Technology Commercialization on Slaughter Goats (Triple Cross Goats) in Pangasinan, Philippines

Abstract

A development project implemented in Region 1, Philippines, to transform goat raising from a subsistence type of farm activity into a profitable goat livelihood employing farmer participatory approach and technology-based rural enterprises. Two hundred eleven (211) goat raisers served as farmer partners adopting (100%) housing, stall feeding, upgrading and strategic deworming. A marked increase in growth and reproductive performance were registered. From an initial of 52 farmer partners, additional 129 additional raisers were encouraged to venture on goat enterprises. This covers four municipalities and 28 barangays with six organized farmers association. Overall gender analysis accounted for 73.07% male farmer-partners and 26.92% female farmer-partners in the focal and expansion sites. Farmers’ knowledge, skills, attitude, and social competence were enhanced. Increased farmers income was registered for a 10, and 20 doe level slaughter enterprise recorded a monthly income of Php 1,825.00 and Php 4,164.16 with an ROI of 71.57% and 81.65% respectively. Beyond technology promotion thus, building sustainable slaughtered goats enterprises through strengthened institutionalization effort of LGUs with organized and empowered rural communities, LGUs supported the expansion of the project and refocused their commodity priorities towards goat. As the project continues, goat raising is transformed from subsistence farming to vibrant and profitable enterprises.

1. Introduction Goats are an integral part of small hold farming systems. It has established itself as a good source of meat (chevon) and milk. In the Philippines, the importance of goat is assessed mainly by its contribution to food supplies and economy, and on the merits of its biological characteristics. Their adaptability to warm environment and low level of management are of particular value to the restricted input capability of small landless farmers (Escano et al., 1991). They play an important part to marginal farmers, and their contribution can be translated through contribution to the livestock enterprise. It is an immediate source of cash income at times when cereal and vegetable crops are affected by typhoons and drought or extreme climate change (Various farmers thru personal communication, 2010-2012). Indeed, raising these animals can be an alternative source of sustainable income and food for the family. In times of urgent need, this help provides for household needs, children’s education and farm expenses allowing farmers not to result in high-interest loans. It remained an attractive enterprise among farmers and now became a community livelihood to most farm families. Goat production is a complementary commodity to the rice-crop based farming system because of their ability to utilize cellulosic feed materials and to survive in the marginal environment (Datuin et al., 2006, 2009). Raising goats in Region 1 has been gaining popularity and is gradually becoming an important component of the region’s agricultural system. Production areas are concentrated mainly in the rain fed and upland areas in the four provinces of Region. The knowledge, skills, and attitude of the farmers were enhanced through participatory modality process. Moreover, the “learning by doing approach” was well undertaken thru the adoption of the Farmers Livestock School (Alo et al., 2003, 2004, Guide Committee of Farmers Livestock School). At present, more municipalities are interested in engaging in goat production to produce slaughter and breeder base meat-type goats. This was strongly supported by the Regional Development Council and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Region 1 and considered goat production as one of the top five priority commodity to be prioritized regarding research for development and system support requirement from the different stakeholders and be upscaled on a region-wide basis. The total goat inventory as of 01 July 2015, was 3.68 million heads. It decreased by 0.82 percent from the previous year’s inventory of 3.71 million heads. Of the total inventory, about 3.62 million heads or 98.43 percent were raised in backyard farms. The rest were in commercial farms. Around 40.20 percent of the goat inventory was done or female breeders. Bucks or male breeders accounted for 7.77 percent. Kids shared 32.46 percent in the total inventory. The remaining 19.57% were the male castrated goat and those intended for fattening (PSA July 2016). Genetically improved breeds of goats were introduced and loaned out to our farmerpartners as part of our upgrading program to infuse exotic bloodlines. However, several problems were noted such as inbreeding and genetic depression, high insurance cost being shouldered by farmers, higher risk due to diseases when used to serve several does, and very costly on the part of the LGU and farmers association to purchase a new breeder buck for the need of growing farmers engaged in goat production. This project is anchored on the successes and learning in enhancing goat production that were gained from completed DOST PCAARRD RED/UPRED (2007-2013) plans and other related development endeavors of the Department of Agriculture RFO I, the Bureau of Agricultural Research together with the collaborative support of the different provincial and local government units and non government association It hopes, among others, to contribute in the attainment of the technical targets, i.e., reduction of preweaning mortality from 20% to 10% and increasing slaughter weight from 15 kg to 30 kg by 2020, of the Industry Strategic Plan (ISP) of the Small Ruminant Industry cluster. Furthermore, it serves as an open avenue to start goat enterprise development projects by providing farmers with quality breeders. Thus, to strengthen and support the regional promotion of the goat industry in Region 1, now a top priority livestock commodity, upscaling the collaborative efforts of all the government and non-government agencies, local government units and state colleges and universities is imperative through goat technology commercialization, hence this project. 2. Literature Review Goat raising is one of the most practical and feasible livestock-based rural enterprise that a farmer can engage in, as it requires low initial investments. The goat’s full economic potentials have not yet been realized since the majority of the goat inventory is in the hands of smallholder farmers who lack the appropriate knowledge and understanding on how to increase goat productivity. Application of improved technology packages and the use of proper technotransfer modalities to encourage active and efficient adoption of technology mixes by smallholder farmers can effectively enhance the production performance and thus, profitability of goat production in smallholder farms (Alo, 2003; Brown et al., 2003; Venturina, et al., 2003; and PCARRD, 2003). The development and application of workable technology packages on goat production, which include integrated worm control strategies, housing and feeding technologies, among others, by smallholder farmers in focal sites of ILRI-IFAD TAG 443 project has resulted in 83% reduction in mortalities (Venturina et al., 2003) and about 95% improvement in survival rate of kids up to maturity. 2004b). Orden et al. (2005) also reported that the resulting better growth performance of goats raised by adopters of CASREN espoused technologies showed the goat’s potential to increase income. Through the “learning by doing” participatory approach modality developed by the earlier development projects (ILRI-IFAD TAG 443 and CASREN), the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1) development workers enabled their farmer-cooperators to improve their competence in adopting improved goat production technology/practices (Datuin et al., 2005). With enhanced knowledge and skills, the farmer-cooperators attained better and sustainable income from goat production. This was realized through reduced mortality (10-15%) compared with the traditional way (50-60%). Other improved practices such as stall feeding, strategic deworming, and better feeding reduced cases of diarrhea and parasitism.

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