Goat Farming in India: Beginner’s Guide to Start a Goat Farm

Goat farming in India is a very profitable business with minimum investment. Goat farming can be done in small to large industrial scale. Here is the complete information on starting a goat farming project.

Goat farming in India is a well-established, antiquated form of farming especially in places where dry land farming system is practiced. It is generally practiced by farmers who have a very small area of land for farming. Sometimes landless laborers also undertake goat farming since the risk, initial investments etc. are much lower than other forms of farming. Goats are hence rightly called as “poor man’s cow” since it has promises of good return that can serve as investment source.

Commercial goat rearing method:

An integral part of commercial goat rearing is the adoption of scientific rearing methods. Naturally, goats prefer to stay dry, clean, and ventilated. It maintains a balanced diet by consuming food from a variety of sources according to its needs. The following methods can be generally followed in goat rearing –
1) Tying with strings.
2) Kept in the cage,
3) Grazing all day, and
4) Half of the day (morning) grazing and half of the time of rearing in the farmhouse.
Experiments have shown that to be more profitable in goat rearing, half a day of grazing is required and in the afternoon, the supply of grains, water, fodder, etc. should be maintained.

Advantages of Goat Farming in India

Some of the goat farming advantages is as below:

• Almost all sections of the society consume goat meat and there is no religious taboo over it. In addition goat meat is lean meat and has lower cholesterol content.
• The initial investment required for a goat farm is much low than dairy farming.
• It is not necessary to start a farm with herd of 6-10 goats. A farm can be started with just one goat and gradually increased to a herd or develop into large commercial units.
• Goats can tolerate bitter taste to a greater extent than other animals. Hence, they consume almost every type of plants that are not eaten by other animals.
• Since they are careful eaters they can live in almost all types of climatic conditions.
• Goat milk contains small fat globules that are easily digestible. Hence goat milk is medically recommended for senior citizens and infants.
• Goat droppings are rich in phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Hence it is excellent organic manure. Goat manure has high demand in organic farming.
• Generally, goats start milking by the age of 16-17 months.
• They are productive breeders and give birth to three kids within two years and producing twins is a usual feature.

Considering all the above advantages, it can be said that goats ensure good economic returns in a short period of time.

How to select a site for a goat farm:

The success or failure of goat farming depends to a large extent on the location of the farm. Looking at the established goat farms in different parts of the country, it can be seen that most of the farms are located in rural areas. When choosing a place to build a farmhouse, the following points should be taken into consideration

1. Road connectivity to farm house should be improved .So that the traders can buy goat bags from the farm.
2. The site should not be in waterlogged areas.
   It is important to keep in mind that to make the grass grow for the goats as required, emphasis should be laid on it. The diameter of the site should be adjusted depending on the number of goats. Scientifically speaking, goats need 1 acre of land as opposed to 50 goats.

Starting a Goat Farm in India

While beginning a goat farm, the following points must be paid special attention:

Selecting the Goats

Goats must be healthy and lively. However before procuring it is better to check with the local government about regulations. While procuring it is advisable to get two goats. Goats are social animals and need company. They would try to escape if kept in solitary confinement. Hence at least two goats must be kept in enclosures.

Male: Female Ratio

Goats are of three types:

• Females or does
• Uncastrated males or bucks
• Castrated males or wethers.

For milk production, it is not necessary that the does must be impregnated by bucks. Ideally one buck to every 30 does is a healthy ratio for goat farms.

Age of Goats

Younger goats around eight weeks old are cheaper and friendlier to procure than older goats. However, these younger goats need care for about a year or two. Following this period they can be bred, sold as meat or used for milk production.

Choosing the Right Breed

Goats belonging to breeds like Malabari, Black Bengal, Jamunapuri, Osmanabadi, etc. give very rich milk and good meat. Hence they are reared for both milk and meat purposes. Breeds like Cashmere or Angora are raised for their hair since it is very popular for its use as a fabric.

Choice of best goat for the farm:

A) Doe goat selection :
The doe goats should be attractive, healthy, and well-groomed. The doe should be strong as she can stand firmly on all four legs. In the case of rearing goats for milk production, those goat’s the back should be wider and the skin should be softer than the front. Their udder should be in the right place and soft. Symptoms of infertility at an early age, taking less time from one kid to the next kid, giving birth to multiple kids at a time, giving more milk, gaining weight in less time, etc. are very important in a doe goat.

B) Selection of buck goats:
The goat to be used for breeding should be of good breed. The qualities of the doe goat described above need to be matched with that of the buck goat also. The buck goat should be age-appropriate, weight-bearing, strong, or in good health. Their legs should be able to fit evenly on the ground and their skin should be soft and both testes should be clear and large.

Commercial goat breed:

The first thing that comes to mind when talking about commercial goat farming is its breed selection. The local breed has a much lower growth rate than other high-quality species in the country. It is usually eaten for meat. Milk production is very low. The kid is small in size and has the capacity to give birth to two or more kids at a time.

High-quality breeds of goats are Beetal, Barbari, Jamunapari, etc. which have a high growth rate and can produce up to one and a half-liter of milk per day. However, the rearing of these breeds is very difficult in the tropical monsoon climate. To overcome this problem, mating between local doe goats and high-quality species could improve to produce high-quality breeds.

Nowadays, with the help of the artificial insemination process, goats of two breeds can be bred. Semen of improved breeds of goats required for artificial insemination is available in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine clinics.

The best goats for milk and meat are listed in detail below.

Jamnapari Goat

Jamnapari goat is the most popular breed mainly used for milk. Jamnapari goats are healthy and female goats usually weigh up to 50 kg in India. These goats produce an average of 2-3 kg of milk daily. These goats can provide up to 300 kg of milk in their total lactation cycle. Additionally, the milk is high quality with 5-6% fat and 3-4% protein. Jamnapari goats are mainly found in Uttar Pradesh which makes them the best choice for goat farming in Bihar for milk farms.

Black Bengal Goat

Black Bengal goats are found all across India. These are most commonly available in Assam, West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar. These goats are usually black in colour and used for both milk and meat purposes. Milk of Black Bengal goat is rich in protein, vitamins and fat. On the other hand, they also provide high quality meat. The uses and availability make the Black Bengal goat the top choice for goat farming in West Bengal and Bihar.

Surti Goat

Surti is another goat breed mainly used for milk. Surti goats are mainly found in Gujrat. These goats are reared both for milk and meat. These goats are usually white and weigh around 20-30 kg. These goats can provide 2-3 kg of milk daily. The milk of the Surti goat is highly nutritious and their meat is also considered good. This altogether makes Surti one of the best choices for goat farming in Gujarat.

Boer Goat

Boer goat is the best goat breed for a meat farm. These goats are mainly used for their meat and can weigh up to 130 kg. These goats have high carcass yield and produce great quality meat.

The full table of the most common goats used in farming is given below.

Goat Breed	Goat Uses	Milk / Meat Details
Jamnapari Goat	Milk/Meat	2-3.5 litres daily / up to 55% carcass yield
Boer Goat	Meat	Up to 60% carcass yield
Surti Goat	Milk	2.5-3 litres daily
Black Bengal Goat	Milk/Meat	2-3 litres daily / up to 45% carcass yield
Beetal Goat	Milk/Meat	2.5-3 litres daily / up to 50% carcass yield
Osmanabadi Goat	Milk/Meat	2.5-3 litres daily / up to 50% carcass yield
Sirohi Goat	Meat	Up to 50% carcass yield

Male-Female Ratio

There are three types of goats used in goat farming: uncastrated male, castrated male and female goats. The male-female ratio on a goat farm should be 1 uncastrated male for 25-30 females.

After choosing the type of goat farm, the best breed and learning about the male-to-female ratio, you should move on to the next step.

Goat Farming Management Practices

Housing Facilities and Management

Elevated housing facility in goat farm

Primary objective of a house is to protect the animal from sun, wind and rain. The house must be built at an elevation so that it does not suffer from problems of water logging. Locally available materials like elephant grass, paddy straw, bamboo, wood, etc. are used for construction of houses. No elaborate housing arrangements are needed for small units. The goat sheds must have a good amount of ventilation. The slope must be arranged such that water can drain away easily and it should be easy to clean the place. In case of group housing a space of 1.8 sq.mt. per doe must be provided while a floor space of 2.4 sq. mt. must be provided for the bucks. An area of 1.8 X 1.8 sq. mt. is sufficient for 10 kids. However, overstocking must be avoided as it results in cramped up spaces and suffocation. Sick animals must be quarantined immediately since diseases spread very easily among goats.

Commercial goat house:

Goats prefer open air and dry bedding. The goat’s home should be is well ventilated, dry, and safe. The main purpose of the house used for keeping goats is to protect the goats from the adverse effects of extreme heat, cold and humid water vapor. The trunk should be 3 to 3.5 feet above the ground. The goats should not come in contact with their feces and urinary tract.

So, it is important to make the house as all the feces and urine of the goat can pass under it and as a result, they are free from various pelvic and respiratory diseases. The fences of the house should be constructed in such a way that the air can be ventilated freely. The roof of the house should be made of straw because the temperature of the room should be almost the same at all times of the year.

The house should be built according to the number of goats in the house. An adult goat usually needs 11.25 sq ft (4.5) 2.5) space. Thus, an adult goat needs 36 sq ft (7.5 × 5) of space. It is better to have a single room, which is required for ten to three-year-old calves, with 48 sq ft space. In a large room, up to 50-60 goats can be kept together.

Thus, 10 to 12 calves can be kept together. Fertile goats should always be kept in a separate room to ensure their safety. It is very important to build a separate house for keeping sick goats as other goats can not be infected by the sick goats.

Feeding Management in Goat Farming Business

Goats are meticulous eaters and can tolerate more amount of bitterness than other animals. Hence, they can thrive on the agricultural by-products, waste and other such feed. In addition they are stronger and hence can withstand all types of weather conditions. Their tongues are adapted for grazing and their upper lip is mobile. Hence they can graze on extremely short grasses, bushes, shrubs and trees. The goats must be provided with leguminous fodder in addition to grains like pulses, wheat, maize, etc. They generally prefer fodder of leguminous crops than straw or maize silage. In addition they need feed composed at least 14-15% protein along with high mineral composition like iodized salt, bone meal, zinc oxide, ferrous carbonate, high grade limestone, copper sulphate and vitamins. The growers are given 100 gm per day of concentrate mixture while adult does and bucks are given concentrate ration of 200-250 grams per day. On an average, each goat consumes 5-7 Kg of green fodder and a liter of water per day. Statistically speaking an acre of fodder is sufficient to feed 35 goats.

Goat Feed:

Goats eat fruits, flower buds, twigs, and leaves of almost all species of trees. Therefore, the cost of carrying it is less than that of other domestic animals. Their favorite food is high-quality grasses such as maize, oats, mercury, guinea fowl, grasses, all varieties of neem or mangos leaves, etc. With this raw grass, if you can give a little balanced grain, then you can gain weight and get rid of many diseases. The following is a sample of grains required for kids, growing, or milking goats –

A) Kids grains –

Broken boot —————————— 20%
Broken maize ————————— 22%
Almond shells ———————– 35%
8-20% of pressure
Mineral salt mixture —————— 25%
General salt ————————– 0.5%

B) Growing goat grains–
Broken maize ———————— 40%
Almond shells – 22%
Pressure ————————– 35%
Mineral loan ————————— 2%
Common salt ————————— 1%

C) Milk giving goats grains–
Broken boots – 15%
Broken maize ————————– 36%
Almond shells ————————– 25%
Stress ————————– 20%
Mineral salts ————————– 2.5%
General salt ————————– 0.5%
In addition, every 100 kg of grains should be mixed with 20 grams of vitamins or nutrients.

Caring for Goat’s Kid

The new born kid must be fed with colostrum immediately after birth and for upto 5 days thereon. This would help the goat develop better immunity. After the initial five days, the amount of doe’s milk provided to the kid must be 1/10th of the kid’s body weight.

Pregnant Doe

Pregnant does must be given a concentrated mixture of 250-300 grams a day. The amount must be reduced gradually from a week before parturition and the mount of fodder must be increased. This facilitates easy delivery.

Breeding Management

Selecting the right buck and doe is the secret to successful breeding. Goat doe attain maturity between 6-10 months of age. However this also depends on size, body weight and breed. Goat bucks attain maturity after 12 months. It is ideal to have two kidding annually with an interval of 8-9 months for optimal production. The peak breeding season for goats is during the months of March to May and September to November. The estrous cycle generally occurs every 17-21 days. The heat period lasts for 18-36 hours in a doe. Usually a teaser buck is used to detect the onset of heat in a doe. For increasing the conception rate the doe must meet the buck only after 10-15 hours of the onset of heat. The gestation period lasts for 155 days. While the females can be used for breeding purposes for 5-7 years, males can be used for as long as 8-10 years.

Something to know about goat breeding:

Depending on the nutritional and food environment and surrounding doe goats reach fertility at the age of 6-14 months and buck goats at the age of 10-18 months. The breeding cycle of goats is 16-24 days (average 21 days) and they are heated for 24-48 hours. Goats should be bred within 12-20 hours of the onset of heat (either with the help of buck goats or artificially).

The young doe, who get heat for the first time, should not breed should be bred immediately. They should be bred at their third-time heat. The doe goat who gave birth to kids should be bred after 45 days of giving kids. They give birth to kids within 148-153 (average 150) days after breeding and they can give birth three times in two years. Puberty goats need adequate nutrition. They need to be prevented from fighting, pushing, searching for long distances, jumping, slipping, etc. They should be kept in a cleanroom. The amount of food should be slightly increased towards the end of pregnancy. From 3-4 days before the birth of the kids, disinfectant should be sprinkled in the room and a soft mattress should be arranged in the sack so that the kids do not suffer.

In the first few days after birth, the kids should be given a diet that is easy to digest and to clean the stomach. Doe should be monitored from time to time. Within 30 minutes to 4 hours of birth, the mother goat releases a water type of substance and if not, a veterinarian should be consulted. After giving birth, it is best to give the mother some warm water or rice water.

Choosing the Breeding Stock

Choosing the right goat breed is one of the primary criteria of successful goat farming in India. Ideal breeding stock would be the ones that are at prime stage of production or are ready to breed. They must be in good health and have a good vigour. Pedigrees are ascertained at the time of purchase. Once purchased, the animals are vaccinated against diseases, especially infectious diseases. The newly purchased stock is kept under observation for 15 days to check for animal behavior, diseases and also to give time to the animals for settling down. They are culled from the breeding stock after attaining 6 years of age and they are replaced with a new stock. Male and female ratio must be maintained at optimum level in the farm. The male bucks must be replaced every 2-3 years to avoid in-breeding. This helps maintain the best performance production.

Kid Management in Goat Farm

Newborn kids

The mucus from the nose and mouth of the newborn kid must be cleaned immediately after its birth. The does must be allowed to lick them so as to develop a mother-kid bond and also for easy identification by the mother in future. The naval cord must be cut 2.5 cm away from the body of the kid. Tincture iodine or other such antibiotic must be applied to prevent infection and naval illness. The udders of the doe must be cleaned and disinfected with antiseptic lotion after delivery. Immediately after birth and for the next 5 days the kid must be given colostrum. However over feeding must be avoided. If more than 2 kids are born then provisions must be made for extra goats. They can be bottle fed formula milk for as long as 2 months. During winter, the kids must be provided with sawdust, straw or gunny bags as bedding materials to protect them from frost. Energy drinks like glucose must be given to the kids during summer to avoid heat stroke.

Castration

Male kids are generally reared for better meat quality. They are not generally wanted in the breeding flock. Hence they are castrated between the age of 1-2 months.

Health Care

The sheds must be washed thoroughly and disinfected at least once a month. The food and water managers must be cleaned regularly. Goats are prone to endoparasite infection. Hence deworming must be done once in every six months. Kids are dewormed every month while does are dewormed just before breeding. In order to avoid lice, ticks, mites, etc. the animals must be sprayed with ectoparasitic drugs like acaricides regularly. Vaccinations against diseases like goat pox, plague, FMD, etc. must be done periodically. Zoonotic diseases like salmonellosis, brucellosis etc. must be prevented since they are infectious and spread easily. Stray animals must not be allowed to enter the farm to keep infections in check. Sick goats must be isolated as soon as the infection is detected and timely medication must be administered.

Goat Caring in a Nutshell

To conclude the following points must be remembered while raising a goat farm:

• Choose breeds that are local to the geographical location and best suited to the weather conditions of the place.
• Animals must be procured from certified and licensed centers.
• The stock must be such that about 15-20% breeder does can be added every year.
• The stock must be flexible so that the older animals and poorly performing animals can be replaced without many hassles.
• Keeping a headcount of more than 150 goats becomes difficult for management. Hence the count must be kept below 150.
• Flocks must be allowed to graze early in the morning and in late evenings during summer.
• Grazing must be done near a source of water so that the goats get enough water to drink.
• During the period of pregnancy, growth, lactation and other such crucial stages, the goat must be provided fresh pastures.
• The new born kid must be provided with sufficient amount of dry grass and straw for bedding purposes.
• Cleaning of newborn’s nose and mouth immediately after birth must be conducted properly. The colostrum must be fed within the first half hour of birth.
• After the first five days, the kids must be gradually separated from the mother and allowed to suckle once in every six hours. This can be continued for the next one week or so and gradually reduced before totally weaning away.
• Animals of different age groups must be kept in the right flock for their proper care and management.
• During monsoon, goats are likely to develop foot rot. Hence they must be passed through copper sulphate solution.

Goat Farming Training in India

Goat farming training can be received at a private or government institute. Goat farming training by government is the best option in India. Below are the most common goat farming training schemes by the government.

The Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG)

The Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG) is the most common choice for goat farming training in India. CIRG is located in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. CIRG is affiliated with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). CIGR provides training on goat farming for farmers and individuals looking to venture into goat farming as a profession. CIRG provides farmers with the knowledge and skills on all the goat farming steps mentioned above.

CIRG provides 3 day training for farmers and 5 day training for entrepreneurs. CIRG also provides customised goat farming training for farmers and entrepreneurs with specific goals. Overall these benefits make CIRG the best choice for goat farming training by government.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)

Goat farming training by government also can be received at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) all across India. KVKs mainly provide training for farmers and businesses in all aspects of goat farming from breed selection to goat health care. KVKs provide training on goat farming in India for 3-5 days.

Marketing

If everything goes well, now it’s time to market the products. Good marketing strategies can maximize benefits from goat farming in India. There is already an established and suitable market for selling all your goat products in India. And all types of goat products like meat and milk has a huge demand in India. Taking some special techniques can maximize profits. For example, if you sell your meat goats during some religious festivals like various types of Puja, Eid etc. Almost all local market of India has a great demand of goat milk and meat. So, you don’t have to worry about marketing the products. Just start raising goats commercially.

Goat farming in Bihar loan

Farmer who want to start a goats farmings business in Bihar can avail of loans from various banks and financial institutions. Some of the popular loan schemes for goat farming in Bihar are

• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana PMMY > This scheme provide loan up to Rs. 10 lakhs to farmers and entrepreneurs for setting up or expanding their goat farming business. The loan can be availed under three categories Shishu Kishor and Tarun depending on the loan amount required

• Bihar State Cooperative Bank BSCB Goat Rearing Loan Scheme > This loan scheme is offered by BSCB to farmers engaged in goat rearing. The loans amounts can up to Rs. 5 lakhs and the interest rate is lower than that of regular loans

• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development NABARD > NABARD provides loans for the development of the livestock sector including goat farming. Farmer can avail of loan up to Rs. 10 lakh under the Dairys Entrepreneurship Development Scheme DEDS and the Integrated Livestock Development Scheme ILDS

• Kisan Credit Card KCC > KCC is a credit scheme offered by banks to farmers for agricultural and allied activities including goat farming. The loan amounts can be up to Rs. 3 lakhs and the interest rate is lower than that of regular loans

To apply for a loan farmers need to submit a detailed project report along with their KYC documents land ownership papers and other necessary documents to the concerned bank or financial institution. The loan amount and interest rate will depend on the borrower credit history the project viability and other factors. Farmers are advised to compare the loan schemes offered by different banks and choose the one that suits their needs and requirements

General Guidelines for Biosecurity at Sheep & Goat Farms in India

https://farmer.gov.in/dadf/Biosecurity/Biosecurity_Guidelines_for_Sheep_n_Goat_Farms_2016.pdf

Conclusion

Once upon a time, goat farming in India was considered to be a lowly and neglected occupation. However, realizing the benefits of goat milk, meat and other by-products, it is considered as a respected occupation. There are several low investment enterprises among which goat farming tops the list. Goat farming is especially a good business to start with for the unemployed youth whose number is simply increasing by the day.

Goat farming has become a highly profitable and competitive industry. But before getting into this business, it is essential to know some facts about goats. Raising goats for meat can be a very exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be very challenging. However, with a little preparation and understanding of goat nutritional needs, even the most sophisticated farmer can raise happy, healthy, fat goats. The above information is the excellent tips and benefits of rearing goats and making maximum profit.

COMMERCIAL GOAT FARMING (100+5) PROJECT REPORT

COMMERCIAL GOAT FARMING (100+5) PROJECT REPORT

Compiled  & Shared by- This paper is a compilation of groupwork provided by the Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)

 Image-Courtesy-Google

 Reference-On Request