By Joshua Kato and Herbert Musoke
Dairy and beef cattle
The advancements in technology that have led to improvements in the genetics and production of livestock have made the cattle farming sector profitable and attractive for investment.
The 2024 report from the Dairy Development Authority indicates that milk production in Uganda has significantly increased in recent years. The country produced 4.1 billion litres of milk, marking a 53.4% increase compared to 2018.
“Today, we have access to technologies like artificial insemination, allowing farmers to obtain exotic cows with high milk production for between sh20,000 and sh200,000, rather than spending over sh10m to purchase a live heifer,” he explains.
Dr Patrick Ssekimpi, the Dairy Farmers Network (DAFAN) president, an umbrella body for dairy farmers in Uganda, says dairy farming is a profitable venture.
He says by the end of 2024, a litre of milk was selling for between sh1,500 and sh2,000, while a kilogramme of meat went for between sh13,000 and sh17,000, depending on the abattoir.
“Milk and beef markets are ever-increasing in Uganda and across African countries through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We now have several African countries demanding our milk and beef, unlike in the past when we only depended on East African countries, which used to impose a ban on our milk,” Ssekimpi says.
He adds that advancements in feeding and feed management have made cattle farming easier, as farmers can now make their own feeds, such as silage, hay, and aquaponics, enabling even urban dwellers to keep animals under zero grazing.
Dr Jolly Kabirizi, a livestock nutritionist, who formerly worked with the National Livestock Resources Research Institute, under the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), advises anyone planning to venture into livestock farming to ensure enough feed, as it constitutes 70% of their expenditure.
She explains that it is essential to plan for both sufficient and high-quality feed, as it is crucial for the growth of poultry, egg production , weight gain in pigs and milk production.
“On the other hand, maintaining hygiene, vaccination and treatment, in case of diseases, is also necessary. Since it is a business, you need to plan for markets and a marketing strategy before your livestock is ready for sale,” she advises.
For a good milking cow, one that can produce at least 20 litres per day, you need an average of sh7.5m. A shelter for five cows costs about sh10m.
Goat keeping
As the demand for goat meat increases, with prices ranging from sh20,000 to sh23,000 per kilogramme, more people are showing interest in venturing into goat farming.
Grace Bwogi, a goat farmer at Bwogi Farm in Rakai and an expert in goat farming, says in addition to meat production, the demand for goat milk is also growing steadily.
“Unlike in the past when goats were only kept under open grazing, research has shown that goats can now be kept under zero grazing, due to land scarcity and urbanisation,” she explains.
Bwogi adds that goats have a strong local market, with goat meat markets developing along major roads, as well as international markets with high demand and specific quality and quantity requirements.
These factors have attracted many people to venture into goat farming. However, she advises that anyone interested in starting a goat farming business should take the role of the farm’s manager, develop a work plan and consult experts to avoid losses.
Bwogi recommends not starting too small, but not too large either.
“If you have one acre and are stocking 20 local goats, you need between sh4m and sh5m to buy the stock, assuming you buy each goat for between sh200,000 and sh250,000 for Mubende breeds. The parent stock should include at least two males,” she says.
For improved breeds, like Boer goats, the cost is higher — a female can cost as much as sh500,000 locally, while a pure male can cost as much as sh2m.
The best time to stock your farm is during the dry season — January, June and July. Goats thrive during the dry season, as they are less prone to illness and worm infestations.
Another good time to stock is when parents are sending their children to school, as there are many sellers, but few buyers, causing prices to drop slightly.
Bwogi advises purchasing animals directly from farms, rather than markets, as the risk of buying sickly, old, or problematic goats from markets is high.
Location
Bwogi advises acquiring land that is not in swampy and has good drainage. Goats’ hooves are adversely affected by water, which causes rotting, making a swampy area unsuitable for them.
On free-range, an acre can accommodate 15 to 20 goats. Under zero grazing, up to 40 goats can be kept on an acre, but it’s important to plan for their feed, at least three to six months before stocking, by planting different types of pasture.
Housing
Goats need housing to protect them from harsh conditions, such as rain and cold, especially after grazing. A house for 20 goats may cost around sh500,000, using locally available wood and iron sheets.
However, because goats multiply quickly, you will need to build a larger house, perhaps for 150 goats. The cost of construction depends on location and the availability of materials.
In Wakiso/Kampala and Mpigi, it costs about sh3m, while in other areas, it costs about sh2m.
According to Bwogi, the house should be raised to allow the droppings to fall through, which helps prevent diseases, especially respiratory complications that may require increased treatment, due to poor hygiene.
Piggery
By the beginning of 2024, the price of pork was sh14,000 per kilogramme and by the end of the year, it had risen to sh17,000 in most parts of the country.
Fried or roasted pork can sell for up to sh30,000 per kilogramme.
Michael Buwembo, a piggery expert with Kafiika, a sales representative for Koudijs (sponsors of the Best Farmer competition and Harvest Money Expo), explains that piggery is a profitable venture, but it requires a solid understanding of the business.
“For a profitable piggery enterprise, you should consider stocking improved breeds, like Landrace, Large White and Camborough. These breeds are now more accessible, with advanced farms offering parent stock that produces F1 breeds for farmers at affordable prices,” he says.
“Genetics plays a key role in improving feed conversion ratios. With quality feed mixed with Koudijs concentrate, a pig can convert 2kg of feed into 1kg of pork. This means that by six months, a pig can reach over 90kg and can be sold for pork or used for breeding,” he adds.
The combination of genetics and high-quality feeds, like Koudijs concentrate, helps farmers achieve the required weights quickly, making the business more profitable.
Poultry
Abas Ssekajja, the director of Abas Ssekajja Farm in Nnama-Mukono, says poultry is the most popular type of livestock in East Africa.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, between 2013 and 2022, Uganda’s poultry population grew by 9.6%, while egg production increased by 9%.
Chicken is the predominant type of poultry, with Uganda having about 50.6 million birds, of which 43.7 million are indigenous and 5.85 million are exotic.
“Over the years, a tray of eggs has ranged between sh12,000 and sh20,000, depending on the type of eggs and the season. A dressed broiler costs between sh15,000 and sh30,000, depending on the bird’s size and the season,” Ssekajja says.
Additionally, several poultry companies, like Ssekajja Poultry, are running businesses from parent stock to dressed chicken sold in shops.
“To sustain our markets, we contract out growers, who rear chickens for us, and we buy from them at a competitive price. This has led to an increase in the number of poultry farmers, as less capital is required to venture into the business, yet the market is readily available,” he says.
