A Study of Goat Farming in Nigeria – The Best Goats and How to Raise Them

Raising goats for profit isn’t as daunting as you may think. Besides being a friendly animal, the benefits of having goats are endless. From fertilizing the soil to cleaning your yard, raising goats offers several perks. Read on to learn more about the best goat farming practices and how you can raise profitable livestock of your own.

Types of Goats

Aside from being one of the oldest agriculture practices, goat farming has also remained as one of the most popular livestock in the world. It’s easy to see why: goats are easy to care for and produce a healthy supply of milk, meat and other products. You can also earn money by selling both goat and its products. There are two types of goats: permanent and table. Permanent goats are raised for meat, while table goats are raised only for milk.

Benefits of Goat Farming

Raising goats for profit is not only profitable but also a wonderful way to connect with your local community. You can produce your own milk, meat and even yield cash from the by-products of goat farming. – High Nutrient Yields. Goat farming offers an excellent source of nutrients. You can use goat products such as milk, cheese and even Goatskin rugs as source of nutrients for your garden. – Goats as Pets. Raising goats is a great way to improve your knowledge about livestock and other animals. You can also make goat products such as goat milk, goat cheese and goat hair products to sell. – Fertilizing the Soil. Besides providing a source of nutrients, goats also fertilize your soil. You can also use the manure to increase the amount of crops in your garden. – Clean Grazing. Raising goats is a great way to clean your pastures. They are also known to reduce the amount of weeds in your garden. – Animal Economics. Besides the benefits above, raising goats also makes good money. You can earn from selling both goat and its products such as milk, cheese and casings.

The Best Goats for Farming

If you’re looking for the best goats for farming, you’ve come to the right place. Here are our top 5 picks for raising profitable goats: Dorset – The Dorsets are considered as the original British breed. It’s a docile breed well-suited for both meat and milk production. This breed also produces a high volume of milk. Nubian – The Nubian is a large breed of goat that’s well-suited for both meat and milk production. This breed also produces thick milk that’s great for cheese production. Welsh Mountain – This breed is known for its high production of milk. It’s a gentle breed that’s easy to handle and is also suitable for both meat and milk production. Alfa Sorda – The Alfa Sorda is an Italian breed that’s known for its large amount of milk. It’s also suitable for both meat and milk production.

How to Raise Goats for Profit?

If you want to start a goat farm, here are a few things you need to remember. – Research Your Market – Before starting a goat farm, you need to first research the local market. This will enable you to gauge the demand and find the best way to sell your products. – Know Your Breed – All breeds of goats have different qualities, traits and prices. You need to research and find the best breed for your market. – Get Government Approvals – For successful goat farming, you need to first get the necessary approvals from the government. This will enable you to raise goats as a business and not as a hobby. – Research Your Location – Where will you raise your goats? Will it be an urban or a rural area? This will help you know if it’s a profitable venture or not.

Cons of Goat Farming

Though raising goats for profit is lucrative, it comes with several cons that you need to be aware of. Read on to learn more about them. – Specialized Feed. While goat farming is great for fertilizing the soil, it’s also a challenging and expensive venture. Doing it on your own will require a good supply of specialized feed and housing. – Disease and Parasites. Raising goats is a great way to fertilize your soil, but it’s also a great source of disease. You’ll need to practice good hygiene and sanitation to prevent the spread of diseases. – High Labor and Capital Costs. Aside from finding good quality goats and feeding them, you also need to construct and maintain an adequate structure.

Conclusion

Goat farming is a great way to make money and produce your own goat products. It’s easy to start, but it’s also challenging and requires a lot of dedication and effort. It’s best to start small and work your way up. Once you get the hang of it, you can earn a steady income from goat farming.