| Goat farming is not an all a new endeavor. This form | | | | goats for their fiber. Basically there are two breeds of |
| of animal-raising has been practiced since time | | | | goats that yield excellent fibers. That would be the |
| immemorial, and there are a lot of people from other | | | | angora goats (produce mohair) and the cashmere |
| parts of the globe who are making this their chief form | | | | goats (produce cashmere wool.) The hairs from both |
| of livelihood. These days, a lot more people are seeing | | | | animals are prized for their softness and warmth; and |
| the benefits and potential profits to be gained from | | | | products made from these are usually pegged at very |
| goat farming. But is this form of animal husbandry as | | | | steep prices. Other breeds that are raised for their |
| easy as buying goats and crossing your fingers? | | | | fibers are the nigora and the pygora; both of which |
| Well, not quite. Here are a couple of tips you might | | | | produce medium class wool. |
| want to consider if you are thinking about setting up a | | | | And lastly, you can also raise goats that are to be sold |
| goat farm for the first time. | | | | as pets - which is, by the way one of the emerging |
| 1. Decide what kind of goat farming you would like to | | | | profitable businesses these days. |
| practice. There are 4 kinds of goat farming. One is | | | | By deciding early on what kind of farming you would |
| raising goats for the sole purpose of harvesting milk. | | | | like to practice, you can choose what breed of goats, |
| Goat's milk can be used as buttermilk, candy, cheese, | | | | tools and machineries you ought to purchase as well. |
| cream cheese, ghee (clarified butterfat,) kefir | | | | 2. Always hire the services of a veterinarian. A vet is |
| (fermented alcoholic goat's milk,) substitute for cow's | | | | a necessary partner in this kind of endeavor, and you |
| milk, and yogurt. You can also use goat's milk to | | | | would need to consult him or her for almost every |
| produce beauty care products like lotions, skin creams, | | | | aspect of raising goats. From choosing what feeds or |
| soaps and other milk-based specialty soaps. | | | | supplements you can give to the animals, to setting up |
| The second type of goat farming is when you raise | | | | housing and more importantly, to providing you |
| the aforementioned animals for meat. You can either | | | | documentation (to be presented to the local |
| sell the meat as fresh produce or to be used in | | | | government) that you are treating your animals well |
| sausages, salted meat, and smoked meat cuts. | | | | and that there are no issues on your farm that can |
| The third type of farming is when you choose to raise | | | | constitute to animal cruelty or abuse. |