DA - Livestock Biotechnology Center

23/04/2026

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦: The DA-Livestock Biotechnology Center participated as an exhibitor at the 10th National Fisheries Biotechnology Symposium on April 22-23, 2026, held in Initao, Misamis Oriental with the theme, “From Research to Sustainability: Biotechnology Advancing Resilient and Food-Secure Fisheries.”

Thank you to everyone who dropped by our booth as we continue to work together toward a more sustainable and food-secure future. 🌱🐄🐟

15/04/2026

DA-PCC hosts livestock sector dialogue under NIAS transition

“Let us shift our focus more on ruminants.”

This was the call of Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Dr. Constante Palabrica as he underscored the need to rebalance livestock development priorities during the Stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting hosted by the DA-Philippine Carabao Center at its National Headquarters and Gene Pool on April 14-15.

“Over the years, there has been a long-standing concentration on the poultry and swine industries. Moving forward, we need to rebalance priorities and intensify support for the ruminant sector, particularly carabao, cattle, sheep, and goats,” USec Palabrica added.

14/04/2026

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞: Our very own Dr. Claro N. Mingala and Dr. Lilian P. Villamor, featured in the latest issue of the BAR R4D Digest! 🧬📖

Check out their stories and see how their work is driving innovation and impact in the Philippine livestock industry. ✨🐄

09/04/2026

: Carabao milk, regarded as "white gold" for bringing fortune and life-changing opportunities to many carabao farmers, is featured in this documentary with Erwan Heussaff

98% of the milk Filipinos drink every day comes from somewhere else. That number sounds wild — until you start asking why, and realize the answer is complica...

07/04/2026

𝗞𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘆𝘂𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗡𝗼. 𝟯 - 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲/𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗮
Meet the Cattle (𝐵𝑜𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑜𝑠 𝑡𝑎𝑢𝑟𝑢𝑠)! While large commercial farms exist, did you know that over 80% of cattle in the Philippines are actually raised by smallholder farmers in their own backyards?

Our Philippine Native Cattle boast a fascinating genetic admixture. Through centuries of island adaptation, they have naturally developed incredible heat tolerance, disease resistance, and the ability to thrive on local forages. They are quite literally built tough for the tropics!

But here is why they truly matter to our communities: cattle are often called the "Living Savings Account" or "Rural Bank" of Filipino farmers. They are tangible investments that grow in value over time, providing a crucial financial safety net during emergencies, crop failures, or when funding a child's education. A resilient, highly valuable livestock that secures the future of rural agriculture!

Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gUUCjvAhgdUr2WMZroezWMkVu_xhXXJOYV3-7QhDvhA/edit?usp=sharing

For more information, follow us on our social media pages: 🔗https://linktr.ee/dalbc

02/04/2026

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to our Center Chief, Dr. Marvin A. Villanueva! Thank you for your incredible leadership and we hope your special day is filled with joy and success. 🎂🎈🎉

06/03/2026

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦: The DA-Livestock Biotechnology Center participated as an exhibitor at the 6th Regional Crop Biotechnology Symposium on March 5, 2026 at the CBC-Plenary Hall, DA-PhilRice Compund, Science City of Muñoz. The Center's exhibit engaged over 200 STEM students from various schools and municipalities, introducing them to key concepts and innovations within the field of livestock biotechnology.

27/02/2026

🐃 A pioneer in Philippine animal science, a champion of farmer livelihood, and a trailblazer in reproductive biotechnology research—meet 𝗗𝗿. 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗮 𝗛. 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻, a 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆! 🏆🇵🇭
Dr. Duran, a highly respected scientist at the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC), led some of the country's most groundbreaking advancements in reproductive biotechnology for livestock. Through years of dedicated research on artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and organizing farmers to join scientific programs, she successfully improved the genetic breed and productivity of the Philippine water buffalo.
Her work provided the vital scientific framework that helped the country elevate its livestock industry. It showed farmers and policymakers that genetic improvement is possible locally, improving rural livelihoods, reducing dependence on importation, and strengthening national food security.
“[S]cience is universal, but the greatest impact comes when it is translated into local realities,” shared Dr. Duran.
▶️ her full interview below and discover the story behind her inspiring work.

26/02/2026

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗢𝗪: The Department of Agriculture Biotechnology Program (DA Biotech Program), in collaboration with the DA Biotech Centers, conducts its 1st Semester FY 2026 Alignment Workshop
As the scope and complexity of DA biotechnology initiatives continue to expand, the DA Biotech Program and DA Biotech Centers are working to ensure a successful FY 2026. From February 25 to 27, 2026, the previous year’s implementation shall be evaluated to pinpoint best practices for replication, gaps for improvement, and harmonize future plans.
This collaboration is aligned with DA’s commitment to improve the livelihood of our farmers, fishers, and livestock growers, while helping ensure food security in the Philippines.
Challenging yet exciting years for agri-biotech are in the works!

20/02/2026

𝗚𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘆, 𝗧𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗸 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵: 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲™
Securing the future of our local goat industry is now faster and more accessible for every farmer! Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) is a serious threat that saw a rise in prevalence from 3.03% in 2011 to 5.73% in 2013, causing significant losses in milk production and animal health. While traditional laboratory results can take up to 5 days to obtain, the 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲™ screening kit revolutionizes disease management by delivering accurate results in just one hour right on the farm. This technology uses a simple color-change system—green for positive and orange for negative—and is user-friendly that can utilize a common household thermos for incubation. At approximately ₱120 per test, 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲™ offers a highly economical alternative to expensive lab methods, empowering farmers in even the most remote areas to identify infections early, protect their livelihoods, and ensure a sustainable livestock industry for the Philippines.

12/02/2026

𝗗𝗔-𝗟𝗕𝗖, 𝗡𝗥𝗖𝗣 𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

𝗟𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱, 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘁 | 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟬-𝟭𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – The Department of Agriculture - Livestock Biotechnology Center (DA-LBC), in joint partnership with the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) Division XIII, successfully conducted the 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 at Benguet State University Agri-based Technology Business Incubator/Innovation Center (BSU ATBI/IC).

The activity brought together researchers from various academic institutions and industries, including representatives from Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Cebu Technological University (CTU), Center for Transboundary Animal Disease (CenTrAD), DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), and DA-Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2). Participants presented research proposals under the themes of Livestock Biotech Research for Development (LBR4D) and Institutional Capacity Enhancement (ICE) for potential funding by the Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO).

The program began with an opening message from DA-LBC Center Chief, Dr. Marvin A. Villanueva, who emphasized the strategic importance of practical application:

“𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴, 𝘐𝘗𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱, 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮/𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥-𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺.”

This was followed by a message from Dr. Adrian P. Ybañez, Chairman of Division XIII DOST-NRCP, who discussed the NRCP’s mandate as a grant-giving body. A message of support was then given by Dr. Claro N. Mingala, Director of the National Livestock Program (NLP). On behalf of the host institution, a welcome message was delivered by Dr. Ruth Diego, Director of BSU-ATBI/IC.

To provide technical context, Mr. Zyv C. Cleto introduced the Biotechnology Program Office, gave an overview of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Program, and presented the 2026-2028 research priority agenda of the program. Subsequently, Mr. Joel A. Miguel and Mr. Freddie R. Asuncion discussed the DA-LBC mandate, research proposal’s Logical Framework, and Work and Financial Plan to guide the researchers.

The core of the activity featured presentations where researchers received expert’s feedback to further enhance their proposals. The panel of technical mentors included Dr. Marvin A. Villanueva (DA-PCC/DA-LBC), Dr. Claro N. Mingala (DA-NLP), Dr. Lillian P. Villamor (DA-PCC), Dr. Adrian P. Ybañez (NRCP Division XIII), Dr. Virginia M. Venturina (CenTraD), Dr. Gerry A. Camer (CSU), Dr. Peter James Icalia-Gann (MMSU), and Mr. Zyv C. Cleto (DA-BPO).

In addition to the workshop sessions, a courtesy visit was paid to Dr. Roscinto Ian C. Lumbres, VP for Research and Extension of Benguet State University.

This activity fosters collaboration and serves as a vital platform to assist researchers who have submitted proposals for funding. It is designed to help them refine, improve, and immerse themselves in a new landscape of research—focusing on commercially ready innovations that touch the users on the field, ensuring that scientific advancements translate into tangible benefits for the livestock industry.

28/01/2026

𝗗𝗔-𝗟𝗕𝗖 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗠𝗦𝗨 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗰, 𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲 | 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 — Strengthening the bridge between government research and the academe, the Department of Agriculture-Livestock Biotechnology Center (DA-LBC) recently held a collaborative meeting with Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) to drive innovation in the livestock industry.

The visit started with a courtesy call to Dr. Mee Jay A. Domingo, Vice President for Planning and Strategic Foresight of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU). The session officially opened with a welcome speech from Research Director Dr. Dionisio S. Bucao, followed by an opening message from DA-LBC Center Chief Dr. Marvin A. Villanueva.

The session continued with a message of support from Dr. Claro A. Mingala, Director of the National Livestock Program, who emphasized the vital role of biotechnology in national agricultural development. This was followed by a technical exchange led by Dr. Peter James Icalia-Gann, Chief of MMSU’s Center for Cellular and Molecular Medical Research, who introduced the university's research team as they presented their latest proposals to the group.

Furthering the discussion on local impact, Director Joel Cabading of the PCC at MMSU shared the center’s recent initiatives. To conclude the session, Mr. Joel Miguel Jr. and Mr. Freddie A. Asuncion discussed the mandates of the DA-LBC and outlined the strategic priority research areas of the DA-Biotech Program Office.

This collaborative meeting strengthens the ties between the Center and the academe, fostering the development of livestock biotechnologies that will benefit the industry, the students, and the community. 🤝🔬