As the government through the National Livestock and Poultry Program prepares to boost the country’s Goat Industry, planners are now studying which branch of goat raising should be given priority – Dairy or Meat Production.
While my involvement with Dairy Goat Farming is deep and spans years, I believe that the focus now should be on developing the Meat Goat Breeds by initiating an upgrading program for the native goats.
I am not suggesting that the Dairy Goat Program should be abandoned in favor of Meat Goat Production.
The proposal to boost Meat Goat Production by upgrading the local goat breeds is simply based on the dire need of the country to develop sources of meat protein.
I also believe that Meat Goat Production offers bigger income opportunities to the farmer than raising Dairy Goats.
Here are the basic data:
“Dairy goats in the Philippines produce only about 137 MT of milk per year with only 44% of the milk collected is processed and marketed,” according to available government data.
Assuming that one liter (1 kilo) of Goat Milk is worth P80, the gross earnings of Dairy Goat Farmers every year is only about P11-M.
Market access for the Goat Milk had always been the factor which stunted the growth of the Dairy Goat Sector.
In contrast, “in 2022, approximately 3.15 million goats were slaughtered for meat production in the Philippines.”
Assuming that each goat slaughtered has an estimated value of P4,000, the Goat Meat Industry generated earnings estimated at P12.6-B every year.
Lest I am misinterpreted as favoring Meat Goat Production over Dairy Goat Raising, let me make it clear that I will continue breeding outstanding Lamancha and Anglo-Nubian Dairy Breeds.
This I will do hoping that in the future, government would be able to come up with a National Milk Feeding Program in schools using locally produced Goat and Cow’s Milk.
With an assured market, Dairy Goat Milk Production will be boosted as many farmers will be interested to join the program.
As a practical farmer, however, I will now start a program to upgrade native goats using outstanding Meat Goat Breeds, including the Spanish Goats, which I will be bringing in from the U.S. this year.
#FarmingIsCommonSense!
(Photo credits: Photo of Lamancha does downloaded from.Kastdemur’s Dairy Goats page. Spanish goats photo was also downloaded from public website.)
Milk or Meat? Philippine Goat Industry Must Set Clear Direction
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