Common Goat Breeds in the Philippines
1. Anglo Nubian
2. Boer
3. Saanen
4. Toggenburg
5. Alpine
6. Native
Selection Criteria
Does
1. Does should be acquired from an area with similar environmental conditions.
2. Native or graded does should not be less than 25 kgs.
3. Udder should be palpated and examined for size, presence of lumps and other physical abnormalities
4. Teats should be equal in length and big enough to facilitate ease in milking.
5. Must have a healthy appetite with alert eyes and well formed pupils.
6. Avoid purchasing breeders from the market.
Bucks
1. Breeder bucks should be 1 year old and should have at least mated once.
2. Should have pedigree records.
3. Should come from a line of good producers based on farm records.
4. Buck must come from a doe with high twinning rate.
5. Buck must be active and ready to breed-in-heat doe.
6. It is advisable to replace breeder bucks every 3 years.
Structural Correctness
Structural correctness refers to an animal’s bone
structure. A structurally correct goat should be able to hold its head erect
with the neck extending out the top of its shoulders. Movement and stance
should be wide and straight on all legs. Both rear and front legs should be placed squarely below
the body. Joints in the legs should not be stiff. Any stiffness in the joints
will be manifested through irregular or restricted movement. Another sign of structural correctness is when
a goat is able to smoothly fill in the footprints made by the fron feet with
its back feet. A goat with disease or genetic structural problems may show
stiff joints or sore feet.
Muscle
In General, a goat that walks and stands wide will
have heavier muscles. The animal should have deep legs and rump with heavy
muscles. If observed from behind, the widest part of the leg should be the
stifle. The goat’s back should be broad and thick. Loin should be naturally
firm and hard handling. A good goat should be wide through its chest floor with
bold shoulders and prominent forearm muscles. When judging thin goats, use the
forearm as the best reference for muscling.
Volume and Capacity
This refers to the relationship of body length to
body depth and body width. Goats should be long bodied, with sufficient depth
and spring of rib. Avoid selecting goats that are shg\ort bodied, shallow
bodied, narrow based and flat ribbed.
Frame
The size of the frame is a good indicator of a goat’s
growth potential and maturity pattern. Do not choose goats with either very
long or very short legs. The goat’s height measured at the withers should be
slightly taller than height at the hips.
Post a Comment