Some farmers find goat rearing easier and profitable than sheep farming. Reason being sheep are prone to diseases that lead to higher mortality. It eats only edible food so production cost is comparatively higher. On the contrary goats are easy to manage, eat inedible grass too and give 3 kids in 2 years. We found it more profitable. Rest it is the personal choice and interest.
Goats multiply fast and by selling the kids farmer can earn good money. Best quality kids must be brought from the established breeders who are engaged in the business for a long time as they would be able to provide all the assistance required and helps in setting up the network too.
Few factors to be considered for setting up the goat farm is shed development, fodder management and vaccination. Raised platform is ideal in a goat shed because the new born kid is safe from all the infections. Keep the goat staying arrangement on the 1st floor with wooden flooring so that all the droppings are pushed on the ground.
Protein rich grass should be cultivated for the goats all the year round. Buying fodder is always expensive than growing it in the farm. Besides fodder cultivation should be planned in a way that there is consistent supply of good quality and quantity of the fodder. Farm grown fodder is superior thereby the goats remain are healthy.
Different types of grasses namely Lucerne (high protein), COFS 29, Gini Grass, CO4, Subabool and Erythrinaindica grass etc can be cultivated for fodder. Along with these grasses also feed husk of maize, sorghum, groundnut cake, hay (200g/day) to the goats. Prepare the schedule for the fodder feeding and follow it strictly. Clean drinking water should also be provided to the goats. Keep water in plastic basin 24hours at the place easily accessible to the goats.
Usually goats deliver 10-15times in its life span. After that it must be separated from breeding and young herd. Once again farmer must take good care and minimum after three months it can be sold for meat. The gestation period is 5months. Once the goat delivers the kid, 40 days gap should be given for next reproduction cycle. It must be allowed to fees the kid minimum for 3months. It can feed the kids even during pregnancy. The new born kid starts feeding on grass after 15-20days. We tie the grass in a bunch in front of the kids, so that it starts biting and eating it. For adults we chop the grass. This helps in eating and digesting. It also helps us to put the grass in required quantity and avoid wasting it.
We vaccinate the goats for HS (cold, cough) in rainy season and ET (disease spreading through grass) twice in a year. PPR vaccine is given for disease Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR - viral infection). In December 1st week, we give vaccination for blue tongue (viral infection, contagious). We also have to deworm once in 3months.
Goat farming is profitable if done with 100% commitment and dedication of time and energy.
