THE NUCLEUS FARMS (NF) NETWORK

I. General Objectives

To improve the production and reproduction efficiency of goat and sheep under Philippine condition.

II. Specific Objectives

1. Evaluate the performance of the local and imported breeds of goat and sheep;

2. Establish breed performance standards for goat and sheep including the local selection indices for the Philippines;

3. Implement a local selection program for goat and sheep; and

4. Produce genetically superior purebred goat and sheep for distribution and transfer to multiplier farms (MFs).

III. Collaborators

* Goat and sheep farms, centers and stations of the Department of Agriculture - RFUs and Bureau of Animal Industry

* Selected research and academic institutions

IV. Identification/Selection of Nucleus Farm

1. Open to qualified DA-RFU centers and stations, BAI centers, selected R & D and academic institutions that can meet the minimum requirements set by the Small Ruminant Genetic Improvement Program.

2. Identification, evaluation and selection of a nucleus farm shall be done by the commodity technical working group (C-TWG) with the concurrence of the Bureau of Animal Industry as the lead agency in the implementation of the program.

3. Final approval for the selected nucleus farms shall be done by the Advisory Committee of the National Genetic Resource Improvement Program for Livestock and Poultry (NGRIP).

V. Module

Selected nucleus farm can apply for one or two modules from the following options, depending on the farm's capability

Size:	1.	25 hd. doe and 2 hd. buck (either saanen, boer, anglo nubian)
	2.	25 hd. ewe and 2 hd. ram (either merino, st. croix, kathadin)

VI. Selection Criteria

1. Must have an improved and developed pasture area of at least 3 hectares (for one module) with animal housing facilities and equipments like weighing scale and must have a source of clean water. Housing facilities must have feeding and watering troughs and isolation areas.

2. Must be responsible for the maintenance of animals and shall assume the cost of withdrawal of the seedstocks from the BAI station.

3. Must have permanent and knowledgeable technical personnel responsible for the day-to-day management of the herd, specifically the breeding and recording activities. Must also have a permanent and responsible caretaker (1 caretaker/module).

4. Must use a recording system (individual cards and herd book) in accordance with the DA's monitoring and recording system under A.O. #13.

5. Must be willing to implement a herd health program (deworming, vaccination and treatment) to ensure the overall health status of the animals.

6. Must be able to produce purebred goats and sheep for distribution to accredited multiplier farms previously approved by the Advisory Committee of NGRIP. Any animal withdrawn from BAI-centers and DA-RFU centers shall be covered by an authority for transfer/ship-out from the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and from the Director of DA-Regional Field Units, respectively.

7. Must be willing to conduct research on breed improvement and conservation following the Open Nucleus Breeding Scheme.

8. Must be willing to participate in the buck/ram exchange program for breeding animals between and among nucleus farms.

9. Must be willing to enter into an agreement with the BAI and DA.

VII. Specification of Animals to be Transferred to a Newly Selected Nucleus Farm

1. Record	:	Estimated Breeding Values (EBV's) of goats and sheep traits (weanling and mature weights)
2. Age	:	not less than 8 months old
3. Weight	:	not less than 30 kg.
4. Vaccination	:	Hemorrhagic Septicemia and FMD (for Luzon)
5.Treatment/Supplement	:	Anti-stressandAnthelmintic
6. Others	:	Shipment and transfer must be accompanied by Pedigree and Registration Papers - issued by the recording secretary of the DA's Small Ruminant Multi-Breed Registry

THE MULTIPLIER FARMS (MFs) NETWORK

I. Objectives

1. Evaluate the performance of crossbred goat and sheep under Philippine conditions.

2. Identify and promote the best crosses of goat and sheep for commercial production.

II. Collaborators

*  Local government units' breeding stations/centers

*  Progressive private farms and cooperatives

*  Selected academic and R & D institutions

III. Identification/Selection of Multiplier Farms

1. Open to qualified LGU stations and centers, progressive private farms, cooperatives, academic and R & D institutions.

2. Identification, evaluation and selection of prospective MF's shall be done by the commodity (SR) TWG with the concurrence of the BAI as the lead agency in the implementation of the program.

3. The C-TWG upon evaluation shall determine the suitable breed and number of animals to be raised in consultation with prospective MF's.

4. Final approval for the selected MF's shall be done by the Advisory Committee of the National Genetic Resource Improvement Program for Livestock and Poultry (NGRIP).

IV. Module

Selected multiplier farm can apply for one or two modules from the following options, depending on the farm's capability.

Size:	1.	25 hd. doe and 2 hd. buck (either saanen, boer, anglo nubian)
	2.	25 hd. ewe and 2 hd. ram (either merino, st. croix, kathadin)

V. Selection Criteria

V.A. LGU and R & D Institutions

1. Must have an improved pasture area of at least 3 hectares (for one module) with sufficient shed, equipments like weighing scale and clean source of water. Feed and water troughs must be available inside the shed.

2. Must use a herd recording system (individual cards and performance book) in accordance with the DA's monitoring and recording system as adapted in the SRGIP.

3. Must maintain the animals and assume the cost of withdrawal of the seedstock born animals from the Nucleus Farms.

4. Must be willing to participate in the buck/ram exchange program for breeding animals between and among MF's.

5. Must have a permanent staff knowledgeable in daily farm operation and management.

6. Must be willing to insure the animals under the PCIC-CALF or through a mutual fund to be established by the BAI.

7. Must be willing to abide with the terms and conditions on payment as stipulated in the MOA to be executed with the DA and BAI.

V.A.1. Terms and Conditions of the MOA with LGU and R & D Institution

1. Payment can be made within a period of three (3) years with the following payment scheme:

Scheme 1 - In kind (25 hd. female and 5 hd. male) with payment to start on the second year

*  The animals must come from top 70% females and top 40% males of the offspring produced and selected in the MFs.

*  The animals must not be less than 30 kg.

*  All payments must be accompanied by production records

*  Payment in kind must be made by transferring the animals to other MF's or return to any of the accredited DA SR nucleus stations.

In kind payment (crossbreds) must be made available to all interested farmer/buyers.

2. Culled animals must be sold for slaughter. (See culling criteria in the SRGIP manual)

Original animals received from the NFs must not be removed/transferred from the accredited farm for purposes of lease exchange or sale other than those stipulated in the MOA.

3. Transfer of animals to accredited MF's must be on a first come, first serve basis.

The Department of Agriculture, and the management of SRGIP reserves the right to retrieve the animals if the farms' breeding operations & activities are not in accordance with the operating procedures & guidelines of the Program.

V.B. Private Farms or Cooperatives

1. Must have had experience in raising sheep and goat successfully.

2. Must have an available pasture area of at least 3 ha. (for one module) with sufficient shed, equipment like weighing scale and a clean source of water. Feed and water troughs must be available inside the shed.

3. The farm must be accessible to enable the DA/BAI technician and or the members of the C-TWG of SRGIP to conduct evaluation and inspection.

4. Must use a herd recording system (individual cards and performance book) in accordance with DA's monitoring and recording system as adapted in the SGRIP.

5. Must maintain the animals and assume the cost of withdrawal of the seedstock from the Nucleus Farms.

6. Must be willing to participate in the buck/ram exchange program for breeding animals between and among MF'S.

7. Must be willing to insure the animals under the PCIC-CALF or through a mutual fund to be established by the BAI.

8. Must abide with the terms and conditions of payment as stipulated in the MOA to be executed with DA and BAI.

V.B.1. Terms and Conditions of the MOA with Private Farms or Cooperatives

1. Payment can be made within a period of three (3) years with the following payment scheme:

Scheme 1 - In kind, (25 hd. female and 5 hd. male) with payment to start on the second year;

*  The animals must come from top 50% females and top 50% males of the offsprings produced and selected in the MFs.

*  The animals must not be less than 30 kg.

*  All payments must be accompanied by production records.

*  Payment in kind must be made by transferring the animals to other MF's or through a return to LGU station from where the animals were withdrawn.

Scheme 2 - Cash payment to start on the second year

*  The cost of the animals will be determined based on the book value of the animals on liveweight basis as indicated in the Memorandum Receipt (MR). Amortization shall be made in two equal annual payment.

*  Crossbred animals must be made available to all interested farmer/buyers.

*  Culled animals must be sold for slaughter.

*  Payment in cash must be made through the cashier of the BAI or the DA-RFU.

*  Original animals received from the NFs must not be removed/transferred from the accredited farm for purposes of lease exchange or sale other than those indicated in the MOA.

*  The Department of Agriculture, & the management of SRGIP reserves the right to retrieve the animals if the farms' breeding operations & activities are not in accordance with the operating procedures & guidelines of the Program.

Adopted: 28 July 1998

Prepared and Recommended by:

THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP FOR NATIONAL GENETIC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY

Noted:

(SGD.) TEODORO A. ABILAY, PH.D.
Director, BAI

Approved:

(SGD.) WILLIAM D. DAR
Acting Secretary