Govt expands goat production in Ilocos Region

MANILA, July 5 (PNA) --The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expanding its goat production program, initially in the Ilocos region, to meet rising demand for ruminants in the local and export markets like Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The expansion program was launched recently in La Union through establishment of the Small Ruminant Center (SRC) in Barangay Cuenca in Pugo town.

The facility was the first of its kind in Ilocos Region, said Agriculture Region 2 executive director Cipriano Santiago.

In a report to DA Secretary Arthur Yap, Livestock Development Council director Carlos Mendoza said: “The Center will help meet not only the domestic demand for goats but also the growing demand for the ruminants in export markets in the Middle East like Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which, according to the LDC, are in need of 4,000 head of goats a month.”

Dr. Jovita Datuin, who manages Ilocos Integrated Agriculture Research Center, said the concept of establishing an SRC in Pugo was the result of DA’s expansion program on Rural Enterprise Development for Innovative Goat Production Systems (RED-IGPS).

The RED-IGPS, a project of the DA’s Research Division, showcases various technologies on goat production to make interested goat raisers become entrepreneurially equipped on goat production systems.

The project hopes to help reduce poverty in the countryside by improving daily income of farmers through goat-raising, Datuin said.

After Pugo, DA is set to expand the project to other La Union municipalities of Bacnotan, San Juan and Bauang and two other municipalities in Pangasinan province .

The Ginintuang Masaganang Ani-Livestock Program in Ilocos Region will provide counterpart funding for expansion of the project in these municipalities.

Datuin said the Pugo SRC, which is managed by farmer-cooperator Artemio Calletong, will serve as show window of different goat breeds such as the Anglo-nubian, Saanen, Boer and upgrade breeds that are available at the center for sale.

Goat production technologies such as selection of breeds, housing, nutrient and health management practices are likewise available for duplication and adoption by interested farmers, Datuin said.

The SRC in Pugo also sells grasses and legumes in its forage garden at affordable prices.

Propagation of grasses and legumes is done at the center which could produce an average of around 5,000 seedlings that sell for a minimum price of P5 per seedling.

Assuming that the center could sell at this amount, it could gain an income of around P25,000 a month, Datuin said.

Apart from this income from the forage garden, upgraded goat offspring are available for sale at the center.

As a business enterprise, Dr. Datuin said goat offspring for F1 breed can be sold for P120 a kilo while the F2 breed is being sold for P220 a kilo live weight.

When dressed, chevon (goat meat) can be sold at P250 a kilo at current market prices.