DA chief orders review of goat program after 52 breeder goats die

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered a review of the DA's goat breeding program following reports of animal deaths due to improper care, as flagged by state auditors.

The Commission on Audit (COA) reported that 52 out of 101 purchased breeder goats died, attributing the deaths to inadequate feeding and nutrition, with losses estimated at P2.44 million.

The DA cited funding gaps, stating that no adequate funding was set aside during the previous administration to expand or sustain the initiative.

The review will assess the program's technical viability and resource requirements, including the upgrading of the small ruminant project at the Pangasinan Research and Experiment Center.

The outcome of the review will determine if the DA will revive, scale down, or terminate the program.

The CoA report found that allocations for goat feed were included in the 2025 budget, with sufficient feed inventory now available at the station.