A technology widely used for cattle and swine can also help goat raisers improve the breed of their herd and double their income, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).
The BAR, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said goat raisers could improve their herd’s breed through natural breeding by using artificial insemination (AI).
“AI is one of the best technologies being used today as an alternative to natural breeding. It is used to fast-track the dissemination of genetic materials from quality breeders to improve the blood composition of farm animals,” the BAR said in a statement. “Although AI is more widely used for cattle and swine, it has promise for goat breeding.”
The BAR said goat raisers do not adopt AI due to unavailability of processed semen; lack of trained inseminators; and absence of a viable industry to support the commercialization of the technology.
“To address these constraints, the Cagayan Valley Small Ruminants Research Center (CVSRRC) of the Isabela State University implemented a project in 2012, titled ‘Commercialization and Institutionalization of Artificial Insemination for Goats Delivery System in Cagayan Valley,’” it said.
“Funded by the BAR, this initiative is headed by Dr. Jonathan Nayga of the CVSRRC with the main hope of upgrading local stocks that would make the technology accessible to target clients. Specifically, the project aims to increase the production of processed goat semen intended for AI and to train more technicians who will facilitate the delivery of insemination services to intended clients,” the BAR added.
The attached agency of the DA said more than 240 backyard raisers in 21 municipalities of Cagayan Valley have improved their stocks without even purchasing a breeder buck, six months after the implementation of the CVSRRC.
The BAR added that the CVSRRC has trained a total of 67 AI service providers in Cagayan Valley and have conducted 1,211 inseminations to date.
“For this project, the ISU-AI Goat Semen Processing Laboratory was tapped for semen processing. Part of the project activities was the purchase of breeder bucks of pure breed to increase the production of processed frozen semen,” the BAR said.
“As part of the commercialization initiative, the laboratory at ISU is selling frozen semen of Boer, Anglo-Nubian and Toggenburg breeds to private raisers and commercial farms. Much of these genetic materials have already reached parts of Northern Luzon and even Central
Visayas,” it added.
The BAR said the technicians are continuously providing insemination services to qualified does in the region.
“With this development, increase in goat population can be attained through AI provided that the goat raisers’ management also includes following protocols and standards on proper feeding and health management,” the agency said.