Starting Goat Farming Business

Animal husbandry is the backbone of rural economy.  It is an added source of income for the rural farmer, along with farming.   Mostly farmers take up business of cattle farming, goat farming.  It was normal to see in earlier days 2-3 goats in each rural household.  Some of the goat farmers had a large number of goats through grazing on free land.  However, it has become more and more difficult, to rear large number of goats through free grazing as the number of fields are reducing.  Lack of
information or guidance is keeping today’s youth and the farmers away from goat-
farming.

Let’s have a look at the major issues faced by the farmers.

Major issues faced while doing goat-farming

• How to manage large number of goats?
• How to do goat-farming in an enclosed space?
• How to have a professional approach to goat-farming and maximize profits?
• Which breed to use to start with goat-farming?

Farmers face many such questions which are discussed further below.

Objective of Goat-farming

Before we start goat-farming business, it is very important to decide our goal for getting into this business.

Most of the times the farmers get into this business with high expectations, just for one objective – that is “Breeding” and then hope to sell the meat for large profits.  They are bound to get disappointed if they don’t make the desired profit.

It is normal to have this goal in mind.  To succeed however, you need to have the one of the best breeds and minimize your investments and expenses.  Quality breeds will require comparatively higher investment in the initial stages when compared with a local breed.

When a local doe (female goat) is cross-bred with a higher yielding or higher meat producing buck (male goat) there are higher chances of having a higher yielding bucks in a short time span.

Having higher yielding bucks in a small span maximizes your profits.

Usmanabadi Goats

It is easier to start business with local breeds of goats in terms of availability and investment.

As you grow your business further, it is recommended to cross-breed a local goat with a Usmanabadi goat.  The resultant cross should be then further crossbreed with a Sirohi or Jamanapari goat.  The resultant progeny will have qualities of quick weight gain from birth.

Thus, we are able to enhance abilities of Usmanabadi goats such as producing 3 kids, disease resistance.  In addition to these abilities of Usmanabadi, the new cross-bred goats will also be high meat yielding and high milk producing goats like Sirohi goats.

Similarly using Jamnapari, Beetle and Boar breed of goats for crossbreeding for the next generation, we can ensure high meat producing goats in a short span.

In this way, a qualities of local goat can be enhanced by the cross breeding and optimize profits.

Preparation and Planning required for Goat Farming

Planning of Shed, compound and planning of green fodder are secondary things while rearing high quality crossbreeds.

It is essential to have the below mentioned to rear these high quality cross-breeds

• In an enclosed barn each goat will require 15 to 20 sq feet of space and they are placed in different compartments according to their age.  This allows easy management of the barn.
• Before buying goats it is essential to make available green fodder for them.  Green fodder planning  should include green leaves from Subabhool, Shevri and Dashrath plants. Maize and
  Sorghum should also be included.
• De-worming should be done every 3 months along with vaccination for diseases such as PPR to rear these crossbreed goats.  De-worming is essential for pregnant goats too.
• Clean drinking water, sufficient feed in varieties and minimum required free space to roam around ensures that the goats keep on gaining weight every day.  If these essential requirements are not managed properly, goats in your farm may not grow as expected.

Crossbreeding superior quality of goats and to have high yielding goats in a short span of time is the objective of Goat Farming.  If we are able to achieve this, only then we can be a successful goat farmer.

Dr. Shailesh Madne.