Which Breed of Goat Should You Raise?

In the Philippines, more and more people are now raising goats – in their farms, in their
backyards, and even in their ranches!
“We have been raising goats since the early 1970s and we have observed that the
demand for the animal has been growing,” admits Roy C. Alimoane, director of the
Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Incorporated.
A non-government organization based in the southern part of the Philippines, MBRLC is
not only known for its sustainable upland farming systems, but also for its, goats. In fact,
it has earned the moniker as the goat center of Davao del Sur. “If you are looking for
good goats in the province, then you better go to MBRLC,” says a provincial government
official.
“Unlike in other countries, only a few Filipinos raise goats on a large scale,” says
Alimoane. “In fact, our goat population has remained small — about two million more or
less.”
Records from the Department of Agriculture showed that goats are widely distributed
throughout the country. However, they are more heavily concentrated in central and
western Visayas, central Luzon, Ilocos, and in the southern Tagalog provinces. “Ninety-
nine percent of the goats are raised by small-scale farmers,” Alimoane adds.
In recent years, Alimoane observes that goat-raising is becoming popular. “A lot of people
come to the center just to buy goats,” he informs. “Some of them travel all the way from
Cebu or Zamboanga. There are even those who want to buy four to six pairs.”
There are several reasons why more farmers are now raising goats. For one, goats require
smaller capital investment than cattle. For another, they multiply faster than cattle or
carabaos and they also require less feed than cows and carabaos.
Goats are usually docile and can be raised by anyone — even children. Under orchard and
coconut plantations, goats are good clippers of weeds. They also provide manure for
fishponds, farms, and gardens. In some cases, farmers can use goats as an “insurance”
against the failure of their crops.
But more importantly, goats are a good source of milk. “A [doe] can produce as much as
4 liters of milk every day if its is purebred and is given a ration to meet all its nutritional
requirements,” says Alimoane.
At least 12 goat species are known to animal scientists, but only a few breeds are tended
for their economic and commercial values. Below are the most common breeds.
ANGLO-NUBIAN
The name Nubian came from Nubian, a desert section of the Northern Sudan. Its average
weight is about 65 kilograms. Some are born with horns, while others are hornless. It has
long drooping ears, distinct Roman nose. and prominent forehead. Its coats color may
black, tan and white, or red and white; but it may be any of these colors without
markings.
This is a dual-purpose breed with its prime value as a heavy meat producer. Nubian goats
produce an average of 2 liters of milk daily. The butterfat content is about 5.6 percent.
ANGORA
This breed originates from the ancient Angora region in Central Anatolia province of
Turkey, now known as Ankara. Angoras offer the raisers a highly viable diversification
away from traditional crop cultivation and farm produce that invariably are in surplus.
Angoras are primarily raised for their fleece and secondarily for their meat. while their
milk yield is considered “fair.” They are browsers, meaning they nibble at leaves and
grasses rather than graze where the animals crop the grass or forage. Angoras as shorn
twice a year of their fleece and they need not to be dipped after shearing unlike sheep.
SAANEN
This breed originated in the Saane valley of the famous Swiss Alps. It has been exported
to many countries of the world and is considered one of the most widely distributed of the
improved breeds. It weigh about 65 kilograms at maturity. Some are hornless although
horned but disbudded ones are preferred. It has a straight nose and erect ears. It colors is
either pure or creamy white.
The average milk production of Saanen is 3 liters, with butterfat content of about 4.3
percent. Although it is nicknamed the “Queen of Dairy,” this breed performs poorly in
Asia, including the Philippines.
TOGGENBURG
Also from the Swiss Alps, the name originated from Obertoggenburg. This breed weighs
about 52 kilograms at maturity. It is hornless with dished nose and erect ears. The color is
chocolate brown with two white stripes on the face and white on the legs below the
knees.
Toggenburg has an average milk production of 3 liters daily, with butterfat content of 3.8
percent.
FRENCH ALPINE
This breed is found throughout the goat-producing districts of France particularly in the
Pays de Loire. It weighs about 56 kilograms at maturity. Some have horns and others are
hornless. It has erect ears and straight nose. It has multicolored coat with no standard
markings.
In the Philippines, its adaptability to local conditions ranks second to Nubian. Its daily milk
production is 3 liters, with about 4.5 percent butterfat.
PHILIPPINE OR COMMON GOAT
Small but hardy, this goat weighs 25 kilograms at maturity. Its average daily milk
production is only about 350 grams, with a butterfat content of about 4.6 percent. Its coat
color is either red or black or a combination of these colors. This type of goats is found
throughout Asia.
DADIANGAS GOAT
This is common in Dadiangas (now known as General Santos City), South Cotabato. It is
mixture of native, Nubian and Jamnapari goats and some may have some Alpine or
Saanen blood. It varies in color. Its milk production and butterfat content are a little
higher than the native goats. This breed thrives best in the drier areas of the country.
BOER GOAT
This breed originated in South Africa where the word “boer” means “farm.” The Boer has
been a registered breed in South Africa for 50 years and is raised strictly for its meat. The
Boer goat can be easily recognized by its beautiful full white body, Roman nose,
pendulous ears, and reddish brown or light to dark brown head.
If you cannot secure purebred stock, you can start with the best does available in you
area. Mate them with purebred or upgraded buck. Then select only their offspring and
discard the undesirable ones (you can either sell them or butcher them for meat.
Continue this procedure each year, and you will have desirable goat stocks.
By Henrylito D. Tacio
Goat Dairying Has Great Potentials
Not many agribusiness people realize that dairying with goats has a tremendous
potential. But one fellow who does is Rene Almeda of Alaminos Goat Farm in Alaminos,
Laguna.
In 2004, Rene decided to go into, goat farming, using a 16 hectare property where he
used to fatten cattle imported from Australia. The cattle fattening project was a money-
maker for several years but it went sour with the decline of the value of the peso after the
Asian financial crisis in 1997. It came to a point where the cost of importing became too
high in terms of Philippine pesos that it became a losing proposition to go on with the
business. He is thankful though that he quit the fattening project on time. With his
savings, he was able to venture into goat farming in 2004 in a relatively big way.
At first he specialized in producing meat-type goats. He bought purebred bucks of Boer (a
meat-type breed) and Anglo Nubian (for both meat and milk) to upgrade the 50 native
stocks he initially purchased. The upgrading of meat-type goats goes on with Rene’s son
Art mainly taking charge of managing the animals that have multiplied to more than 300
head, selling some as breeders and as slaughter animals.
What excites Rene more these days is dairying with goats. In May 2007, he imported from
Australia some one hundred purebred Saanen goats, including a few bucks. Saanen is a
breed principally for milk production. Within just one year, the number of Saanens has
virtually doubled. He is not selling the females because he intends to increase his dairy
herd.
“People might say that we are crazy or being boastful if we cite them the figures,” he
quips. Here are his figures. With the right animals (Saanen), right nutrition and housing,
one mother goat can give an average of two liters of milk a day. (Actually, during our visit
to the farm, the 40 goats on the milkline each gave an average of 2.3 liters). The goat can
be milked for a period of 10 months or about 300 days after it has given birth. At two
liters a day, one will produce 600 Liters of milk in one lactation. Right now, Alaminos Goat
Farm sells its fresh milk at P125 per liter. That will mean a gross of P75,000 per head.
Rene explains that they sell their milk at a much higher price than that of cow’s milk
because it is something special. It is often mentioned that it is the milk that is closest to a
mother’s milk and that it is the only fresh animal milk that is given to infants whose
mothers don’t have milk of their own. It is recommended for people who suffer from
lactose intolerance.
One might say that during the lactation period of the animal, there is a time when the
milk yield is less than two liters a day. That is very possible. But even if the average milk
yield during the 10-month lactation period were just one liter, that will still mean a gross
value of P37,500 per head. An added income from the milkers is the couple of kids
produced each year.
As of now, Alaminos Goat Farm sells its milk mostly as bottled fresh milk in one liter and
250-ml bottles. The 250-ml bottle or one-fourth liter is sold at P40 each. A small portion is
also made into white cheese. These products are sold mainly in Metro Manila and some in
Laguna and Batangas. Rene’s younger son, Toti, is in charge of marketing the dairy
products. More regular buyers from Metro Manila are expected as these products become
more known. During the company’s participation in the recent International Food
Exhibition at the Mall of Asia, a lot of visitors, many of them Chinese, showed interest in
the fresh milk and white cheese, according to Toti. In fact their stocks were sold out at the
end of each day.
There are other niche markets for goat milk besides milk drinkers. One is the beauty soap
makers. A number of entrepreneurs are now using goat milk as one of the ingredients in
specialty soaps. Another use is as material for facial treatments in beauty parlors and in
spas. One lady veterinarian who went for a facial with goat milk in a parlor said she was
charged P2,500.
Of course, to achieve the potentials of milk production in goats, Rene emphasizes not only
superior genetics but also proper nutrition for the animals. Proper housing, too. At the
Alaminos Goat Farm, the Saanen breeders as well as the kids are raised in confinement.
They are raised in a house with elevated floor. Four animals are usually placed in a
compartment measuring about five feet by five feet.
The animals are fed with commercial ration (concentrates) which Rene mixes in his own
feedmill. The feed consists of ingredients that provide carbohydrates for energy, protein,
phosphorus, calcium, etc. in balanced form. In addition, the goats are given napier grass
and leaves of leguminous trees. Rene notes that the leaves of Indigofera, a fast-growing
leguminous tree, are particularly relished by the Saanen goats.
Rene stresses that one has to study the feeding habits of his farm animals. In the case of
goats, you should not dump all at one time the feeds required by the animal in one day.
The concentrate requirement of an animal at the Alaminos Goat Farm is usually given four
times. One fourth is given early in the morning, followed by grass couple of hours later.
The next one-fourth is given a couple of hours later, followed by leafy greens, and so on.
In the hot summer months, feeding is recommended during the cooler parts of the day.
Goat raising has its own advantages compared to raising bigger ruminants such as cattle
or buffalo. For one, goats reproduce much faster. Goats can be confined in elevated
quarters, making it easier to prevent outbreaks of parasites and diseases. Goats also
require less feed than bigger animals. And their milk sells at a better price.
Superior breeds, like selected purebred Saanen, may also cost a small fortune but then
the investment could be recovered in due time. What’s important is to be hands-on goat
entrepreneurs like Rene and his two sons, Art and Toti.
Aside from the production of purebred Saanens using purebred bucks of award winning
dairy goat lines from Australia, the Almedas have embarked on a program that will
incorporate Anglo Nubian blood in the offspring of Saanen. They have imported a
purebred Anglo Nubian buck (AGF Darwyn) which has been used to upgrade their so-
called Mitra Line of Anglo Nubian as well as their other stocks.
The Mitra Line Anglo Nubian, by the way, is an exceptional line that came from the herd
of Dado Mitra, son of the late Sen. Ramon Mitra Jr. They originally consisted of five does
that proved to be very prolific. In fact, one Mitra doe gave birth to five female kids on
December 25, 2006, all of which are now in their breeding pens. Four have already
successfully kidded, adding more stock to their Mitra Line.
The Mitra Line animals are not only prolific, they are also good looking Anglo Nubians
which have height, length and mothering ability that one would look for in a good
breeding stock. Today, the Mitra Line is one of the best performers in the Almeda farm.
Darwyn which has been used to sire the Mitra does has improved the Mitra Line in all
aspects, making it one of the top money-makers in their breeder sales. Another purebed
Anglo Nubian buck (AGF Edgar) from an award-winning sire from Australia is also being
used to make sure inbreeding is avoided among the progenies.
Enter AGF Ricky, the purebred Saanen buck from an award-winning goat line also from
Australia. Rene says Ricky is one of the biggest bucks he has ever, seen. He represents
the ideal buck for their Dairy Breed Improvement Program. Ricky’s progenies are showing
his size, length and height. Rene says they await how Ricky’s progenies will perform in
terms of milk volume and how long they can be milked. He hastens to add, however, that
initial results are very positive and indicate they will do more than two liters of milk per
day.
AGF Ricky has also been used to sire some of the Anglo Nubian does from the Mitra Line
as well as others. And Rene concludes that using a Saanen buck to breed a doe with
Anglo Nubian blood is a very good crossing. The kids born would be predominantly white
in color and bigger in size than the doe in most cases. The higher the Anglo Nubian blood
of the doe, the better the progenies. The effect of heterosis or hybrid vigor is prominently
evident in the progenies. The Alaminos Goat Farm has come up with their own
combination which they proudly call Alaminos Mitra Saanen (AMS) cross.
For those who don’t have access to purebred animals, they can start with upgraded ones
to produce animals that can be used for dairying. For a sampler, Rene has this
suggestion. Take a progeny of a native goat crossed with Anglo Nubian. This native-Anglo
Nubian cross will then be sired by a Saanen buck. The progenies will then have 50%
Saanen blood.
Out of the progenies, select a female for breeding. Cross it with a purebred Saanen buck.
This will make the progeny a 75% Saanen. Get a female Saanen out of the progenies and
then cross it with a purebred Anglo Nubian buck The resulting offspring will then become
a composite breed.
The female of this composite breed is then crossed back with purebred Saanen. From the
succeeding generations, select the best animals.
Meanwhile, Rene considers these as exciting times at the Alaminos Goat Farm as they
start to milk their first batch of island-born Saanen milking goats. They are expected to
outperform their imported Saanen goats because they have the advantage in
adaptability, being born in the tropical environment of the Philippines. The Almedas have
added adaptability as a criterion in the selection process of replacement dairy milking
does.
Rene says that the results of Alaminos Goat Farm operations in the past year continue to
give them the confidence that they are on the right track. The market for fresh goat’s
milk continues to expand as consumers learn more about the health benefits of goat’s
milk, including its ease of digestibility and lower natural cholesterol.
He adds that as awareness grows about the availability of goat’s milk in the
supermarkets, a lot of doctors are starting to prescribe it as an alternative medicine for
their patients suffering from cancer, lactose intolerance and constipation.
And as Alaminos Goat Farm gains more experience in marketing and dairy goat farming,
they are becoming more confident in saying that dairy goat farming in tropical Philippines
is a profitable and sustainable business undertaking.

“The Philippines is importing 99 percent of its milk requirements as it produces only one
percent of the total.”
Thus said owner Rene Almeda of the Alaminos Goat Farm (AGF) to illustrate the
magnitude of the local market that his dairy products and those of other goat milk
producers can supply.
AGF, according to Almeda, is stepping up its marketing offensive by showcasing an
extended line of dairy products at the forthcoming Agrilink, Foodlink and Aqualink 2009,
which is slated at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on October 8 to 10.
AGF is the maker of Milk Star, the pioneering fresh goat’s milk brand to be commercially
produced and distributed at SM and Robinson’s supermarkets across Metro Manila.
“Milk Star was the darling of the visitors in Agrilink last year. But for this year’s show, AGF
will feature, not only pasteurized milk, but also ice cream, leche flan, barquillos and
cheese, all made from goat’s milk,” Almeda pointed out.
The market for fresh goat’s milk continues to expand as consumers learn more about its
health benefits, including ease of digestibility and low cholesterol.
“As awareness grows about the availability of goat’s milk in the supermarkets, a lot of
doctors are starting to prescribe it as an alternative medicine for their patients suffering
from cancer, lactose intolerance and constipation,” Almeda stressed.
The AGF started out in 1993 when Almeda was asked by his son Art to embark on a goat
project on their 16-hectare property, where they used to fatten feedlot cattle from
Australia. Soon Almeda’s younger son Toti joined the business and handled marketing.
But it was after importing 100 purebred Saanen goats in May 2007 that the Almedas
officially ventured into the dairy business. “It was a challenge to prove that one can milk
Saanen dairy goats profitably in a tropical country like the Philippines,” Almeda said.
In the past, the government had imported a sizeable number of Saanen goats under the
PL 480 program of the United States, but nothing significant came out of it.
Almeda observed that the Saanens adapted faster to the country’s hot, humid and wet
weather than the Boers from Australia. “They (Saanens) love the fresh forage grass and
legumes in Alaminos, Laguna,” he said.
By November 2007, they were milking their first Saanen and subsequently marketing the
Milk Star fresh pasteurized goat’s milk.
As one of the country’s finest goat farms, the AGF has a herd of about 300 Saanens and
some 600 Boers and Anglo Nubians.
“What’s good about Saanen goats is that they can produce at least two liters of milk a
day for up to 300 days after giving birth. The Anglo Nubian, on the other hand, is
considered a dual breed (good for meat and milk) such that it cannot produce milk for the
same span of time. Nonetheless, the Anglo Nubian can give birth three times in two
years, hence it can produce more kids than the Saanen,” Almeda explained.
“AGF will also showcase its prime cuts of goat meat based on industry standards. The soft
launch of ‘GOAT MEAT: The World’s Most Friendly Red Meat’ will be held at Agrilink 2009,”
Almeda announced.

Farmer Scientist Develops Promising

Products from Goat’s Milk

One reason goat raising is profitable and becoming popular nowadays is the fact that
there are a lot of products one can make out of goat’s milk.
Cheese, pastillas, yogurt, and soap are some interesting goat milk products. And these
are what a farmer scientist of the Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research
and Development Consortium in Davao City has developed and makes money from these
days.
The lad is Darwin Tinasas. He has trained many farmers on goat raising, and he processes
at least 100 kilos of cheese weekly, which he sells at P900 per kilo.
This owner of a 5-hectare integrated goat farm in Sitio Balengaeng in Los Amigos, Tugbok
District, Davao City has also developed a ricotta cheese. It’s a byproduct of the whey
drain. Dog breeders buy this cheese as it reportedly helps develop dog’s muscle
formation.
He also finds yoghurt and pastillas valuable. More so the goat’s milk soap; it is in demand
as spas and beauty shops proliferate nowadays. In fact he supplies at least 500 pieces of
soap weekly to local beauty shops and spas.
“Our soap has no extenders but it produces a lot of suds which is preferred by customers
of spas and beauty shops,” Tinasas said. “The lactic acid in goat’s milk helps smoothen
the skin by exfoliation, and it also contains vitamins A and D, which benefit include giving
skin strength and suppleness.”
IMPROVING BREEDING AND FEEDING SYSTEMS
Developing various goat’s milk products necessitates increasing the herd’s
milking capability. Improving milk production starts at the selection of breed, says
Tinasas. It is important that you choose the right breed that can supply enough milk.
He recommends the Anglo-Nubian stock as these can tolerate heat, hence these can
adapt to tropical countries like the Philippines. This breed, he adds, has 4.5 grams of
butter fat, which is higher compared to their breeds which usually produces only 3.5 to
3.8 grams.
Feeding system should be considered, too. The capability of the herd to meet the demand
for milk, says Tinasas, lies on their nutrient intake. For his herd, he has at least 42 types
of nutritious forage and legumes. He grows forages like Setaria, Attratum, Native. Napier,
Florida Napier, Citronella, Ratun Maize, Kornivia, and Tully. His collection of legumes
include Flemengia, Indigofera, Tetragona, Centrosema, Madre de Cacao, Acacia, and
Calliandra.
He has tried also to supplement his herd’s diet with mulberry leaves, which he learned
could help promote milk production as it contains excellent protein concentrates. This
seems to be true as he has observed that milk production has increased from 2.8 liters to
3.2 liters per goat per day with mulberry included in the diet.
The time of feeding is also crucial in milk production. “We used to equally feed our goat
three times a day, but I observed that it would be better to feed them more late in the
afternoon when they have lesser activity and will continue eating up to night time. The
food that they ate will be converted into milk the following morning,” Tinasas said.
Animal health care is also crucial in promoting milk production. That’s why Tinasas
regularly deworms his herd every three months, and does fecalysis before and after
breeding.
“Fecalysis helps in identifying presence of parasite as well as determine the exact dose
and medicine you have to give them,” he adds. “In this way, you can minimize production
cost.”
SHOWCASING TECHNOLOGY
Pleased with Tinasas’ success in goat raising and milk processing, the Philippine Council
for Agriculture Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)
chose his goat farm as a demo farm for its project Science and Technology-Based
Farming (STBF).
This project aims to make farmers appreciate and learn the benefits of technology
application in goat production. And at least 30 farmers have taken part in it.
The introduction of STBF in his farm had been very helpful in the improvement of breed
and in the enhancement of the quality of his goat’s milk products. The PCARRD, says
Tinasas, provided technical and financial assistance for the purchase of equipment.
Among these is the milking machine, which hastens milk collection and improves quality
as contamination is avoided. The pasteurizing machine, on one hand, prolongs milk shelf
life.
Tinasas is very willing to share his knowledge on dairying, which is the result of his
experience and training and exposure trips abroad. He is glad that the number of goat
farmers in the country is increasing so as the demand for goat meat and milk products.
And for this reason, he plans to expand his processing area to increase milk production
and more importantly, to generate more jobs in the community.

The Next Phase in Goat Business Is Fattening

Interest in goat raising got its impetus from the improved technologies in taking care of
the animals. Many years back, investors were reluctant to go into commercial goat
production because after achieving a population of 80 animals, various problems would
arise such as diseases and parasites, especially when the animals are on pasture.
Thanks to the efforts of government as well as private individuals, improved technologies
in goat production have been developed. Raising the animals in confinement on elevated
floor has been a major reason why goat farmers are now more successful in raising
healthy and productive animals. One of the experts who has been doing a lot in
propagating the improved techniques of goat production is Dr. Emilio Cruz of the Small
Ruminants Division at the Central Luzon State University in Nueva Ecija.
With the improved technologies, smart entrepreneurs saw the money-making opportunitv
in the industry. They imported the latest breeds so that they can produce breeders for
sale at a high price. The first ones who multiplied the improved breeds, of course, made a
fortune. That’s because the high-quality animals were bought at very high prices.
Purebreds were sold at P35,000 each or even more. Upgraded animals also sold at a
premium of P12,000 or more per head, depending on the status of the animal.
Today, there seems to be a saturation of the market in breeding animals. That is why the
more entrepreneurial investors in the industry are gearing for the next phase in the
business. The next phase is fattening goats for slaughter, according to Neo Abalos whose
family is one of the biggest in the business.
He points out that there are so many males that are now being produced which could not
be sold as breeders. So they have to be fattened for slaughter. Fattening could be a
lucrative business, especially if you fatten the upgraded animals such as those with 50
percent foreign blood or even higher. Right now Abalos is fattening 40 animals for meat.
He explains that there is a dearth of goats for slaughter. As per their study, some 1,500
goats for slaughter are brought to Manila every week from Masbate, Negros (Bacolod,
particularly) and other places in the south. These end up at the Farmers’ Market in Cubao,
Quezon City and as far as the Ilocos. Other supplies, also come from the livestock market
in Padre Garcia, Batangas.
Abalos said that the demand is particularly big in the Ilocos and Central Luzon because
the Ilocanos seem to be addicted to eating goat meat. He observes that the increase in
goat population in the north is slow because even the females which could be used as
breeders are being slaughtered.
Right now the price per kilo live weight in the Ilocos is P120 for the mestizos or upgrades
while the native is P100 per kilo. Why the price discrepancy? Neo explains that the
upgrades have a higher carcass recovery of 45 to 50 percent. In the case of the native it
is usually 40 percent carcass recovery. The upgrades also have a higher meat to bone
ratio than the native animals.
That is why Neo recommends the fattening of upgrades as they grow much faster and
with more muscle. Fattening operation is quite simple. The animals should be confined in
a house with elevated floor, about five feet above the ground. The animals should be
provided unlimited forage plants that include Napier and leguminous crops like ipilipil,
flemingia, indigofera, rensonii and others. The green feeds should also be supplemented
with concentrate at the rate of 150 grams per head per day. The trick is to feed them with
feeds that are high in protein, according to Neo Abalos.
Abalos said they confine 20 to 30 animals in a goat house measuring 40 feet by 10 feet
whose floor is five feet above the ground. Plastic flooring is used.
As the supply of slaughter animals with bigger bodies increases, Abalos sees an eventual
new development. He said that special cuts of goat meat will be sold through the
supermarkets and other outlets. Examples would be choice cuts for kaldereta, leg of goat,
cuts for tapa, and others.
Another new interest in the goat industry is milk. So far, there are a number who are
getting started in goat dairying. One of them is Elmer Garcia who has a farm in Batangas.
He is now producing and marketing not only fresh goat milk but also goat cheese. Another
is Charita Puentespina of Davao City who also processes goat milk into chocomilk.
yoghurt and cheese. Abalos said they will soon start raising dairy goats.

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