DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Sept. 12 (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here has partnered with Foundation University (FU) for the establishment of a breeder farm for the Itik Pinas variety of ducks.

Itik Pinas (IP) is the improved breed of Philippine mallard duck or the native Pateros duck, which was developed by the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and National Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

Researchers from DOST-PCAARRD conducted a thorough process of selection, breeding, and purification among the Philippine mallard ducks.

This resulted to the IP variety, which possess uniform characteristics and promises to be more reliable in terms of egg production.

The FU College of Agriculture will be responsible in operating the breeder farm of IPs, which distribute ducks to interested farmers or duck raisers in the province.

Stable supply of duck eggs

DOST Provincial Director Atty. Gilbert Arbon said the partnership aims to provide a stable supply of duck eggs in the province,
It also aims to address the demand for balot (fertilized duck egg) and other food products derived from duck eggs, which are rich in protein and nutrients.

“We get most of our balut outside Negros Oriental, from Central Luzon.  Imagine if we have our own breeding facility dire, ang atoang mga duck farmer need not go to Luzon, Mindanao, or Western Visayas to get starter kits (Imagine if have our own breeding facility here, our duck farmers need not go to Luzon, Mindanao, or Western Visayas to get starter kits),” Arbon said.

He added that other products that can be derived from duck eggs are salted eggs that can be used in pastries and other baked products.

Increased duck egg production

FU College of Agriculture Dean Joebert Koerkamp welcomed this partnership with DOST, noting that this would highly benefit the province.

Koerkamp said that in 2022, the province imported three million duck eggs for balut and salted egg production.

If this collaboration succeeds, Koerkamp believes duck farmers and raisers will no longer have to import duck eggs from other places as this would result to an increased production of duck eggs locally.

“Students will be involved in the process but the main objective is to increase the production of duck eggs in the province. Itik Pinas is a breed that we think can help because it can produce around 50 eggs more per year. In agriculture, predictability is important,” Koerkamp said.

Based on an article posted at DOST-PCAARRD’s website, Itik Pinas ducks can lay 257 eggs per year with an average weight of 65 grams which is suited for balut production.

Koerkamp said this partnership is expected take off sometime in November this year to January next year.

A training will be held for interested duck raisers in November to orient and capacitate them on the methods of raising Itik Pinas varieties.

Those interested to raise Itik Pinas are required to give counterpart in terms of providing feeds, housing, and complete attendance to the said trainings. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)