Assessment of Backyard Goat Raising in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Philippines

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the status and limitations of the current management practices of backyard goat production in the municipality of Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. Forty-three backyard goat raisers were visited and interviewed using structured questionnaire as the main research instrument. The assessment showed that 58% of the goat raisers owned a breeder buck but 30% of these farmers maintained breeders of unknown breeds. Most of them (62%) constructed a goat shed for their animals but about 28% tethered their goats under the raisers’ house. Benefits of the farmers engaging in goat production are as a source of food and an additional income for the family. The biggest problems they met were coughs and colds, lack of capital, limited forage, and incidence of theft. The immediate goal of the farmers was to uplift their family’s standard of living and to send their children to school. With goat farming, their quality of life was quite improving because of the additional income they derived from the operation and the maximum utilization of resources it has done to their farms. On farm management, only 51% of the farmers kept records of the activities in the farm. On breeding management, most of the farmers prefer upgrades and improved breeds of goat because accordingly these animals have good performance. They looked for traits such as faster growth and larger body conformation. Breeding sires were selected on the basis of individual performance but 60% of the farmers did not practice the culling of animals. Based on the survey, farmers would like to be enhanced through trainings in the production management of the goat enterprise.