“Farming is successful when routine activities are performed systematically. To facilitate repeating the same module every day and improve the farm efficiency it is best to use the technology. I have implemented technology driven processes in my goat farm thus able to manage it remotely very well,” says Mr. Sachin Rindhe, founder, Shree Goat Farm. Two breeds namely Osmanabadi and Sirohi are reared at the farm. It was started in 2017.
Mr. Rindhe completed his masters and presently is pursing PhD along with job in Bangalore based IT company and managing the farm in Maharashtra. He has 18 years of experience working in multiple multinational companies. Since childhood he was inclined towards livestock rearing but professionally joined IT industry. “I am satisfied with my professional growth but livestock farming always caught my attention. During my last visit to my native village in Maharashtra an idea came up to start a goat farm. With no experience and knowledge on goat rearing it was a risky venture hence I visited many goat farms to understand the business model. Later, my experience as project manager in various IT projects came very handy and I developed a meticulous project plan on goat farming including details such as supply chain, value proposition, market, demand, investment cost, risk and so on. Finally, with detailed project plan I established the farm at Buldhana, Maharashtra. Being at Bangalore I am able to manage the farm in Maharashtra with the help of technology. The farm has CC TV Camera hence I am able to monitor it remotely. Breeding, fodder, medication and all other processes are neatly documented and implemented hence every activity in the farm is performed in routine,” he shares.
Shree Goat Farm is a scientifically designed farm in 5 acres. The front side of the farm has an open garden, mid-section has shed with free walking space for goats on both sides while back side has plant and processing unit. Entire farm is fenced that restricts the goat movement outside the farm premises. Capital investment made was Rs. 12 lakhs. Goat shed is in 1 acre, 2 feet above the ground. The shed has compartments where 10 goats can stay freely and each compartment has a gate that leads to the open walking space on the sides. “I do not let the goats out of the premises but as by nature goat is free grazing animal I have created an open space having high-nutritional value trees. In this space goats roam around freely as it feels so and munches the tree leaves. It is essential to allow free movement the goat else it gets stressed and start losing weight,” he explains.
Plant and processing unit comprises of hydroponic unit for growing green fodder, processing plant for converting goat dung into manure and an open cultivation area for growing selective medicinal herbs to be given to goats as fodder. Speaking of selecting Osmanabadi breed goats, Mr. Rindhe says, “It is a cost effective goat breed. Secondly it is native breed to Maharashtra hence its adaptability is not a concern. Twin ratio is as high as 90%. Female weighs up to 30 kg while male weight varies between 40-45 kg. Sirohi breed is also a good breed having 40% twin ratio and weight gain capability is high. Female weight goes up to 40-45 kg and male weight above 55kg.”
The farm has pure original breeds and entire herd is in best of health conditions, “So many people are making the preposition to buy the goat kids but I am not ready to sell so early!” he informs. When asked about the farm revenues, Mr. Rindhe elucidates, “I have completed one year and so far I had only invested money. Today I can clearly see the earning by selling kids to the level that my entire investment would be recovered but I do not want to sell the goats at all at this moment because my aim is to make it as 500 goats farm. However, it will take another 3-4 years to achieve this target so to make it financially sustainable I will continue to fund the project till 6-12 months then begin selling only 40% goat kids. This implies if present herd of 100 goats delivers 150 kids then I will sell 50 and keep 100 in the farm. This shall continue till the goats become 500 and simultaneously the farm will attain financial independence.”
Breeding in the farm is done in a controlled and calculated manner. The breeding stock is kept in different compartments. “We allow the interaction between male and female goats based on the birth of the kids. Pregnancy period of goat is 5.5 months so we plan the natural mating accordingly to avoid kid birth during rainy seasonbecause that time it has maximum risk of infection thus chances of mortality are high. We let the male and female goats to mingle for natural mating either in an isolated compartment or open space,” he explains. To avoid in-breeding male and female goats are kept in separate compartments. All the animals can see each other but their movement is completely restricted. Detailed record of every animal including its family history is maintained. “I might also consider to exchange the breeding male goats after 2-3 years as the situation demands.”
Entire herd is vaccinated at proper time with more attention given to kid as it is very tender and prone to infections. “I am extremely fortunate to have the support of best available local traditional knowledge on goat farming. Thus for any health fall outs we use some home remedies,” he informs.
Mix of dry and green fodder is given to the goats along with medicinal herbs and free munching of tree leaves. “In green fodder we mainly give maize that is produced organically in our hydroponic unit and medicinal herbs grown in open cultivation at the backside of the farm. I grow subabul trees in the open space. We also give azolla to goats in breakfast along with green fodder as it is excellent source for the weight gain. Azolla is low cost fodder, the cost incurred is 25 paisa/kg however it is best used as supplementary fodder and cannot be used as primarily fodder, Medicinal herbs are given on an empty stomach and as the taste is bitter we mix it with other fodders,” states Mr. Rindhe. Dry fodder and some more green fodder are sourced from the trusted growers, “They are my relatives and friends residing in the village. I give them the goat dung manure and they produce the fodder for me.” To make the manure from the goat dung, it is broken down into very tiny particles in the processing machine.
In future Mr. Rindhe plans to milk the goats, process it within the farm and supply goat based products namely pasteurized goat milk and goat cheese in the cities near to his farm. He concludes, “Goat farming is all about patience because the animal needs to eat and have weight gain. If the farmer is in hurry to sell the goat and recover his investments, then he is putting his entire farm on risk! Besides, before starting the goat farm the farmer/agripreneur must have necessary arrangement to fund the farm for minimum 1.5-2 years. To attain success in goat farming, allow the goats to grow and multiply atleast for 1.5 years. It is a lucrative business but requires time to pay back!”
Contact details:
Shree Goat Farm
Mr. Sachin Rindhe
Dongarkhandala, Buldhana, Maharashtra
Email Id: sachin_rindhe@yahoo.co.in
Mr. Rindhe completed his masters and presently is pursing PhD along with job in Bangalore based IT company and managing the farm in Maharashtra. He has 18 years of experience working in multiple multinational companies. Since childhood he was inclined towards livestock rearing but professionally joined IT industry. “I am satisfied with my professional growth but livestock farming always caught my attention. During my last visit to my native village in Maharashtra an idea came up to start a goat farm. With no experience and knowledge on goat rearing it was a risky venture hence I visited many goat farms to understand the business model. Later, my experience as project manager in various IT projects came very handy and I developed a meticulous project plan on goat farming including details such as supply chain, value proposition, market, demand, investment cost, risk and so on. Finally, with detailed project plan I established the farm at Buldhana, Maharashtra. Being at Bangalore I am able to manage the farm in Maharashtra with the help of technology. The farm has CC TV Camera hence I am able to monitor it remotely. Breeding, fodder, medication and all other processes are neatly documented and implemented hence every activity in the farm is performed in routine,” he shares.
Shree Goat Farm is a scientifically designed farm in 5 acres. The front side of the farm has an open garden, mid-section has shed with free walking space for goats on both sides while back side has plant and processing unit. Entire farm is fenced that restricts the goat movement outside the farm premises. Capital investment made was Rs. 12 lakhs. Goat shed is in 1 acre, 2 feet above the ground. The shed has compartments where 10 goats can stay freely and each compartment has a gate that leads to the open walking space on the sides. “I do not let the goats out of the premises but as by nature goat is free grazing animal I have created an open space having high-nutritional value trees. In this space goats roam around freely as it feels so and munches the tree leaves. It is essential to allow free movement the goat else it gets stressed and start losing weight,” he explains.
Plant and processing unit comprises of hydroponic unit for growing green fodder, processing plant for converting goat dung into manure and an open cultivation area for growing selective medicinal herbs to be given to goats as fodder. Speaking of selecting Osmanabadi breed goats, Mr. Rindhe says, “It is a cost effective goat breed. Secondly it is native breed to Maharashtra hence its adaptability is not a concern. Twin ratio is as high as 90%. Female weighs up to 30 kg while male weight varies between 40-45 kg. Sirohi breed is also a good breed having 40% twin ratio and weight gain capability is high. Female weight goes up to 40-45 kg and male weight above 55kg.”
The farm has pure original breeds and entire herd is in best of health conditions, “So many people are making the preposition to buy the goat kids but I am not ready to sell so early!” he informs. When asked about the farm revenues, Mr. Rindhe elucidates, “I have completed one year and so far I had only invested money. Today I can clearly see the earning by selling kids to the level that my entire investment would be recovered but I do not want to sell the goats at all at this moment because my aim is to make it as 500 goats farm. However, it will take another 3-4 years to achieve this target so to make it financially sustainable I will continue to fund the project till 6-12 months then begin selling only 40% goat kids. This implies if present herd of 100 goats delivers 150 kids then I will sell 50 and keep 100 in the farm. This shall continue till the goats become 500 and simultaneously the farm will attain financial independence.”
Breeding in the farm is done in a controlled and calculated manner. The breeding stock is kept in different compartments. “We allow the interaction between male and female goats based on the birth of the kids. Pregnancy period of goat is 5.5 months so we plan the natural mating accordingly to avoid kid birth during rainy seasonbecause that time it has maximum risk of infection thus chances of mortality are high. We let the male and female goats to mingle for natural mating either in an isolated compartment or open space,” he explains. To avoid in-breeding male and female goats are kept in separate compartments. All the animals can see each other but their movement is completely restricted. Detailed record of every animal including its family history is maintained. “I might also consider to exchange the breeding male goats after 2-3 years as the situation demands.”
Entire herd is vaccinated at proper time with more attention given to kid as it is very tender and prone to infections. “I am extremely fortunate to have the support of best available local traditional knowledge on goat farming. Thus for any health fall outs we use some home remedies,” he informs.
Mix of dry and green fodder is given to the goats along with medicinal herbs and free munching of tree leaves. “In green fodder we mainly give maize that is produced organically in our hydroponic unit and medicinal herbs grown in open cultivation at the backside of the farm. I grow subabul trees in the open space. We also give azolla to goats in breakfast along with green fodder as it is excellent source for the weight gain. Azolla is low cost fodder, the cost incurred is 25 paisa/kg however it is best used as supplementary fodder and cannot be used as primarily fodder, Medicinal herbs are given on an empty stomach and as the taste is bitter we mix it with other fodders,” states Mr. Rindhe. Dry fodder and some more green fodder are sourced from the trusted growers, “They are my relatives and friends residing in the village. I give them the goat dung manure and they produce the fodder for me.” To make the manure from the goat dung, it is broken down into very tiny particles in the processing machine.
In future Mr. Rindhe plans to milk the goats, process it within the farm and supply goat based products namely pasteurized goat milk and goat cheese in the cities near to his farm. He concludes, “Goat farming is all about patience because the animal needs to eat and have weight gain. If the farmer is in hurry to sell the goat and recover his investments, then he is putting his entire farm on risk! Besides, before starting the goat farm the farmer/agripreneur must have necessary arrangement to fund the farm for minimum 1.5-2 years. To attain success in goat farming, allow the goats to grow and multiply atleast for 1.5 years. It is a lucrative business but requires time to pay back!”
Contact details:
Shree Goat Farm
Mr. Sachin Rindhe
Dongarkhandala, Buldhana, Maharashtra
Email Id: sachin_rindhe@yahoo.co.in
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