18^th AAAP attended by professors and researchers from the Institute of Animal Science: (L-R) Mr. Deneb V. Arriesgado, M.Sc., Ms. Hazel Grace D. Masilungan, M.Sc., Dr. Consuelo Amor S. Estrella, Dr. Noel B. Lumbo; Dr. Veneranda A. Magpantay, Prof. Krystalene S. Decena, Dr. Rommel C. Sulabo, Ms. Marie Fe M. Iranzo, Dr. Rhona Niña R. Reyes, Mr. Yron Joseph Y. Manaig, M.Sc., and Dr. Joveth L. Vicenal. (Photo courtesy of KS Decena)

Dr. Joveth C. Vicenal, MS Animal Science student and research assistant under the supervision of Dr. Rommel C. Sulabo and Prof. Krystalene S. Decena, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Animal Science, CAFS, UPLB were adjudged as the 2018 Asian-Australasian Animal Production Congress (AAAP) Best Young Researchers–Best Oral and Poster presenters of the 18th AAAP Congress held in Kuching, Malaysia, August 1-3, 2018, correspondingly.

Their winning papers titled “Effect of Full Fat Soybean Meal and Supplemental Fat Source on Reproductive and Progeny Performance of Multiparous Sows” and “Effect of Standardized Ileal Digestible Amino Acids in Diets containing Increasing Levels of Copra Expellers on Growth Performance, Diarrhea Occurrence and Efficiency of Nitrogen Utilization in Nursery Pigs,” respectively, were among the 18 abstracts submitted to the Congress from IAS-UPLB. Of these, only five were accepted for oral presentations and 13 for poster presentations.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Society of Animal Production presided by Prof. Loh Teck Chwen hosted the 2018 AAAP Congress. To signify its turnover, the AAAP flag was handed down to Dr. Arnel N. Del Barrio, Director of the Philippine Carabao Center, to host the 19th AAAP Congress in 2020.

Asian-Australasian Animal Production, a consortium of animal societies was founded in 1980 with 8 charter members representing the animal production societies of Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand. Later, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, India, Vietnam, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Sri Lanka and China joined as member countries. Hence, AAAP congress, a biennial event is an avenue where the largest number of animal scientists and professionals meet to discuss current advances in animal sciences and technology.