REARING GOAT AS AN STARTUP IN BIHAR Part-1
Sriniwash Singh, Secretary, Pashupalak Sangh, Jharkhand.
Goat is known as poor man’s cow in India and is a very important livestock in dry land farming system. Marginal or undulating lands are unsuitable for other types of animals, like cow or buffalo, but are suitable for goats. With very low investments, Goat Farming can be made in to a profitable venture for small and marginal farmers.
Goats are among the main meat-producing animals in India. Its meat (chevon) is one of the choicest meats which have huge domestic demand. Goat farming generally means, rearing goats for the purpose of harvesting milk, meat and fiber. Rearing of goats is not a new enterprise and the process has been taken place since the time immemorial.
Rearing goats is a profitable business. Due to its good economic prospects, goat rearing under intensive and semi-intensive system for commercial production is gaining momentum for the couple of years.
It should be noted that, high demand for goat and its products with potential of good economic returns are deriving many progressive farmers, businessmen, professionals, ex-servicemen and educated youths to take up the goat enterprise on a commercial scale.
Currently, goat farming has become a profitable business and requires a very low investment due to its multi-functional utility. Also, commercial goat farming business is contributing to the economy and nutrition of a country in a big way.
We all know that goats are multi-functional animals. One can produce a wide variety of products from them like, milk, meat, fiber, manure etc. The milk of goat is used for producing full cream goat powder, skimmed goat milk powder, goat butter, goat milk cream, fresh goat milk etc.
However, goat meat is a great source of consumable meat which is very tasty, nutritious and healthy. Also goat’s wool is used in various purposes and its skin plays a crucial role in leather industry.
If you have your own land then Goat farming in Bihar can generate good money for you. Bihar is the agriculture dominant state of India and Goat farming is the part of agriculture.
Animal husbandry supports farmers during crop failure. If it can support in a bad time then this business has the potential to make money throughout the year. The goat milk, meat, and manure has huge demand in Bihar. It is a profitable business that growing rapidly in Bihar.
Goat farming in bihar:
A six-month-old goat cost around 5 to 6 thousand rupees. If the goat is one year old and you sold it on Eid then it costs around 15000 rupees in Bihar. I am showing this a minimum cost. The price will be more if the goat is healthy and looks attractive.
Before starting this business you have some knowledge about that, better you will take training for commercial goat farming to avoid losses in the beginning.
The State Government of Bihar brings a lot of schemes related to goat farming, they have faith in this business. This business provides employment for small farmers and landless people. But nowadays many entrepreneurs attracting to this business and starting goat farming in Bihar on spending a good investment.
Goat Farming training in Bihar:
Training plays an important role in every business. If you know nothing about this business then start researching about this business or commercial goat farming in Bihar.
The Goat farming training in Bihar is provided by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra of every District. You can also learn through the Bihar Krishi app which is available in the play store.
Suitable Goat Breed for Goat farming in Bihar:
There is no recognized Goat breed of Bihar but black Bengal goat is best-suited goat breed in Bihar. The Black Bengal is the breed known for producing multiple kids in single gestation. It gives birth to twins, triplets quadruplets normally.
The Black Bengal is the meat purpose goat breed and the taste of black Bengal goat meat is the best in the world. The only disadvantage of this breed is their milk production, it produces very less milk.
Barbari Goat is another goat breed suitable in Bihar. This is the meat purpose goat breed. Barbari goat breed has the potential to double your income in limited time. This breed matures early and produces twins and triplets most of the time. A lot of goat farmers in Bihar start their commercial goat farming business with this breed.
Advantages of Goat farming in Bihar:
The available goat population in Bihar is quite less, these state imports goats for slaughter from nearby states. The competition is less if you start Goat farming in Bihar then chances to get quick success is more compared to other states.
The goat is the animal that can live in arid or semi-arid regions, a low-cost goat farming is possible.
The small gestation period of goats and they give twins and triplets in each gestation.
Single labor can handle 100 goats.
The size of a goat is small compared to cow and buffalo, it requires less housing.
Less feed requirement and competition is less.
No religious taboo on eating goat meat in India.
The demand for goat meat is more than production.
Supportive income with milk and manure.
The Bihar state government mainly focuses on employment and gives crores of rupees through loans to start this business or related to other agriculture business. Bihar is the agriculture dominant state of India.
The government gives loans under the Entrepreneurship:
development & employment generation (EDEG) scheme. They also provide subsidies in goat farming. This subsidy is provided by NABARD (National bank for agriculture & rural development). This subsidy is 25% for General and OBC and 33% for SC/ST and BPL cardholders. Every person in India can take advantage of this subsidy.
Important things keep in Mind Before starting Goat farming in Bihar:
The Goat Housing, Goat Feed and Goat disease are the pillars of commercial goat farming in Bihar you have to mainly focus on that and be prepared before starting a goat farm. Do research as much as possible form the internet, Books other sources.
BLACK BENGAL GOAT:
This breed is found in Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal. It has mainly black coat color. It is found in brown, white and gray coat colors but the black coat color is most common. The skin of this breed is famous for meat production. This breed has extremely low ability of producing milk. The male goat has 25-30kg of weight and female barbari has 20-25kg of weight. They reach the maturity level earlier and deliver minimum 2-3 kids in each birth.
FODDER:
Because of the curious nature of this animal they can eat variety of feed source which are bitter, sweet, salty and sour in taste. They can eat leguminous feed like Lobia, Berseem, garlic etc. with taste and enjoyment. Mainly they like to eat the fodder which gives them energy and are rich with protein. They usually have a habit to spoil their food because they did urine in the feeding place. Therefore special type of feeding place is made to protect food from spoilage.
Planted fodder:
Podded: Berseem, Garlic, Beans, Peas, Guar.
Non leguminous: Corn, Oats.
Tree leaves: Peepal, mango, ashoka, neem, berry and banyan.
Plants and bushes, herbal and climber plants: Gokharu, khejri, karonda, berry etc.
Root plants (Left over material of vegetables): Turnip, potato, radish, carrot, beetroot, cauliflower and cabbage.
Grass: Napier grass, guinea grass, doob grass, anjan grass, stylo grass.
Dry fodder
Straw: Chickpea, pigeon pea and groundnut, conserved fodder.
Hay: Grass, leguminous (chickpea) and non-leguminous (oats).
Silage: Grass, leguminous and non-leguminous plants.
Distribution
Grain: Bajra, sorghum, oats, maize, chickpea, wheat.
Farm and industrial sub products: Coconut seeds skin, mustard skin, groundnut skin, alsi, shisham, wheat sawdust, rice sawdust, etc.
Livestock and marine products: Full and partial dry milk products, fish meal, and blood meal.
Industrial sub-products: Sub products of barley, vegetables and fruits.
Pods: Acacia, banyan, peas etc.
Kid food management::
Give kids colostrum within 1 hour of birth. Colostrum has antibodies properties which help to protect it from diseases and it also provides Vitamin A, D, minerals such as copper, iron, manganese and magnesium. Give about 400ml of milk per day to kid which will increase in 1st month.
Milk producing goat’s feed:
Mainly the normal goat can eat 4.5kg of green manure in one day. In the feed minimum 1 kg of dry manure i.e. pigeon pea/peas or leguminous hay must be included.
CARE OF THE GOAT:
Care of pregnant goats:
For the healthy development of pregnant goat, dry her off at least 6-8 weeks before expected delivery. Before 15 days of expected kidding, take goat into an open and clean room which is filled with straw on the floor.
Care of newborn kids:
After birth clean the nostrils, face and ear with the help of dry cotton cloth and remove the placental membrane. Gentle rubbing must be done to clean the newborn kids. If new born kid is not taking breathe then hold the kids up with their hind legs having head downwards which will help to clear its respiratory tract. Clean the udder of goat with tincture iodine and then kid gets its first colostrum drink within 30 minutes of its birth.
Care of goats after delivery:
After delivery properly clean the room and also clean the back portion of goat with iodine or Neem water. After delivery give sugary water to the goat and after that hot feed is given to goat which includes mixture of ginger, salt, metal sawdust and sugar.
Organizing identification symbols on baby goats:
For the proper record, good husbandry, recognition purpose and as the proof of ownership it is necessary to apply number mark on their body. It is mainly done with the help of tattooing, tagging, wax marking crayons, spray chalk, colored spray and paint branding.
Recommended vaccines to goats:
CDT or CD&T vaccine is given as the core vaccination to protect goats from Clostridial diseases. Tetanus vaccination should be given at the time of birth. When the kid reaches 5-6 weeks, booster vaccination is given and after that it is given once in the year.
To be continued in Part -2
