Own Correspondent|Goat farming is the raising and breeding of domestic goats ( Capra aegagrus hircus ). It is a branch of animal husbandry. Goats are raised principally for their meat , milk, fibre and skin .

Goat farming can be very suited to production with other livestock such as sheep and cattle on low-quality grazing land. Goats efficiently convert sub-quality grazing matter that is less desirable for other livestock into quality lean meat. Furthermore, goats can be farmed with a relatively small area of pasture and limited resources.

Goats produce about 2% of the world’s total annual milk supply. Some goats are bred specifically for milk . Unprocessed goat milk has small, well-emulsified fat globules, which means the cream remains suspended in the milk instead of rising to the top, as in unprocessed cow milk; therefore, it does not need to be homogenized . Indeed, if goat milk is to be used to make cheese, homogenization is not recommended, as this changes the structure of the milk, affecting the culture’s ability to coagulate the milk and the final quality and yield of cheese. Dairy goats in their peak milk production (generally around the third or fourth lactation cycle) average—2.7 to 3.6 kg (6 to 8 lb)—of milk production daily—roughly 2.8 to 3.8 l (3 to 4 U.S. qt)—during a ten-month lactation , producing more just after freshening and gradually dropping in production toward the end of their lactation. The milk generally averages 3.5% butterfat .

Goat milk is commonly processed into cheese, butter , ice cream , yogurt , cajeta and other products. Goat cheese is known as fromage de chèvre (“goat cheese”) in France. Some varieties include Rocamadour and Montrachet. [11] Goat butter is white because goats produce milk with the yellow beta-carotene converted to a colourless form of vitamin A .

The skin of goats is a valuable by product of goat farming. Up until 1849 all Rolls of Parliament were written upon parchment usually made from goat skin. Another populer use is for drum skins. Parchment is prepared by liming (in a solution of quick lime ) to loosen the hair follicles. After several days in this bath, the hair can then be scraped off and the under surface of the skin scraped clean. After that the finished skins are sewn into a wooden frame to dry and shrink.

Parchment is still available today, but imported skins can carry a small risk of harboring anthrax unless properly treated

,Housing of goats:

Provision of simple shed with low cost housing materials is enough for sheep and goat for its optimum production efficiency.

Sheds with mud floor are suitable for most of parts of the country except where high rainfall is observed.

The sheds should be constructed in an elevated area to prevent water stagnation.

Fodder trees can be grown around the shed, which acts as a source of feed for the growing goats.

Clean drinking water should be available for goats.

Sheds should be constructed with proper ventilation.

Walls of the shed should be free from cracks or holes, while constructing.

Floors of the shed should be firm and should have the capacity to absorb water. The floors should be constructed in such a way, so that it should be easily cleaned.

Types of sheds depend on the system of rearing.

Open type housing with a covered area and run space is generally enough.

The run space should be covered by chain links.

The covered area is used for shelter of animals during night and adverse climatic conditions.

For a comfortable house east-west orientation with generous provision for ventilation /air movement to dry the floor will be suitable.

Thatched roof is best suited one due to cheaper cost and durability.