Boer Goats at RGA Farms

Rafael "Nene" Abello of RGA Farms in Negros Occidental had long dominated the game fowl breeding scene with his famous Raffy Blackwater line. He continues to excel in this field, as he always keeps himself abreast with the latest in breeding technology, techniques, and breeding stock. Twice a year, he goes to the United States and brings back brood stock to update his lines.

But during one of his trips in 2001, Nene came across one of the best breeds of meat goats-the Boers. Seeing the potential of these goats in the Philippines, right there and then, Nene acquired 20 bucks and 20 does from different strains. Including cost of air transfer, taxes, and duties, each goat amounted to an average or $3,000. With the same zeal and commitment that he had with his game fowl breeding, Nene brought home the goats and decided to get into meat goat breeding. In a previous interview, Nene reasons that the country's goat meat supply cannot cope with the demands of the market eager to get a share of this delicious meat. He then intended to upgrade local stock with the different families that he imported so as to produce bigger, meatier, and better quality goats. He also assured local goat breeders in Negros that he had no plans of competing with the local industry instead, "I'll be helping out the local breeders on how to produce more meat and improve their herd. I intend for all of us breeders to organize in order to get better prices when we market our produce elsewhere."

That was three years ago. Now, 1,200 goats later, the future is bright for the Boer goat industry, not only in Negros but in the country as well. Nene's goats are continually in demand, because they are healthy and way bigger than the local stock. They are even bigger than some of the Boer goats raised locally, which were also reported to have been imported. Miles Abello, Nene's youngest son who has been managing the goat farm operations, says that for the parent stock, the buck usually weights 120 kilos while the doe is about 90 kilos. Since last year, RGA Farms has been selling brood stock and meat goats to buyers from the government or individuals who also wanted to set up a goat farm. As the production permits, the farm preferably sells bucks over does, as they also need the females for propagation. Selling starts when the goats are already about a year old.

Although 50% Boers are also available, Miles recommends either the 70% or the pure imported goats for breeding. These can then be crossed with the local stock for improved lines. And that's exactly what RGA Farms did. With the imported breeding stock, they upgraded local stock in order to produce 50% goats. These half and half females were then improved by further crossing them with the pure males. The process continues until the their stock is improved to near 100%. Miles explains that this process may take a few years before they can finally produce the 1,000-head population that they are targeting. But, he says, that it has save them a lot than further importing pure females that cost more than P100,000 each.

One admirable practice at the RGA Farms is their strict recording. "We put into writing everything that happens in the farm everyday," Miles says. This record is also essential in the keeping the goats from getting crossbred from the same strain. "We don't breed too close to the parent stock because of the risk of the occurrence of bad traits. Else we have to cull the sub-standard animals," he further explains. The goats are bred all-year round as gestation period only takes 5 months, but at the RGA Farms, a single doe gives birth a maximum of three times a year to allow the does to rest and recover.

At present, RGA Farms is keeping a total of 19 paddocks of a quarter of a hectare each, all equipped with individual breeding houses, loafing areas and grazing areas. The houses, each with a total floor area of 36 sq. meters, were made from wooden materials then, but were soon replaced with permanent structures that can withstand the elements. The fencings are also made of welded metal rods that are sturdy and can last long. They also have a big rest area where they put the breeders at rest, those that are waiting to be bred, and the fatteners.

The Boer goats at RGA Farms are fed with a concentrated feed mix made especially by their own feed mill. This mix includes soya, corn, copra meal, molasses, and infused with vitamins and minerals. On the average, a goat consumes 2% of its body weight daily. Aside from the grasses that they graze, the goats are also completed with Napier grass for roughage. Sometimes, they also given cane tops if the supply of Napier grass runs out, but Miles says that they prefer Napier. For this reason, they are already planting Napier grass to cope with the goats' needs.

With the additional facilities that they installed, Miles is looking forward to a return of their investment in 3 to 4 years. Production may increase as the need arises. It has been three years now since RGA Farms opened its doors to these imported hybrid goats. And it won't take long until our country's local breeds will become Boer mestizos.