Goat Farming Business in Africa

Goat farming is becoming very popular day by day in Africa. Goats are among the main meat and milk producing animals. Due to its high demand and good economic prospects, commercial goat farming under intensive or semi-intensive system has been gaining momentum for the past few years. Commercial goat farming has been driving many modern farmers, professionals, ex-serviceman, unemployed educated youths and famous businessman to take up the goat enterprise on a commercial scale. High demand for goat and goat products with potential of good economic returns of their initial total investment.

The producers are being interested more by the emerging favourable market conditions and easy accessibility of improved goat farming technologies. As a result, numerous commercial goat farms have been established in almost all countries throughout the world.

Benefits of commercial goat farming:

1. Commercial goat farming is a great and guaranteed profitable business idea.
2. Capital required for this business is comparatively less than other business opportunities. You can even start with a little amount of goats. And by proper care and management, you can grow your business to the next level within one or two years.
3. Goats produce kids more than once a year. So, if you start with a few goats then you will be able to grow your business fast.
4. Goats require housing/sheltering facilities less than other livestock animals.
5. It is very easy to maintain goats and maintenance costs are also less.
6. Goats require less labour costs.
7. Great business idea for unemployed educated youths, women, ex-serviceman, businessmen and for the professionals also.
8. Women can also perform this business by setting up small-scale commercial farms. This will help them by providing economic support.
9. Especially, the unemployed educated youths can create a great business and employment opportunities by establishing commercial goat farming.
10. Governments of almost all countries provide necessary training and other facilities for establishing this type of business.
11. Many local, government and international banks are interested in investing in this type of business with very little terms and conditions. Some government banks provide loan facilities with very little or no interest.
12. Commercial goat farming can contribute to the national economy to make it strong.
13. Diseases and other risks are minimal than other farming businesses.
14. In a word, commercial goat farming is a great business idea with a good return on investment ratio (ROI).

Setting Up a Commercial Farm

Setting up a commercial goat farm doesn’t require any hard core plan. Just follow the step by step guide very carefully and you will be able setup a commercial goat farm. And if you can manage everything perfectly, then you will definitely be able to earn huge profits from your farm.

Location

It is very important to select a suitable place for setting up a commercial farm with all types of facilities for goats. Wherever your farm is located, you have to ensure all types of facilities are available in your selected locations or areas. The essential facilities for establishing a commercial goat farm are listed below.

1. Great source of clean and fresh water; because, clean and fresh water keeps your animals healthy. Always provide them sufficient clean and fresh water according to their daily needs. A great source of water can be made by setting up a tube well, pond or any other types of water reservoir. Always keep water inside the house and in many places of your farm.
2. Select a farm location near to villages. By setting your farm near to villages, you will be able to get labour for your farm easily and cheaply.
3. Good transportation system is a must while selecting land for your farm. Good transportation system will help you to keep good relations with your nearest market and other sources.
4. It will be better if you can establish your farm, far from Naxalite areas.
5. Ensure the location is chaos, noise and all types of pollution free.
6. You should not select those locations, which are very far from the market.
7. Ensure veterinary services are available near your farm. Very close veterinary services will reduce your losses and tension if something goes wrong.
8. Goats need a grazing place. So, while selecting location determine whether you can make a pasture or not.

Breeds

Different goat breeds

Choosing the proper goat breeds for your commercial farm is very important. There are numerous breeds around the world. Some of them are highly meat productive, some are famous for milk production, some goat breeds produces high quality skins and fibre. Here, I have listed a short description of some highly productive goat breeds. They are very suitable for establishing a successful commercial goat farming business.

1. Boer Goat: Boer goat is one of the world famous highly meat productive goat breeds. Boer goat originated from South Africa but they are very suitable for commercial meat production in almost all countries of the world. An adult Boer buck weighs about 100 - 115kg and doe about 90 - 100kg.
2. Beetal Goat: Beetal goat is another highly meat productive goat breed. They are world famous meat goat breeds. And a very important goat breed of some Asian countries like India or Pakistan. Beetal goat is very suitable for commercial production. Adult buck weighs about 65kg and doe about 45kg.
3. Black Bengal Goat: Black Bengal goat is another meat productive goat breed. It is a Bangladeshi goat breed. Black Bengal goat produces very high quality meat. The meat of this goat is very tasty and has a high demand. An adult doe weighs about 20kg and buck around 20 - 30kg.
4. Saanen Goat: Saanen goat is a world famous dairy goat breed of Switzerland. But it is very suitable for commercial dairy goat farming around the globe. A Saanen doe can produce about 2 - 3kg of milk daily. Toggenburg and Alpines are another highly productive dairy goat breeds of Switzerland.
5. Anglo Nubian Goat: Anglo Nubian is a hybrid dairy goat breed. They are the result of crossbreeding of the Nubian and English goat. They are also suitable for commercial production. A doe can produce about 2 - 3kg of milk daily.
6. Jamunapari Goat: Jamunapari goat is an Indian dairy goat breed. In India, they are called poor man’s cow for their high milk production. A Jamunapari goat doe can produce about 3 - 3.5kg of milk daily.

Housing

Good housing system is a must for commercial goat farming. A good goat design house with all types of accommodation facilities, influence the total production and profit from commercial goat farming.

1. On average, 1.5 - 2.0 square meter housing space is required per goat. So, build your house according to the number of goats. Inside the house, keep separate rooms for bucks and does.
2. Never keep bucks and does together. You can also make numerous separate houses for keeping them permanently separate from each other. Make a separate room for the kids also.
3. For commercial dairy goat farming, making an extra room for milking the goats will be effective.
4. While making the house, ensure availability of sufficient space required by the goats. Make proper ventilation system. For ventilation, you can use electric fans or make big sized windows while making the house.
5. Make a suitable drainage system, so that you can clean the house easily. While building houses for goats, follow the tips below.

1. Select a higher place for building the goat house. This will help you to keep the house always dry.
2. Start building houses during dry seasons.
3. Always keep the floor of the house dry.
4. Ensure sufficient flow of fresh air and light.
5. Make proper temperature and moisture controlling system inside the house.
6. Prevent damping condition. Because this can causes various types of diseases.
7. Goats don’t fare well with rain. So never let rainwater to directly enter inside the house.
8. The house must be strong enough and comfortable for the goats.
9. Prevent entrance of harmful insects and animals inside the house.
10. Always keep sufficient clean and fresh water inside the house.

Fencing

Making a fence around your farm area will keep your goats safe and free from other harmful animals like dogs. Fencing also helps you to keep your farm lands green food safe from being fed on by another animal like sheep and cattle. For commercial goat farming, fencing is very important. You can make a fence with general wire or electric wire.

Feeding

Feeding is the most important part of commercial goat farming. High commercial production and maximum profit is mostly dependent on feeding high quality fresh and nutritious food. Along with enough regular green food you have to provide nutritious complementary food regularly. Providing fresh and nutritious food ensures higher production and profit form commercial goat farming.

1. Always ensure availability of all types of nutritional ingredients in the complementary food.
2. Always observe the health condition of goats. If there any thin or weak goats, then separate those and give them some extra nutritious food.
3. Along with good feeding, try to understand whether the goats are diseases free or not. If any goats get affected by any diseases, then give them treatment first along with providing good food.
4. For commercial goat farming, never feed your goat used, damp or contaminated food.
5. Store your goat feed in a cool and safe place.
6. Place the food basket high. This will reduce wastage of food.
7. If you want to change the food habit of goats then do it slowly. Never change the feeding habit suddenly. Because by changing feeding habit suddenly, your goats may lose interest in taking food. This will result in serious health complications.
8. Ensure colostrum for kids after their birth.
9. Keep numerous water pots inside the house. But, never put water and food baskets at the same place.
10. Provide adequate green feed, vitamins, minerals, fresh and clear water; balanced diet is the key to success in commercial goat farming.

Veterinary Services

In modern goat farming methods, the producers are very conscious about their goat’s health. And it is very necessary for commercial goat farming. Although diseases are less in goats. But, you have to ensure the availability of proper and sufficient veterinary service in your farm. It will be better if your farm is located near to any veterinary service centre. For commercial goat farming purpose, you also have to store the necessary medicines and vaccines on your farm. If something goes wrong, then you will be able to provide first aid.

Pasture

Making a pasture is mandatory for commercial goat farming. By making a pasture for your goats, you can decrease complementary food costs. And browsing in the pasture also helps to keep the goats healthy.

Regular Care

Never delay or stop caring for your goats. Always provide them with good care and management. Proper care and management can ensure maximum production and high profit from commercial goat farming business. For proper care and management, do the above processes perfectly.

Marketing

This is the easiest, but most important part of commercial goat farming. If everything goes well and if you get sufficient production then it’s time to market your products. First of all, try your local markets, then big markets in your country. And finally you can try international markets. Personally, I think local markets or markets within the country are best for small or medium commercial goat producers.