If you love goats and you want to enter into the goat-rearing business or you are already into this business and looking for new tips on how to improve it, then you’re in the right place.
The goat farming business is by far among the intensive animal farming business which a lot of people have embarked on and are testifying of its income return.
Another amazing thing about goat farming is that anyone in any place can set up this business and soon enough, they will start making a profit from it.
Goat meat consumption in Kenya
Aside from cow meat, goat meat is another type of meat widely loved, by many in Kenya. And the reason is because of its unique taste or aroma. Kenyans love nyama choma especially goat meat.
Apart from these, goat meat is highly nutritious because it has more Lean that is; it has low cholesterol which is very good for people who have a preference for low energy diet and most times Doctors do recommend it to some patients.
So allow me to conclude that many Kenyans eat goat meat every day and this should drive you to the zeal of starting up your own commercial goat farming in Kenya.
Is Goat Farming Business Profitable in Kenya?
If I invest in goat farming, how much will make? Are you asking this question?
Let’s make a possible estimation;
A healthy and well-matured goat could weigh about 35-40 Kg (So, for that Kilos, a goat should cost roughly Ksh 7,000 or even more. And let’s say you have about 100 goats in your goat farm, you would be selling for about Ksh 700,000.
How goat and cow milk give me Sh. 192,000 per month
Let’s assume that the cost of feeding and labour is even as high as Ksh 100,000, you could still be making as much as Ksh 600,000 every year.
Incredible! Right? So you see, goat farming is a good investment, though no business makes you rich overnight. There’s always a time of little beginning.
How much capital do I need to set up my goat farming business?
Compared to rearing other livestock, goat farming requires little or less capital.
You don’t need millions of Shillings to set up a goat farm unless you want to make it larger. But nevertheless, you can set up your goat farming business with not so much amount.
Just bear in mind that you are setting up commercial goat farming. When you’re in the business, as profits flow in, you can then put in more goats.
Other byproducts from goat farming in Kenya
As interesting as it might be, the amazing fact about rearing goats is that goat is a multifunctional animals. You don’t only gain from selling your goats as meats, but you can also gain more from some of its byproducts such as milk, fibres, skin, and manure.
I will explain each of these a bit for better understanding.
Goat Milk; though it may not be that popular or widely consumed in Kenya, goat milk can be produced from goats. Goat milk is said to have low cholesterol and it is non-allergic compared to cow milk.
The nutrients in goat milk are said to help in improving appetite and digestive efficiency. It also has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties which can be used for the treatment of urinogenital diseases of fungal origin. Other dairy products derived from goat aside milk are yoghurt, cheese, and butter.
Fibers; some breeds of goats like Cashmere and Angora can produce high-quality fibers. These can also be sold for maximum profit.
Hides and skin; every breed of goats produce hides and skin, which can serve or use in the production of leather items. But know that the breed which produces high-quality hides and skin are the Black Bengal goats or Kalahari Red goats (mostly found in Kenya).
They have thick hides and skin which is not only sold in Kenya but also internationally, and because of it extravagantly quality, their skin has a high demand. If you intend to deal with in goat hides and skin, make market research about it and know who your buyers are.
Manure; Most farmers love and prefer to use organic manure than using artificial fertilizers to grow their crops. Goats’ faeces are high in organic manure (fertilizers) that are used for the rapid growth of farm crops. You as a goat seller can make a good income from these.
What weather condition is suitable for rearing goats in Kenya?
Unlike some livestock farming like chickens, Fish and the like, the goat is one animal that is never selective of weather conditions. And to top it all, Kenya’s weather is very suitable for rearing goats in any state.
Now we have discussed the considerable factors, let’s move to the main point; How to start goat farming in Kenya.
Goat farming business plan; a good business should have a business plan. This will assist you to pinpoint things you should do to improve your goat farm. Alongside, you should have record keeping if need maybe, it should document what has been sold, or purchased. To know when you are gaining or losing.
The reason why you are rearing goats; when setting up your goat-rearing business, you should determine the main reason why you are rearing goats; are you rearing them for meat, for milk, or for their skin?
Make market research of the one that has a high demand and will also profit you more and go into it.
Land location; when you want to get land for your goat farming, select a location that is good for pasture or grazing (just as you would do in cattle farming).
Make sure the land is not far from the town or the market for easy access. If possible, let there be a market near the farmland, so you can have easy access to get any types of equipment you might need.
Housing; when building a pen for your goat, build one that will shed them from rain and the sun. You can put electricity if need may be. The shed should be well-fenced to prevent thieves and burglaries. Also, the pen should be clean, should be free from dampness and well it should be well-ventilated.
Lucy Wairimu: Farmer Raking Fortune From Goat Milk
The goat pens should also be free from pest and rodents. You should always use fresh hay or straw for bedding. Initiate activities like introducing toys so your goats can move around. This also helps in making them healthy and active.
Buying your goat breed
After you have set up the housing (goat pens) for keeping your goat, the next step is to purchase your breed. You should purchase high-quality breeds.
Dairy Goat Breeds in Kenya
There are many dairy goat breeds in Kenya today. These are the goats reared for milk. You will find farmers with dairy goats in Kenya for sale. You can also check out your local classifieds or online for dairy goats in Kenya for sale. While choosing the Dairy Goat Breeds in Kenya ensure that the breed has high production and quality milk. Here are the popular Dairy Goat Breeds in Kenya.
- Saanen
- Toggenburg
- Barbari
- Jamunapari
Meat Goat breeds in Kenya
There are many meat goats breeds in Kenya. If you are considering goat rearing for meat, then this is what you should think. Look for meat goat breeds in Kenya that are highly productive and produce good quality meat. Here are the popular Meat Goat Breeds in Kenya.
- Boer
- Mato
- Black Bengal
If you are purchasing a baby goat, make sure that they are properly vaccinated.
Feeding your goats
You can feed your goat any type of crops, corn, and leaves since goats are ruminant animals (though like humans, they have their different taste, i.e, certain goats may not eat something other goats eat). However, it is advisable that you should have a grazing place so that the cost of feed can be lowered.
There are also specially formulated feeds you can buy in the market; these feeds can make your goat grow faster and big. The little disadvantage of it is that these feeds can be costly compares to pastures. Sometimes, most farmers do produce their own feed; you can make yours if you can just make sure the feed has about 11%-18% of protein.
Get the Services of a Veterinary Doctor; A lot of you might frown on this; you might be asking if rearing a goat is easy, why then do I need the service of a veterinary?
Here is the point: When starting up your goat farming business, you should bear in mind that you are setting up a commercial goat farming business. The reason is you will be rearing lots of goats in larger quantities for business.
You don’t want to use your goats for experimenting like those who are rearing two or a few goats. With the help of a veterinary, you will know the right nutrient, mineral or medicine that will be administered to your livestock that will maximise your profit and also you can learn new tips from them.
If you want to do it yourself be cautioned that you might lose quite a number of goats in the process, this is from the best agricultural website in Kenya.
Goat Maturation; is the process of goats becoming mature. In goats, puberty age is between six and 12 months (though it can most times vary in breeds. Sometimes, nutrients can also contribute to this. You should note that female goats (doe) go into estrus every 21 days for three to 50 hours.
At this stage, some enough natural mating can begin. But since the advance of technology, some modern farmers practice artificial insemination. It is said that it allocates straightforward entrance to a wide variety of bloodlines.
Marketing your goats; before you fully start your own goat farming, you should make market research to know how much others are selling in the market so you’ll have a better understanding of the goat business in your area and so that you won’t sell your goat below the market price.
Some common diseases to look out for when rearing your goat;
Tapeworm; you will notice symptoms like; Diarrhea, and constipation, some part of tapeworm may be seen in the faeces.
Tuberculosis; you will notice difficulty in respiration, coughing, Irregular low-grade fever for long periods, loss of body weight and anaemia.
Salmonella infection; noticeable symptoms are loss of weight and low milk production. This disease is mostly caused by using or giving dirty or contaminated drinking water.
Rinderpest; the symptoms are Ulcerative lesions that will appear inside the lower lip and on the gums. There will also be a mild thermal reaction and diarrhoea.
Nitrate/nitrite Poisoning; noticeable symptoms include; urine testing positive for nitrate/nitrite, respiratory difficulty staggering gait, and the goat blood becoming chocolate brown in colour. Most times death might occur.
The diseases listed above are just a few to mention, there are still many of them. These are the more reason why appointing a veterinarian is highly recommended.
If a good veterinary well manages your goat farming business, your goats will grow healthy and you will gain more than lose.
Where to buy the goats