Goat Farming, How to start goat farming, Understanding goats history and farming.

If we trace back the history of farming, we find that when our ancestors learned by nature about farming, Goats were the first wild animals to be domesticated at the juncture of Afro-Asia around 10000 years ago, at the beginning of the throughgoing transition from hunter‐gatherer to agriculture‐based Communities. From that time, goats have played a vital socio-economic and religious role in human civilization’s.

 

 Introduction:

Welcome to our goat farming blog, where we delve into the art and science of goat farming. Whether you’re a seasoned goat farmer or a newcomer to the industry, our goal is to provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you achieve success in your goat farming project.

Basic orientation about goat & goat farming:

Goats are one of the most domesticated and familiar livestock to many societies from the beginning of human civilization.Goats are multipurpose animals that produce milk, meat, fiber, kid and manure. Goats by nature have a very strong immune system to 

survive on minimum available resources and are adaptable for both hot and cold weather conditions. Goats have many breeds depending on farmers to choose which breed is suitable to which climate conditions.

 

Goat Farming: 

Goat farming or goat rearing were a very traditional and adoptable occupation globally. Growing population, high speed urbanization, hightech industrialization and global warming created a new challenge for humans, shortage of resources and growing demand for nutritional food also open the door for new sustainable business,Goat farming is one of them. Now Goat farming becomes a lucrative business only when it involves traditional Arts along with scientific approaches & application by trained persons.

 

 

Goat Farming ( Step to step plan):

1. Selection of suitable breed.
2. Arranging housing/ shade structure spaces.
3. Periodical Immunization & Vaccination.
4. Feeding management.
5. Breeding management.
6. Selection of a healthy and beautiful breeder.
7. Special care for pregnant goats.
8. Intensive care for new born baby goats.
9. Marketing the products and byproducts.
10. Waste material disposal/ utilization.

In Goat Farming these are the basic steps mentioned above that must be adopted to start goat farming as a business.First of all basically for the beginners to start goat farming at small scale, when you slowly get experienced you can go ahead as your capacity allows.

Selection of suitable breeds for goat farming:

Choosing the goat breeds is one of the crucial decisions of the probability of success in goat farming because the cost and productivity very much depends on goat breeds.Differents kinds of breeds have their different productivity and mortality, depending on climate conditions of the particular reason. Goats mostly prefer arid land, wetland or high water fall regions not conducive for goat productivity. If someone chooses a goat’s breed, they prefer to choose local breeds because local breeds are genetically strong and familiar for the particular regions. Before selecting goat breeds or importing the breeds from the outer region you must compare the climate conditions of that region with the hosting region.

Person or group of persons interested to start goat farming in India especially north India these are some breeds may be suitable and cost effective with high productivity. 

1. Barbari Goats breed especially from Mathura,Agra, Etawah etc.
2. Sirohi Goats Breed basically found in Rajasthan and western U.P.
3. Beetal Goats Breed found in Punjab and surrounding regions.
4. Jamunapari Goats are mostly found in Uttar Pradesh.
5. Black Bengal Goats generally found West Bengal.

There are many other goat breeds in India and most of them are useful for commercial farming.

Arranging proper housing/ shed structure for goat farming:

Proper arrangement of housing/ shed structure is very important because of the security reasons and goats also need some comfort zone to rest and sleep like other domesticated animals. A systematic well designed shed structure also helps to segregate different groups of goats in separate spaces. In goat farming, separate spaces are required especially for pregnant goats, newborn or baby goats, sick goats also need to be separated from others timely and get treated. Make sure that the living spaces of goats must dry and clean.

 

 Feeding arrangement in goat farming:

Feeding arrangements are a very crucial part of goat farming because the growth and development of goats mostly depend on proper feeding. Generally goats eat gross, leafs, green vegetable waste, dry fodder. If farmers have an open feeding or grazing facility it’s also very useful for goats. Goats also eat grains in raw and processed form like wheat,maze, chickpeas, pearl millet etc both their straw and products. There are also so many nutrient supplements available in the market, farmers also can make and develop food supplements for their goats with some expert advice. Farmers must care about a segregated system of feeding of baby and sick goats to avoid any hazardous losses.

 

 

Periodical immunization of goats all ages in goat farm:

Immunization and the health care process of goats is one of the major factors behind the survival and success of goat farms. There are some universal pre- defined veterinary immunization prescriptions available in the market, its prerequisite for farmers to have a proper immunization system in the farm by trained permanent staff in order to check the unforeseen losses.

 

Breeding management in goat farming:

Process of breeding is a crucial part of goat farming, farmers must have knowledge of breeding timing seasons, age and health of both male and female goats. The puberty age of female goats vary in different goat breeds, generally female goats start showing symptoms of puberty just after 6th month of their age and more commonly at 9th month of their age, it is better for farmer to involve female goats in breeding process only after 9th month of age and after the first delivery of goat,Generally the length of pregnancy of a goat or gestation period is expected about 145 to 155 days from the mating date of goat if only goat conceived pregnancy. Mostly after the delivery, kid feeding time lasts 90 to 100 days after that goat is prepared again for mating if it is not milked.

Choosing  breeders for goat farming:

Maintaining a special kind of goat breed in goat farming depends on types of breeder that farmers choose in goat mating. Knowledge of breeder blood line and health, hair color or horn shape and size etc. Productivity of a goat farm depend very much on kind breeder farmer have for their goat mating, having more than one breeder of different kind of breed is better for goat farm because its depend on knowledge of farmer how to initiate the process of bucking with more than one breeder to produce criss cross breeds for their goat farm.

It’s very necessary for farmers to make special separate housing and eating arrangements for goat breeders because you can not let them live with pregnant goats or kids.

 

Special care for pregnant goats in Goat farming:

During pregnancy every animal needs special care for diet and comfort zone goats too need the same treatment, In goat farming farmers must make separate feeding housing arrangements for pregnant goats. Separation of pregnant goats from their sisters doesn’t mean solitary confinement, separation within the goats farm if the separating wall is transparent or just fencing it’s much better for goats psychological health.

 

Intensive care for newborn in goat farm:

Special care for newborn baby goats is the most important work in a goat farm. Segregated housing and feeding arrangement is compulsory, never mix them with adult goats to avoid risk of injury or infections. Protect them from rough weather conditions especially in cold seasons keep them warm using a proper bedding system with straws.

 

Marketing the products and byproducts of Goat farm:

Marketing of products is one of the major parts of goat farming, just selling the product can bring back money but not give brand value, branding the product in a competitive market is a challenging job. Approaching buyers with product features makes them understand why your product is different and valuable from others.Identifying potential buyers and market giving them special offers for bulk and retail prices, taking more and more orders and ensuring the continuity of supply chain.

Farmers must understand the peak and off season of the market and prepare the products available as par demand. There are many festivals and wedding seasons in every year of the market.

1. The peak season of goat demand on the occasion of Eid festiveals.
2. High demand during the festivals of Holi, Deepawali and Lohri.
3. November, December, February, March, April and May the wedding seasons in India,

Instead of meat, there is also high demand for goat’s milk and leather of goats in the market, farmers must prepare to connect the market timely to generate more revenue. 

Waste material disposal/ utilization as an organic fertilizer:

Sanitation and cleanliness is basic and routine activity in goat farms to maintain hygienic conditions of feeding living places of goats, disposal of manure should be in a way to utilize as an organic fertilizer for green grosses of farms that can feed goats. It also can be sold in the market as an organic garden fertilizer. 

 

Summery:

Of Course goat farming is a sustainable business no matter whether at small level or on an industrial scale. The growing demand of mutton meat,milk and fiber gives the opportunity of goat farming at an upscale price. Central & Local governments provide lots of schemes and subsidies in most of the countries. In India, the Central Government runs many startup and subsidies schemes regarding goat farming, and the State Government also provides lots of opportunities related to financial support for goat farming.

These are the schemes run by the government of India for goat farmng.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY):

RKVY is a centrally sponsored scheme that aims to promote holistic development in agriculture and allied sectors. It supports various activities, including goat farming, with a focus on enhancing productivity and income.

• National Livestock Mission (NLM):

NLM is an initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). It focuses on the development and improvement of livestock, including goats. The mission supports activities such as breed improvement, health care, and capacity building of farmers.

• Integrated Livestock Development Scheme (ILDS):

ILDS is a scheme implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries. It aims to improve the productivity of various livestock, including goats, through activities such as breed improvement, health care, and training.

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY):

While PMKSY primarily focuses on irrigation, it indirectly benefits livestock farmers by ensuring better availability of water for animal husbandry, including goat farming.

• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Schemes:

NABARD offers financial assistance and credit facilities to farmers, including those involved in goat farming. Schemes like the Goat Development Scheme may provide financial support for setting up goat farms, purchasing goats, and related activities.

• National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP):

NADP is a central sector scheme that supports various agricultural and allied activities. It may include components related to goat farming, such as breed improvement, health care, and training.

 

References: 

 

1. The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG) is a premier research institute located in Mathura, India.
2. Manoj Kumar Singh.

Central Institute for Research on Goats – Division of Genetics and Breeding.

Ph.D. in Animal Genetics and Breeding.