Proper Steps On Starting A Goat Farm

Proper Steps On Starting A Goat Farm

Goats are known as one of the oldest domesticated animals in the world. In the twentieth century they were often kept as pets. Their produce, such as meat, milk, hair and skin are used by many around the world. Female goats are called nannies or does. Male goats, on the other hand, are called billies or bucks whilst the young ones called kids. Goats are usually kept in farms. A farm is defined as a piece of tended land for agricultural production. Another definition is a tract of land used for breeding and raising domestic animals. Many people think of having a farm after retiring from their regular jobs. Starting a goat farm and raising goats is a rewarding farming occupation, if you ever decide to go through with the idea, but it entails high operating costs needed for a fruitful cattle and dairy operation.

Starting a goat farm promotes the continuous growth of the livestock business. 

In breeding goats for meat, get to know the types of goat that you have. Not all types of goats serve a similar purpose in goat farming. A goat farm must be operated based on goats' breed and their function. Classify which group of goats can be used for dairy production. Assess the quality of goat that will qualify for producing meat. Group those that are fit for land management. Some goats can be used for fiber production. For goats that are going to be used for producing milk, they should be placed in an area in the farm with well-maintained milking equipment. Goats that will be used to produce meat should be fed properly. Schedule for sheering and slaughtering goats must be followed to allow production of clean and good quality meat. Improper feeding, aging and slaughtering of the animal will result to inferior texture condition of cooked meat.

In starting a goat farm or raising goats for meat, learn about the prospect land's geography and location.

Find out if the property is fit for goat farming. There are some breeds of goats which grow well in cooler climates. European-bred goats like Swiss Alpine and Saanes are among them. Southern meat goat breeds are more comfortable in drier climates. Starting a goat farm is common in places where eating goat meat is daily practice. Those that belong to the said group are the Muslims, Africans and Asians.

Take note that overcrowding must be prevented when starting a goat farm business.

The farm should have adequate space to provide shelter to all of the animals. About 10 acres of land is needed to allow the farm to be successful. It must have an area to hold processing equipment. It is important to establish a means to identify the type of goat according to its intended purpose. To identify goats belonging to the milk-producing group, place them together in one area in the farm. The species fit for dairy production are French or Swiss Alpine, Nubian, Saanen and Toggenburg. Species like Kiko and Boer are good sources of goat meat.

Raising Goats For Meat Guide - What Does A Profitable Goat Farming Business Require?

Raising Goats For Meat Guide - What Does A Profitable Goat Farming Business Require?

What makes a profitable goat farming business? Raising meat goats is considered the most profitable. However, milk production and hide brings in huge profits as well. Goat farming isn't that hard, even if you are just starting out in the business. Most beginners find that there is quite a high success rate in this line of business.

If you want to create a profitable goat farming business, there are a few things that you need to consider and this article will give you a rundown of those things. 

The first thing you need to decide on is the breed. It is extremely important that you acquire goats that are strong, fertile, and healthy. It is necessary to point out that there are breeds of goats that grow to more than 100 pounds and there are those that can only between 70 and 90 pounds.

To make a profitable goat farming venture, the goat breed you choose is the key to your success - it is for this reason that you should put a lot of effort in choosing the right goat breed to acquire. In this aspect, you might need to consult with an established goat breeder for some advice.

Another point of consideration is the area where you will be keeping the goats. You need to ensure that you choose a big enough space for the goats to move around comfortably. Keep in mind that it will do the animals well if they are not crammed in a small area.

It is important that the animals have sufficient food in the area. The grazing area should be wide enough for all the members of the herd. When the animals have a large grazing area it won't be necessary anymore to buy more feed.

When you have decided what breed to acquire and you already have a large area for the herd, it's now time to acquire the animals. When you are starting a goat farm business, make sure that you are dealing only with respected breeders. You can be sure that a respected breeder takes care of the herd properly.

One last thing, it is also important to get quality bucks only from respected breeders. A buck is more than enough for about 50 does and each doe is able to produce a maximum of four offspring per pregnancy. The kids are ready for selling by the time they reached 90 days of age or when the kids have reached the ideal weight.

Boer Goat Farming Tips

Boer Goat Farming Tips

Goat farming is being practiced widely today. Not only does it promote to the wellness of the environment but it could be a viable source of income. This article will take a quick glance at Boer goat farming and what it entails.

The Boer breed originated from South Africa during the 1990s for the production of meat. The name was coined form the Dutch term "Boer" which means farmer. The goat was a result of the cross breeding of goats from Europe and India. Unlike the Angora goats, they are known for their excellent meat which is generally attributed to selective breeding.

Boer goat farming is simpler than any other goat farming. Boer goats are renowned for their strong resistance against diseases. This is a great contributor for their lifespan which could reach up to 14 years. Moreover, they are highly adaptive against unfavourable environments. 

Generally speaking, the Boer has a white body, a red head and long ears that resemble those of the Nubian goat. They have a very manageable temperament and a high growth and fertility rates. Unlike other dairy and fiber goat breed, Boer does are exceptionally good mothers to their offspring. The average size of mature Boer does is 200 to 220 pounds while 240 to 3000 for the bucks.

A major factor that makes Boer goat production easier is the goats' fertility rate. Since Boers are highly polyestrous, they could mate as much as they can all year round. With this good fertility rate and with proper goat farming practices, six to nine Boer kids can be produced over two years.

Boer goat farming is particularly rampant in New Zealand, Australia and United States. Compared to breeding sheep or cattle, goat farming is more lucrative. The focal point for Boer business is meat quality. And the drivers to produce high quality meat are proper nutrition and environment management.

Farming of Boer breed is very different from farming sheep or cattle. Some use the Boers to enhance the environment by elimination of weeds. Some use them as supplements for sheep and cattle. Others simply focus on mere Boer breeds.

A great consideration for raising Boer goat is fencing. Once a Boer knows how to escape, it would be difficult to keep it in. Electric fencing could be an option. Generally, when you are learning how to start a goat farm, the factor to consider in fencing is the trade off between the cost lost when a goat dies and the cost of setting up the fence.