Source: Goat breeding turns into a lucrative venture | The Sunday Mail
Mr Ntando Ndlovu with one of the Boar goats he delivered to his clients in Bulawayo late last year Business Reporter
GOAT FARMING has become a lucrative business for farmers on the back of growing demand for chevon both in Zimbabwe and globally.
However, most farmers find it difficult to invest in foreign breeds such as Savanna and Boer goats.
They, therefore, continue to invest in the local Matabele and Mashona breeds, among others, which are resilient to drought and disease.
Mr Honest Dlamini, a livestock producer from Umguza, Matabeleland North, said many farmers are now earning a living from rearing goats.
“People are following where the money is, and there is a significant advantage in goat farming as it is cheap, and goats are not as affected by droughts as cattle,” Mr Dlamini said.
“A large number of diasporans are investing in goat farming and are generating more income through breeding than through selling meat and milk.”
He said local breeds have a lower value because they take long to mature.
While local breeds are currently selling for around US$50, Boer, Savanna and Kalahari goats can fetch approximately US$250 when they are just six months old.
The country’s trade development and promotion organisation, ZimTrade, continues to encourage livestock farmers to scale up production and capitalise on the expanding global demand for goat meat and related value chain products.
Local producers are presently struggling to meet demand from export markets.
Mr Ntando Ndlovu, a Zimbabwean goat breeder based in South Africa, said local breeders are actively working on improving carcass weight and reducing mortality rates.
“Communal farmers, who previously lacked expertise in goat farming, are beginning to improve in reducing kid mortality rates, which is a major factor in profit realisation,” Mr Ndlovu said.
“The information that different farmers are sharing on social media channels is proving effective, with farmers learning and practically implementing new techniques.
“The so-called exotic breeds are gaining popularity, which also improves the carcass weight and growth rate when crossed with our local goats. This is crucial as the primary target is to maximise profit.”
Farmers, he said, are increasingly recognising the value of small livestock, a shift from previous practices where they were primarily for meat production rather than breeding purposes.
“We still have a long way to go, though, especially in establishing numerous goat auctions where those with superior genetics can sell to other breeders locally,” he said.
“I still believe we need more investment in our local indigenous goats like Matabele and Mashona to preserve these genetics. Not all communal farmers can afford the Boer, Kalahari and Savanna breeds, making it an opportunity for other local players to take advantage of.”
A promising market for goat meat exports presently exists in the United Arab Emirates, although the establishment of Halal-certified abattoirs is a prerequisite.
“Currently, there is still a lot of individualism, which will make it impossible to even penetrate that market and satisfy it,” said Mr Ndlovu.
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