Policy and program purpose
- The program is anchored on the Philippines’ commitment to the Convention on Biodiversity and addresses narrowing diversity of animal genetic resources in the country.
- The order implements National Genetic Resource Improvement Program for Livestock and Poultry (NGRIP) as the general concept for improving national animal genetic resources.
- The Small Ruminant Genetic Improvement Program (SRGIP) is formulated as a component of NGRIP.
- The SRGIP aims to improve productivity and efficiency of goats and sheep in different production systems.
- The SRGIP establishes records of breed standards in the Philippines.
- The SRGIP restructures Livestock Production Centers (LPCas)/Stock Farms (SFas) toward the Nucleus Breeding Scheme (NBS).
Program framework and breeding scheme
- The Nucleus Breeding Scheme (NBS) shall be implemented through a network of breeding farms (Nucleus Farms).
- The NBS shall produce elite breeders using scientific selection and proper use of breeding systems.
- Elite breeders shall include F1 purebreds or Improved Native.
- Elite breeders shall be distributed to Multiplier Farms (MFas).
- Multiplier Farms shall produce F2 crossbreds.
- F2 crossbreds shall be subjected to performance and evaluation tests under different agro-ecological conditions and production systems in the country.
Coverage: animals, outputs, and test process
- The program covers goats and sheep.
- The program covers work conducted through Nucleus Farms and Multiplier Farms under the NBS framework.
- The program requires production of elite breeders consisting of F1 purebreds or Improved Native.
- The program requires distribution of elite breeders to Multiplier Farms.
- The program requires production of F2 crossbreds by Multiplier Farms.
- The program requires performance and evaluation testing of F2 crossbreds across agro-ecological conditions and production systems.
Goats: breeds and site assignments
- Anglo Nubian shall be assigned to these sites: Asean Goat and Sheep Center (Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur); National Center for Forage and Pasture (Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur); Palayan Livestock Development Center (Palayan City, Nueva Ecija); Himamaylan Breeding Station (Negros Occidental); Masbate Breeding Station (Masbate); Sacobia Breeding Station (Sacobia, Tarlac); Siaton Breeding Station (Siaton, Negros Oriental); Sual Breeding Station (Sual, Pangasinan).
- Boer shall be assigned to: Asean Goat and Sheep Center (Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur); Malitbog Breeding Station (Malitbog, Southern Leyte); Solana Breeding Station (Solana, Cagayan).
- Saanen shall be assigned to: Asean Goat and Sheep Center (Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur); Luna Breeding Station (Apayao); Malitbog Breeding Station (Malitbog, Southern Leyte); Siaton Breeding Station (Siaton, Negros Oriental).
- Native goats shall be assigned to: Malitbog Breeding Station (Malitbog, Southern Leyte); Siaton Breeding Station (Siaton, Negros Oriental); Sual Breeding Station (Sual, Pangasinan).
Sheep: breeds and site assignments
- Katahdin sheep shall be assigned to: Palayan Livestock Production Center (Palayan City, Nueva Ecija); Gamu Breeding Station (Isabela); Pamplona Breeding Station (Negros Oriental); Sacobia Breeding Station (Sacobia, Tarlac).
- Rambouillet sheep assignments are not specified.
- Merino sheep shall be assigned to: Asean Goat and Sheep Center (Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur); National Center for Forage and Pasture (Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur); Gamu Breeding Station (Isabela); Himamaylan Breeding Station (Negros Occidental); San Miguel Breeding Station (San Miguel, Leyte); Sual Breeding Station (Sual, Pangasinan).
- St. Croix sheep shall be assigned to: Asean Goat and Sheep Center (Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur); San Miguel Breeding Station (San Miguel, Leyte).
- Native sheep shall be assigned to: San Miguel Breeding Station (San Miguel, Leyte); Sual Breeding Station (Sual, Pangasinan).
Implementation, operations manual, and funding
- The program is implemented using Livestock Production Centers (LPCas)/Stock Farms (SFas) whose operations and activities are redefined toward the concept of the Nucleus Breeding Scheme (NBS).
- General program guidelines are governed by an Operations Manual (attached).
- Budgetary requirements for implementing and supporting the operation of the NFs shall be included in the regular appropriations of the Regional Field Units.
- Strict compliance with the order is mandated.
Effectivity and compliance instruction
- The order takes effect based on its adoption on December 17, 1997 and its publication in NAR Vol. 9 No. 1 (January–March 1998).
- The Secretary’s directive requires strict compliance with the implementation of the Small Ruminants Genetic Improvement Program.