Application of Artificial Insemination (AI) as a Breeding Method for Dairy Goat Herd Build-Up in Region 3, Philippines

Abstract

One of the constraints in the development of dairy industry in the country is the limited number of dairy animals of which only 14% are goats providing only 1% of the total volume of local milk production. Meanwhile, increasing dairy goat population is hindered by the lack or the high price of dairy breeder animals that can be used in improving our local stocks. To spur the population of goats with genetic potential for dairying among goat farms in Region 3, Philippines, artificial insemination (AI) was applied in this project. Within the implementation period, a total of 50 participants were trained on AI in goats. They served as AI service providers in their respective and nearby municipalities. Meanwhile, a total of 4 seminars on goat raising was conducted at the different municipalities to promote the use of AI in goat breeding and upgrading which were participated by a total of 166 goat raisers. A total of 346 inseminations were reported by the trained technicians. Based on the total number of inseminations monitored, the observed conception rate was 60.29% ranging from 37.50% in Bulacan to 100% in Zambales. Of the total number of kiddings recorded, the percent of singletons, twins, and triplets observed were 46.38%, 44.93%, and 8.69%, respectively, giving an average kidding size of 1.17. A total of 106 kids were born with 61.32% (65 kids) males and 38.68% (41 kids) females with an overall male to female ratio of 1.59:1. Majority (73.58%) of the total kids born were of upgraded Anglo-Nubian bloodline. Meanwhile, of the five commercial farms visited, the Soliman Goat Farm in Tarlac was selected as the location for the establishment of the farm-based goat semen processing laboratory. Moreover, the owner and the farm staff involved in operating the laboratory had already undergone training on semen collection, processing, and evaluation.