Introduction

Goat farming is one of the most profitable livestock venture in Africa and Nigeria in particular as there is no religious or traditional belief hindering its consumption. This high demand for the meat makes goat farming a very lucrative livestock farming to venture into.

Goat farming in Africa is normally done for the purpose of harvesting milk, meat and fiber

Benefits Of Goat Meat

There are many benefits of goat farming in Africa because goat meat has a number of health benefits, which include…

When it comes to fat, goat meat is leaner than other meats. It also has far lesser calories, which means it is ideal for those trying to stick to a diet.

While red meat is known to be high with saturated fat that increases cholesterol levels and leads to heart disease, goat meat is said to have very low levels of saturated fat and will pose no harm to your heart health.

The low levels of saturated fat in goat meat is said to improve blood cholesterol levels and ease inflammation.

– With cholesterol levels shooting through the roof in most households, it is important to watch your diet. Goat meat comprises very little cholesterol and hence, can be consumed regularly.
– Goat meat also contains higher levels of iron than chicken which is an important nutrient especially for women, a lack of iron reserves is known to cause anaemia.

– The meat is also packed with proteins — another important nutrient the body needs on a daily basis.



– Goat meat has high Vitamin B, which help to effectively burn body fat. So, a little portion of the meat is good for one wish to lose some weight.

It is packed with Vitamin B12, which is known to help you get healthy skin.



Advantages Of Goat Farming In Africa

Goat farming in Africa requires low initial investment or capital.
It don’t require huge area for housing because their body size is comparatively smaller than other livestock animals.
Goats are normally friendlier in nature and very lovable than other livestock.
Goats are good breeders and they reach sexual maturity within their 7-12 months of age and give birth of kids within a short time. And some goat breed produce numerous kids per kidding.
Risks are less for goat farming in Africa than any other livestock farming business.
Goats are very suitable for mixed farming with other domestic animals.
Diseases are less common in goats than other domestic animals.
Goats are comparatively cheaper in price and easy to maintain.
They can of adapt to almost all types of agro climatic environments or conditions. They can tolerate high and low temperature more than other animals.
According to the investment per unit they produce more than other domestic animals thus the ROI (return of investment) for goat farming in Africa ratio is very good.
Goats are generally smaller in size but reach slaughter age faster.
Goats are called the “foster mother of human”. Because their milk is considered as the best milk for human consumption than any other species of livestock animal’s milk. And their milk is low cost, nutritious, wholesome and easily digestible.
Goat milk is suitable for preparing various types of milk products. And goat meat has a huge demand and high price in the local and international markets. Even you can consider exporting your products to the foreign countries for more profits.
Goats can be milked as often as required. This also prevent refrigeration costs and milk storage problems.
You can use the goat’s manure as a high quality natural fertilizer in crop field. This will directly help to maximize crop production.
As goat farming in Africa is very profitable, so many govt. and non govt. banks are eager to provide loans for starting this business.
This business require less labor and you can easily use your family labor for raising goats.
Commercial goat farming business is a great source of employment and income in Africa so unemployed educated people can easily create a great employment and income source through raising goats commercially.
Along with the above advantages, there are also many advantages of commercial goat farming in Africa.
Doing Feasibility Studies

The cost of going into goat farming in Africa a goat varies from region to region, as does the profit you can earn from selling goat products. If you are planning to raise goats for commercial purposes, it pays to get a good idea of costs and expected profit. Try to talk to several goat farmers or read recently published goat farming guides in your area to get a good estimate of the following costs. If the resulting estimate is above your budget, you might decide to purchase fewer goats, or a different breed. Keep in mind that a goat farm may not be profitable for two years or more, especially if you are raising young goats or need to pay for initial setup such as fencing.

How much does it cost to raise a doe, a buck, or a kid for one year? Try to find numbers for your specific goat breed if possible.
If you are raising goats for milk, how much milk does one doe produce? How much can you sell this milk for?
If you are raising goats for meat, how much does a slaughtered goat sell for? Do they sell for more during a specific time of year, such as Muslim holidays, Christmas, or Easter?
How much on-hand money do you have available for unexpected costs, such as fencing repair or veterinary procedures? If one of your goats dies, will that cause you financial hardship?
Writing Your Business Plan

You will need to write a business plan for your proposed goat farm especially if you need funding in the outset or even later in the future. the business plan will equally be as a road map to where you wish to take your farm in the future

Goat Breeds

Three major breeds of goat in Nigeria are West African Dwarf, Sokoto Maradi Red and Borno Sahel White.

The WAD goats are found in the southern parts of the country.

It has the potential of good tasty meat with a good reproductive performance.

The Sokoto Maradi Red is found in the northern part of the country and is well adapted to arid conditions.

Selecting Goat Type

Some breeds are suited for milk production, such as Nigerian Dwarf, La Mancha, and Alpine goats. Others are usually raised for meat, such as the Spanish or Tennessee breeds.

`Some farms raise Angora or Cashmere goats to sell their hair for fabric. Find out which breeds are raised in your area, how large each breed grows to, and the physical and personality traits of each breed. Some breeds tend to be more docile, produce bucks with a stronger smell, or be prone to certain health problems.



Housing Requirements

When you’re creating goat house, you need to consider where you will store feed, straw or other bedding, and other goat-related equipments.

You need to leave space for feeders and waterers, which will keep the house cleaner and prevent wasting of feed. All animals should be able to eat or drink at one time.

If your goats will have access to a lot of woods, pasture, and other range areas, you will need 10 to 15 square feet per goat indoors for sleeping space. If not, you’ll need about 20 square feet per goat for sleeping space and 30 square feet for exercise (ideally, this would be outdoors).

Each adult goat needs at least a 4-foot by 5-foot kidding pen, so consider this space in your goat shelter depending on how many does you will breed at one time.



You can have different does kid at different times in the same pen if you clean and sanitize the pen between kiddings.

Feeding
Continue Reading@http://theprofarmer.com/profitable-goat-farming-in-africa/

Very interesting! Which breed ar those in d imagge?

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