As part of the effort of the government to boost the production and quality of native chicken in Caraga Region, a training on breeding and selection strategies for Caraga Black Native Chicken was conducted. This effort was spearheaded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Twenty-six participants from the private sector, researchers, and agricultural personnel took part in the activity. The training was held on August 12 - 14, 2025 at VCDU Prince Hotel, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte. The training was realized with the partnership of DOST-PCAARRD and Caraga State University (CarSU).
The training modality featured practical demonstrations and expert guidance from the resource persons; and provided participants with valuable insights on how effective breeding, selection and production management can improve native chicken production and enhance the economic viability of poultry production in the region.
The training featured a lineup of esteemed resource persons, including Dr. Synan S. Baguio, Director of Livestock Research Division (LRD) of DOST-PCAARRD; Ms. Glenda P. Fule, Science Research Specialist I of LRD; Dr. Consuello Amor S. Estrella and Mr. Herald Nygel F. Bautista of University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) and Dr. Tomas M. Austral, Jr., project leader of Caraga Black Native Chicken Project being implemented by CarSU.
During the opening program, Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil, President of CarSU emphasized the importance of innovation and education in agricultural practices. He also highlighted the potential of Caraga Black Native Chicken as a valuable asset for local farmers and the broader agricultural community.
The first day provided participants with insights into the economic aspects of the native chicken production. The topics covered included conservation, improvement, and profitable utilization of native chicken; income potential, and challenges and opportunities within the industry. Participants engaged in an activity led by Dr. Estrella and Mr. Bautista designed to enhance their understanding of the challenges of the Caraga Black Native Chicken Production. The participants showed a great interest by providing insights on the challenges faced by the industry. The day’s activity concluded on a positive note, with the dynamic duo of resource persons summarizing the key concerns related to production challenges faced by the participants. Their engaging discussion highlighted obstacles that local poultry farmers, researchers, extension workers encounter including issues related to breeding, disease management, limited resources and market access.
During the second day of training, the focus shifted to critical topics for poultry production such as breeding, selection and the importance of recording systems for the Caraga Black Native Chicken. This session was expertly led by Mr. Bautista and Dr. Estrella, who provided valuable insights and answers to the participants' concern about the best practices for breeding and selecting high quality native chickens.
The last day of the training started with in-depth exploration about the breeding and selection protocols specifically for the Caraga Black Native Chicken. This segment is very important for the participants, as it provided a comprehensive understanding of the practices necessary for breeding the Caraga Black. Following this, the focus shifted to production management, where participants learned and asked numerous questions about the topic. The discussion covered the process from incubation up to the breeding stage of the native chicken. The session also covered feeding management techniques, emphasizing the importance of balancing the diet and incorporating local feed resources to enhance sustainability and lessen the input cost of the production.