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Post by alaminosgoatfarm on Mar 20, 2010 20:37:03 GMT -8
The high cost of feed concentrate have been a big issue among the players. As we continue to emphasize the importance of nutrition in feeding of dairy goats we have to address the economics of feeding concentrate. The past year AGF have come up with a Forage Improvement Program (FIP). This year the focus was to plant more Mulberry, Indigofera and Malunggay.
Bringing up to 30% the forage legumes ratio with our napier grass is our goal in our FIP this year.Stall feeding is practice, cut and carry style for our dairy goats. We are working very hard to increase the digestibility and protein level of the forage being fed to the milking goats .
To bring our FIP into its successful completion we have network with a lot of people. The biggest we scored was sourcing big numbers of mulberry cutting from UPLB. This set the tone on planting big numbers of mulberry in the pasture area. The installation of the drip irrigation is ongoing in our pasture area where the legumes were planted to nurture them this dry summer months with water.
Last year we raised the protein level to 18% of the feed concentrate being given to the milking goats. Hand in hand with feeding of highly digestible forage legumes and young forage grass the milking goats have responded well with an impressive performance in the milk test research we are doing with PCARRD and NDA. From a little over 2 kilos per day average in September they are are now averaging more than 2.6 kilos per day.
Increasing the legumes in the feeding program and reducing the feed concentrate feeding with out affecting the volume of daily milk produce is the next step we are taking. Any increase in milk produced with the addition of legumes will always improve the bottom line of the dairy operation. We only need sufficient volume of legumes to sustain a year round feeding program for our dairy milking goats and time to prove our statement with actual performance records.
In undertaking the Forage Improvement Program (FIP) at AGF, we were guided by the initial success of adding forage legumes in the feeding program. The improvement in daily milk volume average recorded pushes as to work harder. This could be the answer to the nagging problem of high feed concentrate cost. Success in this undertaking would be big boost for goat dairying in the tropics.
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Post by Farmer Nestor on Mar 21, 2010 2:47:29 GMT -8
Very well said Kasamang Art, and thank you very much for this information.
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Post by mulawin on Mar 21, 2010 11:15:43 GMT -8
The key to any animal husbandry project is good nutrition.
It took us at Oyibos one year to develop our forages. Only after we thought they were enough did we ever thought of acquiring our first stock of three goats. We experimented on the right combination of roughage and a cocktail of concentrate which we developed in the farm. When we saw that the goats were happy and at the same time were gaining weight, we thought we have hit jackpot.
We added more goats which required more forages. Little did we know that the forages which we thought would be enough started to dwindle. We had to scramble to modify our concentrate so that with a reduced roughage intake the goats would still be provided with the required daily requirement of nutrients.
Also, we have learned that to have sufficient supply of forage especially legumes, one has to continue to plant legume seeds everyday. I mean EVERYDAY.
Art is right. The cost of concentrate will be a burden in a goat farmer's bottomline figure. The success of any goat farm still boils down to steady supply of balance forages. Afterall, goats are ruminants created to thrive through steady supply of grass, ipil-ipil, rensoni, indigofera, etc. Concentrates are supplements just like vitamins to human beings.
We wish Art and their farm success in their endeavour to develop their forages especially this trying months of El Nino. Their success is the success of the Philippine goat industry who depends on their unselfish leadership.
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Post by alaminosgoatfarm on Mar 21, 2010 12:50:33 GMT -8
Networking with friends we ended up at UPLB in Los Banos, Laguna. Our friend Farmer Nestor network with his cousin and we ended up networking with Pearly Cantalejo,she is from Silk Worm Breeding and Egg Production of UPLB. The cousin of Nestor used to get his mulberry cutting from UPLB for his silkworm project.
With all the things coming into place it seems somebody is showing us the way in our pursuit of excellence in dairying goats under the extreme tropical condition of the Philippines. We were at the right place at the right time as they were pruning their mulberry trees and just needed the leaves for the silkworm. The mulberry cuttings were for free and we can get as much cuttings of mulberry as we want while they are pruning.
The blessings we continue to receive give us the strength to keep moving forward. The experiences we gain as we move forward will always be shared to all those who are willing to listen and learn on how to milk goats in the tropics. This is our way of saying thank you for all the blessings we continue to receive as we pray for more blessings to come our way.
This is big for our Forage Improvement Program, with the big numbers of mulberry cuttings we got from UPLB, it gives us a big head start in increasing the mulberry numbers at AGF. I’d love to see the day we can feed all our dairy and meat goats daily foliages from mulberry, indigofera and malunggay. That is getting ahead of the story we still have plenty of work to do with the long dry and hot summer. When the expected rains comes in June we see big improvement in our forage legumes planting area. AGF legumes production will double this year compared to last year.
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Post by alaminosgoatfarm on Mar 24, 2010 10:54:35 GMT -8
After visiting friends at PCARRD, Dr Edwin Villar and Dr. Synan Baguio, AGF got practical information to improve its mulberry propagation by immersing it in solution with ANAA and water overnight. When cuttings of mulberry are planted the end is covered with a small plastic bag to preserve moisture content of the cuttings until it leaves sprouts. The practical planting technique imparted by friends in PCARRD is most welcome to further improve germination rate of stem cuttings.
AGF is going all out in 2010 to further improve forage digestibility and improve protein level with the planting of more mulberry, indigofera, malunggay, stylo and centrosema in its forage area.
ANAA (Alpha Naphthalyne Acetic Acid) causes a lot of extra lateral root growth. It is available in fertilizer and feed supply store.
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Post by Farmer Nestor on Mar 26, 2010 18:06:18 GMT -8
Many thanks again for this very useful info Kasamang Art
Mabuhay ka!
Farmer Nestor
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Post by alaminosgoatfarm on Mar 29, 2010 2:47:58 GMT -8
Increase Milk Production
How do we go about to increase goat milk production do we increase the number of the milking herd? It is always the concept to increase the volume of milk you increase the number of milking herd. Another approach but would take a longer route would be breeding through selection of high performing milking herd. Hand in hand, nutrition would play a vital role for increase milk production. The addition of legumes like indigofera, malungay and mulberry tree foliage in the feeding program to address the nutritional requirement and lower production cost with increased milk production.
PCARRD Research Work at AGF
As AGF research work with PCARRD and NDA comes to a successful conclusion, we have identified our top performing milking goats based on daily milk recorded. This will guide us in selecting the next generation milking goats for our Dairy Breed Improvement Program. This is a big step forward for dairying goats in the tropics.
A field day is being planned at the farm by NDA and PCARRD to highlight the results and conclusion of the research work on milking goats performance at AGF. Dra. Gigi Salces would interpret the data collected from this study. She will make a conclusion and recommendation to close the study
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Post by alaminosgoatfarm on Mar 29, 2010 2:59:49 GMT -8
The advent of the El Nino phenomenon marks a start for AGF to address how to irrigate its newly planted legumes in the pasture area. AGF is pursuing to install a drip irrigation system in its forage legume area it is developing in the farm. This is how serious we are in seeing to it that our Forage Legumes Improvement Program reach its successful conclusion in 2011.
The long dry and hot summer ahead compels us to invest in irrigating our newly planted indigofera, malunggay and mulberry cuttings. Drip irrigation is a cheap way to do it after the initial cost of the Polyethylene Pipe, drip tape and connectors. Expert have told us its a way to save on labor and maximize the use of water in watering the newly planted legumes. Drip irrigation targets the soil around the roots making it water efficient.
We are also reviving our sprinkler system in one side of the farm and compare the results with the drip irrigated forages. The high cost of electricity in maintaining a sprinkler system is one of the main drawback in using the sprinklers.
It will be a long and exciting summer for us planting as much legumes as we can. With the reward in our mind that if we have enough legumes for our dairy goats in 2011 we will drastically cut on our feed cost and produce more goat’s milk. Goats love to eat these highly digestible mulberry foliage, indigofera and malunggay. When dairy milking goats are happy with the forage they eat, they will give you more milk as per our farm experience.
The performance of our dairy goats these past weeks starting February in the milk test we are doing for PCARRD are showing very good results. When we started the milk testing in September 2009, the dairy goats were averaging a little over 2 kilos per day. Today after taking out some of the poor performers and adding new dairy goats in the milking line, the batch daily average is over 2.6 kilos per day. The highest we have recorded so far was yesterday when we recorded a batch average for the day at 2.866 kilos per head.
One common denominator we observed when milk started to increase was the feeding of forage legumes like indigofera, mulberry, centrosema and sometimes leucania. This is on top of the feed concentrate we feed daily. As a matter of farm practice no mature forage grass would be given to the dairy goats, only young forage grass ( less than 60 days from last cutting) are given. Mulberry holds the biggest potential because it is highly palatable and digestible.
Digestibilty of the feeds we give our dairy goats is of great importance, of course we need to feed them a palatable ration so they will eat enough to meet their nutritonal requirement to produce more milk. Pursuing our forage improvement program to its successful conclusion is our way of addressing the high feed cost and providing our dairy goats enough forage legumes and grass all year round. Irrigating our forage area this summer is one of management decision to make the program successful.
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Post by dranz on Apr 20, 2010 5:31:45 GMT -8
ano po ung ibig sabihin nang ANAA?saan po ba mabibili?available din po ba ito sa mga local agrivet supply.im from southern mindanao sir art.....tnks
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Post by Farmer Nestor on Apr 20, 2010 6:11:36 GMT -8
After visiting friends at PCARRD, Dr Edwin Villar and Dr. Synan Baguio, AGF got practical information to improve its mulberry propagation by immersing it in solution with ANAA and water overnight. When cuttings of mulberry are planted the end is covered with a small plastic bag to preserve moisture content of the cuttings until it leaves sprouts. The practical planting technique imparted by friends in PCARRD is most welcome to further improve germination rate of stem cuttings. AGF is going all out in 2010 to further improve forage digestibility and improve protein level with the planting of more mulberry, indigofera, malunggay, stylo and centrosema in its forage area. ANAA (Alpha Naphthalyne Acetic Acid)[/b] causes a lot of extra lateral root growth. It is available in fertilizer and feed supply store.
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Post by dranz on Apr 21, 2010 4:42:21 GMT -8
salamat po ka nestor.....
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Post by alaminosgoatfarm on May 16, 2010 2:29:31 GMT -8
Last April 30, 2010 we presented the results of our STBF work with PCARRD and NDA at Alaminos Goat Farm in Alaminos, Laguna. Graphic presentation of live milking of the top performing Saanen dairy goats AGF 1076 and AGF 6184. The two goats yielded close to 5 liters of milk to the amazement of guests of the field day.
The intervention in the feeding program emphasizing the importance of nutrition for success in dairying goats under tropical condition.
The guest were shown the salad garden of the dairy goats consisting of indigofera, malunggay, mulberry, centrosema and napier grass.
It was an interesting day interacting with fellow dairy goats enthusiast. The interest shown by the guests during the field day bode well for dairying goats in the Phjilippines
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Post by alaminosgoatfarm on Dec 11, 2010 11:59:25 GMT -8
Alaminos Salad Garden, One of the Best Things that Ever Happened to Alaminos Goat Farm in 2010
Investing heavily in the Alaminos Salad Garden is one of the best business decisions Alaminos Goat Farm (AGF) has made in their goat business this year. The idea began in 2008 when friends from the academe would say that although AGF has a good system in place, their operations were too high end – meaning, it is not within the reach of the ordinary goat raisers. At the same time, the high production cost can be attributed largely with the cost of feed concentrate.
The development of the Alaminos Salad Garden became the solution to address these concerns on costs and feasibility. The salad garden would hit two birds in one stone. It would address productivity and help AGF in its corporate social responsibility program by doing a project that the farmers can replicate.
In the beginning, developing the salad garden in Alaminos was done without urgency. At that the time, the main priority was goat raising while working on the fields was done in their free time.
We asked Rene Almeda, AGF consultant on what pushed them to progressively pursue the Alaminos Salad Garden, this is what he said – “When AGF compared the 2008 and 2009 milking records of the goats, we observed that production was doubled from 24,000 liters in 2008 to 48,000 liters in 2009. We can attribute this mainly to our decision to feed our dairy goats with highly digestible and young forage grass and legumes.”
Rene adds that they discovered the wonders of the plant indigofera as the legume preferred by the milking goats. More interesting is the fact that after feeding fresh indigofera (in addition to the concentrate feeds), there was a significant improvement in the goats’ milking performance. AGF also observed that they are able to harvest huge volumes of indigofera compared to their other plants.
This observation was supported by a research work done by Ngo van Man Nguyen van Hao & Vuon minh Tri of the Animal Nutrition Department in the University of Agriculture and Forestry in Ho Chi Min City Vietnam. According to their study, indigofera’s plant growth rate as well as its biomass yields are much higher compared to plants like leucaena, gliricidia (better known as kakuate, a. auriculiformis, a. manhium, desmodium, and flemengia.
In selecting the tree legumes to be studied, they chose drought resistant species that will perform on poor soils. The soil was fertilized with goat manure and organic fertilizers during the study.
The raising milk yields of the AGF dairy goats after adding indigofera to their daily diet can also be attributed to the indigofera’s high protein level (24.8%), the 84.8 % digestibility plus its 2.08% calcium content.
*Source from UAF Animal Nutrition Department Laboratory
If you were to ask how one starts a salad garden, Rene has this to say, “We started pursuing this project seriously in early 2010 by purchasing a Bowa hand tractor. A full time worker was assigned for the planting of indigofera, mulberry and centrosema. During the dry spell in the time of El Nino, we installed drip irrigation and sprinklers in our pasture at great expense. The Alaminos Salad Garden has started to provide part of the forage requirement of our Boer breeders and the full requirement of our dairy goats this year.”
The Alaminos Salad Garden bannered by the tree legume indigofera has provided a positive outlook for AGF in 2011 when the garden is projected to be fully operational.
AGF has partnered with the Bureau of Animal Industry, Research Division to implement a project funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research to commercialize the technology we have developed through our Alaminos Salad Garden. Peletized Total Mixed Ration using a mixture of indigofera and malunggay plus feed concentrate will be fed to dairy goats in a controlled environment to show its positive effect in milk production.
Based on AGF’s experience with the Alaminos Salad Garden, this is one doable technology that can help the poor farmers raising goats in the countryside improve productivity. Indigofera can supplement the feeding of forage and crop residue of low nutritive values to goats the farmers raise.
Watch as AGF gives focus on genetics and nutrition in 2011. The Alaminos Salad Garden would be in the limelight as AGF commercializes the technology to improve productivity and help modernize the goat raising industry in the Philippines. Hand in hand with genetic infusion in the countryside through Artificial Insemination, there is no way but up for goat raising in the Philippines.
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Post by alaminosgoatfarm on Dec 11, 2010 12:23:21 GMT -8
Experience in planting mulberry cuttings indicate that the best time to plant is during the rainy season. After cutting the mulberry cuttings plant it directly to the planting area at once and you will be surprise in the improvement of the numbers that will survive.
Merry Christmas and may the New Year in 2011 usher prosperity to the Goat Raising Industry.
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