By Cyrus A. Natividad

Studies and observations of Philippine Native Chickens are undertaken at the Agricultural Research Compound.

The CPU College of Agriculture, Resources and Environmental Sciences (CARES) Dean Dr. Jaime C. Cabarles, Jr. is currently working on an urgent research project entitled “The verification and standardization of processing and concentration of garlic, betel nut and Asiatic bitter yam against “Mycoplasma”, a genus of bacteria that lack a cell wall around their cell membrane. According to Cabarles, they have a characteristic that makes them naturally resistant to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis.”

He added that “there’s a current concern for production and demand of Philippine native chicken because of the intestinal parasites like small and large worms and cereal worms that render them to be emaciated and less productive. These organisms create stress that reduces the resistance of chickens against pathogens. This, therefore, creates an urgency of finding a natural-based alternative to synthetic veterinary drug.”

As the lead proponent of the project, Dr. Cabarles considers the internal parasites in chicken as an important economic concern for the country and even worldwide. The production and demand of Philippine native chicken and the urgency of finding a natural-based alternative to synthetic veterinary drugs is a must.

Two Centralian registered pharmacists, Mylene L. Poral and Vincent Anthony Militante are working with Dr. Cabarles in the research in coordination with Central Philippine University and other collaborating agencies. According to Dr. Cabarles, the CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, is excited to know the results of their study.

Studies and observations of native chickens are undertaken at the Agricultural Research Compound inside CPU under the management of CPU CARES. CPU has been allowed by the Department of Agriculture to be a part of the Bureau of Agricultural Research.