Philippine Goat Breed Registry: objectives, status and strategies for genetic improvement and conservation

This paper presents the Philippine Goat Breed Registry (PGBR) including its rationale, scope and purpose, registry rules and regulations, and publication of the National Goat Breeders' Catalogue. Its establishment in October 2000 demonstrated the suitability of a recording, evaluation and reporting system to aid loc at goat raisers in making important farm breeding decisions related to genetic improvement and conservation. Through the local multi-breed goat registry, a standardized recording and evaluation system was developed based on selective registrations of adapted goats. The PGBR was a pioneering strategy that promotes the use of a practical recording system in a local breeding base with no tradition of animal performance recording. Consequently, breed performance standards in terms of morphological characteristics, production and reproductive traits, and carcass characteristics were established for various purebreed and F1 crossbred goats. The paper also discussed practical strategies that would promote the activities of the PGBR in support of a local selection and/or crossbreeding program, For example, the analyses of large on-farm data sets (i.e. goat herd book) allowed validation of previous reports on the use of Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) mixed model methodology to estimate breeding values and genetic trends, derivation of relative economic values and local selection indexes, and estimation of general and specific combining abilities for some economically-important traits. Using laboratory and field data, the PGBR facilitated the identification of superior and/or unique goat breeding stocks (especially native goats) that may be conserved in situ or ex situ. Cryopreservation activities involving applications of artificial insemination (AI) and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) technologies were carried out in combination with live animal gene pools to uphold public interests on the conservation program. Blood protein genotypes were also studied to promote their future uses in verifying percentage or certifying purity of breeds, and in complementing conventional performance information to be used as basis for selection. In order to enhance the availability and sustainability of a superior goat breeding base in the country, the PGBR should be continued and expanded to include majority of the goat breeder population. Since the immediate benefits achieved by the farmer-breeders will likely be less than the costs of animal recording and evaluation, institutional support (subsidies) from the national and local government, academe and local farmers' associations will be required to sustain the standard system of recording and the technical data processing procedures to evaluate the breeding stock.