Goat Farming In Kenya: Commercial Plan For Beginners!

Commercial dairy and meat goat farming in Kenya is a very fast growing industry which is contributing much to the national income, economic growth and better human nutrition source.

In the past few years, goat farming has become very popular business with small scale farmers in urban and densely populated areas of Kenya. Here we are trying to list the benefits of goat farming in Kenya. And we are also trying to discuss the necessary steps for starting goat farming in Kenya.

Advantages of Goat Farming in Kenya

Goat farming in Kenya has many benefits. It play a very important role in Kenya’s economy. Here we are trying to list the main advantages of goat farming in Kenya.

• Require little capital and investment.
• Care and management are very easy.
• Need less labor.
• Climate or weather is very suitable for goat farming in Kenya.
• Great business idea with good return of invest ratio (ROI).
• Goat’s products like meat and milk has a great demand in the international and local market of Kenya.
• Goat farming is very pleasuring and enjoyable.
• You can easily meet up the nutritional demand of your family.
• Great income source for the women and children.

How to start Goat Farming in Kenya?

Starting commercial goat farming business is relatively easy and simple. Here we are trying to list the important steps for starting this business. Follow the steps mentioned below for starting goat farming business in Kenya.

Step 1: Learn Practically

First of all, try to learn more about this business practically. You can learn practically about goat farming business from any of your nearest poultry farmer or breeder. Learning practically about this business is very important, because practical knowledge helps to run this business perfectly. Try to visit as many farms as you can within your area and learn more about this business.

Step 2: Complete a Training

Completing a goat farming training is also very important for having practical knowlege and experience. Training is especially very important for the beginners. You can complete a goat farming training from any of your nearest government and non government organizations. Agricultural colleges and universities also provide goat farming training occassionally.

Step 3: Make A Business Plan

Making a very good and effective goat farming business plan is very important. An effective Business plan helps to start and operate a business successfully. So, try to make an effective goat farming business plan before starting, and try to work according to the plan. Try to include everything about this business in your business plan, and work according to the plan. You can ask for help from an expert if you are a beginner.

Step 4: Select a Good Location

Every location in Kenya is not good for starting goat farming business. So, selecting a very good location for commercial goat farming business in Kenya is very important. Always try to select the location far from residential area. And ensure good communication and marketing system is available in your selected location.

A suitable location is very necessary for starting a goat farm. Select a calm, quite and noise free land for your farm. Ensure some necessary facilities are available in your selected land.

The necessary facilities for goats includes sufficient supply of clean and fresh water, a market near the farm, necessary veterinary services available, good transportation facilities with the nearest town or market etc.

Step 5: Determine The Products

Determine the products you want to produce from your farm. You can start commercial goat farming in Kenya for the purpose of meat and milk production. Try to visit some existing market in your area and try to determine which product has good market demand and value.

Step 6: Determine Your Farming Method

After selecting the products you want to produce from your farm, you have to determine your production method. You can start intensive, semi-intensive or free range system depending on your budget and available facilities.

Step 7: Choose The Right Breed

There are many goat breeds which are very suitable for farming according to the weather and climate of Kenya. Boer, German Alpine, Toggenburg, Saanen, Anglo Nubian and some other breeds are suitable for commercial and profitable goat farming in Kenya. After choosing the production, buy high quality fresh breeds for your farming business.

Step 8: Purchase Equipment

Like many other livestock business, goat farming business also require purchasing some necessary equipment. Some most common and necessary goat farming equipment are:

Fencing materials: High-quality fencing is crucial to secure the grazing area and protect the goats from predators. This can include wire mesh, wooden posts, and barbed wire.

• Shelter
• Feeding and watering equipment
• Milking equipment (if applicable)
• Healthcare supplies
• Transportation
• Breeding equipment
• Weighing scales
• Cleaning tools
• Record-keeping tools
• Protective gear
• Lighting and power sources

Step 9: Purchase Goats

Purchasing good, quality and healthy goats is very important. Good quality goats helps to establish a good herd, and also helps to maximize profits. So, try to purchase good quality, healthy and active goats from your nearest suppliers or breeders.

Step 10: Ensure Good Housing System

For successful goat farming in Kenya, you have to make a suitable house for your goats. Make the house rain and damp proof, free from sharp objects or direct weed, free from pest and wild animals and make a proper ventilation system inside the house. Generally, an adult goat requires 0.5-0.75 squire meter space on an average. You can divide the house into two parts. One is place for taking rest or sleeping and another for feeding.

Make the sleeping area comfortable enough for the goats with sufficient facilities of well ventilation, soft bedding, must have to have wall with door, well roofed and well ventilation system. You can make the feeding area with little or no roof but, it should fenced all around with a gate. The feeding area should have water trough, feed trough, slated floor, feed racks and a rain proof mineral block pack area. Ensure sufficient flow of fresh air and light in the sleeping and feeding places of goats. See goat housing.

Step 11: Provide Nutritious Feeding

Feed the goats according to their production. For example, in case of feeding meat goats, feed them complementary food for growing fast and gaining weights. On the other hand, dairy goat needs more and more green foods for producing maximum amount of milk daily. Provide your goats sufficient roughage like Napier grass and supplements.

In case of Napier grass, chop the grass into approximately 3 cm long pieces. Include energy supplements, molasses, milling by-products like pollard or bran, cereals etc. in their food. For protein supplements, include Calliandra leaves, cotton seed cake, Leucaena leaves, desmodium, fish-meal, dairy meal, sweet potato vines etc. in the food of goats.

Along with good food, always serve them sufficient amount of clean and fresh water according to their daily demands. See goat feed, feeding meat goats & what to feed goats.

Step 12: Proper Breeding Management is Important

Goat breeding process can be done in two ways. Natural breeding and artificial breeding. Artificial breeding is not so popular in Kenya and the facilities for artificial breeding are not available enough.

The ratio of buck and doe for natural breeding of goats is 1:25. That means one buck is sufficient for breeding of 25 does. For breeding purpose, use fresh and diseases free does and bucks.

Mate the does after two months of kidding. For mating, introduce a buck with the does and leave it with does for 2-3 weeks. Gestation period of goats is less than other animals. Goats generally give birth of kids after 150 days of mating.

Step 13: Ensure Timely Vaccination

Timely vaccination is a must for keeping your goats free from all types of diseases. It also helps to keep your goats free from highly contagious diseases like PPR, goat pneumonia, tetanus etc. Vaccinate the does 2-3 weeks before kidding to prevent pulpy kidney and tetanus. Vaccinate the kids at their 5-6 months of age. For preventing scabby mouth disease, vaccinate the goats at their two months of age. Always vaccinate your goats in fresh and clean place with properly cleaned equipment.

Step 14: Care and Management

Ensure good caring and other management for good health of your goats. Provide them with good and comfortable housing system, provide them good and nutritious food, and vaccinate them timely. Taking good care of these animals is very important, because good caring helps to keep the animals strong and healthy.

Step 15: Marketing

You can easily found a suitable ready market available for selling your farm products. Visit some local market and try to understand the demand of goat products. You can also directly discuss with some people about the benefits of consuming goat’s products like meat or milk. If there any opportunities, then try international markets.

Goat farming in Kenya is becoming very popular day by day. And can be one of the best leading and profitable income source for the poor, landless and marginal people. Commercial goat farming in Kenya can also make great contribution in the total economy of this country. So, if you are interested in goat farming and want to set up goat farm, then read as much as possible about goat farming, get training and finally do it. Best of luck!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

People ask many questions about goat farming in Kenya. Here we are trying to list the most common questions about goat farming in Kenya, and trying to answer them. Hope you will find your answer. Don’t hesitate to ask us if you have more questions.