Goat farming is becoming very popular day by day. Several
businessmen are now considering establishing goat-farming business, with focus
on high-yielding breeds. This is because goat is one of the main meat and milk
producing animals. Goat’s milk and meat have huge domestic demand and goat is
one of the choicest meat and milk sources.
Due
to this high demand, commercial goat farming (under intensive or semi-intensive
system) has been gaining momentum in the last few years. High demand for goat
and goat products has made good economic returns of its initial investment
possible.
Farmers
are being attracted by the emerging favourable market conditions as well as
easy accessibility of improved goat specie and farming techniques.
Consequently, numerous commercial goat farms are now springing up in the
country.
Choosing
the right goat breeds for your commercial farm is very important. There are
numerous breeds around the world. Some of them are high in meat production,
while others famous for milk production. Some goat breeds produce quality skins
and fiber.
However,
I have listed short description of some local goat breeds in Nigeria.
Three
main breeds of goat in Nigeria are as follows: West African Dwarf, Sokoto
Maradi Red and Borno Sahel White.
The
WAD goats are found in the southern parts of the country. It has the potential
of good tasty meat with a good reproductive performance. The Sokoto Maradi Red
are found in the northern part of the country and is well adapted to arid
conditions. This breed produces good milk and meat and is highly notable for
production of fine leather materials.
The
Borno Sahel White, which are also found in the semi-arid area in northern
Nigeria, is a good producer of meat and milk, but highly susceptible to
trypanosomiasis.
However,
the introduction of Boer and Kalahari breeds from South Africa into Nigeria has
made them exotic breeds the game changer in modern goat farming in the country.
It’s
not for nothing that some state government have imported these exotic breeds
from South Africa to sell to local farmers in their respective states with a
view to reproducing them for beef, leather and dairy purposes, encouraging
profitable goat farming. Surely, ‘’A nation should not be judged by how it
treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones’’.
This
exotic South African breeds have better body conformation and are the type of
livestock that easily get adopted to the climate condition of the country. The
South African Boer goat has brown head and neck but red-Kalahari is red all
over.
At
Jovana Farms, we remain committed to providing farmers with quality breeds of
farm animals. We have what it takes to make you successful, if you desire to
invest in animal production anytime. We are ready to train, guide and mentor
you wisely from site survey, farm set-up to the supply of fast-growing animal
species.
Goat
eats wide ranges of vegetables, grasses, leaves, grains, tubers etc. In fact,
goat can thrive on any edible material if allowed to forage freely. For mass
production, supplement food is needed for good health and fast growth.
Goats
reach puberty between 6 and 12 months, depending on the breed and nutritional
status. Female goats come into estrus every 21 days for three to 50 hours. In
addition to natural mating, artificial insemination has gained popularity among
modern goat breeders, as it allows easy access to a wide variety of bloodlines.
Gestation period is approximately 150 days. They usually bear twins or more
depending on the specie.
Goat
farming has many benefits. As a result, it is very popular around the globe.
The main benefits of commercial goat farming are listed as follows.
Goat
meat is low in fat and is widely acceptable as a source of food nutrient across
ethnic and religious persuasions. It has excellent meat quality and does not
trigger allergic reactions when consumed.
Skin
from the red-Kalahari provides the best leather material for tannery
industries. This, if properly harnessed for international trade, has a great
potential as a foreign exchange earner and can put Nigeria in an enviable
position in the global leather industry.
Attend
Jovana Farms nationwide seminars nearest to you and know more about
opportunities in goat farming. Can’t attend? Order for self-tutorial VCD &
books. Visit us at www.jovanafarms.com.
E-mail:jovanafarms@gmail.com or Call: 080 33262 808 for more
details. You can also choose your nearest venue from our website
Source: http://www.punchng.com/business/am-business/goat-farming-nigerians-embrace-foreign-breeds/
No comments:
Post a Comment