UMINGAN, Pangasinan—A large-scale cattle development project is being eyed in this agricultural municipality, with plans to establish what could become one of the biggest cattle fattening feedlots in the country.
Details of the proposal were shared by former Agriculture secretary Manny Piñol on his Facebook page, where he outlined the proposed Umingan Cattle Development Program.
The project, to be located on property owned by 1st Atkins Farms in Barangay Flores, is designed to accommodate at least 10,000 steers for a 100-day fattening cycle aimed at producing quality beef for the domestic market.
According to Piñol, 1st Atkins Farms Chief Executive Officer Gabriel Ang has engaged a technical team composed of cattle nutritionist Arnel Corpuz and veterinarians led by Dr. Roland Fajardo to design and operate the facility under a management arrangement. The team recently conducted a site visit and is set to present the development program to incoming mayor Chris Evert Tadeo-Leynes.
The proposed program includes the establishment of a cattle stockyard that will serve as a buying center for farmers in Umingan and other parts of Luzon to ensure access to competitive pricing.
It also features a cattle upgrading initiative using Wagyu genetics through artificial insemination services in coordination with the Bureau of Animal Industry, as well as bull service pens for local breeders.
Complementary components include a sorghum production program for silage, a corn procurement scheme for feed mix formulation, provision of tractor and harvesting services payable after harvest, and a youth development program to engage local graduates and out-of-school youth in feedlot operations.
If implemented, proponents said the initiative could strengthen local beef production, generate rural employment and create an integrated value chain linking private investors, local government units and smallholder farmers.