To improve goat management and boost livestock production, members of the Isamurong Farmers Association (IFA) and staff from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Uyugan, Batanes attended a training on Goat Management and Silage Making conducted by the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Cagayan Valley last September 25, 2026.
Mr. Gilbert A. Calma Jr., Agricultural Technologist from the Batanes Experiment Station – Livestock Program, tackled goat production. He shared that goat production is an emerging livestock industry in the Philippines, predominantly practiced through backyard farming systems to generate extra income and supply meat, milk, and organic manure.
Moreover, he emphasized that success begins with selecting healthy breeding stock across suitable breeds such as Native, Boer, Anglo-Nubian, or Saanen and providing proper elevated housing with good ventilation and appropriate floor space (0.8–1.5 sq meters for adults and 0.3–0.5 sq meters for kids) to reduce stress and prevent disease. Optimal growth and production rely on balanced daily nutrition, which includes sufficient forage, high-protein legumes like kakawate and madre de agua, concentrates, salt blocks, and constant access to clean water.
“Ang wastong pangangalaga ng kambing ay hindi lang kabuhayan, ito ay kinabukasan. Kapag tama ang sistema, mas mabilis ang pagdami, mas malusog ang alaga, at mas malaki ang kita. Better management, better production,” Mr. Calma stated.
(Proper goat management is not just a livelihood, it is the future. When the system is right, breeding is faster, the livestock is healthier, and the income is higher. Better management, better production.)
Crucial health interventions were also discussed, including combating common diseases and internal parasites like Haemonchus contortus through regular deworming, fecal monitoring, and FAMACHA scoring to check for anemia. Implementing biosecurity measures (such as quarantines and disinfection), adhering to Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP), and maintaining detailed farm records ensure higher productivity and profitability in goat farming.
Meanwhile, Mr. Marwin E. Nobleza, Agricultural Technician I, explained the process of making silage for goats and highlighted its practical benefits.
“Ang silage ay isang practical na paraan ng pag-preserve ng forage para magkaroon ng available na pakain kahit may panahon ng feed shortage, lalo na during dry season at typhoon season. Sa tamang paggawa at storage, mapapanatili ang quality ng forage at makakatulong ito bilang reserve feed para sa ating mga alagang hayop,” he explained.
(Silage is a practical method of preserving forage to ensure a steady supply of feed even during periods of feed shortage, especially throughout the dry and typhoon seasons. With proper preparation and storage, forage quality is preserved, serving as a reliable feed reserve for our livestock.)
Through this training, farmers not only learned how to properly care for and breed their livestock, but they also gained the skills to formulate their own organic feeds. ###
