Goat farming a profitable business for youth: Experts

Tribune News Service

Manav Mander

Ludhiana, June 15

Goat farming requires low input cost and is a profitable business option for the unemployed youth, women, ex-servicemen etc. who can easily learn skills in this profession and improve their income, said agricultural experts.

“Goats are adapted to wide variety of climatic conditions and they are handy in nature. Goat has many specialties such as smaller size, easy handling, broad range of eatables and wider climatic adaptability etc. which make it animal of choice round the globe,” said Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, HoD, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana.

The investment is low at the initial stages and farm is also set up with low investment. Apart from meat, goat milk remains in high demand. There is huge scope in value addition and processing of goat milk and meat which can further enhance income.

With ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ being celebrated, GADVASU organised one-week training programme on goat farming from June 6 to 13.

Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma said farmers of the state were trained to keep their goats healthy all throughout the year. The other aspects of improved goat rearing like better housing and feeding practices has direct implications on income of millions of households as well as national food security.

“During this training, knowledge was provided about various breeds, breeding techniques, feeding management, shed designs, weather management, vaccination protocols, diseases and their prevention, value addition of milk and meat and economics of goat farming etc. Practical training on handling of goats, measuring body temperature, signs of healthy animals was also provided to the trainees,” said Dr Sharma.

Reasons to go for it

• Investment in initial stages is low
• Farm size required is small.
• Occurrence of disease in goats is less.
• Goat milk is easily digestible
• Storage of milk is easy
• In a day, goat can be milked several times
• Goat manure is 2.5 times richer than cow manure.