When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country in 2020, smallholder dairy goat raisers were among those affected socially and economically. To empower them amidst the effects of the pandemic, the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) equipped smallholder dairy goat raisers with knowledge on goat raising, milk processing, and entrepreneurship - skills that they can use to become an effective dairy goat entrepreneur.
In August 2022, Central Luzon State University (CLSU) launched the project, “Let’s Doe Business: Goat-Milk-Based Livelihood Opportunity to Mitigate the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” to help dairy goat raisers recover from the economic challenges brought about by the pandemic. The project primarily aimed to establish sustainable dairy goat enterprises among smallholder farmers while improving their income through enhanced knowledge and skills in goat raising, milk processing, and entrepreneurship. The initiative was led by Mr. Neal A. Del Rosario, Senior Agriculturist and Acting Director of the Small Ruminant Center at CLSU.
Dairy goat raising is one of the livelihoods of farmers in Santa Rosa, Science City of Muñoz, and San Jose City in Nueva Ecija. During the pandemic, dairy goat raisers have at most five milking does that can give less than 0.5 liter of milk per doe/day for 90 days. Fresh goat milk was also sold without pasteurization due to low technical support and mobility disruption.
In response to this, Model Dairy Goat Farms (MDGF) with five does and a buck per farm were provided for breeding under rotation scheme. The project also capacitated goat raisers through a series of training modules, enhancing their core foundations in goat production, milk processing, and marketing. Various technology support were also adopted among all MDGF, which included feeding and animal health management and milk processing.
The milk quality produced by goat raisers was regularly monitored and evaluated to ensure thta goat raisers adhered to the standard practices taught by the CLSU team.
By its 21st month of implementation, the project had already demonstrated the economic viability of smallholder dairy goat enterprises. By the end of the project, participating farmers collectively produced 2,957 liters of goat milk, contributing to the local milk supply across all project sites. This production was valued at ₱468,391, generating a net income of ₱164,368.88, or an average of ₱41,092 per farmer. The growing market demand for goat milk in Nueva Ecija and nearby towns further encouraged farmers to expand their herds by adding more milking does.
Overall, the project has helped smallholder dairy goat raisers recover from the adverse economic effects of the pandemic, enabling them to surpass the poverty threshold level. It also provided farmers with a more stable and increased monthly income.
The project was funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) under its Good Agri-Aqua Livelihood Initiatives towards National Goals (GALING) PCAARRD Program. The project takes-off from the previous PCAARRD National Dairy Goat S&T Program, wherein native and upgraded goats were utilized as dairy animals among farmers in the Visayas Region.
The Let’s Doe Business project was an entry for Best Development Paper Category during the National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD) held on October 14, 2025. Winners of the award will be conferred during the DOST-PCAARRD’s 2025 S&T Recognition and Awarding Ceremony in celebration of the Council’s 53rd Founding Anniversary.
NSAARRD, annually spearheaded by DOST-PCAARRD, recognizes outstanding R&D contributions in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sector in the country.