Feedstar Enterprises, in partnership with Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation (PANC), opened the first standard swine artificial insemination (AI) facility with state-of-the-art and in Bohol last January 14, 2020.
The new AI facility, Feedstar Genetic Material Processing Center (GMPC), in Tagbilaran City will benefit over 30,000 backyard hog raisers in the province by giving them access to improved and quality genetic materials.
“Common artificial insemination often fails to deliver optimal results due to improper handling and use of the genetic material – a gap that the GMPC facility addresses for our Partners in Bohol,” notes project lead, Pilmico Veterinary Services and Training Specialist Dr. Lemuel Espinazo.
“This will help our backyard farmers maximize their production,” adds Dr. Espinazo.
AI is an easier and practical way to carry out genetic improvement in hog production. Its standard process starts with boar selection, semen collection, evaluation, processing and storage; estrus detection; procedure of insemination; and breeding performance evaluation.
Ariel Sotelo, a hog raiser, and breeder for 10 years, shares his thoughts on the new AI facility.
“Makakatulong ito dahil may ‘standard’ na at mas makakasigurado kami na 100% buhay ang semilya. Pinaka-importante kasi sa mga breeders na mabuntis ang mga alaga nila” he notes.
With AI technology, a single collection of pure semen can be used to breed an average of 10 sows, unlike in natural mating where the ratio is 1:1. It also prevents the spread of diseases among hogs, avoids transportation stress and possible injuries during natural mating, and discounts physical incompatibility and handicap of the stocks, among many others.
“Sakripisyo rin ang pagdadala ng mga barakong baboy sa mga inahin. Minsan nagwawala pa ang mga ito kaya mas mahirap at nakakatakot,” notes Sotelo, who used to lease his boars for natural breeding during his first year in business. Today, happy and content using AI, Sotelo hopes that through the newly opened facility, more breeders will be encouraged to use artificial insemination.
To date, Pilmico has partnered with eight Agri Centers and two training institutes all over the country to establish GMPCs and equip backyard farmers with total solutions to optimize production – continuously advancing businesses and communities.
Here’s a list of Genetic Material Processing Center in partnership with Pilmico:
- Josehl’s Farm Supply – Gonzaga, Cagayan Valley
- Feedstar Enterprises – Tagbilaran City, Bohol
- New Bian Yek Commercial – Dumaguete City
- Tesda AI School – Biliran
- AY Mart – Maasin – Southern Leyte
- Happy Enterprises & Res. Inc. – Butuan City
- Lofer Family Mart – Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte
- Pagadian Ace Marketing – Pagadian City
- Cobus Global Prime Venture Corp.- Zamboanga City
- Central Mindanao State University – Bukidnon
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the GMPC initiative connect to Pilmico’s broader commitment to backyard hog farmers?
The GMPC initiative is a technical enablement program — it does not give farmers piglets or feed, but instead gives them access to higher-quality genetic material that improves the productivity of the animals they already raise. This approach respects the existing farming practice while upgrading its biological inputs. For Pilmico, enabling more productive swine production also expands the market for its feeds products — creating a commercial incentive that is fully aligned with the community development impact. It is a concrete example of advancing business and communities simultaneously through a shared technical infrastructure investment.
What is the Feedstar Genetic Material Processing Center (GMPC) and where is it located?
The Feedstar Genetic Material Processing Center is a standard swine artificial insemination (AI) facility opened on January 14, 2020 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol — a partnership between Feedstar Enterprises and Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation (PANC). It is described as the first standard swine AI facility with state-of-the-art equipment in Bohol. The facility provides over 30,000 backyard hog raisers across the province with access to improved and quality genetic materials — addressing a gap in the available tools for genetic improvement of local pig breeds.
Why is artificial insemination in swine considered superior to natural breeding for backyard farmers?
Bohol farmer Sotelo — who used to lease boars for natural breeding during his first year in business — described natural breeding as requiring sacrifice, with boars sometimes becoming uncontrollable and creating dangerous situations. Dr. Lemuel Espinazo, Pilmico Veterinary Services and Training Specialist, explained that common AI often fails to deliver optimal results due to improper handling and use of genetic material — a gap the GMPC facility specifically addresses. AI is recognized as an easier, safer, and more practical method to carry out genetic improvement in hog production, particularly for backyard scale operations.
What specific problem with conventional AI does the GMPC facility solve?
Dr. Espinazo’s explanation points to improper handling and use of genetic material as the primary reason conventional AI often underperforms. Standard AI requires precise temperature control, timing, and technical handling protocols that are difficult to maintain without proper equipment and training. The GMPC provides state-of-the-art equipment — including proper storage, quality testing tools, and trained technical support — that closes the gap between the theoretical benefits of AI and the actual results achievable on backyard farms with properly managed genetic material.
How does the GMPC partnership model work and what is Pilmico’s national network?
The GMPC operates through a partnership between a local agri-business (Feedstar Enterprises) and Pilmico, which provides the technical backing and veterinary expertise. By the time of the Bohol launch, Pilmico had already partnered with eight Agri Centers and two training institutes across the country to establish GMPCs. Confirmed locations in the national network include Josehl’s Farm Supply in Gonzaga, Cagayan Valley, Happy Enterprises in Butuan City, and Lofer Family Mart in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte — confirming that the Bohol facility was part of a deliberate national expansion rather than a standalone project.
