The Department of Agriculture is conducting a comprehensive review of a specialized goat breeding program to determine its viability after state auditors flagged the project for high mortality rates and “inadequate management oversight.”

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the assessment will decide whether the agency should continue the Anglo Nubian and Saanen goat production project or terminate it entirely.

The evaluation will focus on both the technical feasibility of the breeding program and the long-term resources required to maintain the livestock.

The move follows a Commission on Audit report revealing that 52 of the 101 imported goats purchased for the initiative died last year.

The animals, which were meant to serve as foundation breeder stock to improve local ruminant quality, succumbed to various illnesses. Affidavits from staff at the Pangasinan Research and Experiment Center in Sual indicated that the goats exhibited signs of malnutrition and weakened immune systems prior to their deaths.

The Commission on Audit valued the loss of the 52 goats at ₱2.44 million, citing a lack of proper supervision. However, the commission also noted that the project was hampered by limited funding and delays in the procurement of animal feed.

Current department officials attributed the program’s struggles to decisions made by the previous administration.

According to agency records, no adequate funding was earmarked under former Agriculture Secretary William Dar to expand or sustain the initiative beyond basic requirements.

The department stated that the program proceeded without the necessary long-term budgetary support required to keep a sophisticated breeding operation functional.

To address these gaps, the agency has integrated provisions for sufficient feed inventory into the 2025 budget. The department expects to secure additional funds next year specifically for animal care and facility maintenance.

As the review progresses, the department plans to distribute the remaining Anglo Nubian and Saanen goats to farmers in Catanduanes, a province currently reeling from significant livestock losses following a series of typhoons.

The department also intends to temporarily repurpose the 140-hectare Pangasinan facility. The site is being eyed for high-value crop production and as a potential innovation hub.

The agency described the shift as a move toward a “transformative” engagement model aimed at increasing local food production through value-added services, intended to stimulate development in rural agro-industrial sectors.