Tips To be a Successful Goat Farmer
1. Right Location:
To find correct location is the first and most important point to be taken care of. Though, common goats generally survive in warm areas that are well drained. Besides temperature, space is also necessary. Goat lives in groups, hence individual pens are not effective. A large field is needed if you want your animals to roam freely. Such goats usually have better resistance to sickness and infection.
The best locations considered for a goat farm are far from towns as urban pollution is dangerous to animal health. As goats eats a lot of grass on a daily basis. So, one must make sure their food source is highly accessible and not too far from the rearing area.
2. Land Requirement:
Goats can be reared intensively on small acreage by using supplemental feed. If you are using an extensive system, then 2 to 10 goats per acre is a rough guide depending on the supply of grass and brush.
Learn More3. Goat Breed:
There are breeds which produce more milk while there are others that grow quickly. Therefore, depending on your purpose, choose the type of breed you want to rear. You can also farm both types of breeds and you will be harvesting both meat and milk.
Read also: 7 common diseases of goats
However, you must note that different breeds require different levels of care. Do research and consult an expert so he can guide you to decide what will be best for your farm.
4. Veterinarian:
Easy access to a veterinarian plays an important role. When starting a goat farm, there are chances your animals to contract diseases. Thus, a veterinarian can help in disease control and management to avoid losses. They help you diagnose diseases or recommend vitamins and supplements to keep your animals in good health especially during stressful situations like weaning.
5. Proper Food & Housing:
Goats are very choosy with food. They don’t eat dried or soiled grass. You must make sure to have enough clean, fresh grass for them so they don’t go hungry. It is well known that goats are not carnivorous animal. They usually prefer to eat grasses, plants, shrubs, weeds and herbs. Goats also need energy, portion, vitamins, fiber and water for proper growth.
A well-designed barn or shed and good management, will help you to reap all the profit from goat farming. Always keep the house neat, clean and dry. Arrange proper ventilation and drainage system inside the house. Ensure the availability of sufficient fresh air and light inside the house.
Read also: Benefits of sheep and goat Farming
6. Good Transportation:
A market near the farm land will be best, as it will help you to sell your products easily and buy necessary commodities.
7. Care & Management:
Always try to take proper care of your goats. Never feed them contaminated food or polluted water. Keep their house as much neat and clean as possible. Do clean their house on a regular basis. Take extra care to the breeding bucks, kids and pregnant does. Keep the kids with their mother for several weeks after their birth.
Don’t use same buck for mating with numerous does at same day. Artificial insemination is also a good way for breeding your does. Vaccinate them on timely basis, to keep them free from all types of diseases and health problems. Keep a stock of some necessary vaccines and medicines.
8. Vaccination:
Many types of viral diseases like PPR, goat pox, foot and mouth diseases and bacterial diseases like anthrax, brucelosis etc. are very harmful for goats. Thus, proper vaccination is a must to prevent these types of diseases. The does which was not vaccinated PPR, goat pox, brucellosis vaccines previously, vaccinate them at the fifth month of gestation period. You must vaccinate the kids PPR vaccine when they reach 5 months of age.
9. Total Expenditure & Profit:
Total expenditure and profit from goat farming business is totally dependent on the farming system, location, breeds, feeding cost and few other factors. With good planning and proper management one can easily make goat farming business profitable. On one hand, small scale farming requires less investment and profit can contribute your regular income.
On the other hand, large scale or commercial production requires high investment and some other additional costs.
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