Government programs, training and support for cattle raisers

You don’t have to figure out cattle raising alone. The government has offices, programs, trainings, loans and insurance meant for farmers like you — many of them free or low-cost. The hard part is knowing where to start. This guide gives you a simple map. One reminder before we begin: programs change every year, so always check the latest details with the agency before you plan around them.

Step one: get listed in the RSBSA

Before anything else, make sure you are registered in the RSBSA (Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture). Ask at your Municipal Agriculture Office.

Why it matters:

Free insurance. RSBSA-listed farmers can get premium-free insurance from PCIC (more below).
Loans. ACPC’s Agri-Negosyo loan for individual small farmers requires RSBSA registration.
Program priority. Many DA programs use the RSBSA list to find beneficiaries.

Your local agriculture office and veterinarian

Your Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) and your municipal or provincial veterinarian are your first stop for almost everything:

RSBSA registration and PCIC insurance forms
vaccination and deworming drives, and advice when an animal is sick
artificial insemination (AI) services through local AI technicians
news about animal distributions, trainings and seminars
veterinary health certificates and help with shipping papers

Get to know these people. A good relationship with your local agriculture office and vet is one of the most valuable things a small raiser can have.

Department of Agriculture livestock programs

National Livestock Program

The DA’s National Livestock Program works through the regional field offices. A DA regional office describes services such as:

Artificial insemination under the Unified National Artificial Insemination Program, to upgrade cattle and carabao — including AI training, frozen semen and liquid nitrogen, and calf-drop incentives
Breeder loans, where good bulls are lent to qualified farmers to improve their herds (one regional office lists insuring the animal with PCIC as a condition)
Animal health support: disease surveillance, vaccines, emergency drugs, and diagnostic laboratories
Training for farmers and extension workers

Details and eligibility vary by region, so ask your DA Regional Field Office.

Animal distribution through groups

Some DA programs distribute cattle to farmer associations and cooperatives rather than to individuals. For example, the DA’s Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program distributed 113 head of cattle to partner farmer associations in Cebu and Bohol. This is one big reason to join a group (see below).

A new law for the livestock sector

In September 2025, Republic Act 12308, the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, was signed. According to the DA, it sets aside P200 billion over 10 years for livestock, poultry and dairy — including funds for herd build-up, animal health and slaughterhouses — and makes the Bureau of Animal Industry a line agency of the DA. How this money reaches cattle raisers will depend on the programs rolled out under the law, so watch for announcements from the DA and BAI.

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)

BAI is the national agency for animal health, breeding and livestock regulation. For cattle raisers, BAI:

runs a Multiplier Breeder Loan Program aimed at increasing the number and quality of beef cattle
certifies native animal breeder farms, including for cattle
promotes and accredits farms under Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP)
supports disease diagnosis through its laboratory and the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories
issues licenses and permits for moving and trading animals (see our article on markets and trading)

For most farmers, BAI services are reached through your provincial vet or DA regional office.

Training: ATI and free online courses

The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) is the DA’s training arm. Two ways to learn:

Face-to-face trainings

ATI’s regional training centers hold hands-on trainings. For example, ATI’s Eastern Visayas center trained 93 farmers on native cattle production using Good Animal Husbandry Practices in 2025. Ask your MAO or the nearest ATI center about upcoming schedules.

e-Extension (online)

ATI’s e-Extension portal (e-extension.gov.ph) offers:

free self-paced online courses on crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries, with certificates
the Farmers’ Contact Center, where you can ask questions by call, text, email or chat
e-books, videos and other materials
School-on-the-Air radio programs

You just need to create an account to enroll.

Credit: loans for cattle raisers

Program	Agency	Key points (check latest)
Agri-Negosyo Loan Program (ANYO)	ACPC	For RSBSA-listed small farmers (up to P300,000), and enterprises or farmer groups (up to P15 million). 2% interest plus a service fee of up to 3.5%; up to 5 years to pay, based on your project’s cash flow.
ACEF Lending Program	Landbank	Low-interest loans for small farmers, including small livestock raisers. Landbank’s FAQ lists 2% a year for direct lending.
AGRISENSO Plus	Landbank	Value-chain lending that covers livestock production, equipment, facilities and working capital.
Poultry and Livestock Value Chain (PLVC)	Landbank	For cooperatives, MSMEs and NGOs in the livestock value chain; can finance up to 80% of project cost.

How to apply for ANYO: sign up online through ACPC, attend a program briefing, and your application is passed to a partner lender such as a cooperative or rural bank. For Landbank programs, visit the nearest Landbank branch.

Before borrowing, write down a simple plan: how many head, cost of animals and feed, how long until you sell, and how you will repay. A loan is only good if the project can pay it back.

Insurance: PCIC livestock insurance

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) insures livestock, including cattle.

Free for RSBSA-listed farmers. PCIC says RSBSA-registered farmers can get premium-free coverage if they enroll each time they raise new livestock. Coverage is not automatic — you must apply.
Where to apply. Usually through your Municipal Agriculture Office or vet office. Bring your RSBSA details, a valid ID and photos of the animals, and fill out the PCIC livestock form.
What it covers. PCIC’s program profile lists cover for cattle against typhoon, flood, lightning, fire and certain diseases. The amounts insured and age limits are set by PCIC and change over time.
Subsidy can run out. Free coverage depends on government funds for the year, so enroll early.

Insurance is especially important if you borrow money to buy animals — losing one head without cover can wipe out a season’s profit.

Cooperatives and associations

Many programs — animal distributions, larger loans, shared equipment — go to organized groups. Joining or forming a cattle raisers’ association or cooperative can help you:

qualify for group grants and larger loans (ANYO and Landbank both lend to organized groups)
buy feed, vitamins and vaccines in bulk at lower cost
share a weighing scale, a truck or a breeder bull
sell together and bargain better with traders

Associations are usually recognized by the LGU or DA, while cooperatives register with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). Your MAO can tell you which groups already exist in your area.

Key takeaways

Register in the RSBSA at your Municipal Agriculture Office first — it opens doors to free insurance, loans and programs.
Your MAO and local vet are your first stop for AI, vaccinations, forms and news about programs.
The DA and BAI offer breeding, animal health and breeder-loan programs; many are coursed through regional offices and farmer groups.
ATI has hands-on trainings and free online courses at e-extension.gov.ph.
ACPC (ANYO) and Landbank offer low-interest loans for farmers and groups.
PCIC insures cattle, and RSBSA-listed farmers can get it free — but you must enroll.
Join a cooperative or association to access more help.
Programs change often — always check the latest with the agency before you plan.

This guide is general information. Prices, rules and programs change, and every farm is different. Check with your Municipal Agriculture Office or a licensed veterinarian before making big decisions.