Muhammad Kiyemba of Kabonge village, Sembale sub-county in Wakiso district rears animals but believes that little can be achieved without injecting huge sums of money.
Kiyemba says most loan schemes do not consider the unique problems farmers face. Farms could be confiscated if repayments fail.
“Farmers can earn more from what they do if they learn to do it properly, rather than seek loans,” he said.
Mike Senoga, an economist says several farming enterprises can succeed without big money.
“Take goats for examples. These are common, found in homes all over the country. By strictly following simple tips, your investment can be rapidly multiplied,” he says.
Jover Byarugaba, a farmer in Bbaale Kayunga district, says a leading problem for potential goat-farmers is that goats are very destructive to crops. This is why they are usually tethered in areas where crop farming is dominant.
According to Byarugaba, goats do well when allowed to roam about and browse on grass and shrubs. They love to feed on the leaves of small trees and nibble on small twigs.
“To allow your goats feed freely, surrender a chunk of land to them and fence it off. An acre is good enough for a start,” she advises.
Local types
There are three main local goat breeds in Uganda. The East African goats are the commonest and are found all over the country. They are not very large but mature very quickly.
At six months, they are more than ready for mating. These goats come in a variety of colours. The mature live weight is between 20-30kg.
The Mubende goat breed is commonly found in the central region, the north and north-west of Lake Victoria. It is predominant in the former greater Mubende district.
It is the largest local goat breed with a live weight of 30-35kgs in males and 25-30kgs in females. The breed has glossy fur with short straight hairs. The skins sell highly on the world market.
The Kigezi goat is found in south-western Uganda. It has a relatively thick, hairy skin with sparse long hair around the hind part of the animal. It is smaller than the Mubende goat, weighing 25-30kgs at maturity. They are characterised by a black and grey coat.
The best source of breeding stock is from good farmers, not the livestock markets. The true history of the parents can be learnt from your fellow farmers.
Peter Mubiru, a veterinary officer says the females should not exceed five months, he also advises that the animal be examined critically. “Experienced farmers can tell a good animal by looking at the way the animal moves. Make sure the animal is not blind, lame or deformed,” he says.
According to Mubiru, a goat should have a good body size and good skin. A healthy goat is visibly agile. A healthy she-goat (doe or nanny goat) is ready for mating from four months onwards.
After collecting between10-15 does, mount a search for a really good strong he-goat (buck). The buck, also known as a Billy-goat, should not be related to any of the females.
Many farmers allow goats born from the same parents to mate. Mubiru says this is wrong and results in inbreeding.
Sibling goats should not be allowed to breed. Allowing cousins to mate can also cause problems.
Further down the road, the offspring of the female goats should not be allowed to be serviced by their father, nor should they be allowed to mate with their male brothers and cousins.
According to Byarugaba when the goat does deliver, the males can be castrated after two months to allow fattening. At three months, the female kids should be separated into their own enclosure and a new male from outside the farm be introduced to avoid incest.
When closely related goats mate, they produce children of inferior size, which are very susceptible to disease. They are also weak and often develop abnormalities.
The goats should be given additional feeds including banana and tree leaves and other crop residues. Maize and grain bran, as well as clean drinking water, should be given at regular intervals.
“Give mineral supplements on advice from the local farm supply shop, ensure that de-worming is carried out as advised by your local veterinary officer, who should be sought for regular consultation,” Mubiru advises.
Status of goat rearing
According to estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), there were around 13.5 million goats in Uganda in 2015. This was, however, tremendous growth in numbers from just 3.5million goats in 1990.
The challenge is that most farmers cannot distinguish the various goat breeds, hence leading to indiscriminate cross-breeding, unsuccessful breeding programmes, and reducing the intended benefits.
