GOAT FARMIMG

GOAT FARMIMG

Goat farming in Malawi is mainly done for meat and or milk production

Advantages of goat farming

• Low disease incidence
• Drought tolerance
• Easy to feed, feed for one cow is enough for 6 goats
• Requires less capital than cattle farming
• High returns because they multiply and grow fast
• Low inputs as they produce with few inputs and less labour
• Goat meat is consumed by a lot of people as there are no taboos as well as religious and cultural beliefs restricting its consumption
• Easy market through formal and informal markets
• Source of manure to improve crop production
• Source of income
• Goats are often slaughtered for Social functions like; traditional ceremonies, weddings funeral
• Goats are used for settling disputes.

Constraints in goat farming

• Due to economic challenges farmers are slaughtering immature, pregnant and breedable stocks
• Lack of adequate knowledge on how to take care of kids hence there are more losses
• Lack of focus and proper reason by farmers as to why they are doing goat farming
• Little breeding knowledge hence bucks fit for breeding are usually a priority for sale leaving unfit bucks for breeding