Industry Strategic Science and Technology Plans (ISPs) Platform

Goat Industry Profile

The goat inventory in the Philippines reached 3.87 million in 2021, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority. Central Visayas is the top goat producer, comprising 13.7% of the total. This is followed by the Ilocos Region with 12.7%, and Central Luzon and Northern Mindanao with around 10% each. Characterized by a very small population base, the Philippine goat industry is dominated by backyard raisers which comprised 98.8% of the industry, and only over 50 thousand goats are grown commercially. The breeding of goats can be done naturally or through artificial insemination.Ā 

There is an increasing demand for goat meat, also known as chevon. Compared to beef, pork and chicken, chevon is healthier, as it has lower calories, cholesterol and saturated fat. The goat carcass, following the Philippine National Standard, is divided into six large wholesale cuts such as shoulder, rib, loin, leg, breast and shanks. Chevon can be sold as fresh or chilled. If chilled, it must be kept at 0 to 4 degrees Celsius to prevent bacterial growth.Ā 

Halal principles are also being incorporated in some of the goat production in the Philippines. For a goat to be considered as halal-compliant, the halal principles should be observed in the whole process of the production. Halal principles are based on religious foundations and technical aspects of cleanliness, hygiene and good health. This includes guidelines on strategic grazing, housing system, health management and slaughtering procedures.

Problems in the Industry

The Philippine slaughter goat industry is beset by low productivity, stemming from farmers’ weak capacity to implement changes especially in smallholder farms due to limited knowledge on improved management options and lack of access to quality breeder bucks. There are also needs to improve natural conception rate, kidding interval, preweaning mortality and slaughter weight. For halal goat production, more support services such as Philippine National Standard (PNS) and promotion modalities should be made available.

ISP for Goat

The PCAARRD ISP aims to increase goat slaughter weight and conception rate through both natural means and Artificial Insemination (AI). Also included in its target outcomes are the improved availability of breeding true-to-type local signature goats and of authentic halal-compliant goats, as well as feed and food products and goat-based enterprises.

Strategic R&D

Technologies

Technology Transfer Initiatives

Capacity Building

Infrastructure Development

Manpower Development

Policy Research & Advocacy

Competitiveness of Philippine Slaughter Goat Industry under the ASEAN Economic Community

The Philippines slaughter goat meat production was found to be competitive in both export trade and import substitution scenarios. As competitive in the export trade, exporting Philippine slaughter goat meat can contribute to foreign exchange earnings of the country. Producing slaughter goat domestically was also found to be cheaper and can compete with imported slaughter goat meat, hence Philippine slaughter goat meat is competitive in the import substitution scenario.

Reference:

Andal, E. G., LapiƱa, G. F., Manalo, N. Q., Dorado, R. A. Valientes, R. M., & Cruz, M. B. (2017). ASEAN Economic Community: Opportunities and Challenges for the Agriculture, Fishery, and Forestry Sectors. Los BaƱos, Laguna, Philippines: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development – (Project Report)