Breeding of goats on personal farmstead as a business

The breeding of goats on a personal farmstead is gaining popularity among the population. These animals in the subsidiary farm are always fresh milk, tasty yogurt, snow-white and airy oil.

Why is it recommended to breed goats on a home farmstead?

This is a fairly inexpensive and recouped way to have fresh milk daily on the dinner table, at its value equivalent to the mother's milk. There are many examples when mothers, in the absence of their own milk, fed the children with goat, rich in mineral salts. The opinion of most people about its bad taste and specific odor is erroneous. The fat content of goat's milk, which can be stored for a long time even without a refrigerator, is 4-6% higher than the cow's milk. A significant amount of biologically active potassium has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system and promotes the rejuvenation of the body.

Kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, butter are products of own preparation, which will always be a useful addition to the usual family ration. Breeding goats on a personal farmstead as a business, in addition to the side income from the sale of dairy products, brings satisfaction and joy in dealing with these friendly, faithful animals.

How to choose the right goat?

To do this, only need to be able to choose the right goat, guided by such criteria as the physique, age and purpose of the contents of the pet. If a goat is required to produce dairy products, then the choice should be stopped on dairy breed (Zaanen, Nubian, Alpine, Toggenburg). During examination, special attention is required to be given to the udder of the animal; It should be pear-shaped, bulky and soft to the touch.

Short nipples are uncomfortable when milking, so in this case, the choice of a pet should be continued. The main advantage of milk goats is high milk yield (about 3 liters of milk per day).

Breeding goats on a personal farmstead for obtaining and selling meat can also be a very profitable business, in which it is desirable to choose to stop on meat breeds: Greek, Bourg, Kiko. Meat from them of high quality and resembles veal.

The goat can also be kept for obtaining wool and down (a special kind of wool raw material, which has no analogues in quality and technological properties). In this case, the most suitable breeds are Angora, Orenburg, Mountain Altai, of soft wool produced by a popular mohair. Milk in comparison with other breeds such goats give less: only 0.5-1 liter per day.

The by-product of goats content is manure - a high-quality fertilizer for vegetable gardens, household plots and greenhouses.

Optimal will be the selection of local breeds that are maximally adapted to the specific climate of your region. Moreover, popular breeds without proper care and high-quality feed may not meet the corresponding performance indicators.

Signs of a good goat

A good goat should have a wide chest, healthy skeleton, straight legs. It is worth paying attention to the jaw. They must fit tightly with each other. Otherwise, the animal will not be able to grab the feed with the teeth and bite the grass, which will negatively affect its productivity.

When acquiring young goats, pay attention to the milk of their mother. It is advisable to take a winter brood, because it is stronger and sturdier. Animals are required to choose active, with clean eyes, shiny hair, smooth and symmetrical horns (if any). The shape of the hind legs should be in the form of the letter "P", not "X". If possible, it's worth watching how the goats run. Those who are lagging behind and often lying down should not be taken.

Breeding goats - an economical occupation

Breeding goats on a personal farmstead is a very convenient and low-cost kind of home business. These animals are unpretentious and optimally adapt to different conditions of detention. Their valuable biological feature is early puberty; One goat usually brings one or two (sometimes three) cubs. Adult young growth can be allowed for meat, tasty and low-fat, it is very important not to withhold it, because an adult goat, aged 1.5 years, produces an unpleasant smell.

Arrangement of premises for goats

Goats on a personal farmstead are undemanding animals, so their breeding can be practiced in almost all climatic zones and, unlike cattle, even contain on small farmsteads with small farm buildings.

The animal housing room must be accessible with fresh air, warm, dry and clean, equipped with a crèche for hay and a feeder under them. An important condition is the presence of litter on the floor; It can be straw, sawdust, foliage. Goats love freedom, therefore it is desirable to keep them in stalls without a leash. The goat should be kept in a separate room (with the vent pipe installed ) in order to avoid obtaining a specific unpleasant odor from the milk.

Breeding of goats on personal farmstead: feeding

For feeding goats optimal food is considered fresh grass, which is also the cheapest food, due to which there is a significant increase in milk yield. Therefore, in the summer, animals must be taken out for grazing, where they independently feed themselves. In the evening they should be fed with root crops, potatoes, vegetables, grain, pre-harvested branches from bushes or coniferous trees.

Contents of goats in winter

Still it is necessary to additionally give mineral elements and vitamins during pregnancy of a goat. Breeding of these domestic animals on their farmstead requires the investment of their own labor, namely pre-harvesting of hay, which is the main food in the winter.

It is not recommended to use grasses when making hay, giving bitterness and smell of milk (tansy, chamomile, horsetail, wormwood and mustard). As an additional food, the animals are given dried brooms from the branches of trees and shrubs, it is useful in the cold period to feed them with needles. As a swill, make bryozoans that significantly increase milk yield, for the preparation of which kitchen waste, dried bread remnants, beet, carrot cleaning, steamed oats or bran are mixed with warm water.

In winter, goats are required for walking, so as to increase appetite, and also reduce the risk of hoof disease.

Water in goats should always be available and have room temperature. In the trough it is recommended to add salt-licking, in case of its absence, it is required to simply add salt.

We raise goats on a personal farmstead

Offspring of goats is desirable to acquire early spring. Born in this period, goat kids are the most developed and strong. For this, mating is required in September-October. Goats can happen when they reach 1.5 years; Mating is allowed from the age of 7 months, very desirable - with an unrelated goat for obtaining quality non-hybrid offspring. In households, the massive offspring is mainly observed in March. Usually by the autumn the kids are already well developed. Samochek sold to other farms or left as a replacement for old queens, goats are sold for meat or grown to replace the goat-producer. To avoid relative breeding, it is preferable to exchange young animals with other farmers.

The first days of newborn goat kids should be evaporated with colostrum, then during the month, 4 times a day, they are fed with liquid oatmeal or semolina porridge (on milk) followed by a three-hour meal. Gradually, babies should be taught to feed, sen and leaves; This causes a faster development of the stomach.

7-9 years - the average duration of use of a goat on a personal farmstead.
Breeding goats on a personal farmstead is economically advantageous because of the low costs and peace-loving nature of these clean and friendly animals.