Article by Ted Allen
Dairy goat farming for profit is not very hard to do. Goat farming, in itself, is already a very profitable business. Goats are simple to manage. If given proper attention, goats can live healthily and can even be managed by children. When fed with their native food, goats have no need for vitamin and mineral supplements. They also don’t need too much feed because they eat a variety of foliage, including thorn bushes and high branches that sheep can’t reach. Land area is not a problem as long as there is enough food. They are also very resistant to heat and drought.
Goats also reproduce anytime of the year with a short gestation period of only 150 days. The kid can be anywhere between a twin and a quadruplet. However, temperate climates induce goats to mate only seasonally, usually during autumn when the days are shorter. Most efforts to improve dairy goat farming are focused on producing more and better milk. To do this, breed and animal health are given special attention. Particular breeds are more valuable as milk producers.
To add to this, goats are sources of a variety of commercial products. Among the most important are milk and meat. Goats also produce hide, mohair, leather, cashmere and dung for fuel or fertilizer. Dairy goat farming for profit concentrates on milk production as its top source of income. However, the other products may also be sold as available to avoid too much waste as during deaths or when the goats are no longer viable for milk production. The minimal investment and the high returns are behind very successful dairy goat farming for profit.
Certain states and countries impose tax exemption on agricultural lands. Farmers enjoy discounts on land depreciation and transaction taxes. For instance, buying an agricultural land can be worth a lot because it is praised to be very productive, but if it is declared that the buyer plans to keep it an agricultural land for the next five years, the buyer is exempted on agricultural taxes. Other benefits are discounts on animal feed, machine and equipment rentals, and veterinary fees.
Milk, being a basic a commodity, ensures the success of any dairy farm. In fact, more people around the world consume goat milk than cow milk. Coupled with proper management and good decision making skills, it will really be dairy goat farming for profit and a journey to be remembered.