by-DR. Ajit Sharan ,TVO, Gomo,Dhanbad.
Goats are among the main meat-producing animals in India, whose meat (chevon) is one of the choicest meats and has huge domestic demand. Besides meat, goats provide other products like milk, skin, fibre and manure. Goats are important part of rural economy, particularly in the arid, semi-arid and mountainous regions of the country.Goats account for more than 25 per cent of the total livestock in the country and contribute huge revenue to the national economy. They provide food and nutritional security to the millions of marginal and small farmers and agricultural labourers. However, the productivity of goats under the prevailing traditional production system is very low. It is because they are maintained under the extensive system on natural vegetation on degraded common grazing lands and tree lopping. Even these degraded grazing resources are shrinking continuously. Moreover, adoption of improved production technologies/ management practices in the farmers’ flock is very low. Therefore, rearing of goats under intensive and semi-intensive system using improved technologies for commercial production has become imperative not only for realizing their full potential but also to meet the increasing demand of chevon (goat meat) in the domestic as well as international markets. Of the total meat production, more than 70 per cent comes from cattle, buffalo and pig and for that preference is limited due to socio-religious factors. Therefore, burden lies on goat and sheep meats. Rising per capita income, growing urbanization and unfolding globalization are boosting the demand for high-value commodities including meat .Due to these fast socio-economic changes in the recent past, a rapid shift has taken place in the dietary habits in favour of non-vegetarian diet. As a result, the demand for goat and sheep meats has swiftly increased and the domestic market price for chevon/mutton has risen from Rs 260 per kg to Rs 530-660 per kg over a decade. Moreover, huge expected increase in the demand for meat in developing countries (by 100%), especially in the East and SouthEast Asia in the next 20 years presents an excellent opportunity for enhancing export of live goat/sheep and their meat from India. Responding to the market signals, the goat production system in India has been slowly moving from extensive to intensive system of management for commercial production.
India has the second largest goat population in the world and there is a need to further increase goat production to reduce poverty and achieve the target of doubling farmers income by 2022.
These businesses are not only popular in India, but also in the rest of the world. In this article, I am going to share some useful information and business plan sample for profitable commercial goat farming in India. There are many people out there who want to be an entrepreneur in this field and they want to start profitable business in goat farming but due to lack of knowledge, experience and business plan they could not make the better outcome as it could be if it is done in the systematic way.
Opportunities in Goat Farming in India——–
• You are well aware that goat meat is extremely popular across the globe. This is because there are several breeds that serve as excellent quality meat, such as Black Bengal, Boer, Matou, etc.
• Then again, goat milk is highly digestible and rich in nutrients. Breeds, such as Jamunapari, Black Bengal, Sirohi, etc, should prove to very useful for this purpose.
• Some breeds have splendidly smooth and good quality skins. They include Maradi, Black Bengal, etc. These skins sell well in both, local and international marketplaces.
• The Angora and Cashmere breeds produce marvelous fiber.
• Finally, you may sell the goat’s droppings as organic fertilizer to farmers.
Commercial Goat Farming Business Plan
Selecting Breeds————–
Goats breed selection is very important aspect in the goat farm as this is the main asset of your business which is going to give your business a boom and a good uplift. Selection of breed is very important point in profitable goat farming business plan.
There are different breeds out there which is considered as profitable breed selection basically it depends on the region and climate there are many breeds available but i am covering some of them which is considered profitable for north india region. They are categorized in two part.
Pure Breed Selection.
• Sirohi
• Jamnapari
• Tota Pari
• Barbari
• Beetel
• Black Bengal
Now, you cannot have all the breeds in the world on your farm!
• You will have to decide what direction your business is going to take, prior to purchasing pure breeds or cross breeds suitable for the purpose.
• Note that pure breeds tend to flourish in particular climatic conditions only.
• For instance, the Sirohi loves the dry and hot weather of Rajasthan in India.
• In case, you wish to have it in another part of the country, you would have to go in for a crossbreed, such as the progeny of an uncastrated Sirohi male and a Black Bengal female.
• Request an experienced professional for help in selecting your ‘goat’ breeds.
Next, consider how many males and females you would like to house on your farm. We categorize goats as uncastrated males or bucks, castrated males or wethers and females or does. It is possible to have both, kids and adults, on your farm.
Cross Breed Selection.
• Cross breed of sirohi and black bengal (sirohi buck and black bengal doe)
• Cross breed of jamnapari and sirohi (jamnapari buck and sirohi doe)
• Cross breed of black bengal and beetel. (beetel buck and black bengal doe)
There may be a number of cross breed selection depends upon the breed of Buck and Doe.The rule of thumb in breed selection is the environmental and climatic condition where the breed is best suited for. For example:
Learn cross breed concept in goats
Sirohi the goat breed of sirohi district of rajasthan is well suited with the Rajasthan hot and dry climatic condition. If you want to raise pure sirohi breed in different region of india apart from the rajasthan the mortality rate increases because of the climatic condition with which they are not adapted to.
But what if we want Sirohi breed in our farm. here comes the Cross Breed Concept.
All you need a cross breed Sirohi i.e take a female mother goat(doe) of your area. For example in Jharkhand climates are very hot in summer and chilled in winter the Black Bengal breed is well adapted with Jharkhand climate.
So take black bengal doe and sirohi Buck the first cross of the product would be 70% sirohi or 30% black bengal (Note:the percentage genetical behaviour may vary depends on the mating breed.) Now this breed would be well adapted with the jharkhand climate.same apply with the other breeds too.
Land and Fencing – Goat Shed Construction Plan—
There are no specifics as far as selection of land is concerned. You are welcome to go ahead with whatever you have, as long as it has some greenery in it and suffices as a healthy grazing area for your goats.
At the same time, ensure that there is sufficient space for housing your goats, as well as their caretakers, separately. The caretakers will have to reside there 24 x 7 x 365.
In case, the farm is on the outskirts of the town/city, your goats will be able to live in peace! Regardless of the location of the farm, it requires a well-defined boundary.
Towards this end, you may go in for fencing with bamboo sticks, which should not prove too costly. Alternatively, you may opt for a brick-and-cement wall with a specific entrance, such that your goats gain greater security.
Constructing a Goat Shed————-
No, you cannot just leave your goats in the open all the time, and forget all about them! You have to offer them a spacious, clean, well-sanitized and hygienic shed.
• The dimensions of the shed will depend upon the amount of land area you possess, the amount you are willing to expend and the strength of your goat farm.
• To illustrate, if you plan to have 100 goats, you must have a shed measuring 60-70 feet x 18 to 20 feet.
• According to the rules, every goat is supposed to have about 10 square feet to call its own.
• Ensure that you use bricks and cement for constructing the walls of the shed.
• The walls should be high, for the goats require proper ventilation.
• Depending upon the climatic conditions evident in your region, you may opt for a roof constructed from asbestos (absorbs heat) or bricks-and-cement.
• The goats have a house, but they need their own yard too, for free movement.
• Place a bamboo fence around the shed, leaving sufficient space for the goats to take morning and evening walks!
• At one side, construct a cement water tank or a water reservoir.
• Keep this filled with fresh drinking water always.
• A bore well, which functions with a submersible pump or motor, should suffice to provide fresh drinking water.
• Your goats require feeding stalls too.
• Create the stall from cement, when placing it inside the shed.
• Create it from steel menzer, when placing it outside the shed.
Fodder for the Goats————
Fodder planning for Goats
Goat fodder plan is very important aspect of the goat farming a proper fodder plan and cost management of fodder is required to make good profit in this goat farming business. Here in this section i will discuss how to make an effective fodder to boost your goats growth in lesser time also i will discuss the different feeding style like complete stall fed system and partial stall fed system.
In addition with the dry fodder green fodder is very important to provide essential nutrients to the goats. Grazing of goats is very important for this you must have a surplus grazing area with greenery so as for proper movement of the goats which helps in their digestion and enhance metabolism.
Generally in my goat farm i prefer partial stall fed system that is goats are given dry fodder or booster in the stall fed condition and freed for grazing from morning 11 to 3 noon. Then they enter the farm and again stall fed.
How to make goat dry fodder ? The composition and Preparation Technique. To make fodder of 100 kg following are the ratio of composition (Note: I am using local regional language to describe the ingredients so as to benefit the regional readers.)
1. Chokar – 45 kg
2. Makai Darra – 25 kg
3. Badam Khalli – 15 kg
4. Korai (Chana chilka) – 12 kg
5. Mineral Mixture – 2 kg
6. Salt – 1 kg
These are the ratio which i am using and getting the positive result also the growth of the goats in farm is very high in almost 8 month kids become adult and acquire the maximum weight. This is the 100 kg ratio and may be used in any amount of fodder preparation.
This fodder must be mixed with kutti in half ratio and given. For example if kutti is 1 kg then mix this ½ kg fodder. Under the partial stall fed condition hence the almost all nutrients supplied by grazing this concentrate with kutti given twice a day i.e morning and evening 1 ½ kg twice for one goat means 3 kg every day (2 kg kutti and 1 kg concentrate).
Apart from this concentrate green fodder is also very important provide the goats with green fodder every day or leave them for grazing. There are many things to discuss and need to be cover hence i will write every topic in different post this was the only general idea you must stick with to start a goat farm.
Your goats need nutrient-rich food, in order to grow well.
• With regard to newborn kids, grant them access to mother’s milk for two to three months at least.
• The colostrum in the milk enhances their immunity.
• Ten to twelve days after their birth, give them supplementary special kid ration too.
• As they grow, kid goats relish extremely succulent maize and lucern (green fodder).
• Adult goats enjoy feeding on the richly green leaves of Pangara, Subabhul, Anjan, Sheyari and Babulbeans.
• If you plan to go in for complete stall-feeding, then ensure that your goats receive a couple of kilograms of dry fodder, 3 to 4 kg of green fodder and around 200 or 250 grams of readymade seeds (concentrates).
• If your goats will stall feed for some time and engage in free range the rest of the time, then divide the above-mentioned quantities into half-and-half.
• Regardless of what you feed them, your goats must be able to graze naturally too.
• When they do so, their digestive systems function properly and their metabolism remains intact.
Preparation of Silage————–
If you have the patience and the inclination to do so, you might go in for making silage from green fodder. It will help your goats consume high-quality fodder even during the lean season.
• Silage refers to the production of soft, moist, fruity and green material from green fodder.
• Bajra (pearl millets), maize, jowar (sorghum), etc, are rich in carbohydrates or soluble sugars.
• Cereal fodders or grasses and legumes (ratio of 3:1) are good too, as are dry forage and unwilted leguminous leafy fodders (ratio of 1:4).
You will need a silo or a receptacle for preparing silage.
• Just dig a pit, which is anywhere between 2.5 to 3.0 meters deep.
• It would be best to have it dug on elevated ground.
• Ensure that there is enough space for the fodder to go in comfortably.
• Calculate how much feed your goats will require based on their numbers and the duration of feeding.
• Line the walls with mortar, brick or cement, for water must not enter the silo.
If you have selected the crop that you would like to ensile (conserve the green fodder), you may begin the process of preparing silage. Ensure that the weather is not rainy.
• Does your selected crop have 30% to 35% of dry matter? If not, allow it to dry for a few hours.
• Although you may fill the silo with long fodder too, go in for chaffed/chopped fodder. You will be able to preserve the nutrients better, as well as fill and remove silage easily.
• If you add urea at 1% and salt at 0.5% to grasses and cereals, the nitrogen content and palatability may be improved.
• Addition of molasses (3% to 3.5%) to grasses helps to improve the sugar content.
• Distribute the fodder evenly in the pit. Also, ensure that it rises three to four feet above ground level.
• Use manual labor, bullocks or tractors for tramping upon the fodder.
• Cover the fodder completely with long grasses or paddy straw.
• The covering may be four to five inches in thickness.
• Your silage should be ready within the next couple of months.
When legumes and grasses go into conserving (ensiling) of green fodder, we refer to it as haylage. When we use organic wastes (bovine dung, poultry droppings or litter, swine excreta, etc.) for ensiling, we call it wastelage.
• Excellent silage will exhibit an acidic odor and taste, a pH between 3.5 and 4.2, lactic acid content of 1-2% and ammoniacal nitrogen being less than 10% of the total nitrogen. There is also the absence of sliminess, butyric acid and moulds.
• Good silage will have acidic odor and taste, pH between 4.2 and 4.5, traces of butyric acid and ammoniacal nitrogen going up to 10% or 15% of the total nitrogen.
• Fair silage will show the presence of moulds, butyric acid, ammoniacal nitrogen 20% of the total nitrogen and a pH of 4.8.
Important Nutrients———–
• While the rumen has good microbes for synthesizing other vitamins, goats require vitamins E, A and D from external sources. Vitamin A is present in yellow maize and green forage. Vitamins D and E are available as supplements.
• With regard to kids, you may feed them with Terramycin or Aureomycin (antibiotics) for improving their general appearance and keeping infectious diseases at bay.
• Goats consume higher amounts of feed than sheep or cattle do, especially in the form of dry forage. They also have a higher basal metabolic rate.
• If your goats must have strong skeletons, healthy functioning of organ systems and the females producing large quantities of milk, they need phosphorus and calcium.
• Phosphorus should be 3.5 g/50 kg of body weight.
• Calcium should be 6.5 g/50 kg of body weight.
• Hang up lumps of salt at suitable places in the shed. Licking salt helps the goats to have well-toned systems, and even help remove worms from their bodies.
• Based upon the weight of the female goat and how much milk it can produce, it must receive its fair share of a balanced diet.
Vaccination————–
Proper Scheduled Vaccination is very important to overcome the mortality rate in goats. Here i will be covering every vaccine shedule which is i am following in my farm.
After goat purchase and before entering into the goat farm deworming is compulsary and following vaccine must be scheduled.
Goats are prone to various diseases, such as Foot and Mouth (FMD) disease, contagious pneumonia, Anthrax, etc. Therefore, they need placement onto a vaccination schedule. Some of the common vaccinations include –
The Common vaccine schedule prescribed by doctors are:
• FMD(Foot and Mouth disease) vaccine name is polyvalent FMD vaccine given once in a year dosage is 3ml. S/C given in february & December.
• Anthrax vaccine name is anthrax spore vaccine given once in a year dosage is 1 ml.S/C in the month of May -june
• ET(Enterotoxemia) vaccine name is ET Vaccine once in a year dosage is 5 ml.S/C in the month of May – june
• CCPP(Contagious Caprine Pleuro Pneumonia) or IVRI Vaccine dosage is 0.2 ml S/C once in a year.
• PPR(Peste Des Pettis Ruminants) or PPR Vaccine with a dosage of 1ml S/C given once in a 3 Year.
It would be best to consult a veterinarian and decide what is best for your goats.
Risk Factors in Goat Farming in India———
Since you are dealing with living creatures, you are bound to face some risks too, in your goat farming business.
• Mortality Rate – You will have to ensure that the surroundings are extremely hygienic, vaccinations are timely in nature, and food remains uncontaminated. Drinking water must be fresh. Keen vigilance and proper feed management are the keys to keeping the mortality rate down. With regard to kids, provide them with an electric room heater in cold conditions. Allow them to access mother’s milk, to build up immunity.
• Fencing – High and strong boundaries are necessary, if your goats are to remain safe from thieves and wild animals. You will have to maintain a daily head count.
• Infections and Diseases – Goats are more prone to contagious diseases than to other kinds of illnesses. You cannot afford to be negligent in identifying sick animals and keeping them in isolation.
• High Feeding Costs – It would not be wise to lessen the percentage of concentrate in the food. Instead, allow them to graze naturally as often as possible. Alternatively, you may try the Hydroponic System of fodder production. Here, grains are placed in Hydroponic trays and water sprinkled on them at timely intervals. You may gain complete and detailed knowledge about the lengthy process from an expert.
• Marketing – There are specific markets, which demand a high supply of goats, in comparison to others. Check them out. Also, keep track of festivals, for the demand is more on such days.
There are pros and cons to every business venture. Nonetheless, do not allow the ‘cons’ to scare you off the profitable goat farming business.
