Photo By Lt. Col. Kristin Porter | Philippine herdsmen utilize a traditional restraint stanchion to facilitate cattle...... read more read more
Subscribe
BASCO, PHILIPPINES — A U.S. Army team of veterinary specialists, including Col. Eugene Johnson, an Army Reserve veterinarian from the 807th Theater Medical Command, recently concluded a critical Veterinary Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) in the Batanes Islands from March 23 to April 4, 2025. This initiative focused on enhancing agricultural sustainability and food security while addressing vulnerabilities in pasture management, herd health, and food safety through a series of engagements with local agricultural stakeholders.
In his civilian role, Johnson serves as a veterinary epidemiologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Veterinary Services and has been actively involved in bird flu disease response in Missouri, where the outbreak significantly impacted poultry this past winter. He emphasized the importance of maintaining agricultural livestock health with active disease surveillance, as developing strong animal health systems in resource constrained countries around the globe can equate to improving local food security.
"This mission started last year during Salaknib 24 (an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability). They wanted a veterinary engagement because Batanes had issues with cattle diseases," Johnson said.
His extensive experience of tracking, surveillance, and investigations for livestock diseases, including Brucellosis, tuberculosis, and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), enabled him to approach the challenges faced by the Batanes farming community with a comprehensive understanding of disease management.
The Batanes Islands, the northernmost province of the Philippines, face significant challenges due to geographic vulnerabilities, including frequent typhoons and seismic activity. With agriculture contributing to 20 percent of the national gross domestic product (GDP) and employing 40 percent of the workforce, the need for resilient agricultural practices is critical.
Leading a team of eight, comprising six veterinarians, an agricultural business specialist, and a civil affairs officer, Johnson facilitated engagements with approximately 745 local participants, including provincial veterinarians, municipal livestock associations, and government officials. The collaboration fostered discussions on livestock management strategies and disease prevention techniques, equipping local stakeholders with the knowledge needed to improve agricultural practices.
The SMEE encompassed four primary focus areas: pasture management, livestock and poultry management, disease surveillance and response, and food safety during slaughter. Each engagement involved hands-on applications, allowing participants to practice adaptive rotational grazing techniques, parasite control measures, and proper livestock nutrition.
“We aimed to provide ideas for how they could prevent disease,” highlighting the proactive approach taken by the team, said Johnson.
The engagement yielded several important outcomes. The veterinary team conducted workshops that included practical evaluations of cattle and smaller livestock, emphasizing the importance of selective deworming and rotational grazing techniques. Participants received training in poultry sample collection and necropsy techniques, ensuring they could identify potential health issues within local poultry populations.
"Food safety and food hygiene were significant areas we aimed to educate them about," Johnson noted.
The engagements also addressed the African Swine Fever response plan, with local veterinary staff simulating scenarios to enhance their readiness for potential outbreaks.
"African Swine Disease is a significant concern globally," Johnson asserted, underscoring the importance of local testing and surveillance capabilities.
Despite the successes of the SMEE, challenges remain. The team identified gaps in training and resources for biosecurity measures, insufficient numbers of trained meat inspectors, and inadequate infrastructure for sanitary slaughter practices.
Johnson commended the collaborative spirit of the Batanes community, stating, “They were very appreciative of our assistance in identifying gaps,” illustrating the effective partnership formed during the exchange.
Johnson's dual role as a military officer and a civilian veterinary epidemiologist exemplifies the citizen-soldier concept in action. With over 20 years of experience in private practice before transitioning to regulatory veterinary medicine with the USDA, he brings a wealth of knowledge to both his military and civilian duties.
“Our approach is not to fix it for you, but to provide guidance and listen,” he explained, reinforcing the mission's goal of empowering local farmers.
As the Batanes Islands continue to navigate the complexities of food security and agricultural sustainability, the collaboration between U.S. Army veterinarians and local agricultural stakeholders serves as a model for future military-civilian engagements, paving the way for enhanced regional stability and food security.
“The people are wonderful—very warm and welcoming,” Johnson concluded, reflecting on the strong community spirit that drives local efforts to improve agricultural practices.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2025 13:20 |
| Story ID: | 498201 |
| Location: | PH |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Strengthening Agricultural Resilience in the Philippines, by SSG Ian Valley, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
