mitrobeHOW TO START UP A SUCCESSFUL GOAT FARMING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA – ZIGIHOW.COM.NG
Goat Farm Business In Nigeria
Goat farming business is a very lucrative and most income rewarding business one could ever venture in.
Goat meat is widely consumed in Nigeria, and all over the world. Infact so many individuals prefer goat meat to cow meat because of it’s unique taste and nutritional value.
Goat meat is widely accepted and consumed world wide. It’s milk is starting to gain popularity, and being sold in reputable supermarkets.
In Nigeria goat milk hasn’t really gained more attention in consumption. But so many skincare industries uses goat milk in their products, because of it’s skincare benefits and it’s richness in vitamin A and vitamin C, and other health benefits when consumed vitamin D, protein, calcium, vitamin B3 magnesium, phosphorus, potassium. All of these nutrients offer some of the best benefits you can ever think of.
There are other products that can be derived from Goat milk such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and butter. infact anything that cow milk can offer, goat milk can also offer, with more nutritional value.
Goat meat has a unique taste, a very special taste that you cannot compare it with any other meat. Not only does goat meat tastes great, it is also lower in fat than chicken but contains higher protein than beef, that makes it better than chicken and beef.
In Nigeria goats are mostly reared for business and consumption. Because of it’s high consumption rate in Nigeria due to it’s lucrative and profitable features, so many individuals have ventured into goat farming.
The life cycle of a typical Nigeria goat is 8-16 years. Nigeria goat farmers don’t usually feed their goats with feeds, rather they feed them with fresh grass, green leaves, shrubs, and grains, as this is considered the best food for goats as they gain the full nutritional benefits from these foods.
What You Should Know Before Starting Up A Goat Farming Business
Choosing a Goat Breed
As an individual who aspires to venture into goat farming business, it’s really important you know the type of goat you want to rear. Some breads are suitable for milk production, such as Nigeria dwarf, La Mancha, and Alpine goats.
Some goats are suitable for wool production, such as, Angora, Pygora, and Cashmere goats.
Others are suitable for meat productions such as, Spanish or Tennessee breeds.
Purchase Atleast From Two Goats up
It’s important you purchase atleast two goats, this is because goats are herd animals which means they thrive with company. So, before you begin, make sure you have at least two goats or several goats and not just one.
Ensure To Purchase More Female Goats.
While purchasing your goats for your goat farming business, ensure you purchase more female goats than male. The reason for this is to enhance more reproduction rate.
At least when their is about 1-2 males goats in the mist of 6 female goats, the rate of reproduction will increase.
To keep it short and simple, if your budget can get you 6 goats, at least let their be only two male goats, the rest should be females
Note: The female goat is called a “doe” or “nanny.” The male goat is called a “buck” or “billy.”
Purchasing more males goats than females, may not be a good idea, because the reproduction rate will be low.
Types Of Goat Breeds.
Meat Goat Breeds
Under these breads of goat, they tend to grow fatter and gain weight quickly because they have large body mass.
Example of goats for meat production are: Spanish, Boer, Kiko, Beetal, Tennessee goats.
Note: If you want your goat to grow more fatter and gain more weight, you have to feed them more with grains.
Diary Goat Breeds
In goat farming business, this breed of goats are mostly reared for goat milk production. These breeds of goats includes, Alpine, Nubian, Nigerian dwarf, LaManchas, Oberhasli, Saanen goats. Such goats have long lactation period and are able to give from 5 to 8 liters of milk per day.
To increase your goat’s milk flow feed your goat 2-to-3 lb. of grain every day.
Note: In order for a female goat (doe) to give milk, the goat must first get pregnant and have kids of her own. Her body creates the milk to feed the kids. Dairy breeds have been bred to give more milk than their kids would require.
Wool Goat Breeds
These are Angora, Pygora, and Cashmere goat types. The produce high wool quality which is so highly valued in the enterprises. Wools are used in producing textiles and fabrics.
What Are The Benefits/Advantage Of Starting Up A Goat Farming Business?
Going into goat farming business comes with alot of benefits and advantages that will Profitably reward the farmer.
Milk.
If you chose to go for the diary breed of goats, then get ready to start up goat milk business. This is because diary goats can produce upto 3-4 liters of milk per day.
Goat milk is highly nutritious, and can be consumed by both adults and children. Unlike cow milk, goat milk can be used on the skin, because of it’s high vitamin A, and vitamin C content which serves Anti-aging in ingredient.
Goat milk is highly nutritious, it can be used to produce, yogurts, butters, cheese, and many other edible products.
Goat milk has so many nutritional benefits In fact, consuming goat’s milk, you benefit from 50 nutrients, including vitamins A, C, B-complex vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, zinc, calcium and much more.
Wool
Goat species such as Angora, Pygora, and Cashmere, produces high quality wool which can be used to produce fabric and textiles. Fibers from young goats are softest and are used to manufacture yarn for clothing. Fibers from mature goats are used to produce such things as rugs and carpets.
Meat.
Goats breed such as Spanish, Boer, Kiko, Beetal, Tennessee are called the meat species because they grow fatter and gain more weight for the butcher.
Goat milk has a unique taste when used in preparing dishes. Goat meats are rich in fatty acids, protein, good for bone health, recommended for pregnant women and low in cholesterol.
Due to it’s high market demand, and great taste people tends to consume more goat meat than cow. In Nigeria owning some herd of goats is considered as a very big investment.
Low Cost Of Investment
In setting up a goat farming business, the initial cost of investment is low, when compared to other livestock farming. Eg, poultry.
Disease Resistance
Goats are disease resistant animals, because of their strong immune system.
You expect less mortality in goat farming business, when compared to other livestock farming such as poultry.
How To Start Up A Goat Farming Business
Good Pasture Ground – Ensure to provide a good pasture ground for your goats, a land that grows grass with different varieties.
Goats are clean animals, and they eat wide varieties of grass which is nutritious to them. So it’s recommended you ensure to provide a good pasture ground for grazing.
Goats need large expanse of land, this is because they like moving around while eating plants and grass.
Goat don’t like over crowded condition, ensure you have enough acres of land for your goats to roam about freely while grazing and feeding.
Note: Ensure to remove poisonous weeds and plants. Goats will graze or chew on almost anything, so it’s Important to carefully remove any trace of poisonous weed that may be harmful your goat’s health. Although some goats may not eat poisonous weed, if they come across it while grazing, but it’s really important you remove poisonous weeds.
Examples of poisonous weeds that can be harmful to goats, Milkweed, bracken fern, and wild cherry.
Fencing – This is where security comes in. It’s important to secure your pasture with a round, high fence.
Personally I prefer barbwire fencing. This is because, barbwire fencing is more protective and impossible for goats to scare through or trespass.
Goats are excellent at crawling through small gaps or climbing over fencing. It’s recommended to build a fence five feet tall or higher.
Another obvious reason why you should use barbwire fencing is because Goats being harmless and domestic animals need protection from predators, such as coyotes, roving dogs, or even cougars & bears.
Housing – Goats are animals that doesn’t like bad climate conditions, they like to stay indoors when it’s raining, they like to stay under shelters when it’s too sunny, and they like to stay outside and graze when the weather is cool and enjoyable.
You need to build a house for your goats where they will take shelter when the weather climate condition is bad.
When building a house for your goats, ensure to construct it in a way that it will be spacious for the goats to move and relax freely. Goats like laying down and chew the cord while resting in a quiet condition. Make sure the housing is made comfortable for them.
Tips On How To Choose A Goat For Your Goat Farming Business
- Choose a goat native to the area where you’re living. Native goats will be more resistant to native parasites and diseases, which means they may produce more milk. Feed goats in separate stalls to make sure that each of them get their share of food.
- Ensure to purchase a healthy goat. The goat should look healthy. The hair should be smooth, with a shiny fur. Goats should have a bright eyes, and a relaxed tail or held up right, also make sure there aren’t any shreds. Healthy adult goats should have 32 teeth.
- Never purchase goats kids which are under bottle feed or 6 months age. This is to avoid the risk of the goat dying due to improper nurture. And it does not make sense to take animals older than seven years, at this age, productivity usually goes down.
- Goats are herd animals, they like moving in groups. When purchasing goats ensure to buy them is numbers, never buy a single goat.
- Although goats may be easy to rear, but it has it’s own challenges too. For a start, it’s advised not to purchase goats in a very large quantity. Start your goat farming business in a low scale and expand it. With this you’ll be well experienced. Bringing large number of goats into your farm can be very disastrous without having any previous experience in goat farming.
- Before buying goats for your goat farming business, ensure to read books/blogs, watch YouTube videos and also consult experienced goat farmers to advised you properly about raising goats and buying ideas.
- Before purchasing a goat, take a good look at the goat, check the head, udder, nose, and overall look for any disease or unhealthy condition.
- Incase of poor judgement, it’s advised to take your vet along with you, to physically check goats health status before buying.
- Never buy goats online without physically checking
Goat Farming Expenditures In Nigeria
In Nigeria the price of a small goat is sold between ₦5,000 and ₦10,000, while an average goat is sold between ₦10,000 and ₦15,000, and a big goat sold from ₦20,000 to ₦30,000.
It is advised to buy goats at village markets in Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina. The prices will be much lower than in Abuja or Lagos for instance.
Note: You will need to hire some agent to help you to make the best deals with goat farm owners.
Let’s calculate all the expenses:
Let’s assume you’re purchasing 20 goats for a start.
Average cost per goat = ₦7000 x 20 = ₦140,000.
Transport to Abuja = ₦30,000;
Loading and offloading = ₦2,500;
Agents fee per goat = ₦100 x 20 = ₦2,000
So, to start you will need at least ₦180,000 – ₦190,000.
If your starting capital is lower than the above mentioned price, you can reduce the number of goats to purchase, to suit your budget.
Veterinary Service
For your goat farming business to boom, you need healthy goats, and for that to happen you need a veterinary doctor that will regularly visit your goat farm to physically check the health condition of your goats.
mitrobe
James steller
Mitrobe Staff
David