I breed my own goats to maintain quality produce

“I started dairy goat farming in 2013 with a single goat gifted to me by my father. The goat would give one litre per day,” says 37-year-old Robert Macharia, owner of Mwihoko Dairy Goat Farm.

His farm sits on less than a quarter acre piece of land, a 20 by 20 feet plot to be exact and it hosts more than 20 mature dairy goats. However, as you enter the compound it is hard to tell there are goats around as there is no ‘goat’ smell to welcome you. “I ensure cleanliness is maintained by raising all the sheds by two feet to so that all droppings and waste fall to the ground. This also ensures they rest well,” says Macharia. The sheds are constructed facing away from the wind because goats are prone to pneumonia.

Online research

He feeds them once per day using Rhodes and Lucan hay. Also you will never lack licking salt around them.

“When you want to have profitable and successful dairy goat farming you need good management. Though Macharia gives professional advice he has never attended any agriculture class. Before venturing into farming full time he was working with Sportpesa in-charge of transport and logistics. But in 2016 he quit his job to concentrate on farming something he says he doesn’t regret.

All this knowledge he has gained from online research, farming exhibitions and interacting with different farmers. This is how he learnt that Alphine dairy goats (the breed he keeps) productivity is continuous unlike others and it can survive in different areas with different climate.

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“Since I was young, I was always passionate about goat farming. This is because back at home we used to keep dairy goats though local breeds which were less productive”.

He introduced Kenyan Alphine breeding in his farm in 2014. He bought two female goats (does) at a cost of Sh25,000 each. The two were expectant and gave birth four months later. He sold the local breed to concentrate with the hybrid ones.

All this while he had done his research and realised there is a ready market for goat milk. Because of this it was easy to venture into the market. He started marketing his milk through word of mouth and within no time he had secured few customers. A few months later he added another goat.

“A single goat can give you up to two litres of milk daily if well fed. I had ready customers for the milk something that made my urge to venture into farming grow even stronger”.

Breeding own goats

In 2016 he showcased his goats during the annual Nairobi ASK show and was recognised as the best dairy goat breeder and the following year the best production on goats. “I breed my own goats. This helps me to get a high breed offspring and also maintaining the history of my breeds. Such goats also give high quality milk as has been the case since 2015”.

Currently he is producing 30 litres daily and sells mature goats to other farmers. A liter of goat milk goes for Sh200 and he offers free delivery to all his customers. A goat goes for between Sh40,000 and Sh60,000 depending on the size and age.

“Most of my customers are people on medication who have been prescribed goat milk as it is rich in calcium, boosts immunity and has zero cholesterol”.

Future plans

His future plans are to expand the farm and has already managed to buy another plot. And since he is training farmers he is also planning to form a cooperative depending on the number of farmers who will take up the challenge. “There is need to form a cooperative because demand is there but supply is low. So if we come together we will be able to have enough supply. If this actualizes they will also start processing goat milk to make different products”.

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