How to Start Goat Farming with Low Capital

Simlpe goat housing

I always love to share information about farming/agriculture. I believe that if we share what we know or have experienced in farming, we shall have many successful farmers.

In this case we shall take K500 as our capital for starting a goat farm enterprise:

1. Buy two she goats/does at K250 or more, costs less than this.

2. With patience make a goal of making it after 5 years of investment, you will reap the benefits. In farming, there is nothing like planting seed today and tomorrow have the fruits, unless it's a miracle but rarely seen.

3. Make sure your goats have access to clean fodder and water always.

4. Provide good shelter, herdsmen (check their behaviour daily, check their poop daily, check for the sick and injured goats then report to vets) and good animal husbandry practices, avoid mating related goats as this can affect their performance.

5. Know that a goat starts breeding at 6 months; 5 months pregnancy period; after 21 days it comes back on heat after kidding (giving birth); after 2.5 months weaning; 6 years of breeding or 12 kids in a lifetime.

6. It gives birth twice a year, sometimes 2 kids per year or 4 kids in a year commonly seen in Africa. With a chance of 50% male to female kid ratio.

7. If you start with 2 does in the first year you will not have the same number of goats. You will have increases every after 6 months, sale males or exchange with females to increase the number of breeding does (she goats).

8. Have patience, courage and determination that it's possible for you to make it, start small with a big dream, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Goat farming is a good investment; you can start with little capital (money and other factors of production) with big R.O.I (return on investment).

I shall continue sharing more with you interested farmers.

by Joshua Mweetwa Mweeka

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