Animal feed products from Sarimanok Feeds Company in Bulacan, a province north of Manila, got a conditional approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This, according to DLNR, will solve the problem of poultry operators and hog and cattle raisers who complain about the high cost of animal feed from the U.S.
Variety learned from some local farmers that a vendor on Saipan has started shipping the approved animal feed from the Philippines.
However, the farmers, particularly those from Tinian, fear that the importer may offer a price that they still cannot afford.
This, the farmers said will not result in the CNMI government’s goal of reducing the price of animal feed.
Although local ranchers raise farm animals only for subsistence due to the lack of a federally compliant slaughterhouse, DLNR wants to provide them cheaper feed so they can continue raising these animals.
Henry S. Hofschneider, assistant to the DLNR secretary, said in a separate interview that the department cannot regulate the price of commodities.
Allan Sabaldica, livestock program specialist of Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Services, estimates that there are hundreds of cattle being raised in the CNMI.
Each rancher produces an average of 20 to 30 cattle and cows.
A few hog raisers produce about 20 hogs each, he said.
All these ranchers want to continue their livestock business in the CNMI, he added.
He said the stimulus grant proposal to re-open the slaughterhouse on Saipan have further encouraged these ranchers.
They are ready to raise more farm animals in order to help the CNMI achieve food self-sufficiency, he added.
