Most farmers have turned to modern farm implements like small tractors and the ubiquitous kuliglig in preparing ther fields for plantation to such crops as rice, corn, vegetables and root crops.
Well, work animals need appropriate food and care which add burden to the already overburdened farmer while farm implements need only maintenance. Cattle also cost a lot of money now with calf and young cow fetching from P10 to P15 thousand.
We think breeding stations and cattle raisers should play bigger roles in raising cattle for our meat supply. We cannot just rely on farmers to raise one or two work animals, utilize them in farm work and then sell them later in the cattle market.
With diminishing land areas for farming and cattle raising (the lands mostly converted to subdivisions and golf courses), government has to stem the tide and maintain a balance between the two priorities.
We are now feeling the sad effects of urbanization and modernization and rapid population growth. Between food and other concerns, we believe the favor should be tilted to the former.
Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080514.htm&no=49
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