From being an ordinary farm animal to center of a science and technology program, the lowly goat sure had the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) convinced of its potential to produce better milk products than the cow.

The DOST has launched a three-year Goat Dairy S&T Program to boost goat milk production in the country. (Photo from PCAARRD)

At the recent launching of the National Dairy Goat Science and Technology program, DOST Secretary Mario Go. Montejo said goats can turn the country into a “land of milk” in two years.

“The goat that many of us belittle is actually a ‘gold mine,’” he said.

To boost the development of local goat dairying, the DOST’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with participating agencies, such as Isabela State University, Central Luzon State University, Bohol Island State University, Department of Agriculture (DA)-Regional Field Office 8, and University of the Philippines-Mindanao for the three-year National Dairy Goat S&T Program.

PCAARRD Executive Director Patricio S. Faylon said goat dairying could help ease the country’s importation of milk.  It is also said to be healthier for babies and senior citizens as goat milk is non-allergenic and contains smaller, well-emulsified fat globules, without agglutinin protein hence easier to digest.

DOST researchers have also established that goat dairying is more financially rewarding for small backyard farmers than cattle and carabao dairying. For the price of one carabao, a farmer can buy three breeder goats and earn P223,440 for seven lactations in five years while a cattle/carabao entrepreneur can get only one head and earn only P200,000.

PCAARRD is funding and coordinating the goat dairy  S&T program which initially seeks to increase milk production in backyard farms from 45 liters in 90 days to 135 literss for each 180-day lactation and 180 liters to 360 liters for each 180-day lactation in commercial farms.

As of 2013, the country has around 3.67 million total goat inventory, of which 6,379 are dairy goat, but only 600 does in the milking line.

The national program will put in place S&T interventions in three years to address research and development gaps on feeding, breeding, health and management to boost the development of the Philippine dairy goat industry.

Source: National Dairy Goat S&T program lifts image of lowly goat