GOAT FARMING IN ZAMBIACommercial dairy and meat goat farming in Zambia are growing fast and

contributing much to the national income, economic growth and better human nutrition source. In the
past few years, goat farming has become very popular with small scale farmers in urban and densely
populated areas of Zambia. I have included here, the benefits and other necessary steps for starting
goat farming in Zambia.
Benefits of Goat Farming in Zambia

Goat farming in Zambia has many benefits. I have included here the main of those benefits.
Require little capital and investment.
Care and management are very easy.
Need less labor.
Climate or weather is very suitable for goat farming in Zambia.
Great business idea with good return of invest ratio (ROI).
Goats products like meat and milk has a great demand in the international and local market
of Zambia.
Goat farming is very pleasuring and enjoyable.
You can easily meet up the nutritional demand of your family.
Great income source for the women and children.

Starting Goat Farming in Zambia

Follow the steps mentioned below for starting goat farming business in Zambia.

Location
A suitable location is very necessary for starting a goat farm. Select a calm, quite and noise free land
for your farm. Ensure some necessary facilities are available in your selected land. The necessary
facilities for goats includes sufficient supply of clean and fresh water, a market near the farm, necessary
veterinary services available, good transportation facilities with the nearest town or market etc.
Breeds
There are many goat breeds which are very suitable for farming according to the weather and climate
of Zambia. Boer, German Alpine, Toggenburg, Saanen, Anglo Nubian and some other breeds are
suitable for commercial and profitable goat farming in Zambia. After choosing the production, buy high
quality fresh breeds for your farming business.
Housing
For successful goat farming in Zambia, you have to make a suitable house for your goats. Make the
house rain and damp proof, free from sharp objects or direct weed, free from pest and wild animals and
make a proper ventilation system inside the house. Generally, an adult goat requires 0.5-0.75 squire
meter space on an average. You can divide the house into two parts. One is place for taking rest or
sleeping and another for feeding. Make the sleeping area comfortable enough for the goats with
sufficient facilities of well ventilation, soft bedding, must have to have wall with door, well roofed and
well ventilation system. You can make the feeding area with little or no roof but, it should fenced all
around with a gate. The feeding area should have water trough, feed trough, slated floor, feed racks
and a rain proof mineral block pack area. Ensure sufficient flow of fresh air and light in the sleeping and
feeding places of goats. See goat housing.
Feeding
Feed the goats according to their production. For example, in case of feeding meat goats, feed them
complementary food for growing fast and gaining weights. On the other hand, dairy goat needs more
and more green foods for producing maximum amount of milk daily. Provide your goats sufficient
roughage like Napier grass and supplements. In case of Napier grass, chop the grass into
approximately 3 cm long pieces. Include energy supplements, molasses, milling by-products like pollard
or bran, cereals etc. in their food. For protein supplements, include Calliandra leaves, cotton seed cake,
Leucaena leaves, desmodium, fish-meal, dairy meal, sweet potato vines etc. in the food of goats. Along
with good food, always serve them sufficient amount of clean and fresh water according to their daily
demands. See goat feed, feeding meat goats & what to feed goats.
Breeding
Goat breeding process can be done in two ways. Natural breeding and artificial breeding. Artificial
breeding is not so popular in Zambia and the facilities for artificial breeding are not available enough.
The ratio of buck and doe for natural breeding of goats is 1:25. That means one buck is sufficient for
breeding of 25 does. For breeding purpose, use fresh and diseases free does and bucks. Mate the does
after two months of kidding. For mating, introduce a buck with the does and leave it with does for 2-3
weeks. Gestation period of goats is less than other animals. Goats generally give birth of kids after 150
days of mating.

Vaccination
Timely vaccination is a must for keeping your goats free from all types of diseases. It also helps to keep
your goats free from highly contagious diseases like PPR, goat pneumonia, tetanus etc. Vaccinate the
does 2-3 weeks before kidding to prevent pulpy kidney and tetanus. Vaccinate the kids at their 5-6
months of age. For preventing scabby mouth disease, vaccinate the goats at their two months of age.
Always vaccinate your goats in fresh and clean place with properly cleaned equipment.

Marketing
You can easily found a suitable ready market available for selling your farm products. Visit some local
market and try to understand the demand of goat products. You can also directly discuss with some
people about the benefits of consuming goats products like meat or milk. If there any opportunities,
then try international markets.
Goat farming in Zambia is becoming very popular day by day. And can be one of the best leading and
profitable income source for the poor, landless and marginal people. Commercial goat farming in
Zambia can also make great contribution in the total economy of this country. So, if you are interested
in goat farming and want to set up goat farm, then read as much as possible about goat farming, get
training and finally do it. Best of luck!

Daily Mail (17/07/17)

NKOMBO KACHEMBA, Mpika

GOVERNMENT has established a goat-breeding centre in Mpika district in Muchinga
Province at a cost of K340, 000 to promote livestock farming in the area.
The newly-established Luchembe goat-breeding centre will soon be stoked with 300 goats.

Muchinga Province livestock production officer Henry Sichone said in an interview the goat-
breeding centre will help goat farmers to acquire a good breed of goats that are resistant to
diseases.
We are focusing on promoting livestock farming in Chinsali and Mpika districts. So far in
Mpika, we have established the Luchembe goat-breeding centre, Mr Sichone said.
He said the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries in the province is also conducting livestock
restocking programmes in various districts in the province to improve the livestock
population in the province.
Mr Sichone said in Mpika, Chinsali and Nakonde, Government has distributed 850 village
chickens to the farmers while in Chinsali, 256 goats have been delivered to the area.
He said Government wants to promote livestock farming in Mpika and Chinsali because they
are the only districts in the province with a small livestock population.
Mr Sichone said promoting livestock farming in the two districts will greatly help to improve
the food security at household level, as well as help the people to earn a decent living.
Mr Sichone said livestock farming, if properly harnessed, has the potential to improve the
economic well-being of the people in Muchinga.
Mr Sichone said Government is also training farmers in the province on how to manage their
livestock to protect them from diseases.