The Facts
Meat Goat Production Workshop
Goats are often utilized as sources of meat in developing nations because they are a hardy species, which require significantly less feed sources than other livestock such as cattle. Although in many parts of the world different breeds of goats are used for meat or milk that is not the case in Malawi there are few farmers with access to Boer, Nubian or Kiko genetics. Like most livestock in Malawi goats are free roamers during dry season and are often shepherded during rainy season. Therefore, breeding is not controlled or monitored.
Restore the Harvest was able to offer a Goat Management workshop that taught breeding and slaughter animal selection techniques, basic husbandry and health monitoring practices. Staff also assisted village members in developing a record keeping system, tagging all goats in the village and castrating males goats. Restore the Harvest was able to locate a Boer buck for the village to use. The addition will increase the profitably and production of future goats.
Also by partnering with veterinarians from the Malawi Department of Agriculture staff was able to provide vaccinations and veterinary care to village livestock for the first time in the village’s history. In the future advanced courses will be offered in husbandry skills and dairy goats will be introduced to the village.