Livestock farming can be lucrative if you have the right breed for the type of farming you are carrying out, whether it’s dairy or beef farming.
Various factors, including changing climatic and weather conditions, determine the type of breed reared by farmers.
If you are looking for the best animal that can fetch you good cash in the prevailing erratic weather and climate conditions, then Galla goats can be a good choice.
Galla goats are a unique breed of goats that is more resilient to changing climatic and weather conditions. Due to their superior characteristics, they have been embraced by farming communities in drought-stricken counties.
The animals are said to be friendly and docile and are resistant to some diseases, including gastro-intestinal parasites and infectious diseases. This makes them easy to manage.
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“Rearing the goats is also very cheap, even for farmers with low incomes, as they are hardy browsers and can feed on most types of vegetation, including shrubs and twigs, making feeding affordable,” said Antony Mutembei, a certified breeder and veterinary from Tharaka Nthi County.
In addition, their large size than other goats makes them producers of more meat. Galla goats further gain weight rapidly within a short period and can gain up to 70kg fetching three times the price of local breeds at the market.
Daniel Langat, a farmer from Mogotio, Baringo County, says a mature female Galla goat weighs between 45 and 55kg, while the male one can weigh 60-70kg.
This is way higher compared to an adult local male goat, which weighs between 30 and 40kg, while a female weighs from 25 to 30kg.
The animals are also said to be good milk producers, and they can give up to 3 litres a day, compared to crossbreeds, which produce 1.5 litres, and indigenous breeds, which produce 0.5 litres a day.
Goat milk is superior to cow milk because it is rich in calcium and amino acids, which are necessary for the development of healthy bones. It is also low in cholesterol and, therefore, safe for people who are keen on cholesterol intake.
As such, its demand in the market is high, with a litre selling for Sh200 at the farm gate and Sh300 in supermarkets.
