Training of farmers in a Commercial Goat Farm Twenty farmers from Krishnarayapuram Block, Karur district were taken for a training in a commercial Goat farm at Nettampalayam near Velur, Namakkal District on 25th September 2012, During this programme, the farmers learnt about various aspects of goat farming. The major learning points are as follows:

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Design of slatted floor, space requirement for around 25 goats i.e. 20 x 16 feet (320 sq. feet),

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Indigenous and exotic breeds such as Sirohi, Boer and Tellicherry. In this farm, females are only Tellicherry and the males are mostly Boer and Sirohi. This is being practised for attaining the marketable size in a short span of time of around 6 months.

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The feed requirement of around 100 goats is about 2 acres and labour requirement is one male and female person. The green fodders that are being cultivated are Cumbu Napier hybrid (Co 4), multi-cut fodder sorghum (CoFS 29), Subabul, Glyricida and hedge Lucerne.

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Regular deworming and vaccination is taken up at the right time to prevent the goat from diseases. Deworming also helps in weight gain of animals. There is a space for kidding animals and isolated area for disease affected animals for treating them, till they are cured.

After listening to the lecture of Mr. Muthu, in-charge of Abi Goat farm, the Karur district farmers who had visited this unit are confident in doing slatted goat farming in a small scale. The training was funded by Department of Agriculture, Krishnarayapurm Block, Karur District under ATMA scheme and was organized by KVK, Karur accompanied by Mr. D.Dhanasekar SMS Horticulture.

ABI goat farm visit.

Goat feeding system

Slatted floor system of goat rearing

Sirohi breed goat