Goat meat is becoming more popular in the nation, and by using improved production techniques, the growing demand can be successfully satisfied.
Filipino farmers value goats as a valuable resource, particularly in regions with limited resources, due to their resilience and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions.
Improving goat production through advanced management techniques, selective breeding, and proper healthcare practices plays a crucial role in enhancing food security and fostering economic growth.
Goats not only offer nutritious meat and milk but also support agricultural diversification and provide a source of income for small-scale farmers. By prioritizing the enhancement of goat production and management, the Philippines can harness the economic and nutritional advantages a robust goat industry can bring.
The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC)-10, through its Career Development and Management Services (CDMS), recently organized a training program on small ruminant husbandry, specifically on upgraded goat production and its management.
The program aimed to impart essential competencies to goat farmers and Agriculture Extension Workers (AEWs) from various provinces, including Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Misamis Occidental.
Attended by 20 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), livestock coordinators, and five Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) operators/goat raisers from Region 10, the training’s primary objective was to provide knowledge and guidance to the training participants regarding the most effective practices for goat production and management.
“For this particular training, the focus was on the optimization of upgraded goats. Ang upgraded goat resulta kini sa cross-breeding sa native goat ug [the upgraded goat is the result of the cross-breeding of native goat and] pure breed goats like Anglo Nubian, Saanen, and Boer," said Animal Science graduate Jeric L. Cabatac, the center’s training specialist.
He added that upgrading is a necessary enhancement to produce goats with desired traits, such as higher milk production or better meat quality.
While the Philippine native goat stands as the predominant breed in the country, the Boer goat breed is renowned globally for its high productivity in meat production, and the Anglo-Nubian excels as the premier dairy goat capable of yielding 2-3 liters of milk daily.
The topic of goat health management ensures the well-being and disease prevention of goats. The said health management system incorporates modern veterinary practices, including disease surveillance, vaccination programs, deworming protocols, and proactive health monitoring.
Additionally, it emphasizes optimal nutrition, proper housing conditions, and biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of illness. By prioritizing preventive care and prompt treatment, upgraded goat production health management aims to maximize the overall health and productivity of goat herds, leading to improved welfare and profitability for goat farmers.
