I.

INTRODUCTION
A. Information about the Chosen Livestock

Goats is a small multi-use ruminants that is commonly reared for its meat, milk, wool
and leather. Here in the Philippines, goat is raised for the meat and milk but for small scale
production only. Goats is also called as “poor man’s cow” because of its low cost maintenance
in raising. Goats has enormous contribution to the economy specially of the poor farmers. They
not only provide their kids healthy, easily digestible milk, but they also regularly provide
marginal or poor farmers with additional income. Goats are little animals that are simple for
women and kids to handle. Goat care does not require a lot of equipment or laborious labor.
Feeding expenses and capital investment are both relatively low. Basically four goats can be
maintained for less money that one native cow. This means that goats can be effectively raised
in environments where milch cattle do not flourish and where there are little fodder resources.

Goat farming in the Philippines is considered one of the very easy and affordable food
production and livestock farming that a Filipino farmers can get engaged in. In fact here in our
country there are growing number of individuals that are now raising goats in their farms,
backyards as well as in their ranches. As goat farming requires less initial investment compared
to other livestock species, hence this makes an attractive venture among our marginalized
farmers. This livelihood species can also be raised by women and children, making it a viable
choice to support the nation’s livelihood projects. According to PCARRD, goats provide
livelihood to about 15 million Filipinos across the country today. And based on Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development record
revealed that number of goats here in our country are increasing consistently. In which Central
Visayas comprises the most number of goats production accounting to 15 percent of the total.
However, in this current year our production inventory of goats have been lowered by 1.4
percent equivalent of almost 50 thousand heads. This data is gathered on Philippine Statistics
Authority dated as of June 30, 2022, Philippine Goat Inventory reaches 3.90 million heads,
which went down from previous years inventory of 3.95 million heads.
 Adopting goat farming as an enterprise wherein goats are sold commercially, mainly in
the Philippines goats is raised and sold for breeders and meat production. As goat farming
requires low investment, these make the goat business feasible to generate opportunity of
employment and income generation to small and women farmers. Goats can therefore be
raised by livestock entrepreneurs who want to start up a business with limited resources. So
basically, goat farming can help to reduce poverty and give income to small farmers. It’s just
need to upgrade some systems so that it will become truly grounded as an enterprise among
small farmers.

B. Advantages of Goat Farming in the Philippines

• Aside from providing a steady income in the milk and earnings of breeding stocks, goat
manure is a great input for growing plants used as organic fertilizer.

• Goat farming in the Philippines requires only a small starting capital to start with.

• More goats could be raised per hectare than cattle; they also multiply quicker than cattle.

• Goat meat has proven to be lower in saturated fat than chicken, pork, and beef, low in
cholesterol, but higher in protein.

• As goat production requires low initial investment and small risks in comparison to other
livestock.

• Goats are multi-purpose animals and used in meat, milk, skin and fiber production.

• Goats are easy to train and handle and may be raised together with other livestock. Goats can
cut down garbage by eating food scraps.

• Goats are hardy and will adapt to the majority of the climatic conditions.

• Goats get fewer diseases when compared to other livestock.

• Some goats could be raised as pets as well.

• In comparison to cattle, goats require little soil, replicate quickly, and have the ability to feed
on a wide range of forages.
• Goat Farmers can benefit from selling milk and manure.

• Goats could eat weeds in the field so that the land would be apparent from all treesand plants
for crop growing.

• Women and children may raise the goats, making it a sensible option to augment the
country's programs on livelihood.

• Goat farming in the Philippines can reduce the unemployment in rural areas.

• Return in short time: As the goats Have capacity to give birth of more Than one kid at a time,
and three times in the period of two years, it generates quicker income in short time with low
investment in comparison of rearing other cattle.

C. Types/ Breeds and it’s Characteristics

1. Dadiangas Strain Goats

 Characterized by a straight, head face, erect ears and hairy thighs

 They were comparable to the Anglo-Nubian upgrades in terms of body weight,
height, and body length.
 However, they were significantly taller, larger and heavier with relatively larger
other than the native goats.
2. Philippine Native Goats

 A small, stocky, low set, and usually it’s color is red, white, black, brown, or a
combination of this colors and also have erect ears.
 On the average it’s weight only 20 kilograms when they matures
3. Toggenburg Goats

 Compact, robust, dairy-type animal that is, with a dished or straight facial line
and wedge-shaped body.
 They are usually slightly smaller than the other Alpine breeds weighting at least
55 kg. while it’s average height, measured at the withers, is about 79 cm for
does and 90 cm for bucks.
  Colour varies from deep chocolate brown to pale fawn and the coat is generally
short and fine though longer coats are common. Toggenburg have white or
cream markings on various parts of their body.
 The ears are erect and point slightly forward.
4. Anglo- Nubian Goats

 The ears are long, broad and pendulous.

 The face is convex and the forehead is particularly prominent. They have a fine
tapering muzzle and flat nostrils. The backline may have a dip behind the withers
and a gentle rise to the hips.
 Anglo-Nubians are large, with does weighing at least 64 kg. The average height
of the breed, measured at the withers, is 81 cm for does and 94 cm for bucks.
5. Saanen Goats
  Mainly Saanen goats are of white colored. But sometimes biscuit colored goats
can also be seen.
 There may have some black spots in the nose, ears and udder of this goat. The
ears are straight to upwards.
 They have small sized legs and udder is of very big size. They have long sized
neck. Their whole body is covered with small sized hair.
6. Alpine Goats

 This breed is mostly used for commercial milk production.

 Most Alpine goats are of medium to large sized animal.
 They are very graceful and they are the only goat breed which has upright
(medium or short) ears. They become very hardy and can adopt themselves with
almost all climate and weather.
 Their face become straight with a roman nose and are of white, black, brown
and various mixed colored.
 7. Boer Goats

 Boer goats commonly have white bodies and distinctive brown heads. Some
Boer goats can be completely brown or white colored
 Like the Nubian goat, they possess long, pendulous ears
 Usually a mature Boer buck weights about 110 to 135 kg and a mature doe
weights about 90 to 100 kg.

II. HOUSING/ANIMAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS

Among the ruminants, goat can be raised in a smaller area than the others. Goats are
popular among people living in suburban areas with one or two acres of land. You can raise a
goat without building their shelters expensive yet comfortable, provide a good health condition
and comfort of animal’s high reproduction and more efficient management.

Housing is very important for the safety of the animals especially the protection from
strong winds, heavy rains, draft, wet grounds, attacks by predators and also from theft. A good
housing for goat must be well ventilated, well-drained and easy to clean.
 A. Site Requirement

When producing goats you will need to consider accessibility to pasture, hay and grains.
Goats need exercise, forage and shelter.

A good drainage is an important factor in considering your location. Locate your goat
house on a slight slope or on sandy soils; ideally, near the feed source. The goat house should
be oriented in such a way that the greatest amount of sunshine and air enter the house.

B. Housing/Bedding/Nesting Requirement

Fencing

Goat are very curious animals, perennially hungry, and escape artists as well. They will
find a way out of their barn, paddock or pasture if one is left available. One hungry goat escape
during the farming season can ruin your week, a lot of valuable plants and trees – plus, your
friendship with your neighbors to boot. We use five foot high, galvanized wire, 2”x 4” fencing,
deep nailed to stout locust fence posts. Even so, we still have occasional goat escapes. Almost
all of these can be traced to human error rather than poor fencing or hardware breakdown.

Housing Specifications

1. Provide at least 15-20 sq. R. of floor space per adult goat. A separate housing is provided
for the buck.
2. Raise the floor at least 3 feet above the ground to facilitate cleaning and removal of
manure.
3. Do not nail the floor boards or slats closely; provide slits between the boards so that
manure can fall through them. This will keep the flooring clean and dry.
4. The house should be well-ventilated. The wall around the house can be made of
bamboo slats spaced 44 inches apart.
5. Provide a sack cover on the windside of the house. This can be rolled up when not
needed.

Feeding Facilities
Provide the goat house with the following facilities:

1. Fodder rack. Elevate the feeder 1 ½ ft above the floor and attach it to the goat house
from outside.
2. Water container. Plastic basins or pails can serve the purpose. Place this outside of the
pen to avoid contamination with urine or manure.
3. Salt container. A bamboo tube with 2 or more slits at the bottom can serve as container
for the ordinary table salt for the goats to lick. Hang the bamboo tube inside the house.
4. Hay rack. Store the fodder/forage in hay rack under a shade or shed adjacent to the goat
house.

Bedding

Goats need a constant supply of dry bedding to avoid being fouled in their own waste.
We use mulch hay or leaves for this purpose which also thoroughly mixes with the manure,
cutting the Nitrogen with some Carbon and hastening its path toward usable compost. We try
to muck out the stalls as needed, several times a season, forking, turning and piling the waste
outside the barn to continue decomposing. The empty stall is then lined with fresh bedding
before the goats reoccupy.

Straw, shredded paper, shavings and corn cobs can all be used as bedding. Goats need
about 15 square feet of bedded area per goat to be comfortable. Goats like to sleep with their
heads uphill and take delight in sleeping on raised areas such as shelves or bunks. The biggest
challenge in meat goat production is protecting goats from drafts. Cold, damp drafts will
decimate a group of young goats more quickly than any other single factor. Do not confuse
drafts with fresh air. Goats need fresh air, but fresh air needs to come from above the animal
where it can mix with warmer air before it contacts the goat. Drafts blowing under doors and
across floors can reduce healthy kids to animals with pneumonia and scours overnight.

Nesting Requirements

The Basics for Your Goat Kidding Kit:

-Puppy Potty Pads

-Towels

-Paper Towels

-Baby Wipes

-Gloves

-Flashlight and headlamps

-Scissors

-Thermometer

-Suction Bulb (just in case you ever have to clear nasal passages)

-7% Iodine Solution, Chlorohexidine solution or Navel Spray solution (for dipping umbilical cord)

-Small Container

-Floss (to tie umbilical cord if needed)

-OB Lube (by the gallon: buy it here, or 5 oz tube)

-Wormer of choice

-Penicillin (Pen G)

-Needles & Syringes

-Feeding Tube with Syringe

-Bottles and nipples

-Jar or other clean container you can milk into (in case you need to milk the doe)

-Betadine, Povidone or Chlorhexidine Scrub (use to scrub your hands/arms in case you have to
“go in” and assist)

-Bucket of soapy, warm water for washing in

-Garbage bags (to clean up everything afterwards)

For the Kidding Pen:

-Bedding such as straw or shavings (shavings are like wet baby goat Velcro! So be sure to dry
babies off very well if using shavings.)

-Empty feed bags or large black garbage bags (cut open and laid flat under straw for easy clean
up)

-Heat source or “kid hut” for warming kids. We prefer Premier 1 heat lamps which are safer
than standard heat lamps.

-Warm water, grain and hay for mama goat (remove water bucket once kids are up and
walking)

Equipment Needed

To set up the goat farm properly the right Equipment is much needed.

1. Burdizzo castrator

If you castrate the goat then their weight gain is more than normal weight gain
per month.
For example, the uncastrated goat gains 3 to 4 kg per month but the castrated
goat gains weight from 5 to 6 kg per month. The castrated goat has more fat in their
body weight compared to uncastrated goats. The people in India prefer to eat castrated
goats compared to buck because castrated goat meat is tastier, leaner, and less smelly.
 2. Drencher

Drencher is another much-needed equipment in goat farming. Sometimes you

have to feed the goats orally. You also have to deworm and giving medicines orally, this
is a problem-solving tool if you have more goats.
In this tool you have to fill the medicine or dewormer once, after that you can
feed to goats continuously no need to fill the syringe from medicines again and again.
3. Goat farming Book

The book works as a tool, it is the most important part of goat farm because the
handbook tells you the solution of every single problem. The goat farming handbook helps you
with the solution of every disease, house, and management under the house. The treatment is
the main part of the book, you can detect the symptoms, treatment and prevention as well.

5. Goat Feeding Equipment

Feeders increase the productivity of goats, normally goats waste the feed a lot, giving on
a tray is the main thing of an organized goat farm. Many Times the big and strong goats do not
eat them to weak and small goats, the feeder equipment in the farm solves this problem of
feeding.

6. Waterers for goats

 The goats drink 1.5 liters of water in a day, fresh & clean water provided to goats is
necessary otherwise it can turn into a major disease. Don’t let them drink the storage water,
always provide them fresh and clean water for their better health. Most of the disease spread
from the infected water. Water should always be outside, inside water can wet the floor and
goats don’t like wet floors even they don’t sit on wet floors.

7. Goat Weighing machine

The weighing machine is also the needy tool of the farm that measures the flock’s
productivity. The productivity can be measured by checking the weight of the goat. If the goat
gains weight then its productivity has increased or the goat is free from disease. If the weight is
decreasing then something is missing. So I can check it by measuring the weight of goats every
month. A weighing machine is the common tool of the farm. It should be different from others’
weight machines.
 8. Hoof trimmer

Hoof trimmer saves the goats from foot root disease. The grown hoof should be cut
every month otherwise it can decrease the flock productivity. If you are not able to cut it every
month then you can cut the hoof before monsoon. It is one of the cheaper tools but makes
importance in the farm. The cuted hoof should be thrown outside the farm.

III. HEALTH MANAGEMENT

1. Sanitation
Have pens cleaned daily and washed at least three times a week. Disinfect at
least twice a month. Accumulated feces and urine provide a good breeding ground for
disease-causing microorganisms. Provide a lagoon or pit to store waste for at least a
month before spreading to the pasture. Use as fertilizer for orchards or vegetable
garden. Train personnel to observe sanitary procedures. Provide separate pens for
diseased animals. Limit visitors coming into the farm, including other animals.
Quarantine newly arrive stock for at least a month before mixing with the main
breeding stock.
2. Deworming

Aside from pneumonia, parasites rank second in causing heavy mortality.Tapeworms

are the most debilitating worm problem in all ages of goats, Protozoa-like coccidia and amoeba
are also common problems especially in young kids. Goats should be check regularly for specific
worm load and deworm regularly depending on worm load and seasonal occurrences. Know
what kind of internal parasite is affecting your herd before attempting to use a deworming
product.

3. External Parasites

Lice and ticks are common problems. When these are observed, apply acaricide or
chemicals against lice and ticks, in powder or dust form. This can be done by mixing the
powder-form chemicals with 7 to 10 parts of starch or flour and apply as dusting powder.
Refrain from using the liquid or spray form.

Common Infectious Diseases of Goats

1. Bacterial Pneumonia
 Mode of transmission: Direct contact from infectedor contaminated udder, navel
infection, genital or intra uterine infection of dam, contaminated environment
 Symptoms: Fever, inability to suckle, nasal discharge, coughing and respiratory distress
Gradual emaciation may terminate as pneumonia- enteritis combination.
 Prevention: Proper nursing in clean, dry environment necessary. Early cases respond to
antibiotic treatment.
2. Infectious Arthritis
 Mode of Transmission: Direct, through mouth, skin, open wounds or via umbilicus
 Symptoms: Swollen knees, lameness, pain if pressure is applied on affected joint. Fever
may be present. Joints involved are hock, knee, elbow and stifle. Animal prefers
recumbence, appetite affected with gradual deterioration.
 Prevention/Control: Minimize infection by treating wounds (castration and navel)
dressing, hygiene management especially in areas of confinement. Treatment includes
wide spectrum anti-biotic and sulfa drugs.
3. Mastitis
 Mode of Transmission: Direct or indirect.
 Symptoms: Hot, painful and swollen udder. May become red due to inflammation later
changing to dark reddish-blue indicating necrosis of udder tissue. Milk may be
 bloodstained, may contain flakes or clots. Fever, loss of appetite, depression and
dehydration; gait or movement of doe is affected.
 Treatment: Inframammary infusion of antibiotics. Early and repeated treatment needed
to prevent complications such as gangrene and toxemia.
 Prevention: Proper treatment of injured teats with antiseptics; disinfecting udders for
milking and proper milking technique. Monitor by surveillance to detect early cases for
immediate isolation and treatment.
4. Sore Mouth/ORF/Contagious Ecthyma
 Mode of transmission: Contaminated equipment, fences, manure, bedding and feeds
Over crowding Contaminated vehicles and workers Infected suckling lambs,
contaminated teats and udders of dams
 Symptoms: Characterized by papules, pustules, vesicles and scabs on the skin of the
face, genitalia and feet, mucous of the mouth, rumen, nostrils eyelids,gums, tongue,
palate and middle ear. Occurs commonly to less than one-year-old sheep/ goat, and
feedlot lambs 3-7 months of age.
 Prevention/Treatment: Vaccinate feedlot lambs after entering the fattening facilities
vaccinate suckling lambs 1-3 days of age.
5. HMD
 Mode of Transmission: Direct and indirect contact with naturally infected animals,
carriers, implements and other infected fluid, saliva and other bodily discharges highly
infective.
 Symptoms: Fever vesicles, erosion in between hooves, coronary band (junction between
skin and hoot), teats and udders, oral mucosa and tongue Raw ulceration follows,
rupture of vesicles, stingy or foamy salivation, smocking of the lips, difficulty in feed
ingestion; staggering gait and lameness. Abortion in pregnant animals.
 Prevention: Immediate notification of the authorities. Designation of quarantine areas
and restricted movement of animals; disinfecting areas with viruscidal agents
(commercial disinfectant or lye caustic soda) Animal should be kept on dry ground and
 lesions treated with mild antiseptic (5% formalin), Mass immunization and effective
restriction in movement of animals and carriers is necessary.

6. Brucellosis
 Mode of Transmission: Ingestion of contaminated feed And water. Aborted fetus,
fatal membrane, placenta, urine and uterine discharge are main sources of infection
Infected males may transfer disease through natural/artificial breeding
 Symptoms: Infertility, abortion, retained placenta, Persistent vaginal discharge. In
males, swollen and painful testicles with subsequent infertility/sterility
 Prevention: Blood tests and removal of infected animals Vaccination may be tried
Antibiotic medication is found to be impractical.
7. Hemorrhagic Septicemia
 Mode of Transmission: Ingestion or inhalation of infective agent. Maybe normally
present in the nasopharyngeal area but predisposition causes flare-up of infection.
 Symptoms: Respiratory distress, salivation, nasal discharges, swelling of the throat and
brisket congestion of mucous membrane, diarrhea becoming bloody later.
 Prevention: Prophylactic vaccination - Removal of predisposition when possible Early
treatment with parenteral antibiotics and sulfa drugs.
8. Anthrax
 Mode of Transmission: Direct ingestion of infected material, biting flies. Indirect,
through contact with materials and carriers.
 Symptoms: Sudden onset of fever, depression and loss of appetite. Swelling of chest,
head, belly and legs, bloody diarrhea Death common in early stages Colic, abortion in
pregnant animals, blood stained discharges, convulsions.
 Prevention: Dead animals should be cremated or buried deeply under a layer of lime
Antibiotic treatment is only effective in early and less acute cases.
9. Blackleg
 Mode of Transmission: Infection initiated by trauma of the body and oral mucosa. Cases
in larger ruminants maybe source of infection in the area
 Symptoms: Sudden deaths in acute cases. Less acute: depression, fever, rapid
respiration And suspended ruminatism. Typically, not painful swelling in thigh and leg
muscles. Crackling sensation of palpation Of swelling due to gas in tissues. Lameness in
affected limb.
 Prevention:
- Vaccination
- Cremation of carcasses
- Early isolation and treatment with massive doses of antibiotics
10. Tetanus
 Mode of Transmission: Direct infection due to introduction of organism in wounds.
Castration, old ulcerating.
 Symptoms: Wounds, dehorning complications. Not contagious to other animals Early
stages characterized by rigidity and stiffness of muscles. Late stages: with tetanic
convulsions, prolapse of third eyelid, stiff tail, head and neck thrown back; hyper
excitability .Bloat and other nervous signs.
 Prevention: Treat wound with oxidizing antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide) until completely
healed; use clean instrument in castration and dehorning
11. Parasitic Gastroenteritis
 Mode of transmission: Commonly through direct infection with parasitic larval stages
through herbage, less common through skin penetration and intrauterine infection in
some species.
 Symptoms: Poor body condition, anemia, diarrhea, potbelly and weakness
 Prevention: Regular deforming with effective anthelmintics (tetramisole, parbendazole,
thiabendazole, pyrantel,etc.) Pasture rotation and improve feeding practices
12. Parasitic Pneumonia
 Mode of Transmission: Infection with the parasite in the larval stage through herbage
 Symptoms: As in parasitic gastroenteritis for general signs. Specific symptoms includes
persistent husky, coughing, respiratory distress.
 Prevention: Regular deworming with tetramisole, albendazole or oxfendazole General
prevention as parasitic gastroenteritis
13. Tapeworm Infection
 Mode of Transmission: Through ingestion of plant mites that are intermediate host
 Symptoms: Same as other internal parasitism, passage of tapeworm segment in the
feces.
 Prevention: Regular deworming (albendazole, niclosanide, lead arsenate, and
oxfendazole)
14. Liverfluke Disease
 Etiology:Four Species of trematodes:
a. Fasciola hepatica
b. Fasciola gigantica
c. Facioloides magna
d. Dicrocoelium dendriticum
 Clinical Signs: Post Mortem Lesions
a. Affected animals isolate from the flock
b. Decline the feeds
c. Distended abdomen is painful upon manipulation
d. Lose weight and become unthrifty, anaemic and Edematous in the lips and
intermandibular tissues.
e. Ascites may form
f. Theol looses its flexibility and tensile strength
 Clinical Forms:
b. Acute Form – traumatic invasion of liver parenchyma by
c. Immature flukes
d. Chronic Form – billiary fibrosis resulting from prolonged residence of adult flukes
 Symptoms: Characterized by unthriftiness, loss of weight, anemia and edema
 Prevention/Treatment: Control of fluke infestations. Prevent the animals from grazing
on infected. Pastures Use flukicide / anthelmintics in treatment
15. Lice Infestation
 Mode of Transmission: Direct or indirect contact with infected. Animals through
environment or facilities.
 Symptoms: Constant scratching and rubbing to relieve itching and irritation. With
scabby deposit Loss of hair Raw skin and bruises in severe infestations. Scurfy coat
(dandruff) and encrustation of exudate Animals becomes unthrifty, poor thriving, weak
and anemic
 Prevention: Use insecticide (Asuntol, Ciodrin, Diazinon, Neguvon, Supona, Nankor,
etc.) In dust or solution form repeat treatment in 10-14 days to kill nymphs that hatch
out. Also spray pens and litter solute treated from untreated animals.
16. Mange
 Mode of Transmission: Direct and indirect contact with infected animals
 Symptoms: Marked itchiness and irritation with animals constantly rubbing or licking
affected areas, maybe patchy or generalized. Skin becomes hairless, thickened or scabby
 Prevention: Periodic examination to detect cases. Regular spraying with effective
acaricides such as Malathion, Trichlorfon, Fenthion, Diazinon,Crotoxyphos or
Coumaphos. Interval of treatment should be 7-10 days with 2-3 applications to destroy
mites that have hatched after each treatment.
17. Bloat
 Kinds of Bloat:
a. Green Legume Bloat -results from eating fresh copped Green grasses
b. Hay Legume bloat-results from feeding whole, chopped, ground or pellet grasses
which is conducive to bloat
18. Acute Ingestion of Grain Overload
 Mode of Transmission: Non-contagious
 Symptoms: Signs appear from 10-36 hours after dietary changes.
- Depression, loss of appetite, and abdominal distention causing pain and
discomfort. Diarrhea develops. Rapid respiration and pulse, incoordination,
weakness, coma and death
 Prevention: Avoid sudden dietary changes. Treatment is generally unsatisfactory. Early
case may respond to high antibiotic levels given orally to reduce population of acid-
forming bacteria (Acidosis). Indigestion maybe treated with anti-acids like baking soda
(sodium bicarbonate), magnesium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide given orally in
warm water (Igm/kg body weight) to neutralize rumen acidity. Systematic acidosis
requires intravenous injection of acid neutralized like 5% sodium bicarbonate repeatedly
given.
 OTHER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
1. Hoof Trimming – Goats’ hooves under confinement are usually overgrown. Trimming is
then required. A rose pruner and a small curved knife are adequate tools. Cut excess
hoof until level with the frog (white-center part). Untrimmed hooves will cause
lameness and make it prone to foot rot. Bucks refuse to mount when having sore feet.
2. Dehorning – Especially in milking herds, dehorning is essential. A dehorned animal is
more docile than a horned one. It will also eliminate unnecessary wounds due to
fighting. Dehorn when horn buds appear (2 to 4 mos.) using hot iron cautery. A Y2 inch
GI pipe is an effective and cheap material for cauterizing. Chemical cautery is not
preferred because kids tend to lick one another and may therefore lead to cauterized or
burned tongues.
3. Castration – Castration of unwanted male goats is preferable within the first month of
age. The testicles at this age are still not developed; thus there is lesser bleeding and
stress. Castrated males grow faster than un castrated males and are free of the goaty
male odor.
4. Tattooing, Ear Notching and Other Forms of Identification – In order to keep track of
individual animals, a positive identification are needed. No recording is possible without
this. Ear notching is done more commonly because of permanence and easy
identification. Refrain from using plastic tags. Tattooing causes no deformities but
requires special tools that may be costly.
5. Recording – For a good breeding herd program, a proper and well-kept recording system
is necessary. The record reflects all the essential data of individual animal
 IV. FEEDING MANAGEMENT

Feeds of goats and habits of searching feed Goats have larger belly comparatively to
other cattle, and can eat smaller grasses which other cattle cannot. Goats can also eat bitter
grasses. Goats can eat dry matter equivalent of 4% of its own body weight. Goats can produce
more meat, milk by taking substandard grass than other cattle. Goats do not like to eat wet and
filthy things.

Feeding Management for smaller kids Offspring needs to be fed with milk for 2-3 times
in a day so that kids can be protected from diseases. After two weeks, progeny can have soft
grass and feeds. Kids must be weaned from its mother after 10-12 weeks, and feed more forage
and feeds with protein.

Feeding Management for adult goats After 4 months of parturition, Doeling and
Buckling should be kept in separate from preventing unnecessary mating behaviors from bucks
to doeling. It is necessary that growth of Boer cross kids should be 50-150 grams per day; if it is
not measured, it should be learnt that there is a problem in feeding management. As possible
as for the whole 24 hours, green forage and fodders should be kept in the place of stall. Salt
and other multi-nutrients minerals cake and clean water adequately needs to be fed to goats.
Diet of goats and kids based on its weight has been given as followings:
Methods of preparation of balanced feed by using local raw Ko

To obtain cheap feed is an important element for getting profit from any livestock,

and as much as 50% cost is incurred in Goat Farming. Healthy livestock’s can be produced by
ensuring proper quantity and balanced feeding. To obtain maximum

benefit, focus to be given in fodder plants than into feeds.

• Crops (non-leguminous) – 3 parts(different varieties of crops like maize, wheat,

bran-roughage, products from maize, wheat, millet, rice, etc.)

• Pulses (Leguminous) or wastages from oilseeds (bi-products): 1 part

• By mixing crops and legume or different types of pina very well, balance feed

can be prepared.

• If dry bi-product of oilseeds is avilable, it is necessary to break in small particals,

and better to be roasted, but it is not necessary if it is fed after cooking.

• Likewise, it would be better to mix 1 kg salt, 1 kg mixture of minerals and 25

grams of vitamin “A” supplement with 100 kg feed, and it should be mixed well

2-3 times to mix up very well.

• Such feed should be fed to adult goats around (250 gm- ½ MANA), pregnant

goats (500 gms-1 MANA) and for breeding buck (500 gms-1 MANA) per day.

Feeding method
• For easy feeding to goats, forage and fodder are always given in stall-fed, and if

stall-fed remains empty, it shows inadequacy of forage and fodder to goat.

• Twice in a day, goats should be fed in the morning and evening; and changing of

water and feeding time table should be maintained at the same time.

• Unnecessarily, feed should not be over fed to goat. Over feeding may cause bloat

out stomach and sometimes goat can die.

Feed Requirements

A practical feeding program for goats, being ruminants, should be based on the type and
quality of roughage available. This is because the quality of roughage available determines both
the amount and the quality Of concentrates needed to supplement the diet.
Technological Alternatives to Traditional Feeding Management

Basic concept of Goat Nutrition

By nature goats are browsers with inquisitive feeding behaviors.  The unique
mechanisms of goats for feed selection, prehension, and utilization give goats high survival
rates under harsh conditions.  The prehension of feed by goats with their mobile upper lip
and bipedal stance ensures the consuption of the more nutritious and succulent parts of the
plants.  Relative to body size, goats can consume more feeds of up to 6% of their liveweight
compared to 2-3% in cattle.  This means that goats can satisfy their nutrient requirements for
production, provided good quality pasture and fodder trees and shrubs are available.
Browser- preferring to eat leaves, twigs, vines, shrubs and tops of plants better than grasses
Even though they are called ruminants, your goats have feeding characteristics that differ from
sheep, cattle and buffaloes.
Your goats like to eat a variety of feeds, especially leaves of trees and shrubs (up to
60% of their diet).

They accurately select only the most nutritious plants or plant parts to eat using their
narrow lips.

Due to their inquisitive feeding behavior, they tend to bite any plant material, but will
spit out those that are undesirable to them.

They can stand up on their two hind legs and grab plant parts with their narrow lips
located high above their head.

Nutrient Requirement for Goats

Your goats need energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and water at the right balance or
proportions.  These nutrients are obtained from the feed materials that they eat.
Energy - serves as the fuel for their different body processes
Protein - helps them grow and repair tissues such as muscles (meat), organs, hooves, skin and
hair
Fibrous plant materials can easily be digested by mature goats through the microorganism in
their rumen; hence you can feed mature goats with old or mature and fibrous plant parts
Rumen - Largest compartment of the goat's stomach, which houses microorganisms that can
digest fibrous feeds eaten by goats

Preweaners, however, should be allowed to sucker the dam's milk while introducing them
to creep feeds.

Preweaners - kids aged 1-3 months that are not yet weaned
Creep feeds- feeds given to kids 1-2 months to prepare them for adult feed; these are the
transition feeds that bridge the shift from liquid (milk) to solid feeding

To ensure proper digestion, give goats unlimited access to fresh and clean drinking
water everyday
Although goats obtain minerals from the feed they eat, actively growing and miling goats
should be given additional minerals especially calcium and phosphorous.  You also need to give
salt to provide them with the needed sodium and chlorine.

Stall feeding an alternative to grazing system

Stall feeding involves confining goats and providing them with feed in the stall.  in this
system, the cut-and-carry method is employed.  Mixtures of grasses, legumes, and tree leaves
are given.  Concentrates are also given depending on sufficiency of the forages and the stage of
development of the animals

Advantages of stall feeding

As goats are confined and not exposed to inclement weather, parasitism and other
disease, infections are reduced.

Your goats cannot damage crops and other properties.

You can use other feed resources, making it possible to raise more goats even if your
area is limited.
 You can make use of labor that is only available at certain times of the day.

You can easily control and manage the breeding of your goats.

As goats are housed, there is lesser risk of theft or predator.

Kids can get m0re access to their does for suckling.

Manure can easily be collected.

Requisites for adoption

For stall feeding to be viable, you need to have the following:

1. Adequate supply of cut-and-carry feed, preferably close to the goat house

2. Labor for cutting and feeding

3. Houses facilities
4. Adequate knowledge on the nutrient requirement

Shrubs and tree leaves for stall feeding

Advantages of Shrubs and Tree Leaves
Shrubs and tree leaves are good feed sources for stall feeding because of the following reasons:

They are sustainable sources of feed for your goats.

They are relatively less expensive than concentrates.  Compared to the other feeds
with the same amount of nutrients, feed cost using this resource is likewise
relatively lower.
 Because they do not grow old quickly, shrub/tree leaves do not lose their nutritive
quality and are thus more nutritious than grasses; hence they can provide more feed for
a sustained period of time compared to other feed resources.

Goats love to consume shrub and tree leaves of up to 60% of their diet and they can
grow reasonably well on these even without other feeds.

Digestion is improved because shrub and tree leaves provide nutrients that enable
rumen microorganisms to better digest feed.

Occurence of worms in your goats in prevented because the leaves are located high such
that they cannot be reached by infective stages of worms.

Shrubs and tree leaves for stall feeding

Using shrubs and tree leaves for stall feeding. To ensure that goats get the right
amount of nutrients, give a mixture of grasses and shrub/tree leaves.  Be guided by
these ratios and proportions.
 Stage of Growth  Good Forage Mixture
 Goats that are fattened  3 parts grass : 1 part shrub/tree leaves
 All other goats  2 parts grass : 1 part shrub/tree leaves

Shrubs and tree leaves for stall feeding

The following lists some of the most common shrubs and trees whose leaves are
fed to goats. Use this as your guide in selecting the forages to stallfeed. (Reference
here)

Reference :

IIRR. 1998. Livestock and poultry production - Agroforestry Technology

Information Kit. IIRR, DENR and Ford Foundation

Langil (Albizia lebbek)
 Nangka; jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Bamboo; kawayan (Bambusa sp.)

Alibangbang (Bauhinia sp.)
Kadios; tabios (Cajanus cajan)

Calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus)
Kapok (Ceiba pentandra)

Kaimito (Chrysophyllum cainito)

Codarrio, karikut-rikut (Codariocalyx gyroides)

Desmanthus (Desmanthus virgatus)
Rensoni (Desmodium rensonii)
Dapdap (Erythrina orientalis)

Balete (Ficus sp.)

Malabalatong (Flemengia macrophylla)

Madre-de-kakaw; kakawate (Gliricidia sepium)

Balibago; malbago (Hibiscus tiliaceus)

Diversifolia (Leucaena diversifolia)

Ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala)

Mangga (Mangifera indica)

Kamoteng kahoy; balinghoy (Manihot esculenta)

Malunggay (Moringa oleifera)
Mulberry (Morus alba)
Kamachile (Pithecellobium dulce)

Acasia (Samanea saman)

Katuray (Sesbania grandiflora)

Sesban (Sesbania sesban)
Sampalok; sambag (Tamarindus indica)
 Some shrubs and trees, such as the following can also be used as dewormers for your
goats, as they contain anthelmintic properties

Botanical Name  Common Name  Directions for Use

 Anona squamosa  Atis/Custard apple  Raw leaves fed ad libitum

 Pithecellobium dulce  Kamonsil/Kamachile  Raw leaves fed ad libitum

 Gliricidia sepium  Kakawate/Madre-de-  Raw leaves fed ad libitum

kakaw

 Streblus asper Aludig/ Bugtai  Boiled leaf/stem juice drenched once a day

 Artocarpus  Jackfruit/ langka  Decoction of leaves given orally, repeated after

heterophyllus one week

Crop residues and market wastes for stall feeding

Crop residues are waste products from crop production while market wastes are
trimmings from vegetables and fruits.

The commonly used crop-residues for goats include:

corn stover
rice straw
peanut hay
soybean pods
mungbean pods
acacia pods

Crop residues and market wastes for stall feeding

Market wastes that can be used to feed your goats include:

 vegetable peelings

 rejected vegetable leaves such as those from cabbage and pechay

Nutrient
Concentrate
supplied
 copra meal protein
corn bran energy
rice bran, cono energy
rice bran, kiskis energy
wheat pollard protein
soybean oil meal protein
fish meal protein
meat and bone meal protein

Concentrates ad supplements for stall-fed goats

Kinds of concentrates.
Using concentrates in feeding your goats will provide them nutrients that:

 are directly digested, absorbed, and used for nourishment by the goat's body
 will enable the rumen microorganisms to better digest other harder feeds
Concentrates are expensive; as such they should only be used during critical periods or
situations, which include:

 for fattened goats, given during the last month of the fattening period before sale
 for does, start at one month before before kidding up to weaning of the kids
 for goats fed with low quality feeds like crop residues or market wastes
 for sick and thin animals
Except for milking does, mature goats should not be given more than 10 grams of concentrate
for every kilogram bodyweight.
When concentrates are fed in high amounts, they can cause

 your goats to eat less of the accompanying feed

 problems in the digestion of feeds by your goats
You need to start feeding your goats with a small amount of concentrate, gradually increasing it
until you reach the desired amount.
Because their stomachs are still not capable of digesting leaves and fibrous plant materials, kids
that are not yet weaned should be fed as much concentrate as possible (preferably unlimited).
Mixing your own concentrates.
Mixing concentrates for your goats is easy and can help you produce feed with the right
amount of nutrients at reasonable cost. The following shows some common formulation of
concentrates for goats (source here): PCARRD. 2004. Philippine recommends for goat farming
series no.24-D. Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and
Development, Philippine Agriculture and Resources Research Foundation, Inc. and Livestock
Development Council

Concentrate mixture containing 18-20% protein, for goats 4-8 months old

Ingredient Amount (kg/100kg mixture)

ground corn 12
rice bran (darak, tahop) 24
copra meal 40
soybean oil meal 8
meat and bone meal 10
molasses (pulot) 5
salt 1

Concentrate mixture containing 16-18% protein, for breeding, fattening and pregnant goats
Concentrate mixture containing 16-18% protein, for breeding, fattening and pregnant
goats

Ingredient Amount (kg/100kg mixture)

copra meal 50
wheat pollard (pollard) 32
molasses (pulot) 15
meat and bone meal 2
salt 1

Concentrate mixture containing 16-18% protein, for does with suckling kids

Ingredient Amount (kg/100kg mixture)

copra meal 40
corn 25
soybean oil meal 15
rice bran (darak, tahop) 10
molasses (pulot) 8
meat and bone meal 1
salt 1

Mixing your own concentrates.

Properly mix the concentrates to ensure that the ingredients are evenly distributed into the
mixture
(Insert a picture of a mixing own concentrate )

Mixing your own concentrates enables you to produce feed with the right amount nutrients at
reasonable cost for your goats

Minerals as supplements for stall-fed goats:

common table salt
 Common table salt is a good mineral supplement that you can continuously give to
goats.
 Simply put half a kilo of salt in a 12 inch bamboo tube, perforated with small holes at
the lower end of the node. Hang it in your pen and let goats lick the melting salt seeping
through the holes.
Urea Molasses Mineral Block (UMMB)

 Urea Molasses Mineral Block (UMMB) is also a good supplement for goats. They
contain urea, energy as well as essential minerals and vitamins which are intended
to be consumed by licking.
 UMMB is supplemented to goats fed low quality feeds such as old forages or crop
residues and market wastes; its effect is not very evident when your goats are eating
good quality feed.
 You can hang UMMB in strategic areas in the pen, locating it high enough so that the
goats can only lick, and not bite them.
 Caution should be exercised so that young goats, 4 months and below, will not be
able to access the UMMB. This is because their digestive system is not yet ready to
digest the components of the block.
The following shows the common formulation of UMMB:

Ingredient Parts per 100kg Mixture

 (kg)
Molasses 38
Rice bran (D1 or first class darak or
38
tahop)
Urea 10
Cement 10
Dicaphos 3
Table salt 1

(Source: PCARRD. 2004. Philippine recommends for goat farming series no.24-D. Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Philippine
Agriculture and Resources Research Foundation, Inc. and Livestock Development Council)
When preparing UMMB, follow these procedures
1. Mix the molasses and the urea thoroughly in a vat or a container big enough to
accomodate a 100 kg mixture
2. Continue mixing while adding dicaphos, salt and cement; until all lumps disappear
3. Add the rice bran and hand mix if possible to ensure that the rice bran is thoroughly
mixed and blended with the rest of the ingredients
4. Mold into blocks weighing 1kg each. If possible, roll the mixture to form a tube. The
tube does not have corners , that otherwise would be easily nibbled by goats.
5. Store in a dry ventilated area away from moisture source.
6. Allow a 15-day curing period before utilizing the block.

V. AGE AT HARVEST OF GOAT

How Long Does it Take to Raise a Goat for Slaughter?

There are two types of goat meat: Cabrito and Chevon. Cabrito is very young goat,
between one and two months old. Chevon is older goats, typically between 10 months and one
year. Very rarely, goats are slaughtered up to the age of 16 months. This is because goats get
very tough meat as they grow. Another reason goats are harvested young is because it is most
common to harvest bucks, reserving does for breeding and milking purposes.

Weight of a market goat is 80 pounds

 If you have been keeping track of the weight of the goat, you’ll have a better idea of
when it is ready to butcher. Most people will be shooting for 80-100 pounds for a market goat,
keeping in mind that is an individual preference.

The bigger the carcass the bigger the retail style cuts for your freezer. Run your goats
through the scale every month or so to keep track of how they are growing. Write down the
weights!

Knowing their weight helps you make better management decisions and can help you notice
when your goat is not growing as it should.

Once a buck goat hits puberty, they become very smelly animals and the scent
contaminates the meat. Cooking adult buck goat is like trying to cook a catcher's mitt that
smells like a teenagers unwashed gym clothes. For this reason, most young bucks are
"wethers." A wether is simply a buck that was castrated at a young age. Think about that the
next time you use the word "bellwether", which literally means the lead wether who wears a
bell so the other goats or sheep follow.

Ranchers who responsibly raise goats for meat separate the unwethered bucks from the
rest of the herd because that horrible smell won't only contaminate him, it'll make the entire
herd taste nasty. A wether goat, harvested before it's one year old will give you delicious, more
tender meat.

Goat Muscling: What to Look For

Unlike cows, goats build fat from the inside out and do not produce intramuscular fat.
That means when you look at goat meat, it isn't going to have the marbling you are used to
seeing. Instead, it's lean, bright red, and shows the grain well. One of the primary things that
meat goats are judged by is how they are muscled. Since goats are often slaughtered at a young
age, they will have thicker muscling and fat than an older goat.

There are a few areas you will look at on a live goat to determine if it is a good choice
for harvest. This is also the method 4-H and other organizations use to judge the quality of a
goat. The first muscling to look for is the width of the rear hind quarters. A properly muscled
goat will be wide and thick, not narrow. Then you will look at the line from shoulder to tail. It
should be nearly flat. The shoulders should also be flat across. A goat lacking muscling will have
a peak-roof shape at the shoulders and a deep saddleback.

Bibliography

Jagdish J. (April 2018) In Philippines - A Beginners Guide. Goat Farming.

https://www.goatfarming.in/goat-farming-philippines-beginners-guide

Eastern State University (November 2022).Breeds and Strains of Dairy Goats in the
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Philippine Statistics Authority (June 2022). Goat Situation Report April-June 2022.
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Goat Housing and Facilities (Meat Goat Home Study Course). (n.d.). Meat Goat Home
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Revival, R. (2022, April 12). How to Stock a Goat Kidding Kit + A Full List of Supplies.
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Joe, G. (2020, April 27). Management practices in Goat farming – Jaguza Farm Support.
https://jaguzafarm.com/support/management-practices-in-goat-farming/

Raising Goats: Production and Management | Penn State Extension. (n.d.).

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Ultimate Guide: How to Butcher a Goat. (n.d.). The Bearded Butchers.

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when-to-butcher-a-goat/

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