Nueva ecija: The Philippines has inaugurated the world's first laboratory dedicated exclusively to sex-sorting buffalo semen, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced. The PHP237.9-million facility, located in the Science City of Mu±oz and established in collaboration with the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), is aimed at boosting domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.

According to Philippines News Agency, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. shared that the project will enable local farmers to enhance their capabilities and increase profits. "Producing breeding materials locally saves foreign exchange, creates additional income opportunities for farmers, and strengthens food security," he stated.

The laboratory employs flow cytometry technology to differentiate sperm cells carrying female (X) and male (Y) chromosomes, with an accuracy rate of approximately 90 percent. This advancement allows breeders to choose between female calves for dairy production or male calves for meat and draught work.

Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasized the benefits of the facility, noting that it provides farmers with the choice of producing either a female calf for milk production or bulls for meat and farm work. Following the sorting process, the semen will be cryogenically preserved for artificial insemination programs across the nation.

The facility is expected to lower procurement costs and reduce the risk of foreign livestock disease transmission. Additionally, it ensures that breeding stock is better suited to tropical conditions, as per the DA's reports.

The distribution for field artificial insemination is scheduled to commence in the last quarter of the year, with the first batch of genetically targeted calves anticipated in late 2027. The PCC aims to produce approximately 170,000 sex-sorted semen straws annually.

Currently, the Philippines heavily depends on imported dairy products, with domestic production fulfilling less than 5 percent of the national demand.