The study was conducted primarily to establish and ascertain baseline data on the existing condition of goat farmer respondents in the NVSIT-BIDANI Program. The study aimed further to determine if a relationship existed between the independent variables particularly the demographic profile like age, gender, civil status, educational attainment, sources of income, trainings attended and number of years in raising goat, and the management practices of farmers. The data gathering instrument was an interview schedule. The respondents were 130 goat farmers representing the pilot municipalities of the NVSIT-BIDANI Program. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between respondents' demographic profile and the management practices they employ in goat raising.

Results of the study showed that majority of the goat farmers were males with ages ranging from 31-50, married, and high school graduates. Source of income was derived mainly from crop farming. Most of the goat farmers have been raising goats for the past 3 years.

Majority of the goat farmers fed their animals through tethering. By-product feeds such as sweet potato vine, rice straw, corn stover, corn cob and legume hay are commonly used as additional feed materials for the goats. Most of the goat farmers did not use concentrates. The use of salt as mineral supplement was found to be popularly used. Water for the goats was supplied through force pumps and streams.

Very few of the goat farmers used galvanized sheets as roofing for goat houses Farmers never housed their goats under trees. Majority of the farmers provided housing for their goats with the use of wood slabs, bamboos, nipa and cogon.

All goat farmers in the pilot municipalities bred their goats through natural breeding. Majority bred their goats at the age of more than 1 year. Almost all of the goat farmers were able to detect that their goats are in-heat.

Majority of the goat farmers practiced selection in goats, based mainly on body conformation and physical appearance. Classes of goats usually fattened were weanlings. Culling was not much practiced.

Nearly all of the goat farmers kept records of the breeding and kidding dates of the animals. Kids were allowed to suck colostrums just after birth.

Common diseases encountered were scouring and pneumonia. Basic disease preventive measures employed by the goat farmers were: vaccination, deworming, vitamin supplementation, spraying and the least, quarantine.

The first reaction of the farmers towards diseases is to consult anyone; while very few of the farmers resorted to butchering the animal in cases of disease manifestations.

The main source of information as to marketing of goats were friends and neighbors. Majority of the farmers sold their animals to their neighbors and co-raisers, and almost all of the raisers sold their goats live based on age, sex, breed and weight.

Most of the farmers believed in the need of technical assistance in goat farming. Majority of technical services rendered came from government livestock technicians and agricultural schools. Majority of the respondents claimed that they need technical assistance specially in the areas of disease prevention, feeds and feeding, and breeding.

Significant relationships existed between demographic characteristics and the management practices particularly feeding systems, housing systems, selection and breeding systems, health care systems, and husbandry management systems.

Problem areas inimical to goat production were centered on occurrence of diseases, lack of superior breeding stocks, and lack of technical know-how. Seemingly, farmers also emphasized the need of government support to small ruminant raisers; particularly, programs focused on improving the goat industry in the backyard level.

Adaptive management systems particularly feeding, housing, selection, breeding, health care, and husbandry systems significantly depended on the demographic profile of the farmer respondents.

Gaps that existed in the general management practices where the system and managerial capability of goat farmers in the pilot municipalities should be identified, and strategies for the development of goat production in the pilot municipalities particularly for the backyard level should be intensified.

Thesis (Master of Science - Animal Science)

Includes appendices and bibliographical references