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This blog examines one way in which Trinidad and Tobago can diversify the economy.  It has been noted that there is a significant market for goat meat and milk and so we are importing because we fail to produce enough locally.

A country that is not able to feed itself and is dependent on food imports cannot be considered…

…a viable and productive agriculture sector is essential to addressing hunger and food poverty.

If we are able to feed ourselves, we are on the road to true prosperity, better health and a reduction in poverty.

Imported Goat Milk

At a time of very low or no economic growth, extremely high ratios of debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and declining foreign exchange earnings in Trinidad and Tobago, we continue to spend huge sums on importing food, meat and vegetables.

The National Budget Policy 2015/2016 offers incentives to take citizens backtoagricuture – back to the land.  In this blog, the following topics are addressed:

Starting a Goat Farm	Nutrition	Meat and Value Added Products	Vegetable Farming
Goat Farming Industry	Goat farms in Trinidad	Common Vaccinations for	Policy
Goat Care	Opportunities	Goats	Charting A way Forward
Goat Management	Profit in Goat Farming Business	Our Farm	World Food day 2015
Goat feed	Meat Goats	Patience Hill Primary School Leads the way	Food

Goat Feed

Manna Pro

           Goat Treats

  A nutritious treat for your goats. Made with anise, delivering licorice flavor goats can't resist in an easy to feed nugget form.

Ingredients

Wheat Middlings, Dehydrated Alfalfa, Meal, Soybean Hulls (10%), Hominy Feed, Sunflower Meal, Cane Molasses, Dried Whey, Corn, Feeding Oatmeal, Linseed Meal, Ammonium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Sulfur, Iron Oxide, Ferrous Carbonate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Cobalt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, 

Sodium  Selenite, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement,Vitamin  E Supplement, Anise Oil, Calcium Propionate (A Preservative).

Guaranteed: Crude Protein Min 16.00%, Crude Fat Min 1.50%, Crude Fiber Max 14.00% Calcium Min 1.00%, Calcium Max 1.50% Phosphorus 

                    Goat Mineral

• Fortified with vitamins and minerals to support growth.

• Fosters optimal conditions for reproduction and enhances appearance.

• Exclusive microbial blend to support digestion.

 

           Goat Balancer

• Contains quality ingredients to boost and balance all types of goat diets.

• Helps meet the needs for growth, milk production, reproduction and appearance.

• Highly palatable formula helps promote feed intake.

High Quality Ingredients:Anise flavor to promote palatability    Yeast culture to support feed utilization and digestive function;     Brewer's yeast to support optimal digestion; Yucca to improve feed intake; Sea kelp, diatomaceous earth, and ammonium chloride;  Complete mineral and vitamin package


Kid Colestrum

• Specifically formulated for goat kids.

• Highly digestible protein at a level comparable to goat milk.

• Fortified with vitamins and minerals to promote healthy, robust development of kids.

Profit in Goat Farming Business

START UP COST for a 5 female goat farm

Item	Cost $
Construction of Pens and Milking Parlour	44,000
Milking machine (60 L)	5,796
Diary Supplies (buckets , labels, bottles etc)	10,000
Chest Freezer (to keep milk)	2500
Labour (cutting grass etc)	4,000
Feed (Master mix 18%  1 bag feed  x  5 goats x 2 wks) Alfafa (1 bag x 5 goats x 10 days)	180/bag 180/bag
Purchase of Goat  5 @7,500	37,500.00
Miscellaneous (medication etc)	500
Total	104,476

  Profits derived after 3 years

YEAR	Produce	Item	Earnings $
Year 1	Sale of Milk (15 L/dy Milk x 5 does x 1 day)	450 L X $25	11,200 (mtly)
	Sale of Goats (3 rams)	7500 X 3	22,500.
Year 2	Sale of Milk for 8 females (24 L/dy x 8 does x 1 day)	720 L X $25	18,000 (mtly)
	Sale of Goats (4 rams)	7500 X 4	30,000
Year 3	Sale of Milk for 12 females (36 L/dy x 12 does x 1 day)	1080 L X $25	27,000 (mtly)
	Sale of Goats (7 rams)	7500 X 7	52,500
		Total	161,200
	Less Start up Cost		104,476
	Profits		56,724

One other form of income can involve the sale of compost for agricultural purposes

Examine the profits derived from goat farming for a three year period and consider the profits that may be derived if you started off with ten (10) does