The rising cost of animal drugs is one of the (livestock) farmer's biggest problem. Compounding the situation is the remoteness of villagers to towns where they could avail of the services of animal technicians or veterinarians to provide the needed animal health care. Commercial drugs can be difficult to obtain in remote upland communities. Medicinal plants abound throughout the country. When administered in conjunction with standard veterinary therapy, they can considerably reduce the cost of animal health care. Moreover, they can prevent unnecessary animal deaths resulting from lack of veterinary care in remote areas. The following are some commonly used medicinal plants which are proven to be effective. Alagaw - Premna odorata, Abgaw (Bisaya), Adiyo, Argaw (Tagalog) A decoction of 8-15 leaves and 2-3 glasses of water given as drench (1/2 to 1 cup, 3 times a day for 3 days) is effective against fever, cough and colds. The extract of fresh leaves is internally used against ringworm and externally against ticks, lice, fleas and to clean wounds. Ampalaya - Momordica charantia Paliya (Bisaya) Bitter Gourd (English), Paria, Piliya (Tagalog) The juice extract from 1/2 to 1 kg of the leaves is orally given to the animal as dewormer. Given to one-day-old piglets, it prevents piglet anemia. Bayabas - Psidium guajava Guava (English) A decoction of 12 leaves and 2 glasses of water is given as drench for diarrhea (1 to 2 glasses, 3 times a day for 1 to 2 days). A poultice of pounded leaves is applied to skin diseases; infested wounds and castration wounds and is also used to stop bleeding. Bunga - Areca catechu Betelnut (English) Young betelnuts are used as dewormer, especially against tapeworm and roundworm. They are pounded, added with water and fed to the animal once. - The dosage for chicken is a piece as big as a peanut, 1-3 nuts for goats and pigs and 8-10 nuts for cattle/carabao. Caimito - Chrysophyllum cainito L. Starapple (English) Decoction of 1/2 kg of caimito leaves and 3 glasses of water is given as drench (1 cup, 3 times a day for 1 to 3 days) for fever and diarrhea in animals. Kakawate - Gliricidia sepium Madre de Kakaw (Tagalog, Bisaya) Leaves are pounded, the extracted juice is externally applied on the affected area to cure skin diseases, wounds and to get rid of external parasites like lice, ticks and fleas. Lagundi - Vitex negundo Five-leaves chaste tree (English) Decoction of 112 kg leaves and 2 liters of water is given as drench (3 liters a day, 2 times a day for 1 to 3 days) is effective to treat fever, flu and cough. The juice extracted from the leaves is used as dewormer (1 to 2 kg of leaves) and to treat Newcastle Disease in poultry. Lantana - Lantana camara L. Baho-baho (Bisayas), Kantutal (Tagalog) A decoction of 200 9 leaves and flowers and 1 liter of water, given three times a day, is used to reduce fever and to cure cough and colds. A poultice of pounded fresh leaves is applied for sprains, fractures and rheumatism. Malunggay - Moringa oleifera Lam. Horseradish tree, drumstick tree (English) An orally given extract of 1/2 to 1 kg leaves prevents piglet anemia if given to one-dayold piglets. The extracted juice is also effective extemally to cure wounds and internally as dewormer. Young leaves fed to lactating sow or cow stimulates milk flow. Niyog - Cocos nucifera Lubi (Bisaya), Coconut (English) Water of the young coconut (3 to 5 coconuts) together with 1 cup of sugar and some salt is given to animals with diarrhea. For bioat, constipation and as dewormer the juice/oil from meat of the mature coconut (200 to 350 ml. 2 times a day for 2 days) is mixed with the feed of the animal. Saging - Musa sapientum Banana Clean, chopped banana leaves (var. saba) are fed ad libitum to animals suffering from diarrhea. To treat open wounds, e.g, to stop bleeding after castration, clean steamed banana leaves (all varieties) are applied next to the lesions. Sambong - Blumea balsamifera Alibum, Ayoban, Lakadbulan (Bisaya), Ngai camphor (English) Decoction of 10 leaves and 1 liter of water is given as drench against fever, colds, cough, running nose and diarrhea (2 times a day 1/2 to 1 liter for 1 to 3 days) Notes: * If no specific animal species is mentioned, the remedy can be used for all livestock. * To prepare a decoction, the plant materials are boiled in water for 15-20 minutes or until the water is reduced to half its original volume. Allow to cool and strain. * If symptoms persist, a veterinarian should be consulted. Source: nzdl.org

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Goats are very popular among Filipinos because they require low capital investment, fit the smallhold farm condition, and multiply fast. Culturally, goats are integral to every special occasion such as birthdays, baptisms, weddings, and fiestas. Hence, they command a higher price compared with other meats in the market.

Goats require low maintenance because they eat tree leaves, weeds, grasses, and agricultural by- products. They are not only a source of protein for Filipinos, but they also provide the much- needed income. In fact goats provide livelihood to about 15 million Filipinos across the country today.

As goat production requires low initial investment and small risks compared to other livestock species, it is thus an attractive undertaking among resource- poor families. Moreover, women and children can raise the species, making it a sound option to augment the country’s programs on livelihood.

At the moment, there is an increase in demand for goats. Although total goat inventory in the country is steadily increasing at 2% per year, still there is not enough supply to meet current demands. It is expected that this increased demand will last to 2020, the year when supply is projected to meet demand.

Considering these, goat production is indeed a promising venture and anyone interested to go into this business is expected to reap positive rewards.

How do I start my goat raising business?

To start a profitable goat raising business, one has to have the following production inputs:

For backyard operation:
a) Investment
- Goat house
- Breeding stock
b) Operating Expenses
- Veterinary Medicines
- Vaccines
- Concentrates
- Additional feed supplements

For commercial or large- scale operation
a) Fixed Investment
- Land
- Goat house
- Fences
- Pasture area
- Water pump
- Feeding trough
- Spade
- Wheelbarrow
- Ropes
b) Stocks
- Breeding does
- Breeding bucks
c) Operating Expenses
- Veterinary medicines, drugs and vaccines
- Feed supplements and goat rations
- Labor: fixed and seasonal
- Repair and Maintenance of goat house, fences, equipment, and pasture.

How much initial investment is needed and how much profit will I get?

Goat raising is highly profitable. With minimal initial capital investment of P67,250 for 25 doe level; P174,500 for 50 doe level; or P349,000 for 100 doe level, positive net income and return on investment (ROI) are realized, even as early as the first year. The ROI for 5 years is 67% from a 25 doe level operation semi-confinement scheme and 60% from 50- and 100- doe level operations under pure confinement system. Payback period is 2 years.

The projected income statement by the type of operation is plotted below:

	25- doe level1	50- doe level2	100- doe level2
Total Expenses for 5 years (P)	373,262	762,002	1,524,004
Total Income for 5 years (sale of stocks + stock inventory value (P)	623,750	1,219,500	2,439,000
Net Income for 5 years (P)	250,489	457,498	914,996
ROI (%)	67	60	60

¹Under semi- confinement scheme
²Under pure- confinement scheme
Note: Figures used in this material are based on 2006 data

Before investing on the enterprise, we advise to visit an actual goat farm near you.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Patricio S. Faylon
Executive Director
PCARRD, Los Banos, Laguna
Tel Nos: (049) 536-0014 to 20; 536-5907
Fax Nos: (049)536-0016 / 536-7922
Email: pcarrd@pcarrd.dost.gov.ph
Website: http://www.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph

The optimum potential of goat as one the main sources of milk and meat has not been fully tapped in the Philippines. The goat is popularly known as the poor man’s cow because children and old folks who cannot afford cow’s milk prefer drinking goat’s milk. Aside from being cheap, goat’s milk is more digestible compared to cow’s milk. Goat raising is undertaken commonly by small farmers or backyard raisers. A farmer raises an average of one to two head goats. Only a handful of commercial-scale goat farms can be found in the country. Kinds of Goat Anglo Nubian Basically a tropical breed that was successfully adapted in the western countries. Its distinguishing features include drooping and pendulous ears, and a brown hair or a combination of brown and black. It has a long body that usually weighs 70-90 kilograms at mature age and produces 1-21 liters of milk daily. Boer A meat type breed with distinct white body color and usually black or reddish brown from rear legs to the head. The goat weighs an average of 90 kilograms at mature age. Saanen Originated from Switzerland, is a pure white to off-white in color. It holds the distinction as the highest milk producer (1.8 liters daily), and weighs an average of 70 kilograms. Toggenburg Also from Switzerland, have distinct white markings on the face, legs and tail and an erect ears like the Saanen. Milk production averages 1.5 liters daily. This duck assumes very erect normal postures which are almost straight neck. The back is long, straight and narrow. An adult weighs about 2.10kg while an adult duck weigh about 1.8 kg. The egg production characteristics of this breed resemble that of the Khaki Campbell. Alpine Also of European breed has a color that ranges from off-white to red, to black. An alert breed of medium to large size, it weighs 70 kilograms at mature age. It posses upright ears and straight face, the breed produces 1.5 liters of milk daily. Native The breed are small, stocky and low-set. Colors range from red, white or black or a combination of these colors. Milk production is just enough for its kids. It weighs 20 to 30 kilograms at mature age. Goat Housing Whether on range or confined feeding, housing provisions are necessary. A goat house or shed must be built to provide shelter. Goats are afraid of rain and wetness as these make them prone to pneumonia. They also prefer sleeping in elevated flat forms like a stair type arrangement. It must be well ventilated and drained and easy to clean. Feeding racks (silage, water, mineral and concentrate) should be accessible to both animals and caretaker, preferably in the front of the aisle. Flooring should be provided and elevated at least 15 degrees to facilitate cleaning and drainage. Separate pens should be provided for lactating and dry does, kids, growers and bucks. The buck pen should be visible to breeding does yet far enough to avoid transfer of the typical goat smell especially to lactating does when milk is to be sold.

	Flooring (sq.m.)	Feeding (linear cm)
Does/Bucks/Adults	0.75 – 1.50	5.24 – 25.40
Growing	0.50 – 0.75	10.16 – 15.24
Kids	0-20 – 0.50	7.62 – 12.70

A fenced loafing area beside the goat house must be provided (100 to 150 sqm/250 head), complete with feeding racks and water troughs to allow animals to loaf freely. Flooring of the area must be cemented to facilitate drying. Cogon and nipa as roof materials are preferred in hot and humid areas. Ventilation is of outmost importance. Majority of pneumonia cases can be traced to excessively warm and humid interior and sudden changes in temperature. Allow a 0.5 to 1 feet clearance between floor to wall and wall to beam to create an adequate circulation and to lower draft. It is desirable to maintain an interior temperature of 28 to 30°C. It has been established that above 30°C ruminants are inhibited from eating. Lighting may also be provided in the barns during the night. Goats consume up to 30% of the day’s intake during the night when light is provided. Fencing Nine-eye hog wire is the cheapest and most effective fencing available locally. Posts must be staked every 2 meters. Goats are fond of pounding their feet and scraping their bodies on the fences so it must be sturdily built. Barbwire fencing requires a minimum of four strands so it becomes more costly besides making goats prone to wounds. Selection and Mating Does Selection Criteria • Does should be purchased from a locality or area with similar climatic conditions; • Native or graded does should not be less than 25 kilograms; • Udder should be palpated for size, detection of lumps and other abnormalities; • Teats should be uniform at length and large enough for easy milking; • It must have a good appetite, possessing alert eyes and well formed pupils; and • Do not buy breeders from markets. Bucks Selection Criteria • One year old breeder or buck that have successfully mated once is desirable; • Acquired buck should be accompanied by pedigree records; • It must have a good producing line based from farm records; • Muck must come from doe with high twinning rate; • Buck must be active and ready to breed in-heat doe; and • Replace buck, preferably, every three (3) years. Breeding Does reach puberty from 4 to 18 months. Best breeding age will be 10 to 12 months, depending on desired weight. Limit yearling buck services to 25 doe services/year. Older bucks can cover up to 75/year. Buck to doe ratio is 1:25. Breeding – Reproductive Characteristics of Goats   

Age of puberty	4-8 months
Cycle of type	Polyestrus
Cycle length	18-21 days
Duration of heat	2-3 days (secondary heat: 8-12 days after)
Gestation period	150 (+/-) 5 days
Best breeding time	Daily during estrus

Breeding – signs of Heat or Estrus • Mucus discharge from the vulva, causing matting of tail hair. • Uneasiness, constant urination, lack of appetite and bleating. • Seeks out or stays near the buck and lets herself be mounted. When breeding, always introduce the doe to the buck, not to the doe herd particularly when bucks have not been used for a long time. It will be dangerous to mix the buck with an herd of pregnant does for they will breed indiscriminately. Two or four breedings during the heat period will suffice. It is highly impractical if not economical to raise pure breed goats, unless the main purpose is to sell breeders. The preferred method will be to upgrade local native or grade does with pure bucks. Crossbreeds usually perform better than pure ones under local conditions. Infusion of two or more bloodlines into the native doe will elicit a better product due to hybrid vigor. Three-way crosses between the native, any of three Occidental breeds and the Nubian has produced a greatly superior animal than any of the three under our conditions. Higher milk production should be the main consideration for it will not only mean bigger kid but also more milk for human consumption. A maximum infusion of 75% foreign bloodline must be observed to retain the natural resistance of the native. Never practice inbreeding unless fully knowledgeable in breeding techniques. On the other hand, intensive culling especially in milking herds, will largely be beneficial. Dystocia is very common in crossing natives with large pure breeds due to the invariably large size of the unborn kids. Crossbreed birthweights of up to four (4) kilos for multiple births and up to six (6) kilos for single births have been observed while native birthweights reach only 2 to 4 kilos for multiple and single births, respectively. Thus, in crossbreeding, large native does with a minimum weight of 25 kilos or more and those that have given birth at least once, should be used. Providing human assistance during birth will also be of help in saving kids, but this should be done only when necessary. Anestrus or failure to come in heat, is a common problem most particularly with high-producing does. Vitamin, mineral and other nutrient deficiencies, infections of the genital tract and hormone deficiencies are some of the various and implants and pregnant mare serum (PMS have been used with varying rates of success. Routine administration of oxytocin right after kidding and before weaning (5 days) aids in faster expulsion of the placenta, uterine fluids and in the rapid regression of the uterus. Routine Vitamin A, D and E injections to breeding herds also contribute to reproductive well being. Fifty percent of breeding problems can be traced to the buck used. Routine check up of the bucks’ health condition, especially of the genito-urinary tract, should be done. Preputial scraping, blood tests and sperm motility tests are some very useful procedures to follow in successful buck management. Always consult a trained veterinarian to do these tests. Breeding – Procedures in Artificial Insemination Keep the semen warm for it is extremely temperature sensitive and will be irrevocably damaged if improperly handled. Never allow the temperature of semen thawed in 95°F water to drop below 80°F. If at all possible, perform your insemination in a heated environment. Thoroughly pre-warm the inseminating gun before inserting the straw. If no heated facility is available, use a heating pad or hot water bottle to keep the semen and related equipment at the proper temperature before use. Inseminate at the proper time, as most successful inseminators agree that conception rates are generally highest when breeding during the later third of standing heat. In our experience, breeding a doe approximately 6 – 10 hours before she goes out of standing heat has yielded the best results. During the main part of the breeding season and with most does, this means breeding approximately 24-30 hours after the onset of estrus. Always deposit semen deep intracervically by measuring the depth of penetration of the breeding gun. After passing through several cervical rings, place a clean breeding sheath in the speculum alongside the gun with its tip against the back wall of the does’ vagina. Compare the difference between the length of the two breeding sheaths. Ideal depth of penetration is approximately 1 ½ inches. Use only one straw per breeding as research in goat production indicates that sperm cells introduced into the does’ reproductive tract tend to form “colonies” in the mucous present in the folds of the cervix. After undergoing a short maturation process, they migrate in fairly constant number from the cervix into the uterus and ultimately on to the oviduct, where union of the egg actually occurs. Quantities of viable sperm cells sufficient for adequate fertilization should remain in the reproductive tract for up to 18 hours after the first insemination. The use of a second straw of semen later in heat can cause a disruption in the orderly migration of mature sperm cells from the colonies already established in the cervix and actually reduces the chance of conception. Avoid attempting to AI does who remain in standing heat longer than 48 hours for reasons not fully understood, does exhibiting extremely lengthy standing estrus generally fail to conceive when artificially inseminated. Abnormally long heats are more common early in the breeding season, and occur more frequently in some areas than others. Fortunately in most cases the condition is transitory and most does begin to exhibit more normal estrus behavior as the breeding season progresses. Use of hormones to synchronize does, though successful and useful, may result in lowered conception rates. Many breeders have reported disappointing AI conception rates after having used hormones to induce estrus in goats. If it is necessary to synchronize a group of does in this way, wait until the first natural heat after the drug induced estrus before artificially inseminating. Be aware that the use of prostaglandins may cause erratic estrus behavior in some animals, which can persist for several months. Deposit semen very slowly because rapid expulsion of semen from the breeding gun can damage sperm cells and cause irritation of the does’ reproductive tract. Count to fifteen very slowly while depressing the plunger on the breeding gun. Don’t haul a doe in heat to have her bred via AI. If you do not have your own equipment or storage tank and must transport your does to have them bred, plan to board them several days before they are due to come into heat. It is probably preferable if you cannot breed your own does yourself to have an AI technician come to your farm to perform the insemination. You can do your own inseminating even if you do not own your own tank. Small quantities of semen can be transported and stored for a half day or longer in a stainless steel thermos bottle. Make sure that you do not screw the lid onto the thermos as possible rupture can occur as a result of nitrogen gas pressure. For best conception rates, inseminate only does with regularly occurring heats and no history of breeding or kidding problems. Does that are difficult to settle by natural service are not good AI candidates. Proper nutritional management also pays a big role in reproductive efficiency. Does that are overly fat or thin are less than ideal prospects for AI breeding. Virgin does should present no problem so long as they weigh at least 75 lbs. Don’t attempt to AI a doe on her first heat cycle of the season – the first heat cycle of the year is often infertile and is frequently followed by a second heat 5 to 8 days later. Conception rates will usually be higher if you wait until the second or later heats to do your breeding. Likewise, conception rates may drop off if you attempt AI towards the very end of the normal breeding season. Watch your does carefully 17 to 22 days after breeding them by AI for some reason that some does who conceive by AI experience a false heat three weeks later. Although they may exhibit otherwise typical estrus behavior, such does will seldom allow a buck to mount them. If in doubt, submit a milk or blood sample to a testing laboratory for a progesterone assay. Keep detailed records of your AI breeding. Note such factors as color and consistency of cervical mucous, depth and relative difficulty or cervical penetration, length of standing heat both before and after inseminating, weather conditions, time required to complete the insemination, and other pertinent information. These records will often be of great help in explaining why some does settle and others did not. Know your does. Chart the heat cycles of each of your animals on a calendar. Observe them at least three times daily during the breeding seasons for signs of estrus behavior. Note the number of hours that each does remains in standing heat, and the relative intensity of estrus activities such as flagging, fighting and mounting other does. Observe proper sanitary procedures. Specula should be thoroughly washed and sanitized between use. Scrub the doe’s external genitalia with soap and water and dry completely before inserting the speculum. Do not use iodine-based products, as iodine is spermicidal. Take care not to touch the part of the speculum or breeding sheath which is inserted in the doe’s vagina. Attend an AI school. Attendance at an AI school taught by a competent and knowledgeable instructor can increase your chances of success with AI. As with any other acquired skill, hands-on experience is the best way to develop the confidence and correct techniques necessary to use AI effectively. Do your homework. Artificial insemination is only a tool, albeit a powerful one. To be really successful with AI, you have to do more than just put kids on the ground. Only through intelligent selection of sires compatible with the objectives of a carefully thought out breeding program can AI benefit you, the breeder, or the meat and dairy goat industry. Care and Health Practices Care of Dry and Pregnant Doe If the doe is being milked, dry (stop milking) at least 1 to 2 months before kidding date. This will give her enough reserve for the next lactation. Put all dry does in one compartment. One week before kidding, place her in a separate kidding pen. This can be predicted by swelling and discharge from the vulva, engorgement and waxing of the teats and constant laying down of the doe. Avoid any form of noise in the kidding area. Sometimes it is necessary to help the pregnant doe during kidding, especially native does bred with pure bucks, because the kids are bigger. Dystocia or difficult delivery is common in these cases. Be sure that the presentation is right before attempting to pullout the kid. In anterior presentation, both front legs and heads are presented and in posterior presentation, both hind limbs come out at the same time. Oversized kids should be pulled out with an even, continuous pressure. In difficult cases, it is best a practicing veterinarian. Care of the Lactating Doe and Newborn Kids Immediately after delivery, wipe the kid’s mouth, nose and body with a clean, dry cloth and massage the thoracic area to initiate breathing. Normally, the mother does this, but sometimes the mother is too weak to do it. Be sure no mucus is clogging the airways. The kids must be able to suck within one hour. For very weak kids, feeding colostrum through a stomach tube usually produces dramatic results. First time mother some time are reluctant to suckle their young due to udder pain caused by over engorgement of milk. Restraining the doe for the first suckling will usually relieve udder pain. If colostrum in the udder is not fully consumed by the kid, stripping (manually milking out excess) will be necessary to prevent mastitis. The placenta must come out within 24 hours from expulsion of the fetus. Tie the umbilical cord with a sterile string and apply disinfectant. Allow the kids to suckle for the first 4 to 5 days. If the doe is to be milked, separate the kids from the mother and start feeding using a baby bottle (8 oz. size) and refer to feeding guide for dosage. If the doe is not to be milked, the doe can be taken out of the pen for feeding and returned to the kid three times a day and the whole night. This method will ensure greater livability to the kid by not exposing it to the elements, and proper feeding of the doe. Does weaned early (4 to 5 days) usually return to heat after 1 to 2 months. When the doe comes into heat, introduce it to the buck, not vice-versa. Two services a day for two days is an optimum. If the doe does not conceive, heat may return in 8 to 12 days. Higher conception is accomplished in the secondary heat. If breeding is successful, milk production drops after one month and the right side of the abdomen starts to fill up. Milking Milking periods must be established and strictly adhered. If milking is done twice a day, e.g. 6 AM and 6 PM, the process should not be delayed or advanced. Possibly, same personnel should be used. Goats can withhold milk, so unnecessary changes in the routine should be avoided Milk quickly and continuously Milk let down can be initiated by washing the udder with lukewarm water and wiping with a clean towel. All milking utensils, especially the milkers’ hands must be thoroughly cleaned. Feed concentrates during milking This serves as incentive to the goats for them to enjoy and look forward. Contrary to popular belief, properly drawn and processed goat milk have no offending smell. During milking, the buck should not be near the doe to avoid transfer of the typical goat smell to the milk. Care of the Weanling and the Growing Kids Place all weaned kids in a separate pen, and if possible, according to size. If male kids are to be raised for meat, castrate as early as possible, preferably within the first month. If females are to be raised for milking, check for excess teats and have them removed. Horn buds usually appear within the first to third month. De-horn when buds reach the size of a fingernail. Separate males and females at the age of four months. Goats sometimes reach puberty at this age. Start breeding females at 8 to 10 months. Bucks can start breeding at the same age. Care of the Breeding Buck The breeding buck must always be confined separately but always visible to the does. The buck is the source of the typical goat smell such that direct contact with the doe must be avoided. Provide a loafing area. One to two years old buck can make 25 to 50 doe services a year, an older buck more. References: Livestock Development Council (LDC) Sources: dti.gov.ph, bar.gov.ph Photo: alaminosgoatfarm.com

Swine production in the Philippines is a P191-billion industry and is the largest among the livestock and poultry industries of the country. It ranks next to rice with 18.28% contribution to the total value of agricultural production. Swine production plays a major role in ensuring the country’s food security by providing about 60% of the total animal meat consumption of Filipinos. The Philippine swine industry is ranked eighth in the world in terms of the volume of pork production and number of breeding sows. However, majority or about 65% of the pigs in the Philippines are kept by smallhold pig raisers. Despite being dynamic and technologically advanced, the local pig industry is still confronted with inefficiency of production due to low sow productivity, high mortality due to inefficient diagnostic tool, and lack of native pig genetic resource conservation, improvement and utilization initiative.  Thus, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) supported research and development (R&D) initiatives through the Industry Strategic science and technology (S&T) Program (ISP) for Swine. The program aims to address the current problems by developing technologies and systems that are expected to improve the productivity and production efficiency. Through these initiatives, the program seeks to create new opportunities and increase the overall competitiveness of the Philippine swine industry. Swine ISP accomplishments To increase sow productivity, the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in partnership with the Accredited Swine Breeders Association of the Philippines (ASBAP) develop the application of gene markers in breeding and selection of breeder pigs. This activity has optimized ten gene marker protocols associated to high litter size, fast growth rate and meat qualities as well as seven markers for screening of genetic defects and disease resistance. The adoption of the gene marker technology by the swine breeder farms is expected to increase productivity and efficiency in terms of number of pigs weaned and liveweight produced per sow per year. To address the problem on high mortality due to diseases, researchers from the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) developed six LAMP protocols for common swine respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens causing diseases (i.e. Pasteurella multocida, Haemophilus parasuis, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Cryptosporidium sp., Salmonella sp., and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) Virus. CLSU has forged memoranda of agreement with three Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RADDLs) of the Department of Agriculture institutionalizing the LAMP assays to be part of their routine diagnostic protocol. In addition, a pilot laboratory was established for the production of PED RT-LAMP test kits at CLSU. Patent for the PED RT-LAMP test kit was applied, while trademarks for the logo and tagline were registered at Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL). Related to improving farm productivity through better farm management and decision making, a Web-based Group Monitoring System for pigs was established. Cooperating commercial piggery farm is currently testing the system. The data/image transmitted can be viewed real-time using the desktop computer in the farm’s office. In addition, a smartphone application was developed that can estimate body weight of pigs using captured images. In response to our need to implement a pork traceability system from pen to plate, a computer software system was developed for tracking animals inside the farm and from the farm to the slaughterhouse gate using RFID (radio frequency identification). Moreover, to detect the presence of other meat aside from pork in a product, a DNA-based species authentication technology (PCR- Polymerase Chain Reaction) was developed. It can detect meat from pig, cattle, goat and horse. For the development of native pig breeds in the Philippines, initial breeding population was established and criteria for selecting of breeder native pig were developed. On the other hand, native pig free-range management protocol is being developed. The forage or pasture area were established and being maintained to provide the feed of the native pigs. The development and improvement of Philippine native pig breed is expected to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural farming communities. Related to utilization of native pig, the processing techniques for Etag were established following food safety requirements and quality control protocols. Etag is an ethnic and traditional meat delicacy of the Cordilleras processed through curing of pork (from native pig) with salt prior to sundrying or smoking for preservation. Etag is used as flavor enhancer in different viands. Etag processed using the standardized techniques comply with the food safety standard for microbial count of E. coli, Staphylococcus areus and absence of Salmonella. Moreover, convenient type Etag-based products such as cubes, powder and granules and liquid seasoning were developed. Etag processing facility was established at the Benguet State University (BSU). DOST-PCAARRD will showcase the swine ISP including other agri-aqua S&T research and development (R&D) outputs on March 2-4, 2016 during the SIPAG FIESTA at its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. SIPAG, a technology transfer strategy, embodies the Council’s commitment to DOST’s Outcome One in a bid to ensure that the fruits of R&D activities for the agri-aqua sectors will be a blessing for every Juan. by Livestock Research Division, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Service

Are you planning to invest in a profitable business venture? Why not goat raising? It only requires low initial capital and guarantees you a high return on investment even at the first year of operation for an economic-sized herd of not less than 25 does. Aside from that, different products from the different goat-based enterprises can also bring you profits! [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Photo by InspireFate Photography [/caption] What products do I get from goats? The following table briefly discusses the possible enterprises one can focus on, the required investment, the final product and estimated income, and the potential market for the products.  

Business	Investments	Products	Market
Production of breeders either as: Slaughter goats; or Dairy goats	Pure Anglo Nubian, Toggenburg or Boer buck (P 7,500-P12,500)	Pure or upgraded breeders for sale (P 3000-12500/hd)	Private multiplier farms and government institutions
Production of slaughter goats	Upgraded Nubian, Toggenburg or Boer buck (P 15,000-35,000/hd)	Live animal for sale (P 120-180/kilo or a minimum of 2,400 to 4,500/hd per day)	Private assemblers/ traders, kambingan restaurants, meat shops Muslim buyers for special/ holy occasions
Production of chevon-based products	1 pure Boer buck for every 25 females + 100 does for every 1 slaughter goat for sale per day; 200 does for 2 goats/day sale; and 300 does for 3 goats/day sale	Meat cuts for the wet market Vacuum packed choice cuts for specific recipes Processed meat like tapa, tocino or satey kambing, canned products )	Meat vendors in the wet market Kambingan restaurants, hotels Supermarkets
Buck-for-hire or buck for AI processing	Pure or upgraded bucks (P7,500-35,000) Breeder buck and equipment for AI collection (P47,000.00) operating expenses	Buck service (P50-P150/service) Semen for AI processing AI service (P350/insemination, ave.of 312 inseminations/month or a net monthly additional income of P26,296.67)	Goat raisers in the village LGU AI program
Production of dairy-based goat products	Pure or upgraded goats of the Anglo Nubian (AN) or Saanen breed Tools and equipment for pasteurization of milk	Goat milk (0.7-2kg in 215-250 days of milking); Yogurt, cheese Soap, lotion Halal certified dairy products	Dairy farms Cosmetic manufacturing companies Muslim and Arab countries

What other benefits can I derive from goats? 1. Aside from the products mentioned above, selling of forage and humus (a mixture of goat manure and feed left-overs) can be another source of income. Since establishment of forage is required when venturing into goat business, forage grasses and legumes can be sold as well to provide additional income. 2. Goat manure can also be used as fertilizer to crops. 3. Since goat can be integrated in various types of farming, like rice farming, they can decrease weeds in rice paddies and fertilize the soil through its manure, thus, helping increase farmer’s yield and income. Source: e-extension.gov.ph

If you are looking to build a chicken coop yet do not know where to start, you come at the right place. Chicken coops also known as chicken runs and hen houses can be as simple or fancy as you wish.

Building Chicken coops could be a very successful home based business for someone that has an interest in working with tools and building things. You don’t even have to know everything about building chicken coops to get started. If you’re a handy man, or simply skilled with a few hand tools like a hammer and a saw, then you are set to build a simple chicken coop using this easy to follow chicken coop guide. This guide will provide you all the details you will need in order to build a simple chicken coop.

A chicken coop is can be as crude or elaborate as you wish to build as long as you provide the following:

1. Protection: A good chicken coop protects the birds from the elements (weather), predators, injury and theft.

2. Adequate Space: Chickens need adequate space for movement and exercise as well as areas to nest and roost. Space requirements vary with the type of bird you raise.

Minimum Space Requirements
Type of Bird	Sq ft/bird inside	Sq ft/bird outside runs
Bantam Chickens	1	4
Laying Hens	1.5	8
Large Chickens	2	10
Quail	1	4
Pheasant	5	25
Ducks	3	15
Geese	6	18

Nests: Always provide at least one nest for every 4-5 females in the flock.

3. Easy Access to Feed and Water: Feeders and waters should be placed conveniently throughout the pen for birds’ access.

4. Source of Light: If you wish to produce eggs from your flock year-round, you must have a source for electric light. One electric light every 40 feet at ceiling height is appropriate. Windows placed on the southside of the coop will also be a good source of light

5. Ventilation: Fresh air brings in oxygen while excess moisture, ammonia or carbon dioxide are removed the stale air moves out of the house. For small coops windows or vents on one side of the house usually provide plenty of ventilation.

6. Maintenance: You should have a regular schedule for cleaning and maintaining the coop. Have a specific time for replacing straw, cleaning the litter and putting feeds and water.

Here is a sample Chicken Coop Plan and Construction Guide
Coop Plans

Materials list
Cutting list
Coop assembly
Sheathing the coop
To dado or not to dado
Building the nest boxes
Building the doors

Some other useful site: Backyard Chickens

Source: http://pubs.ext.vt.edu
Photo: backyardchickens.com

At the moment, there is a very small dairy goat inventory, which is barely 6,379 head or 0.17% of the total goat population. Of this meager herd, only about 600 head are in the milk line, 70% of which are suspected to be harboring subclinical mastitis. As a result, the production of quality milk decreases. Backyard milk production stands at 0.5li/day with commercial farms producing barely a little over 1li/day.  Lactation length is also compromised at 90 days for the backyard farms and 180 days for most commercial farms.   At the moment, very little R&D has been done on dairy goat. The limited R&D in various institutions is also fragmented. Because of these, interventions to improve productivity of the current genotypes in the country such as Saanen and Anglo Nubian are compromised. Despite these problems, the potentials of goat milk are very bright. Milk from dairy goat is known as the healthier alternative to cow’s milk, as it has smaller, well-emulsified fat globules, without agglutinin protein hence, promoting easier digestion and assimilation in the human body. This makes dairy goat milk very appropriate for children and old people alike. Dairy goat’s milk also lacks the alpha-s1-casein protein, thus producing no allergic reactions unlike cow’s milk.  It has significant proportion of medium chain triglycerides, recognized as highly beneficial to a number of health issues, and has higher amounts of vitamins and minerals with greater bioavailability. Milk from dairy goat is also good as skin exfoliant and moisturizer.   In the countryside where meat consumption is low, goat milk is an important daily source of protein, phosphate and calcium not otherwise available because of lack of cow’s milk. Goat dairying is also more financially rewarding for the smallhold than cattle and carabao dairying, as income is relatively higher.  All these advantages make goat production and goat dairying nowadays popular, propelling farmers to venture into such business and for the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) to pour in investments to address the gaps in goat research and development (R&D). Dairy Goat ISP accomplishments The National Dairy Goat S&T Program is being implemented to spur the development of the local dairy industry by increasing local milk production from healthy dairy goats by 150% in 2017.  This is from a 58% increase in dairy goat herd (6,380 to 10,084 head), 37% reduction in subclinical mastitis (70 to 44%), and 60% increase in does in the milk line (from 600 to 960 head). Productivity is expected to increase with the various S&T initiatives on breeding, feeding and health. As of December 2015, the program has completed the profiling and characterization of the management practices of each of the participating dairy goat farms vis-à-vis their production performance. These data will determine the best performing dairy breeds suited to the country that will be promoted to farmers. To give smallholders access to the best genetic materials from the good breeds and eventually ensure dairy goat herd build-up, breeding methods such as artificial insemination (AI) and natural breeding will be introduced in the countryside.  In preparation for this, the Program has initiated in 2015 the enhancement of AI laboratories at the Isabela State University (ISU) and Department of Agriculture Region 8 (DA-RFO8). The nucleus farm at ISU was enhanced with breeders that will be used for semen collection and buck loan program. Five researchers were trained in Australia on herd recording, semen processing, and embryo transfer.  One hundred twenty-one AI service providers were also trained to help rollout the AI technology for dairy goat in Regions 2, 3, 7, and 8. To ensure that appropriate nutrition suited to the best performing breeds is developed, the Program will evaluate Indigofera zollingeriana as milk yield enhancer. In 2015, the Program has completed the agronomic characterization of the plant and started seedling production and the plant’s chemical analysis. The pelletized Indigofera-based diet for lactating does was formulated and feeding trial on its effect on milk yield is ongoing. To realize the potential increase in milk yield, inefficiencies in the milking process must be reduced thru an effective mastitis control program.  In 2015, the program started developing a portable diagnostic kit. Specifically, the Program assessed the local reagents to be used in detecting intramammary infections (IMI) in goats. A researcher was also trained at Langston University on diagnostic and management protocols for IMI in goats. DOST-PCAARRD will showcase dairy goat including other science and technology (S&T) agri-aqua research and development (R&D) outputs on March 2, 2016 during the SIPAG FIESTA technology forum at its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. SIPAG, a technology transfer strategy, embodies the Council’s commitment to DOST’s Outcome One in a bid to ensure that the fruits of R&D activities for the agri-aqua sectors will be a blessing for every Juan. The SIPAG FIESTA event will be held from March 2-4, 2016. by Livestock Research Division, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Service

Chickens maybe infested with roundworms which are indicated by slow growing process. Even the layers can also be infested by roundworms. It was found by researchers that papaya sap can be given as a drink but it was difficult for poultry raisers to give each chicken when there are so many. Researchers from UPLB tried [&hellip

Goat raising is a practical livestock-based enterprise that requires minimal investment but guarantees a return of investment in a short period of time. However, the lack of quality breeder stock and the high cost of breeding activities are some of the constraints that cause the low rate of local goat production. The price of goat is mainly determined by its genetic size and weight. When it reaches its marketable age, usually at eight months, a native goat, which can weigh 16 kilos, can fetch a price of Php1,600. Meanwhile, an upgraded goat or a goat of good breed, usually weighing 30 kilos, can be sold at double the price. If a farmer wants to improve the genes of his goats, he needs guaranteed goat breeders. Unfortunately, bucks frequently cost a lot more and are hard to find. Now, with the use of Artificial Insemination (AI), the same benefit is within reach of entrepreneurs. 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. Although AI is more widely-used for cattle and swine, it has promise for goat breeding. It is still not being adopted by the goat raisers due to: 1) unavailability of processed semen, 2) lack of trained inseminators, and 3) 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”. Funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), this initiative is headed by Dr. Jonathan Nayga of 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. Six years after, the project is now producing benefits not only to direct beneficiaries but the goat industry as a whole. After the development of AI protocols, the project was able to sustain the upgrading of stocks for the production of quality slaughter goats in the Cagayan Valley region through technology commercialization and institutionalization activities. Increased availability of frozen semen In AI, frozen semen from a buck is thawed and then inserted or deposited into the cervix of a doe in heat. If the necessary equipment is available, the use of frozen semen is much less expensive than paying a breeding fee. 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. 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. Support to commercialization The stored frozen semen is sold to raisers and technicians outside the region who are conducting AI. Each semen straw is sold at Php 300. With this commercialization project, different business portfolios have been developed. These portfolios serve as guides for animal technicians in making this service provision into a livelihood. Different services offered range from provision of insemination services to large or small ruminants, to administration of biologics, and even semen processing. At present, more than 240 backyard raisers in 21 municipalities of Cagayan Valley have already benefitted from this project in terms of improved stocks without even purchasing a breeder buck. Establishment of AI laboratory Prior to this project, BAR funded an Institutional Development Project in 2002 at ISU specifically for the establishment of an AI Laboratory. The establishment of this facility paved the way for many basic researches to be conducted improving further the semen processing and application of AI the region.### (Rita T. dela Cruz)- bar.gov.ph

Small farms in the Philippines need not be disadvantaged in terms of productivity and earning power because of their size. To get the most out of a tract of land, a farmer can use his land as pasture for raising livestock or poultry while growing crops at the same time. Such a system, called integrated farming system, has seen success in a number of coconut farms in the Philippines.

Aside from profitability and increased food production, raising livestock under coconuts is also an excellent way of saving money on weed control as weeds serve as pasture for cattle. However, in modern pasture-coconut agriculture, high yielding grasses and legumes are grown instead of native grasses, and this poses the disadvantage of competition for soil nutrients with coconut palms. To offset this problem and other problems regarding soil, pests and disease, a number of requirements has to be met.

In order to provide good anchorage for the coconut palm and keep it upright, the soil needs to have a depth of 90 cm or more. This depth will also allow for the storage of nutrients for both the coconut and the pasture crop. The soil must be properly drained to prevent water from accumulating in the rootzones and stunting the development of or killing off outrightly the crops. To insure better drainage of water, a light soil such as loam is best for pasture-coconut farms.

The soil must also be well aerated or have a good circulation of air. Because animal traffic effectively compacts the soil and reduces aeration, cultivation of the soil and/or the regulation of the stocking rate is necessary.

The choice of pasture variety affects the productivity of the coconut palms and livestock production. Such a choice must not favor one component of the integrated system (i.e. either the livestock or the coconut palm) but rather should be a compromise to gain maximum protection from both components. The factors that make a good pasture variety are adaptability to local climatic and soil conditions, tolerance to grazing or cutting, can be easily established, resistance to pests and diseases, has a high herbage yield, palatability and high digestibility, adaptability to local management practices. In addition, a good pasture variety should not be too competitive with coconut palms in terms of soil nutrients and should grow well even under low light intensities.

In pasture-coconut farms, several grass species and legumes have been tried. Of the grass species, para grass, guinea grass, and Alabang X were found to be satisfactory, while the legumes centrosema and kudzu were used with success. A number of other grasses and legumes have shown promise as pastures under coconut, although these have not been tried extensively as they were recently introduced to grassland agriculture.

The proper management of pastures include grazing control, soil amendments, mowing and disking. The amount of grazing depends on the type of grass or legume with different species requiring lenient to heavy grazing to allow for rapid regeneration of the pasture crop. For soil, the application of fertilizers as well as the nutrients nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium should meet the nutritive demands of the coconut and pasture crops. Finally, the pasture must be mowed occasionally to ensure good pasture growth. The soil also needs to be broken up through disking or plowing to reduce soil compaction. This is done at intervals of four to five years.

Source: The Filipino Entrepreneur magazine

Native chicken meat has always been preferred by consumers over that of commercial broilers due to its unique taste, distinct flavor and texture, presence of nutraceutical compounds (functional food), and lower fat content. Being free ranged, native chicken is generally perceived as free from antibiotics and other synthetic chemical residues. The global trend of shifting consumer preferences toward organic and naturally produced products in recent years justifies the premium price offered for native chicken over that of its commercial hybrid counterpart. A similar trend is also observed in the Philippines wherein the volume of supply (e.g. 500 kg to 2 tons per month) required by institutional buyers has significantly increased. Native chicken constitutes 46% of the total chicken population in the country, which is around 76 million head. This local genetic resource provides livelihood in terms of additional income, food security and opportunity to convert farm wastes & by-products into high value products (i.e. meat and eggs). Native chickens also provide socio-cultural services to rural communities. In spite of its huge potential, the native chicken industry has two major challenges that need to be addressed---the unstable supply of slaughter native chickens and the high mortality rate of 40%. Recognizing these problems, the government laid down the Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) for Native Chicken.  This was meant to initiate S&T-based programs that will improve and profitably utilize native chickens by rural farmers in Regions 5, 6, 7 and 9. To date, the Program has developed breeding and free range production protocols for the four NC strains, namely, Darag, Camarines, Manok Bisaya, and Zampen. The protocols were supplemented with a Free Range Production Module to further enhance capacities of rural farmers on production and management. To address the high chicken mortality, ethnobotanical anthelmintics were developed to control problems on gastro-intestinal parasitism. Moreover, local production of oil-emulsion Newcastle Disease (NCD) vaccine is also pursued to control the annual NCD outbreaks that cause about 90% mortality in infected native chicken flocks. With these S&T interventions, 11, 579 head of breeder quality and 105,095 head of slaughter Darag chickens have been produced in Region 6. Inspired by the apparent success achieved in Region 6, the Program is currently being replicated in three other regions where Camarines, Manok Bisaya, and Zampen native chicken strains are produced. Gains from these interventions are expected to meet the increasing demand for native chickens in the country. The ISP for Native Chicken, among other ISPs, as a program, has been conceived by the government through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) in 2012. The Program seeks to provide the vision and direction for all actors and key players in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sectors in the Philippines. DOST-PCAARRD will showcase these technologies under the Native Chicken ISP, including other agri-aqua science and technology (S&T) outputs on March 2-4, 2016 during the Council’s SIPAG FIESTA at its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. SIPAG, a technology transfer strategy, embodies the Council's commitment to DOST's Outcome One in a bid to ensure that the fruits of R&D activities for the agri-aqua sectors will be a blessing for every Juan. by Livestock Research Division, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Service

Raising sheep in the Philippines can be as profitable as raising goats in local farms. Sheep contributes to food production, rural employment and gross national product by converting roughages into meat, wool and skin. Although Filipinos do not generally eat meat lambs, there is a growing demand for mutton and scope for export of meat.

Nilo Casas, who is an avid goat raiser, is very much convinced that there is money in raising sheep. Casas said, he was able to earn more than a million pesos for selling 275 heads of sheep alone.

Since sheep are part of the goat antelope subfamily, Casas discloses that there isn’t much difference in raising sheep and goats. In fact, he says, it is even easier to raise sheep because they don’t succumb to the dreaded sore eyes and foot and mouth diseases which usually infect a lot of goat breeds. Both ruminants, sheep and goats could also be raised together in the same farm and share the same food, which mostly consist of weeds and silage.

Casas shared a piece of advice for those who are interested in raising sheep: “For a start, you can raise five to 10 heads of sheep. After eight months, the ewes can already be impregnated by the rams. In five months, they would already give birth. If the sheep reaches the optimum weight of 18 kilograms, they can already be sold. In my experience, you would spend around Php500 per head of sheep. That would already include their food, depreciation and labor costs. Sheep can eat any kind of grass although I would recommend napier, para grass, centrosema, malunggay and ipil-ipil. If you want good quality meat, you could also feed them with growing mash-the one that you feed the pigs.”

Raising Sheep: Lamb Fattening
This technology is best suited to small or medium sized farms. Small-scale farmers carry out lamb fattening to increase their family income, while medium-scale farmers do it to gain more benefit from their ranch.

Advantages of Lamb (a young domestic sheep) Fattening

Lamb is a meat animal. Fattening lambs has the following advantages.
* Lambs can adapt to a range of environments;
* There is a relatively small investment;
* The lambs ofter a form of savings in case of emergency needs;
* Manure production;
* Protein supply.

This leaflet will inform the farmers about lamb selection, the rearing house, feed, diseases and their control, and harvesting time.

1. Lamb Selection
In lamb fattening, it is lamb selection which determines the success of the fattening. The selection of the lamb should be based on the following criteria:

* Male lambs aged 10-12 months;
* Weight of the lamb about 20 kgs.;
* Good health, lean, good posture, and without handicaps.
* Local lamb, can be fat- or thin-tailed breed.

2. Feed
It is important to consider which feeds are to be given during fattening, because these are 70% of the production cost. The feed should consist of water and dry materials. Dry materials consist of organic and inorganic materials, including fodder and concentrates. Fodder can include green leaves, cut grass, legumes, etc., while concentrates can be made from tubers (cassava, sweet potato, or potato), grains (corn, sorghum, soybean, peanut, etc.) and animal protein (fish flour, blood flour, skim milk, and meat flour, etc.)

The daily feed consumption of a lamb should be 3.1% of its body weight. Concentrates can be given to a level of about 2.5% of body weight daily. Clean drinking water should be available at all times.

3. Rearing House
The rearing house is to protect the lamb and stop it from wandering. It also enables farmers to inspect the lambs and control any diseases. The rearing house should be:

* Separate from the farm house, and in a quiet place;
* Large enough to meet the space needs of the lambs;
* Free of damp and puddles, it should receive enough sunshine but not be too hot;
* It should be protected from wind blowing directly inside, particularly at night;
* It should be clean, to keep the incidence of disease to a minimum.

The rearing house should be constructed as follows:

* It should be divided into several rooms. The size of each room should be large enough to allow 0.4 x 1.2 m for each lamb.
* Fodder concentrates and water should be made available outside the room.
* The floor of the rearing house should have slats at intervals of 2-3 cm, so that the dung falls directly to the ground.

4. Diseases and Their Control
To protect the lambs from diseases, the following program should be followed.

* Quarantine new lambs for 1-2 days, to ensure that no new lamb is infected with disease.
* Provide the new lambs with worm control medicine.
* Isolate any diseased lambs from healthy ones, and give them appropriate medication.
* Keep the rearing house clean.

Common diseases of lambs which need to be kept in mind include diarrhea, scabies, bloat, pink-eye and worms.

Cooperating agency for this topic:
Assessment Institute of Agricultural Technology (AIAT), Ungaran, Indonesia.

Sources: agnet.org, agribusinessweek.com

Duck-raising and balut production are often associated with Pateros and other bayside areas. But, inland duck raising can be as profitable as riverside duck-raising, especially with some duck varieties that prefer land to water.

Ducks are easier to raise than chickens; they gain weight easily and are more resistant to sick and disease.

They may raised commercial for their eggs, to produce the ever popular balut, or for their meat made famous by roast Peking duck.

Varieties.
The native or Pateros duck known as Itik is the most popular locally because it used for the balut industry. Although smaller than imported breeds, they lays eggs frequently but do not hatch them. Thus, they are called non-sitters. They are black and gray in color, while some are barred bulek). Others are brown or have white feather mixed with black. the male itik can be easily distinguished because its head is coarser and its body heavier than the female’s. They emit shrill and high-pitched sounds, while females emit low-pitched quacking sounds. Males also have curly feather on top of their tails, while the female tail feather lie flat or close to their bodies.

The Khaki Camphell duck, an extremely active type, does not swim often and swim often and lays as many as 300 or more eggs in a year.

The Peking duck is raised for its meat. It is often mistake for goose because its body stands upright. It is relatively docile and is a good layer. They are saleable at 2 to 3 months old.

Another variety is the Muscovy duck, easily identified by the small “bulges” on its face, the red swellings along the eyes and above the base of the bill. Known as the pato real or bibe, it is heavy and plump with yellow skin. Because its flesh is of higher quality than the average duck, it is best for home consumption and for marketing. Muscovy also prefer to stay on land, feeling on any vegetation. Thus, they require less care. Their feeding need only be supplement with palay or corn. Breeders, however, complain that this variety habitually wanders away from its breeding place. To remedy this problem, the flight feather is on of its wings should be clipped regularly to prevent it from staying so far.

The Muscovy duck has three varieties: The white, the colored and the club blue.

Housing.
Provide shelter for ducks in groups and separate them according to age.

A native duck house can be made from bamboo and nipa – on a room with three sides closed. A portion of the front side is left open as a door. The should be built facing the lake or river and should be high enough to let a man stand inside. A hundred ducks will need a house 4 by 4 meters and 3 meters high.

Cover the earth floor with clean rice hull or straw 3 to 4 inches thick. Make sure it is much higher than the surrounding ground.

Separate ducks pens from one another by bamboo fences low enough for caretaker to transfer from one to another. The fence should extend to enclose the water’s shallow edge to prevent the ducks from straying too far.

If the ducks are to be raised where there is no body of water, provide a small pond where they can swim and get exercise.

Feeding troughs should be provided large enough to prevent the scattering of food.

Provide litters 3 to 5 inches deep on the floor to absorb dampness. For young ducklings, use rice hull or litter because it absorbs moisture faster and does not tangle with duckling’s feet. Change liter as often as possible to prevent disease and parasites. When the surface litter becomes dirty and damp, rake it to expose and dry the wet portion.

Breeding.
Select only vigorous ducks for breeding when they are about eight weeks old, and then again at 4 and 5 months old, before placing them in breeding pens. Drakes or male ducks should be raised separately from female ducks. Mate them when they are at least seven months old to ensure good offspring. Drakes should be the same age or a months older than the females ducks. One drake may be mated to 6 to 10 ducks.

In the case of non-setters, their eggs may be hatched by a setting hen, at a minimum of eight duck eggs in one setting. Everytime the hen leaves the nest, sprinkle the eggs with lukewarm water because duck eggs need a little moisture.

Itik eggs hatch in 28 days, The bibe or Muscovy can hatch 12 to 15 of its own eggs in one sitting in about 33 days. For large-scale duck-raising, the eggs of non-sitters such as itik will need a large incubation hut or hatchery called the balutan. This may be a simple one-room house made of bamboo and nipa. The floor should be air of hard eight, its wall closed to avoid drafts of air. An opening must be left for the door.

Eggs for hatching should be thick-shelled, fair in size, and not older than five days. Test them by snapping your fingers hard enough on the shell. Eggs with shells that break easily should not be included.

Place the duck eggs in the balutan inside abaca cloth bags in batches of 100 to 125 eggs each. Then , place them in deep bamboo basket incubators, a maximum of ten layers of eggs bags in one basket.

Beforehand, heat bags of palay in iron vat (kawa for one whole day to a temperature of about 43^oC (109^oF). Then, place these bags in between the bamboo basket incubators.

Leave the eggs in the balutan for 28 days. After 20 days, the palay bags need not be heated anymore.

when using a kerosene or electric incubator for hatching, maintain a temperature of 100^oF and a humidity of 55 to 60 per cent. A pan of water kept at the bottom of the incubators will kept maintain the right humidity.

Do not hatch duck and chicken eggs in one incubator.

During the incubation period, turn the eggs at least 3 to 4 times a day to make them more “hatchable.”

After 28 days, store the hatching eggs in a cool room and place them in airy baskets or trays. Clean them with a slightly moist rag. Then, wait for them to hatch.

Care of ducklings.
Raising duckling is almost similar to raising chicks, except that the former grows faster. Ducklings start eating one day after hatching.

After removing them from the incubators, transfer them into boxes in a draft-free and rat-proof room. If boxes are not available, raise them on straw-covered floors or woven bamboo mats or sawali. Provide them with heat during the first week and during cold weather. Use electric bulbs or kerosene lamps.

Determining the sex.
Press the region of the crop inward and with two fingers, press the vent slightly outward. The male organ will protrude, while that the female will remain flat.

Feeding.
Mash feed for duckling is usually composed of corn, soybean meal, fish meal, dried whey, rice bran with oyster shell and bone meal with vitamin mineral supplements.

Feed the duckling with wet starter mash eight weeks, or moistened boiled rice for the first three weeks, 4 or 5 times a day. Start giving water in drinking troughs on the second day.

On the fifth day, add finely chopped small shrimps to the boiled rice. Increase their feed as the duckling grow older.

At the age of one month, feed them with tiny fresh water snails and boiled unhulled rice or palay.

Give only enough feed to be consumed quickly as they tend to spoil when the left long in the troughs.

After the fifth week, give green feed such as finely chopped camote leaves and kang kong three time a day.

Processed pellets for ducks are available in the market. They are composed of the necessary feeding nutrients,

S T A R T E R R A T I O N
(For duck 1 day to 6 weeks old)
Yellow ground corn…………40%
1st class rice bran………..15%
Copra meal………………..4.5%
Soybean oil meal (44%)……..20%
Fish meal (50%)……………10%
Ipil-ipil leaf meal……….. 5%
Oyster shell powder……….. 1%
Bone meal………………… 1%
Salt……………………..0.5%

G R O W E R R A T I O N
(For ducks more than 6 weeks old)
Yellow ground corn…………45%
1st class rice bran………..15%
Copra meal………………..4.5%
Soybean oil meal (44%)……..15%
Fish meal (50%)……………10%
Ipil-ipil leaf meal……….. 5%
Dried whey……………….. 2%
Oyster shell powder……….. 1%
Bone meal………………… 1%
Salt……………………..0.5%

L A Y E R R A T I O N
(For ducks in the egg-laying stage)
Yellow corn…………40%
rice bran…………..20%
Soybean oil meal (44%).10%
Copra meal………….10%
Fish meal (50%)……..7.5%
Ipil-ipil leaf meal….5%
Oyster shell powder….4%
Bone meal…………..1%
Salt……………….0.5%

Care for manure ducks.
Do not disturb ducks unnecessarily especially during egg production. Keep away dogs and other stray animals.

Ducks usually eat grains, insect and green feeds. Do not allow spoiled feed within their reach to avoid poisoning.

Although ducks are more resistant to disease than chickens, they are also susceptible to avian pest. Thus, immunization is advisable. When they isolate themselves from the flock and refuse to eat, remove them at once. Keep them in separate confinement to prevent disease from spreading, Consult a veterinarian. It is best to give prophylactic agent or vaccine against disease when ducks are still healthy as a precaution measure.

Source: region10.dost.gov.ph

What is TRICHANTERA GIGANTEA? Trichantera gigantea, a fodder tree, also known as Nacedero or Madre de Agua. It was introduced into the country some years ago from Latin America (Columbia and Venezuela) and adapts well in local tropical conditions. It can be planted to a wide range of soil types and elevations up to 1800 meters above sea level. It can be planted at low density at 6,700 cuttings per hectare. It grows well easily between plantation crops and produces 40-60 tons per hectare. [caption id="attachment_13356" align="alignnone" width="500"] Source: feedipedia.org[/caption] WHAT IS THE NUTRIENT CONTENT OF TRICHANTERA GIGANTEA? The leaves of trichantera is a potential source of protein, varying from 18-22 in dry matter form and apparently most of this protein are true protein and has a good amino acid balance (Rosales, et.al, 1989). It has 2.8% Crude Fat, 13.4% Crude Fiber,19.7% Ash, and 37.0% NFE. HOW IS TRICHANTERA GIGANTEAN PROPAGATED? Propagation may be done through cuttings. The cuttings measuring 6-8 inches with 2 nodes are ideal as planting materials. Cuttings can be grown in a plastic bag ( 10 inches x 6 inches) and allowed to grow in three (3) months before it can be transplanted to the field. However, it can be directly planted to the prepared field. HOW IS IT FED TO PIGS? Young leaves can be offered to the pigs in fresh form. It can also be processed into leaf meal and use of ingredients in mash. HOW MUCH CAN BE FED TO PIGS AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR COMMERCIAL FEEDS? Trichantera leaves can replace about 20-30% of the commercial diet of growing-finishing pigs. Six (6) kilograms of fresh leaves consumed by pigs per day is equivalent to 1 kg of mixed feeds saved. CAN IT BE GIVEN TO OTHER ANIMALS ASIDE FROM PIGS? Yes. It can be mixed to poultry diets (ducks, hens, quails, rabbits, and even to large (cattle and carabaos) and small ruminants (sheep and goats) feeds. WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM SUBSTITUTING TRICHANTERA LEAVES TO COMMERCIAL RATION? Partial replacement of mixed feeds with Trichantera gigantea give almost the same results in terms of weight gain, meat quality and income with those pigs given sole mixed feeds. For more information, please contact: Alfredo M. Cayabyab, DRDev. Chief, Research Division/RIARC Manager DA-SMIARC, Bago Oshiro, Tugbok District, Davao City Telefax: (082) 293-0109 or (082) 293-0136 E-mail : smiarc@yahoo.com Reference: Trichantera Gigantea Publication Bureau of Animal Industry Department of Agriculture, Dilliman, Quezon City Produced by: Knowledge Management-Farmer Information andTechnology Service (KMFITS) Center DA-SMIARC, Bago Oshiro, Mintal, Tugbok Dist., Davao City Source and Photo: davao.da.gov.ph

Low Cost Veterinary Treatments for Livestock Includes traditional herbs and other treatments. Readers should note that these traditional medicines have not been scientifically tested. They should not be extended to farmers without further study. For example, the pine trees which grow in your area might be a different species than the one used by Korean farmers to treat diarrhea in cattle., 1999-12-01 [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Photo by KathrynW1 [/caption]  

Hog raising is a very popular enterprise in Region 8 such that there is a proliferation of backyard producers which dominates the swine industry and a healthy viable commercial sector. Despite the crises facing the swine industry, still many people are venturing in this enterprise.

The total swine inventory for Eastern Visayas as of January 2007 is 984,000. About 56% of the total figure is produced in Leyte, followed by Northern Samar at 13%. Southern Leyte at 12% ranks third in the provinces’ contribution to the swine population in Region 8.

Selection Criteria. When selecting breeder sows on the basis of physical appearance, consider the following:

The gilt should have well-developed udder with a minimum of six pairs of properly spaced functional teats. A sow with poor udder development is likely to have poor milking capacity.

Choose those which do not have inverted teats for such teats are inherited and do not secrete milk. A long body is more desirable in sows because it provides more space for udder development. The body should have uniform width from front to rear. Good development on the ham, loin and shoulder is required of breeding animal. Must have sound and well-spaced feet and legs. Animals with medium short feet and short upright pasterns are preferable. Make it a point to select the biggest animals within a litter.

Female breeders should come from a litter of eight or more good-sized piglets with high survivability. Do not keep gilts that come from sows in which agalactia (failure to secrete milk) have been observed.

Select vigorous and hardy pigs from a healthy litter in a herd raised under good swine sanitation. Do not keep gilts or boars nor breed from litters that have physical abnormalities. These may be inherited.

Masculinity, both in appearance and action, should predominate in the make-up of any boar. The primary sex organs should be clearly visible and be well-developed. Select only those boars whose testicles are equal size. Generally, boars should be four to six months old at the time of selection. However, the best is to select a boar which has been proven and tested for fertility. Select boars with traits that can overcome the defects of the herd. Minor defects in the boar may be ignored provided that they are not present among the sows.

Housing. In whatever systems of operation, hog houses must be constructed properly to insure maximum performance of the pigs. A good house may not improve the health condition of the animals but a poor one will certainly increase disease problems easily.

For a small or backyard operations, cheap and locally available materials maybe used such as bamboo and nipa. Hog house should be constructed on a slightly sloping and well-drained area so that it will not become too muddy and inconvenient to work in. Permanent hog houses should have concrete floors for easy cleaning and to minimize the occurrence of parasites and diseases. Concrete floors must not be too rough to cause foot and leg problems nor too smooth to be slippery when wet.

Facilities and Equipment. Provide the pig house with the proper equipment such as feeders and drinking troughs. Feeders and water troughs are best made of concrete although other materials may be used. Some people use discarded automobile or truck tires cut in halves. In bigger operations, farrowing stalls are important to reduce piglet mortality due to crushing of piglets. Heat lamps or electric brooders are needed for survival of new born pigs. In places where the use of heat lamps is not possible, a box lined with old sacks or thickly bedded straw, rice hull or saw dust can keep the pigs warm and comfortable.

Breeding Management. Most gilts of the improved breed reach the age of puberty at about six to eight months of age but they should not be bred until they are eight months of age or are weighing about 90 to 100 kg.

Care and Management of the Sow. Regulate the feed intake of gilts or sows immediately after breeding to prevent them from becoming too fat. Obesity of pregnant sows may result to a fewer number of pigs farrowed. Also, they suffer from farrowing complications.

Keep the pregnant sow in an environment ideal for better conception. Sprinkle water on the sows when the weather is too hot or whenever necessary. To avoid constipation, provide a healthy but laxative ration. Provide plenty of water and newly harvested green feeds such as camote vines, kangkong, para grass and water lily.

Deworm sows and gilts against internal parasites and treat external parasites 14 days before expected date of farrowing.

On the average, a sow will farrow in 114 days after a successful mating. The usual range is 109-119 days . Watch out for the following signs:
- the abdomen swells
- the sow becomes restless and nervous
- the vulva is swollen with possible mucus discharge
- milk is present in the teats if pressed

Attend to the sow during birth because this is the most crucial time in the life of the newborn piglets. Full-feed the sow or gilt with a high energy ration for about two weeks before mating to insure maximum ovulation rate. Observe proper time of mating to insure maximum litter size.

A sow is in heat if she exhibits one more of the following symptoms;
- swelling and reddening of the vulva
- mucus discharge from the vulva
- restlessness and grunts frequently
- mounting other pigs
- frequent urination
- cocks her ears frequently

Mate each gilt or sow twice to the same boar in one heat period with an interval of 1 to 25 hours. A boar-to-sow ratio of 1:25-30 is generally recommended.

Care of the Boar. In commercial operations a new boar should always be checked for fertility and diseases associated with abortion and birth of dead pigs. Regulate the
breeding load of a boar.

Recommended Breeding load of a Boar

Care and Management of Piglets at Farrowing Time. Prepare farrowing materials and equipment before farrowing dates.

Using a clean dry cloth, wipe the mucus membrane and other birth material from the mouth and nose of newborn pigs. Assist the piglets’ breathing by swinging its head down or slapping it for a few seconds. Tie a string around umbilical cord two inches from the base and cut with a sharp pair of surgical scissors. Do not pull the cord away from the body while cutting so as not to cause hernia. Dip injured tip of cord into bottle of tincture of iodine.

Place piglets in piglet box underneath a heater. Whenever necessary, a 100-watt bulb is enough to provide the desired temperature. This can be changed to a 50-watt bulb after 14 days of brooding.

Cut the needle teeth. This is done by holding the pig firmly by one hand with three fingers supporting the jaw and the thumb pressing against the back of the neck. Insert the forefinger to one side of the mouth just behind the needle teeth reaching for the tip of the tongue. With a side-cutting nipper or ordinary nail cutter cut close to the gum level. Do not make a slanted cut or leave jagged edges for these are likely to cause injuries to the gums and tongue of the piglet and teats of the mother. Clean and disinfect nipper before working with another piglet.

Let the piglet suck the first milk (colostrums). Colostrums contains antibodies needed by the baby pigs to fight against diseases during the early life. Iron reserves in the body of a newborn piglet is consumed in a week’s time. Injection of commercial iron dextran is necessary to prevent piglet from newborn anemia. Repeat administration 14 days after birth or as soon as symptoms are detected. Wean piglets at four to six weeks of age. When weaning is done earlier than 56 days, a sow can farrow from four to five times in two years since sows usually come in heat from three to seven days after weaning. The proper procedure in weaning is to remove the sow, leaving the piglets in familiar surroundings. It is also important that all other routinary management practices like deworming, castration and ear notching or tattoing are carried out before weaning.

Care and Management of Growing-Finishing Pigs. Management requirements are less demanding, nevertheless they must be provided with ample protection against pests and diseases and fed in accordance with their requirements. Deworm pigs one or two weeks after weaning.

Vaccinate pigs one or two weeks after weaning or one week after deworming.

Feeding Management. If the milk supply of the sow is inadequate to feed her piglets, supplement her with a good creep ration. Use a milk replacer. Choose many available brands. Begin feeding a commercial good pre-starter ration when the pigs are about one week of age. The ration of the pigs should be changed at different stages of growth but the shift from one ration to another should be done gradually in order not to upset the normal feeding behavior of the pigs. Always allow a transition period of at least one week before making changes.

A starter ration is feed to pigs from weaning until two months of age and weighing about 15 to 25 kg. The grower ration is next given to pigs when they are two months old until they are about 15 to 20 weeks old. When pigs reach 60 kg. or about 20 weeks old, a finisher ration is given.

In formulating a simplified ration, keep in mind that it should always contain sufficient energy, protein as well as adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. Cassava, camote, corn and corn-by products and discards from slaughterhouses, which are abundant in some parts of the region may be used provided they are properly cooked and dried. Dry feeding is practiced in commercial operations for reasons of economy in labor and in feeding equipment. Wet feeding is mostly practiced by backyard producers. Provide clean drinking water at all times.

Health Management. Keep buildings, run-ways, pens and equipment clean always. Sanitize and disinfect them regularly. Quarantine or isolate stocks recently bought from other sources. When buying breeding stock for replacement, make certain that the animals have been immunized against prevalent disease in the area such as hog cholera and swine plague. Always seek the advice/services of the nearest veterinarian and/or
government technicians or the office of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Marketing. Marketing is the last job done on growing finishing pigs. Hogs are marketed when they reach at least 80 kg. Marketable hogs may be sold to middlemen who usually act as buying or selling agents, direct to meat processors without the intervention of the middlemen, or in auction markets where animals are sold to the buyer who offers the highest acceptable price per kilo liveweight or per head. When large number of hogs are to be marketed, the producer observe proper shipment and transport handling to minimize losses due to shrinkage, bruises, injuries and possible deaths.

Here are some tips:

- When transporting hogs, separate the large animals from small pigs by a partition.
-Provide loading facilities for easier and proper loading of pigs. If necessary provide beddings of sand or saw dust. When the weather is hot, wet down the beddings before loading to keep the pigs cool and comfortable.
- Estimated Cost & Return for Swine Production ( 1 cycle, 1 sow level)

Assumptions:
1. Piglets are weaned at 35-45 days old at 10 kilogram live weight.
2. Average litter size per farrowing is 10.
3. Service fee for boar services is P500.00/service.
4. Ready to breed gilt was used in this assumption.
5. Labor cost was included as expenses for production.
6. Housing is an equity of the farmer.
7. Piglets are priced at P1,800 each at weaning age.
8. Empty sacks are sold at P5.00 each.
9. Estimated amount and prices of feeds and other production inputs are as follows:

For More Information Contact:

Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division
Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit No. 8
2nd Floor, Soils Laboratory Building
Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City
Tel. No. 325-5363

Ginintuang Masaganang Ani– Livestock Program (GMA Operations Division Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit No. 8 Kanhuraw Hill, Tacloban City
Tel. No. 325-9854

Source: Philagribiz.com, Photo: bicol.da.gov.ph

What is contract growing? Simply put, you rear the chicks. Vitarich harvests the flock and markets the chickens. If you think about it, contract growing is easier to manage than any other poultry or livestock venture. Vitarich take care of the feeds, chicks, and technical services. They even take care of marketing. Better still, you need little initial capital because they shoulder the cost of feeds and chicks. This is exactly the kind of business small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs are looking for. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Photo by USDAgov [/caption] How does it work? Vitarich provides you with everything you need to start your own business and make it succeed. They provide the day-old-chicks (DOCs), feed support, vaccines, technical services, and other services. You take care of the housing; labor; power, light, and water; equipment; medication; and other miscellaneous expenses. Once the chickens are grown, you profit by the kilo. Vitarich harvest the flock and sell the chickens. Why work with Vitarich? First of all, Vitarich guarantees the quality and performance of their chicks. Vitarich uses the world-renowned Cobb broiler chicks. Cobb broiler chicks are superior to other chicks because: * they have a good initial body weight; * they have an excellent growth rate which means, * they develop stronger immunity faster than other chicks, * they have a lower mortality rate, and * their cost of brooding is lower; * they produce customer-preferred round, double-breasted meaty broilers with short big legs. From hatchery to delivery, Vitarich’s chicks undergo the strictest quality control. After hatching, the chicks are placed in specially designed plastic crates and are then immediately delivered to your farm. When the chicks arrive, their technical personnel will be with you as you break open the Quality Control Seal to inspect and count the chicks. Vitarich were so confident about their Cobb chicks, that you’re entitled to reject chicks that are apparently weak due to transport or other factors such as poor climate. Second, they provide the best support possible. Vitarich provides the best in technical support. Their technical group is composed of highly qualified farm-trained specialists, each of whom is equipped with everything they need to help you with your needs. These specialists will be with you from the time you think about signing up and all throughout the contract growing process. Here’s what they’ll do for you: * Assess the feasibility of the project; Assist you with farm lay-out, poultry building design and construction, and other details that have a direct impact on general flock health and management; Provide you with regular in-plant training sessions for new growers as well as refresher courses for experienced growers; Conduct seminars on the latest advancements in the poultry industry and sponsor drug orientation courses in coordination with veterinary drug companies; Be there to help you before and during the delivery of chicks; Give helpful tips on proper brooding management and ensure the most suitable conditions for chicks acceptance; Conduct regular farm visits to supervise DOC placements, assist you during brooding, deliver AHP and supervise hauling; evaluate flock performance in terms of mortality, feed consumption, weight gain, etc.; Provide vaccines and assist you and/or supervise your workers for proper vaccination techniques and procedures; Formulate a biosecurity program most suited for your farm including vaccination schedules, medication plans, quarantine procedures, disinfection and sanitation practices; * Evaluate the farms performance after harvest and discuss with you possible improvements for better and more profitable operations. Vitarich’s technical support group is even prepared to assist you with accounting, recording, and administrative procedures. They also provide logistics support. Working in close coordination with the Technical Support Group is Vitarich’s Logistics and Support Group which is based in Marilao. Logistics and Support will handle the processing of your application; coordinate prompt feed and chick deliveries; expedite the release of your checks; and take care of hauling finished broilers from your farm to Vitarichs Dressing Plant. To support both groups, other Departments within Vitarich are always prepared to help. In short, Vitarich has a very efficient and effective contract support system based on its long years of experience and service. Third, you never have to worry about marketing. Vitarich handles the marketing of your finished products. So you never have to worry about fluctuations in prices, or competing with other fish products, or where and how to sell your fishes. Vitarich will take care of all that and, in the process, save you marketing-related expenses. How do you start? Contact and Visit Vitarich’s office at Marilao today. VITARICH CORPORATION MacArthur Highway, Abangan Sur, Marilao, Bulacan 3019 Philippines wesite: www.vitarich.com/ TRUNKLINES Manila PLDT (02) 843-3033 Bulacan PLDT (044) 815-6117 SMART (0908) 894-4811 to 14 Ilo-Ilo (033) 329-7657 to 59 (033) 519-1264 Bacolod (034) 434-8166 (034) 708-4279 Cebu (032) 345-3511 and 16 (032) 420-5948 Davao (082) 238-0330 to 32 (082) 238-0517 (082) 238-0338 Cagayan De Oro (088) 855-2868 to 70 General Santos (083) 553-5467 (083) 552-9973 (083) 552-6031

Unknown to many, quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) are classified as game birds and used in outdoor sports and recreational activities. However, for business, quail is more than just a game bird. Raising quails is a profitable venture as the birds are easy to nurture. It does not require construction of large holding pens, minimum capital, and can give immediate returns. In fact, quails can stand well with chicken as a source of organic meat and eggs. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Photo by Jason Riedy [/caption] In the Philippines, quail eggs, known as itlog ng pugo, have become popular "street food;" sold boiled or as orange-colored kwek-kweks. On the other hand, quail meat is usually boiled, baked, roasted, stir-fried, or stewed. Quail hens require less than two pounds of feed to produce a pound of egg, while chicken needs almost three pounds of feeds to produce the same weight of egg. It can produce an egg daily for at least a year. In spite of the economic potential of quail farming, it has not attracted the interest of large-scale investors and producers because of lack of information, particularly on feeding. This is the motivation behind the project of the Department of Agriculture-Livestock Development Council to develop modern yet simple strategies for raising quail. At present, there are six breeds of quail raised for commercial production here and abroad. These are Japanese Seattle, Silver, Negro, Japanese Taiwan/Chinese quail, Tuxedo, and Brown crosses 1 and 2. Start it right Anyone who wants to venture into the quail business should first consider the proper selection of stock. Closely examine the bird's physical attributes to avoid growth abnormalities. For beginners, start with 30-35 days old quail pullets. The feathers should be tidy and neat, without any streak of white and black, as these could be signs of inbreeding. Birds should also be uniform in size. A mature (60-day old) Japanese quail normally weighs 120 grams while an American quail (30-35-day old) has an average weight of 100 grams. It is important to record the laying performance of the parent stock. A 65% average laying efficiency within 300 days laying period is desirable. Management Keep quails in small and safe pens. Preferably, cages for layers should be 5 to 6 inches high. Since quails are very agile birds, one should not provide too much space to minimize the risk of injuries. Regulate the temperature to 850F on the 10th day after the birds have developed enough feathers by using gas lamps or electric bulbs. The brooding, which lasts up to 15 days, is the most critical stage in a quail's life. Adequate amount of feeds and water, and optimum temperature minimize the mortality rate at 5% to 8% level. Transfer healthy 15-day old birds to growing cages. Limit light exposure to not more than 12 hours. Normally, quail hens start to lay eggs 45 days from hatching. Critical factors to consider are feeding, water, culling, waste removal and lighting. Feeding is a major factor in raising quails. Most of the quail industries today fail because raisers are still practicing inappropriate techniques such as feeding the quail birds with chicken feeds. Quails require a higher percentage of protein in their feeds. If sustained with chicken feeds for a long period, mortality rate may reach up to 70% and "survivors" will not be efficient layers. In addition, quails are sensitive to salt; therefore, levels should not exceed 0.7% to 1% in feeds. Quails fed with chicken mash undergo early molting, thus affecting egg production efficiency. Supplement laying mash for layers with chopped green vegetables. Sustain birds raised for meat production with high-carbohydrate diets and special feeds formulated that are commercially available. There is no known serious disease of quail except for some respiratory disorders do not spread fast. The remedy for this is regular cleaning and disinfecting. Place newly laid eggs in carton boxes and store in cool and dry places to maintain good air circulation. This keeps the eggs fresh for seven days. ------------------------------- Source: Livestock Development Council, Department of Agriculture, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel.No 920-3990/920-3991 or email: livestock@netasia-mnl.net BAR Chronicle, December 2001 Issue (Vol. 2 No. 23-24)

Sawdust contains 50 to 60% cellulose and about 30% lignin. Cellulose is an important component in animal feeds as a source of energy while lignin acts as a barrier to the digestibility of cellulose. Thus, the animals can hardly digest the sawdust. The lignin can be removed or reduced by first treating the sawdust before it is fed to the animals. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Photo by chrstphre [/caption] Materials: * Sawdust, nitric acid, sodium hydroxide Equipment: Mixing vessel, Drier Procedure: 1. Step the sawdust in 5% nitric acid solution (V/V) at a ratio of one part sawdust to 10 parts nitric acid for one hour at 80 C. 2. Wash the nitrated sawdust with water. 3. Soak the sawdust in a 5% sodium hydroxide solution for one hour. (To make 5% sodium hydroxide solution, dissolve 50 gms. sodium hydroxide, technical grade, in one liter of water). 4. Thoroughly wash the sawdust and then air-dry. Source: Technology developed by: FPRDI (DOST)