ADVERTISEMENT
The Sun Nigeria
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
The Sun Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Ley Your Dreams Come Alive – With FCMB Loans
Home Business

Break export barriers with West African Dwarf goats

21st May 2018
in Business
0
Break export barriers with West African Dwarf goats
26
SHARES
988
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Steve Agbota [email protected] 08033302331

Goat farming has been playing important roles in the economy of the traditional smallholder farming system.
The demand for goat meat and other related products are increasing daily in Nigeria. Several businessmen are now considering establishing goat farming, with focus on high yielding breeds. 

This is because goat is one of the main meat and milk producing animals. Goat’s milk and meat have huge domestic demand and goat is one of the choicest meat and milk source. The demand for goat meat is enormous among health conscious people because it has low cholesterol content of the meat and the growth in human population.

Choosing the right goat breed for your commercial farm is however very important. There are numerous breeds around the world. While others are famous for milk production. Some goat breeds produce quality skins and fiber. However, one of the best breeds that gives export opportunities is West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Apart from producing meat and milk, its leather is good for export market. The demand for leather, both local and international, is increasing and the price is on the rise.

Today’s improved WAD goat has most of the qualities that the modern farmer looks for in livestock, including high profitability. WAD goats can breed year round. The gestation period for a doe is 145 to 153 days.
Starting a WAD goat farming business requires low initial investment capital. WAD goats don’t require huge area for housing because their body size is comparatively smaller than other livestock animals.

Investors should embrace goat farming for quick returns and produce surplus food in Nigeria to bring about the diversification of the Nigerian economy rather than expending billions of dollars annually on importation of frozen fish and meat.

Speaking with Daily Sun, the Managing Director of Jovanna Farms, Prince Arinze Onebunne, said the improved WAD goat is an outstanding and prolific goat breed that can add real value to goat farming in the country.
He added: “A quality goat isn’t built up overnight. We select the best possible breeding animals and genetic lines to incorporate in our flock. That takes time.”

Speaking of breeding, he said cross breeding is mating two stocks from different breeds thus introducing into the progeny, a gene combination that is different from that existing in either parents or in the breed of either parent. He added that the sole purpose of cross breeding is to take advantage of the observed improvement in performance of the progeny above that of either parents – hybrid vigour or heterosis.

He said: “The WAD goat is one of the few goat breeds to produce kids that can be marketed directly from their mothers. Kids mature early and are market-ready from as early as 12 to 14 weeks. The females are excellent mothers; the WAD goat’s strong maternal drive means that we seldom encounter problems with breastfeeding.”
Breeding

He said WAD goat is one of the most underestimated goat breeds in Nigeria, and has the potential to add enormous value to the breeding industry. It has all the characteristics needed for goat farming under extensive and intensive conditions, including hardiness, adaptability, growth and carcass quality.
Feeding

He explained: “We fatten our own bucks for market up to 40kg live weight to generate maximum profit. If a doe fails to conceive, we fatten her for slaughter.”

Profits

He said to have a profitable goat operation on a small piece of land, “we must maximise the genetic potential of the flock. The WAD goat has high genetic reproduction and production potential. But this must be utilised through selection, good management and feeding.

“If we don’t feed them well, the goat won’t perform. Maximising meat, leather and milk production by weaning more and heavier kids is our most important driver of profit. But goat farming really becomes economically efficient when one starts selling pregnant females.”

Management

He said animal theft, vaccinations and financial pressure are a challenge for goat farmers. Flocks are becoming smaller, with some farmers even opting out of farming goat. But I feel the industry is in a good place, with meat prices increasing and leather prices currently high.

With current shortages, the goat industry can contribute immensely. “We were afraid of buying a large piece of land.
Now there isn’t any adjoining land available for expansion and the price of land is high. But we’re expanding vertically and improving the quality of our animals.

“We have a great relationship with our workers who also love the animals and tell us if anything is amiss. We also have a sound relationship with our neighbours and keep an eye out for each other. Good fences make good neighbours, and ours is fixed the moment we see a problem.”

Future plans

According to him, WAD goat has much to offer goat breeders in foreign countries. We have our sights set on exporting as soon as feasible.

But there’s no such thing as cutting corners in stud breeding. It takes time, and the learning curve is initially steep. We advise new breeders to learn more about the breed before setting out. Rather, start small and follow the correct process from the onset. We pay for the mistakes we make. I always encourage new goat breeders to choose the improved WAD goats from a reliable source like Jovana farms– it’s a no-nonsense breed that offers maximum profit for farmers.

To help prospective goat farmers avoid unnecessary mistakes, Jovana Farms has embarked on nationwide seminars on animal farming for Nigerians to learn the nitty-gritty of the business in their environment.

Rapheal

Rapheal

Related Posts

CBN takes eNaira sensitisation to Tejuosho, Balogun traders
Business

CBN takes eNaira sensitisation to Tejuosho, Balogun traders

25th June 2022
South African Investor to establish 5,600 megawatts solar power project in Kebbi
Business

South African Investor to establish 5,600 megawatts solar power project in Kebbi

25th June 2022
MMCC  Escravos seaport industrial project will boost Nigeria’s economy
Business

MMCC Escravos seaport industrial project will boost Nigeria’s economy

25th June 2022
Next Post
Local pharmaceuticals facing severe competition from imported drugs  –Dr Oyebanjo Paul, Mopson boss

Local pharmaceuticals facing severe competition from imported drugs –Dr Oyebanjo Paul, Mopson boss

Udoma

2018 Budget: Tough times ahead as implementation doubt persists

2019: New power bloc takes shape in southwest

Communication Ministry to increase broad band penetration in rural areas

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Highlights

Gunmen kill vigilante commander, 2 others in Niger

2023 presidency: It’ll be very difficult for Tinubu to win – Dr Ebigwei

Osun Election: Traditional rulers task APC, PDP on peace in Ilesa

2023: PDP loses top mobilisers, others to APC in Edo

APC, PDP begging NNPP to support them –Buba Galadima

2023 : Why Kwankwaso’ll defeat Atiku, Tinubu, others – Ringim, NNPP Jigawa guber candidate

Trending

INEC in dilemma over enforcing election funding limits by candidates
Politics

INEC in dilemma over enforcing election funding limits by candidates

26th June 2022
0

By Omoniyi Salaudeen Though with an admixture of skepticism and cautious optimism from the Nigerian populace, the...

My rag to riches story –Gregory Ibe, APGA governorship candidate

My rag to riches story –Gregory Ibe, APGA governorship candidate

26th June 2022
We’re ready for election –INEC

Mahmood Yakubu: Umpire keeping his eyes on the ball

26th June 2022
Tension as bandits kill Kaduna lawmaker

Gunmen kill vigilante commander, 2 others in Niger

26th June 2022
2023 presidency: It’ll be very difficult for Tinubu to win – Dr Ebigwei

2023 presidency: It’ll be very difficult for Tinubu to win – Dr Ebigwei

26th June 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on social media:

Latest News

  • INEC in dilemma over enforcing election funding limits by candidates
  • My rag to riches story –Gregory Ibe, APGA governorship candidate
  • Mahmood Yakubu: Umpire keeping his eyes on the ball
  • Gunmen kill vigilante commander, 2 others in Niger
  • 2023 presidency: It’ll be very difficult for Tinubu to win – Dr Ebigwei
  • Osun Election: Traditional rulers task APC, PDP on peace in Ilesa
  • 2023: PDP loses top mobilisers, others to APC in Edo
  • APC, PDP begging NNPP to support them –Buba Galadima
  • 2023 : Why Kwankwaso’ll defeat Atiku, Tinubu, others – Ringim, NNPP Jigawa guber candidate
  • Predictability, impudence and nation building
  • Placeholder: What the law says about substitution of presidential running mates – Fred Nzeako, constitution lawyer
  • State of the nation: The church is crying for revolution –Archbishop Chukwuma
  • Peter Obi and Macron magic
  • Attaining new heights experience
  • Senator Ike Ekweremadu –The stunning silence of Federal Republic of Nigeria
  • Victory over strife
  • Buhari, Kalu, Lalong hail Sanwo-Olu, Gbajabiamila at birthdays
  • 30-year-old man rapes 75-year-old woman in Anambra
  • NDLEA walks against drug abuse
  • Ekweremadu: Nigeria-American group cautions UK against fraudulent asylum claim

Categories

  • Abuja Metro
  • Anambra Watch
  • Arts
  • Broken Tongues
  • Business
  • Business Week
  • Cartoons
  • Citizen Joe
  • Columns
  • Cover
  • Culture
  • Duro Onabule
  • Editorial
  • Education Review
  • Effect
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Features
  • Femi Adesina
  • Food & Drinks
  • Frank Talk
  • Funke Egbemode
  • Gallery
  • Global Square by Kenneth Okonkwo
  • Health
  • Insights
  • Kalu Leadership Series
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Letters
  • Lifeline
  • Lifestyle
  • Literary Review
  • Marketing Matters
  • Muiz Banire
  • National
  • News
  • Offside Musings
  • Opinion
  • oriental news
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • PressClips
  • Public Sphere
  • Ralph Egbu
  • Shola Oshunkeye
  • Sideview
  • South-west Magazine
  • Sponsored Post
  • Sporting Sun
  • Sports
  • Sun Girl
  • Tea Time
  • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
  • The Sun Awards Live
  • The Sun TV
  • Thoughts & Talks
  • Time Out
  • Today's cover
  • Tola Adeniyi
  • Travel
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Trending
  • TSWeekend
  • Turf Game
  • Uncategorized
  • Updates
  • Views from Abroad
  • Voices
  • World
  • World News
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Paper Ad Rate
  • Online Ad Rate
  • The Team
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

Posting....