If you are thinking about raising cattle for your business, but are hampered by a tight budget, then the answer to your problem is goat farming.
Goats have been supplying our needs since 10,000 B.C. C., probably even before we have learned to tame cows and sheep. Due to their ability to survive on the rarest of grasses, shrubs and scrub, they are also ideal agricultural animals for countries with arid environments such as those in Africa. Goat farming is also a main source of food and income in mountainous regions like Tibet and Mongolia. This characteristic also makes them attractive to farmers in Third World countries due to their relative profitability. In fact, certain charities and organizations donate herds of goats to poor communities to provide them with a livelihood.
Despite its scruffy appearance, the goat produces various products for consumption. In addition to being a good source of meat for goats, their milk can be made into yogurt and cheese. If you are unfortunate enough to have cow’s milk as an allergen, you can find a great alternative in goat’s milk. Certain breeds such as the Angora produce thick locks of hair called mohair that can be used to create textiles. However, shorter hairs are found closer to the animal’s skin that are common in Kashmiri and Pashmina goats. Producing textiles from these will give you more profit.
There are many dimensions to goat farming. First, you need to identify the needs of your main buyers. These needs will dictate which breed you will get, as each one boasts different strengths in the areas of meat, milk, and hair. Therefore, you will not use a La Mancha goat to produce hair when Angoras are the most efficient breed for that. Similarly, the former produces more milk than the latter, making LaMancha ideal for dairy operations.
Being able to distinguish the main animals from the inferior ones will help you during purchases and in cases where you decide to reduce your herd of unproductive specimens. Knowledge of goat biology and habits will also be helpful in understanding their needs, such as the right food to give and physical cues that tell you the right time to mate with females.
With these things in mind, you are ready to begin the journey towards raising goats. At this very moment, your first animal may already be out there, chewing the cud, waiting for you to begin your adventure.