A PROJECT funded by the Department of Science and Technolgy (DoST) is seeking to develop varieties of alfalfa for use as forage by the dairy industry.
The project, conducted by the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines is evaluating nine alfalfa varieties in Misamis Oriental, the DoST鈥檚 Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development said in a statement.
While alfalfa is traditionally cultivated in temperate climates, Thailand has developed a tropical alfalfa crop, indicating the potential to grow such forage in the Philippines, it noted.
鈥淚f the project is successful in producing alfalfa, the country will have a good feed resource for dairy animals that can potentially reduce the cost to produce milk,鈥 Synan S. Baguio, a participant in the project, was quoted as say-ing.
Alfalfa is deemed the 鈥済old standard鈥 for dairy animals due to its superior nutritional value.
Seven varieties were sourced from subtropical regions and two from temperate climates that include Flowcote 614 QL Lucerne, Hunter River Lucerne, Upper Murray Seeds 鈥淪ilverado 9,鈥 Flowcote 914 QL Lucerne, Flowcote Se-quel Lucerne, Upper Murray Seeds 鈥淪ilverosa GT 7,鈥 Upper Murray Seeds 鈥淪ilverland,鈥 Bulldog 505, and Bulldog 805. 鈥 Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
