Goat farming

09/08/2022

Goats are excellent farm animals. They are easy to maintain and can be raised to produce milk, meat, and mohair. With Penn State Extension, learn how to raise healthier goats and increase profit. In addition, discover educational resources on goat health, nutrition, breeding, and milking. Information on goat production marketing and business management is included, as well.

29/07/2022

Goats, often associated with sheep, are a vital part of the national economy in many countries around the world, and goat farming contributes significantly to the family economy, sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction. In order to study the goat farming system in Algeria, this study, which started between September 2012 and June 2015, involved 141 farms in 104 villages and 21 wilayas in Algeria.
Results
The results showed that 99.29% of the goats producers were male, most of which (74.47%) were not the owners of the animals. Goat farming represents a main activity for only 18.44% of the farmers surveyed. They are generally found in small numbers often associated with a large sheep herd (78.72%). Of the 141 farms visited, 50.35% use a sedentary farming system, 17.71% practice seasonal transhumance during the dry season (May to October), and 31.91% are semi-sedentary. However, it is worth noting that females (85.82%) are often more numerous than males (14.18%) in the herd. The farm that generally constitutes the shelter is reduced in most cases to a simple pen, without a roof, inside which the animals are enclosed and whose space is delimited by a metal or wooden fence. Hygiene is in the majority of cases poor (57.45%). Most of the farms (78.01%) do not contain goats of the same breed, and crossbreeding is generally not controlled (78.72%) and is very rarely done with bucks of the same breed (14.89%). Most breeders (92.20%) largely neglect the health of their goats compared to sheep.
Conclusion
Finally, the Algerian goat seems to be largely neglected and considered as a secondary species associated with sheep. For this reason, it is mandatory to give more importance to this species. The Algerian government must carry out activities related to the conservation and improvement of breeding systems through the development of breeding programs and ensure the sustainable management of ecosystems used for food production.

29/07/2022

Types of Goat Farms
Before starting a goat farming business, you will need to consider your local market and decide on what you want to produce – dairy products, meat, and/or fiber.
The next important thing to consider is the type of goat breed. Note that different goat species require different levels of care, therefore investing time in research is well worth it.
Raising Dairy Goats
Goat’s milk is a great alternative for those allergic or sensitive to cow’s milk. It is also a very popular ingredient in many beauty products such as soaps and lotions.
Dairy goat production can be an excellent livestock enterprise for anyone looking to start a small or part-time operation. What’s more, running a goat dairy farm provides an opportunity for producing unique products. Allowing goats to consume aromatic or flavorful plants, for instance, can add a special flavor to the milk and cheese.
Common dairy goat breeds are Alpine, Nubian, Saanen, LaMancha, Toggenburg, and Oberhasli.
Meat Goat Production
Goat meat offers a unique flavor and palatability. In addition, it’s a great source of protein, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and potassium. Goat meat is leaner than many other types of red meats, making it lower in saturated fats. Along with meat, a goat enterprise can sell fiber, as well. The most common fibers are cashmere and mohair.
While kids of all breeds can be used for meat, meat goats are often leaner than dairy goats. Popular breeds for meat production are Kiko, Spanish, and Boer.

28/06/2022

There are reasons that the goat farming business is increasingly popular. As hoofed farm critters go, goats are easier to house and feed than other livestock, such as cattle and pigs.
And a goat farmer will tell you that goats are interesting as well as a profitable business. They are social animals with quirky habits.
Here’s how to get started goat farming.
What are Goat Farms?
Goat farms are places where farmers breed and raise domestic goats.
Goats are primarily raised for their milk, meat or fiber. Each goat breed was created distinctly for one of those purposes, although there are some crossover breeds (milk and meat goats).
Any goat breed can be used for a relatively new goat farming purpose – using goats to clear brush. No, they won’t eat tin cans, but they will effectively kill underbrush by eating it.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Goat Farm?
You can expect to spend from $100 to $800 for registered breeding stock, with the registered female (doe) bringing top dollar. You may pay about $1,200 for a registered milking goat, such as a Nubian, or for a meat producer doe.
To start, you’ll need a male (buck) and several does. Alternately, you can purchase pregnant goats.
You’ll need a barn or shed and goat proof fencing – typically a combination of “no climb” woven wire and electric fencing. You’ll need a place to provide shelter and store hay, especially if you have a cold, wet winter season.
Minimal milking equipment will cost you at least $1,500. You’ll need state inspection and licensing to produce, process and sell milk, and follow label requirements. This varies by state, but that’s a basic guideline.
You’ll need a truck and a trailer, to pick up hay and to transport goats.

28/06/2022

To grow 500 goats, 10 acres of land, including shed construction area, is often necessary. If you want to begin with a small number of goats, say 50, you'll need 1 acre of land.
Breeding:
In any commercial goat farming operation, the choice of goat breed is the key source of profit and loss. Select goats that are capable of multiple kidding and have a short gestation period.
In commercial goat farming, one male goat is required for every 20 female goats. Bring a healthy and robust male for breeding purposes. At the age of 18-20 months, the majority of female goats begin to conceive. In a 24-month period, goats breed three times.
Fattening:
If commercial goat farming is designed for meat production, a fattening method should be considered in order to make quick money from the sale of those goats. In the fattening system, 3 to 4 month old male goat kids are selected and given a zero grazing diet for 6 to 7 months before being sold in the market for mutton at the age of 9 to 10 months. This will assist goat producers in rotating their funds or expanding their operations.
Construction for shed:
Instead of bringing goats out to pasture, zero gazing involves giving them green or dry fodder combined with additional nourishment in a shelter such as a shed or goat home. The construction of a shed is critical to the success of goat farming.
The shelter should be made to accommodate the quantity of goats you intend to keep. The goat barn must be angled with its length running east-west and its breadth running north-south. Depending on their age and health, the goats should be maintained in groups or batches in the shed.
Nutrition and feeding:
Goat farmers need a correct feeding formula for healthy growth and high-quality milk and wool yields. The following is an example. Stall-feeding should be used to the feed formula.

28/06/2022

Goat farming involves raising or rearing of domestic goats mainly for their meat, milk, fiber and skins. Goat farming is a profitable business as it has good economic prospects. Goat rearing under intensive and semi-intensive systems for commercial output has been gaining prominence in recent years.

28/06/2022

The great demand for goats and their products, combined with the possibility for high economic returns, is attracting many progressive farmers, businesses, professionals, ex-servicemen, and educated youths to enter the goat business on a commercial scale.
Because of its multi-functional utility, goat farming is now a viable enterprise that requires very little investment. Furthermore, commercial goat farming contributes significantly to a country's economy and nutrition.
If you want to start this business and have the capacity to create a flawless plan, you will undoubtedly be able to make the most profit from goat farming.
Points to be considered for goat farming business plan
Before beginning a commercial goat farm, make sure you have a solid business plan in place. The business strategy might cover everything from site selection to goat marketing. Goat farmers, on the other hand, should be fully informed before embarking on large-scale commercial goat farming.
Goat farming business plan that you must know
Land Selection:
A sufficient amount of land should be available for shelter and the cultivation of green fodder crops for any livestock farming operation. The amount of acreage needed is determined by the quantity of goats being raised.

15/05/2022

Goats in the lowland are kept both for milk and meat production, whereas in the highlands they are mainly kept for meat. Goat production in the lowlands relies on browsing and grazing whereas in the highlands communal grazing, fallow lands, and crop residues are the major feed resources.

04/05/2022

How to start a business Goat Farming. Business Ideas with Low Investment and High Profit are Goat Farm. Raising Goats is profitable business in the world. Goat farming assignment calls for much less capital and funding than elevating every other farm animals. You can start goat farming commercial enterprise with a completely small funding. Excessive earnings within a very brief time, little funding, massive worldwide call for are the principle motives of spreading this commercial enterprise hastily all through the world. Know Detail Subscribe this Channel:
Housing
On an average, you have to assign 10 square foot area for each lady goat, 20 square toes space for male goats and 4 square ft area for children as the floor area. The walls of the house ought to be 6 feet in height. The size of the house for a full grown goat should be 4ft into 2.5ft. Goats have a tendency to live in barely raised structures from the ground stage. For this cause, you may put together artificial structures 2 to 3 feet high over the ground. This will also help to clean waste materials. For industrial functions, you need to preserve diseased goats, lactating goats, female goats and pregnant goats in separate sheds.
Feed
If you are rearing goats for industrial purposes, you need to provide a day by day requirement of two-three kg of inexperienced grass and a hundred and fifty gm of grains. For a mature goat, the day by day requirement is 5kg grass and 500gms of grains. You have to additionally provide 700gm water for each goat. Pregnant goats require every day grain meal at the side of different fodder. You could feed nearly any type of grass and plant feed to goats. However, you must no longer feed them meals infested with mildew or different contaminants because it might be dangerous to them.
Widespread care and control for goat farming
You just have to ensure to attend to the goats whilst they may be pregnant and lactating or diseased. After the start of goat children, you have to take right care in order that they are born under hygienic conditions. You need to additionally deal with the nutrition management of the young youngsters while they're nonetheless developing. When the goat kids are months old and stopped feeding on mothers’ milk, you need to separate them from the mom and hold them in separate sheds. In case of male goat youngsters, you have to carry out castration when they are 1.5 to 2 month’s vintage by way of banding approach or any other suitable approach.
Replica and mating in goat farming
To begin excellent breeding software, you must select goats belonging to dad and mom of excessive first-class and superior characteristics. The destiny scope for farming is especially dependant at the breed and first-class of goat. You should choose goats for breeding that are wholesome, having a sleek skin, robust and sturdy. For breeding, you need to use lady goats of 12-14 months of age and male goats of 16 to 18 months of age. The breeding may be finished any time of the 12 months. The lady goat can be made to fertilize every 18-21 days in a month. Two mature male goats can be used to fertilize fifty mature female goats.
Disease manage of goat farming
Goats are generally proof against deadly sicknesses and infections. But if they are saved in unhygienic conditions, they may be probably to fall unwell. Additionally in case you use disease resistant breeds, there are lesser possibilities of the animals to fall unwell. The maximum common diseases affecting goats are per, goat pox, pneumonia, enterotoxemia, coccidiosis etc. Normally, vaccination is administered underneath the goat skin for anthrax, ppr and foot and mouth ailment.
Marketing of goat farming
Goat merchandise can be offered within the marketplace very effortlessly as it has a large demand for it. You can sell goat meat based on the requirements of the marketplace and when they reach the favored mass. Milk and fur can usually be offered therefore. Dead goats may be sold for the skin.

28/04/2022

25/04/2022

The characterization of breeding systems and their diversity is the first step to establish policies for sustainable development of the livestock sector (Ruiz et al. 2008). Animal genetic resources are key in this regard as they are the basis of systems’ performance and adaptability. Goat breeding systems across the world are mostly described as low-input systems, whether extensive or semi-intensive (Alexandre et al. 2012; Escareño et al. 2013). The typological approach, using multivariate statistical analysis, offers an important tool to understand the role of goat genetic resources inside this diversity of systems.
Characterized by a great diversity of agro-ecological zones, Algeria is home for many livestock species and breeds. The Algerian goat population is estimated at 4.9 million heads in 2016 (FAOSTAT 2018). A majority of them are raised under low-input farming systems (Madani et al. 2015), mainly in the arid and semi-arid areas that extend over 80% of the territory (Senoussi 2011). This population is composed of native breeds (Arabia, Mekatia, M’zab and dwarf of Kabylia), exotic breeds (Saanen, Alpine, Murcia and Chami) and their crossbreds (FAO 2014). Especially in semi-arid areas as in Laghouat, the study zone of this survey, goats are key in livelihoods of less-endowed households, being a source of cash income, milk and meat (Koeslag et al. 2015). Thanks to their mobile upper lip and higher digestive efficiency for cellulose, goats are enabled to browse a variety of plants not eaten by cattle and sheep; therefore, they are more adapted for survival in harsh environments than other domestic animals (Jansen and van den Burg 2004).
However, despite their vital roles in rural livelihoods, goats have been neglected in development programmes and few studies on goat breeding systems in the Algeria are available.
In this context, the present paper proposes a characterization of goat breeding practices. Thereafter, a typology of herds according to the breeding practices could help future researchers as well as in developing livestock’s programmes.
Goat is commonly known as ‘Poor man’s cow’ in India and is a very important occupation in the dryland farming system. Suitable for small and marginal and landless laborers. It needs less grazing land and the initial investment is low. The risk of goat farming is less compared to other livestock species. It is an economically viable sector for rural people. They are resistant to diseases. In a short period, we can get more revenue.

15/03/2022

In order to investigate the practices of goat breeding and establish a classification of goat herds, a survey was conducted with 106 goat breeders in the semi-arid region of Laghouat. Two indigenous breeds were encountered in this survey: the Arabia and the Mekatia; the Arabia being found as the dominant. The results show that breeders choose the breeding goats with a goal of generating more income in cash from the sale of products. The goat milk marketing chain appears to be weak. The milk produced is primary used for home consumption. A multivariate analysis categorized the goat farming of Laghouat region into three groups corresponding to three different farming systems: cluster 1 (pastoral system), cluster 2 (mixed crop-livestock system) and cluster 3 (small herds in zero grazing system).

The in-depth study of the goals and contexts of goat farming in Laghouat will allow policy makers to design strategies for sustainable development of goat breeding in the region.

17/10/2021

13/10/2021

goat farming