Philippines to import thousands of goats, sheep to enhance local breeds


The Department of Agriculture (DA) has approved the importation of breeder goats and sheep to improve the genetics of local livestock and bolster the country’s goat and sheep industries, particularly in Mindanao.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 29, that the DA approved the importation of 1,520 breeder goats and 4,310 sheep to strengthen the country’s goat and sheep farming sectors.

The imported goats—155 Anglo Nubian bucks, 175 Boer bucks, and 1,190 Boer does—will be distributed to nucleus and multiplier farms in Barili, Cebu, and Makilala, North Cotabato. The sheep, consisting of 260 Dorper rams and 4,050 Dorper ewes, will be sent to North Cotabato.

The DA has allocated funds for the importation under the 2024 budget, and the bidding process is yet to be scheduled. The National Livestock Program will issue a notice of award, after which the winning bidder must deliver the animals within 90 days.

To ensure quality, the imported goats and sheep must be between six and 15 months old and meet specific weight requirements: goats must weigh at least 35 kilos (bucks) and 30 kilos (does) after quarantine, and sheep must weigh at least 40 kilos (rams) and 35 kilos (ewes).

The imported sheep must be full-blooded and come from registered farms.

“Raising small ruminants such as goats and sheep could supplement farmers’ income, generate employment, and support food security efforts,” Tiu Laurel added.