Most Kenyans venture into rearing livestock animals for commercial purposes. Commercial goat farming is among the major livestock rearing businesses practiced in Kenya. But is goat rearing a profitable business to venture into? If you are a reader looking for answers, then you will be grateful you came across this article. This article elaborates on the reasons why goat farming is profitable and how profitable it is.
Yes, goat rearing is a profitable practice to venture into in Kenya. The following are five reasons why goat farming is profitable in Kenya:
1. It can produce milk, meat, fibre, skin, and manure at the same time.
2. Goat meat is becoming popular as most Kenyans prefer it.
3. It gives birth to more than one kid in a single birth within a short time.
4. It does not require much capital, equipment, or labour to start a goat-rearing business.
5. Goat rearing is a less risky business because it is hardy and prone to drought conditions.
How Profitable is Goat Farming in Kenya?
Goats take between 10 and 12 months to mature. A mature goat weighing about 37 kg cost an average of Ksh. 7,000. For instance, if a farmer has 100 goats on the farm, you may get about Ksh. 700,000 or more when sold, ultimately getting a lot of profits as a return.
A farmer can make a good profit if the goat is well managed and he chooses the right goat for rearing. The total cost for a farmer will be all the costs incurred in raising the goat, like feeding, labour, and other costs. Assuming the total cost is about Ksh. 150,000 and you deduct it from the money made at the end of selling, you will make a profit of Ksh. 550,000 for 100 goats.
The average milk production of a diary goat is about two litres a day. Many consumers prefer goat’s milk over cattle’s milk due to its nutritional values. Furthermore, many Kenyans prefer goat meat due its unique taste and nutritional benefits. Therefore, many Kenyans eat goat meat more often some even do on a daily basic.
Thus, we can conclude that goat farming in Kenya is highly profitable and thus you should think of starting a commercial goat farming in Kenya.
Which Breed of Goat is Most Profitable?
The type of goat breed chosen for rearing will depend on the location and climatic conditions. They are divided into two categories,; Breeds of meat goats and breed of dairy goats.
Jamunapari
The Jamunapari goat is the most prolific goat breed for profitable commercial goat farming because it is mainly reared for milk and meat because it is highly productive and produces quality meat and milk.
Other profitable breed of dairy goats include; Saanen, Toggenburg and Barbari.
Boer
Boer is an example of a breed of goat meat in Kenya. If you are looking forward to raising goat for meat then you should consider this breed. Boer is highly productive and produce high quality meat that is loved by many Kenyans.
Other profitable goat breed for meat production include; Mato and Black Bengal.
