Despite the increasing business ideas and opportunities in the country, livestock farming seems to be the most lucrative. There are many areas you could venture into when it comes to livestock farming one of which is goat farming.
Why you should consider goat farming
- Goat farming requires relatively low capital but yields high profits.
- A lot of Nigerians consume goat meat daily as such it can be seen as an everyday commodity that is highly demanded.
- Shoes, bags, belts and other leather-base materials are made from goat skin which is a very good source of leather
- Goats are easy to feed and manage as they require minimal supervision
- They also reproduce a lot which means continuity for your business
- Aside from normal consumption, goat milk is used in the production of cosmetics
- Pharmacists also make use of goat offal for drug production
- Even goat faeces are a great source of manure.
What you need to get started
Know how
Don’t venture into goat farming blindly or you could fail for the smallest reason. Get as much knowledge as possible on the business and how its run. Learn about goats, their feeding, mating, reproduction, and overall care process. Learn how to diversify the business into milk production, leather production and manure distribution. The best training would be a hands-on practical training.
Breed
There are different breeds of goat available in the Nigerian market as such; you need to determine which breed would best suit your purpose. Figure out why you’re venturing into goat farming and consider which breed would give you the best results. Raising two breeds is an option that requires larger capital.
Location/housing
The most suitable place to consider for goat farming is an area closest to pasture. The land should be spacious and fenced. Also, you’ll need a shelter for the goats so they can be shielded from harsh weather like rain and sun.
Feeding
Pasture is the best form of food for goats but there are other healthy food options like specially formulated goat feeds. You can grow your own pasture or make arrangements for your goats to graze in a nearby land. You could also either buy feeds or manufacture them depending on how much you can afford.
Healthcare/medication
Goats need utmost care (the female more than the male) this care should be ready available. You could have a vet doctor look in on the goats from time to time. This is necessary to avoid the spread of diseases which could very easily end your farm.
Marketing strategy
You shouldn’t wait until you’ve started operations to have a marketing plan on strategy. Right now when you are still putting things in place, consider your marketing strategy. You can even start networking.
Legal permit
The best way to avoid run-in with the law is to pay all and as at when due. Find out all the legal processes you need to follow, certification, documentation and all. If you need to get registered get it done and out of the way.
Help
Consider employing a number of people to assist you depending on how big your farm is. it could be in form of permanent staffs or staffs that come in once or twice a week to assist you it all depends on what you can handle.
As you go, there are going to be other thing to put in place like inventory, bookkeeping, breeding and the likes but these listed above cover the basics you need to start up. don’t procrastinate; get started!
Does getting a vet doctor not negate organic farming as the animals will be injected with antibiotics?
Good day please where can i locate a goat farm in the northern Nigeria to understudy.Thanks
Greetings.
I am intersted in goat farming, can you give referer any reputable farm as to where I can be trained?
Can you please refer me to a reputable person who can prepare a Business plan on goat farming for me?
can i make my own goat feed by myself?
how can i produce my own goat feed?
I like the sbmission. I like goat farming.
Thank you.
I am located in Ekiti. State, how can I see a goat farm and be trained?