Get a copy of the May issue of Agriculture Magazine and read about the bright prospects of dairying with Saanen goats. Featured on the cover is Rene Almeda who runs the Alaminos Goat Farm in Laguna together with his two sons, Art and Toti.

As per the experience of father and his two sons, dairying with Saanen goats can be a profitable agribusiness venture. Saanen goats are not new in the Philippines. In 1998, the government imported quite a big number of this breed from the United States under PL480. That importation did not seem to have had any impact so that even some of the well known animal science experts in the country had some doubts on the use of Saanen for milk production under the tropical climate of the Philippines.

The present experience of the Almedas, however, is becoming concrete proof that indeed milk production with Saanen goats under local conditions is very possible. In May 2007, the Almedas imported 100 purebred Saanen goats from Australia. By the following November, they started to milk their first Saanen and by December they were test marketing their Milk Star fresh goat’s milk. Today, SM and Robinsons supermarkets in Manila are carrying the Almedas’ goat’s milk. It is the first fresh goat’s milk to be sold in volume in these big supermarkets.

The Almedas now have about 300 Saanen goats as the initial importation has multiplied. And the first island-born Saanens are starting to be milked. As per the observation of the Almedas, the local born animals are performing very well and could probably outperform their imported mothers.

The Almedas also have a breeding program whereby a superior line of Anglo Nubian in their herd, the Mitra Line, is being used to produce milk animals. The Mitra Line is very prolific and also has superior size and conformation. Progenies produced would be prolific and also high yielders of milk.

CONDOLENCE. By the way, here’s our most sincere concolences to the family of the late Dr. Sosimo Ma. Pablico, our very prolific contributor to Agriculture Magazine. He died last March 22 at the Bethany Hospital in San Fernando City, La Union. His remains lie in state at the Joces Funeral Chapel, Diversion Road in San Fernando. He will be laid to rest on Monday, April 27.