What we must know to be a successful goat farmer?
The goat husbandry has a bright future with great potential for growth. This opportunity exists because the huge demand for various goat products, such as meat, milk, cheese, leather and fiber, exceeds supply.
Goat rearing can be the sole enterprise or part of a mixed business. In rural India goats are always reared by farmers and are mainly fed on crop waste and or grazed.
Before going into goats, one should consider the following:
Market potential: This is the first and most important step. One should investigate the market, taking into consideration the demand of product (meat/milk or other), year round market or specific period of demand, distance from your farm.
By studying product demand, you can select and determine the breed and breeding policies for your herd. Market period will give you idea of making product ready for market when there is demand. Transportation of animals to longer duration often leads to losses and increases the production cost.
Land and climate suitability: Goats can be raised on any type of land. Each environment has its advantages and disadvantages. Very wet land and too much humidity cause problems to the health of the goats. Commonly encountered problems in such conditions are pneumonia, parasitic infection and foot infections. There are three feeding systems to raise goats: Extensive, intensive and semi-intensive. Land should be sufficient to grow fodder and for housing of the goats. Climate should be suitable enough to remain goats healthy.
Inputs required: land, housing, water and electricity, fencing, labour, stock (animals), fodder and supplements, farm utensils, medication and vaccination, insurance.
Outputs: The main income usually derives from meat or milk, depending on the breed of the stock. Another income source is sale of replacement does and breeding bucks, which requires pedigree animals. The sale of goat manure can also be a good extra source of income. Goat manure has a great demand.
The scale of your operation:
o Size required to be economically viable.
o Associated labour requirements.
o Infrastructure requirements.
o Resource availability (quality and quantity of feed and water).
o Is there room for expansion?
o Enterprise choice- meat only, milk only, meat and breeding stock, milk and sale of male kids or mixed with other livestock.
Financial implications - gross margins, return on investment and cash flow.Record keeping: Maintaining records will help you to monitor your profits. It also helps to keep track of good animals and sets criteria for culling. Records include: breeding records, kidding records, sale and purchase records, medication and vaccination records, insurance records, daily records.
Goat rearing can be the sole enterprise or part of a mixed business. In rural India goats are always reared by farmers and are mainly fed on crop waste and or grazed.
Before going into goats, one should consider the following:
Market potential: This is the first and most important step. One should investigate the market, taking into consideration the demand of product (meat/milk or other), year round market or specific period of demand, distance from your farm.
By studying product demand, you can select and determine the breed and breeding policies for your herd. Market period will give you idea of making product ready for market when there is demand. Transportation of animals to longer duration often leads to losses and increases the production cost.
Land and climate suitability: Goats can be raised on any type of land. Each environment has its advantages and disadvantages. Very wet land and too much humidity cause problems to the health of the goats. Commonly encountered problems in such conditions are pneumonia, parasitic infection and foot infections. There are three feeding systems to raise goats: Extensive, intensive and semi-intensive. Land should be sufficient to grow fodder and for housing of the goats. Climate should be suitable enough to remain goats healthy.
Inputs required: land, housing, water and electricity, fencing, labour, stock (animals), fodder and supplements, farm utensils, medication and vaccination, insurance.
Outputs: The main income usually derives from meat or milk, depending on the breed of the stock. Another income source is sale of replacement does and breeding bucks, which requires pedigree animals. The sale of goat manure can also be a good extra source of income. Goat manure has a great demand.
The scale of your operation:
o Size required to be economically viable.
o Associated labour requirements.
o Infrastructure requirements.
o Resource availability (quality and quantity of feed and water).
o Is there room for expansion?
o Enterprise choice- meat only, milk only, meat and breeding stock, milk and sale of male kids or mixed with other livestock.
Financial implications - gross margins, return on investment and cash flow.Record keeping: Maintaining records will help you to monitor your profits. It also helps to keep track of good animals and sets criteria for culling. Records include: breeding records, kidding records, sale and purchase records, medication and vaccination records, insurance records, daily records.
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