In order to be a
successful goat farmer, there are basics you must consider or know before you
start a goat farm. These include but not limited to the following:
1. Location:
The most important
consideration you must first make is location. Common goats generally survive
in warm areas that are well drained. Apart from temperature, space is
necessary. Goats live in groups, so individual pens are not effective. A large
field is needed if you want your animals to roam freely. Freely roaming goats
usually have better resistance to sickness and infection. The best locations
for a goat farm are those that are far from towns because urban pollution is
dangerous to animal health. Goats are known to eat a lot of grass on a daily
basis. So 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 using an extensive
system, 2 to 10 goats per acre is a rough guide depending on the supply of
grass and brush. Goats are top down grazers and will select from weeds, leaves
and grasses to meet their own requirements. They can also help to improve
marginal areas encouraging re-establishment of grassy species so providing
low-cost environmental management.
3. The Type of Goat Breed:
The type of goat
breed is the next important thing to consider when you start keeping goats.
Depending on your purpose, there are breeds that produce more milk while there
are also those that grow quickly. You can farm both types of breeds and you
will be harvesting both meat and milk. Different breeds also require different
levels of care. Make your research and consult an expert so he can help you
decide what will be best for your farm.
4. Access to a Veterinarian:
This is another
important thing to consider. When starting a goat farm, you expect many of your
animals to contract diseases. A veterinarian can help you in disease control
and management to avoid losses. Vets can also help you diagnose diseases or
recommend vitamins and supplements to keep your animals in good health
especially during stressful situations such as weaning.
5. Health:
You must keep your
goats healthy and strong. Build a big barn because goats live in groups. They
must also be allowed to roam, run around and have fun. If the goats are bred
well, they become rarely sick and they usually produce better milk and meat.
Keeping them healthy by making them happy is not a hard task. Goats are very
picky with food. They don’t eat dried or soiled grass. Make sure you have
enough clean, fresh grass for them so they don’t go hungry.
6. Housing:
With a well-designed
barn or shed and good management, you are sure to reap all the profit you want
from goat farming.
Do you have any questions or other forms of contributions, kindly use the comment section below for all your contributions.
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