An increasing number of farmers are keeping goats for commercial purposes in Zimbabwe. Goat farming business is a very profitable business to operate in Zimbabwe. The demand for goat meat is increasing. People want to try a different type of meat which is not chicken, beef or pork. Goats are easy to keep and are very profitable as the feed costs are low due to the fact that they eat a variety of foods.An increasing number of farmers in Zimbabwe are keeping goats due to the high profits from the goat farming business. Demand for goat meat is high and there is a lot of potential for the growth of the market.

Before you start the goat farming business, you have to decide how many goats you want to keep, where you are going keep them, and your target market. The number of goats you keep will depend on the amount of land and capital you have, and also the size of your target market. You should always carry out a feasibility study, market research and write a business plan before you venture into any business. Do not make the mistake of starting a goat farming business or any other business just because someone is doing it and he/she says it’s profitable. This article will explain how to start a goat farming business in Zimbabwe, and the goat farming business plan.

What you need

Land 

You require land for goat farming. A large enough area must be available for erecting the necessary goat pens and for grazing. Goats tend to escape from the farm. Thus you have to put a strong fence around your farm to prevent the goats from escaping. Make the fence suitable enough for keeping your goats safe inside, and strong enough for keeping all types of predators or harmful animals outside.

Goats need pasture to graze on. The pasture should be divided into different parts. And if possible, rotate the pastures where your goats graze on, for avoiding overuse and the overgrowth of less desirable forage (that means, allow your goats to graze on a pasture while other rests). The pasture should have various types of pasture plants or grasses. This will increase the food value and help to meetup all types of necessary nutrient requirements for goats.

It is advisable to locate the goat farming project nearer to good roads as that will help minimize costs and enable the farmer have access to and from the project. There should be a reliable source of clean water that can be used for both human and animal consumption, such as boreholes and rivers.In case of inadequate water source, a reservoir could be constructed.

Housing And Equipment

You require good housing to be successful in the goat farming business. Goats are very adaptive animals and do not require expensive housing. Housing for your goats should have a dry floor and good ventilation. The housing should protect your goats from the sun and rain. The goat housing must be well-ventilated, and easily cleaned. Poor ventilation can be detrimental to goat health and performance. Harmful gases and dust can cause respiratory problems to the goats, while temperature extremes can reduce goat productivity.

The purpose of ventilation is to provide the desired amount of fresh air to all parts of the shelter; to maintain temperatures within desired limits and to maintain relative humidity within desired limits. You can use wood or clay bricks or concrete blocks to construct the goat pens.  Regardless of the construction material, goat pens should provide enough space for animals, favorable conditions such as temperature and humidity and proper ventilation. You also require feeders and drinkers for feed and water for the goats. 

Goats Breeding Stock

You will need goat breeding stock to start your goat farming business. These are bucks (male goats), and does (female goats). When choosing breeding stock for goat production you should be very cautious of the goats history. Purchase your breeding stock from goat farmers who have a good reputation in the goat farming business. You should always select goats that are strong and have an overall appearance of good health.  The buck should be masculine, his head should be medium in length. He should have a broad muzzle with large open nostrils. His eyes should be bright. Always request to see the records of the parents of the breeding stock you are purchasing.

Goats Breed

There are different breeds of goats used for commercial goat farming in Zimbabwe. The popular ones are the Boer, Mashona (indigenous breed), Matebele (indigenous breed) and Kalahari. The Boer goat breed is the superior breed.  Boer goats were developed in South Africa in the early 1900s for meat production. The Boer goats grow fast, have a good bone structure, heavy weight, large body size and  are adaptable to a wide range of pastures. However, Boer goats are expensive to buy and to keep. Thus many farmers in Zimbabwe cross breed the Boer Goat with the local indigenous breeds.  It is recommended that a local doe be bred to the Boer buck in order to get the right quality offspring which is healthy, resistant, adaptable and can offer the best meat quality.

Feed for the Goats

The highest cost for goat farming business is for feed. Pasture and browse are usually the primary and most economical source of nutrients especially for meat goats, and in some cases, pasture and browse are all goats need to meet their nutritional requirements. Goats are energetic, inquisitive and versatile in their feeding habits. They are adaptable to various environments and can consume over 90 different plants. Goats are browsers, not grazers, although they will eat grass. An area with low bushes is ideal for a goat farming venture. Browse materials (trees, leaves, bushes, twigs, etc.) appears to be advantageous and enjoyed by goats. 

Though goats can feed on pasture, you will need to supplement feed if you are keeping goats for commercial production. Due to seasonal changes, enough pasture might not be available throughout the year for the goats. For goats to reach their full growth potential in a short time, they will require supplementary feed. The supplementary feed include  commercial goat feed, grains (maize, wheat, sorghum, oats, barley etc), hay (Lucerne), minerals and salts. You should also provide sufficient water. 

Capital for Goat Farming Business

You will need money for constructing the goat housing, buying the breeding stock, buying the feeds e.t.c. So the scale of your goat farming project will also depend on the amount of capital you have. That is why it is essential for you to have a goat farming business plan before you venture into the goat farming business, so that you know all the costs involved and you make an informed decision. The capital you need will depend on the scale of your goat farming business.

Market for Goats

The demand for goat meat is high. Goat meat is lower in fat than chicken, but higher in protein than beef. Goat meat is better than beef, chicken and pork in most areas: it’s lower in calories, total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. The low levels of saturated fat and cholesterol, combined with its high iron and protein content, make goat meat a good choice for anyone looking for a healthy red meat. Goat meat tastes good and many people love it. You can supply your goats/goat meat to individuals, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, butcheries and abattoirs. The Moslem community provides a market during their religious events and require goats to slaughter according to their Halaal tradition.

The export market is also huge, and Zimbabweans are not yet producing enough goats to fully utilize the export market. The goats can be exported to  Angola, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

Pre-Written Goat Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Bank Loan Version, Automated Excel Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the goat farming business in Zimbabwe, purchase our goat farming business plan. We decided to introduce the business plans after noting that many Zimbabweans were venturing into the goat production business without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the business, the risks involved, profitability of the business and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of their businesses.

Our business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run a goat farming business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as the goat farming business plan will lay out all the costs involved in setting up and running the goat farming business. The business plan is designed uniquely for the Zimbabwean market.

Very insightful and relevant homegrown solutions. Empowerment begins in the mind and this is it…
K Muzenda

Uses of the Goat Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The goat farming business plan can be used for many purposes including:

  • Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
  • Applying for a bank loan
  • Start-up guide to launch your goat farming business
  • As a goat farming project proposal
  • Assessing profitability of the goats business
  • Finding a business partner
  • Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
  • Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

Contents of the Goat Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The business plan includes, but not limited to:

  • Market Analysis
  • Industry Analysis
  • Automated Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, loan repayment calculations, start-up costs)
  • Marketing Strategy
  • Risk Analysis
  • SWOT & PEST Analysis
  • Operational Requirements (e.g. type of housing,  feed required e.t.c.)
  • Management of Goats
  • Operational Strategy
  • Why some Zimbabweans in goat farming business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
  • Ways to raise capital to start your goat farming business in Zimbabwe

The goat production business plan includes technical aspects of how to keep and to take care of the goats. It also includes a mini-directory with contacts which will prove to be helpful in launching and running your goat farming business. E.g. We will provide the contact details of the companies that produce feeds, breeding stock, abattoirs which buy goat meat e.t.c.

The Pre-written Goat farming business plan package consist of 4 files

  1. Goat Farming Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive – 78 pages)
  2. Goat Farming Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive – 78 pages)
  3. Goat Farming Business Plan Bank Version – Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan – 34 pages)
  4. Goat Farming Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel file)

The business plan financials are in USD currency. 

The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the number of goats, price of goats etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change. 

Get the Goat Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

We decided to make them affordable for anyone who would want a business plan, and the price for pre-written business plans is only ZWL$200 000 for soft copies. When you pay via PayPal, Mastercard or Visa Card, the soft copy costs US$25.

You can purchase via Paynow using Ecocash, One Money or Telecash. You just click Pay Now (scroll down)  and you will then be taken to Pay now website where you make the payment. Just follow the instructions; you will be done with the payment process in 2 minutes. We will email the business plan (PDF format, Microsoft word format, and a Microsoft Excel file with the financial statements)  to you within 24 hours, using the email address you provided when you were paying.

If you have a PayPal account, MasterCard or Visa Card, you can purchase the business plan via PayPal.  You just click Buy now (scroll down) and you will then be taken to PayPal website where you make the payment. Just follow the instructions; you will be done with the payment process in 2 minutes. We will email the business plan (PDF format, Microsoft word format, and a Microsoft Excel file with the financial statements) to you within 24 hours, using the email address you provided when you were paying.

You can also purchase hard copies and/or soft copies at our offices in Harare. Visit  StartupBiz Zimbabwe, Suite 201, 2nd Floor, Morgan House, George Silundika Avenue (between 1st Street & 2nd Street), Harare . The cost of the business plan is ZWL$200 000 (soft copies).

For any questions, other payment options, email us on shop@startupbiz.co.zw , call/whatsapp us on +263778798072 (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/263778798072.

Goat Farming Business Plan 

Click Buy now to purchase using Paypal, MasterCard or VisaCard (US$25)

Buy Business Plan Now

 

 

 

Click Pay Now to purchase using EcoCash, One Money or TeleCash (ZWL$200 000)  

We wish you the best in your goat farming business. Check out  more business ideas and our collection of business plans.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to receive notifications of new posts in your email.

A note from StartupBiz Zimbabwe: Everyday we send business updates via Whatsapp. Click the link to join: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DPa61WKvMHN5PGVJERxd9T or send the word join via Whatsapp to  +263778798072 (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/263778798072).