Igor Nikolaev
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If we consider the Russian goat breeding in a historical context, it is worth noting that during the Soviet Union this livestock industry was poorly supported by the state, which was represented by wool and down areas.
However, the total goat population was small. Dairy and down areas developed only at the expense of personal farmsteads. This predetermined the high stability of the industry, which almost all the time worked almost in market conditions.
Goat breeding in Russia. Story
The history of this branch of animal husbandry in our country has more than 100 years. In its development on the territory of Russia, three main stages can be conditionally distinguished:
- the first stage is connected with the works of Prince Urusov and other representatives of the Russian nobility who fought for the health of the Russian nation. Between 1906 and 1913 these enthusiasts did a great job. From Europe (mainly from Germany and Switzerland) several thousand goats of pure breeds were imported (most of them are Saanen), a breed book was opened (which currently does not exist), the Union of Goat Breeders of Russia was organized, in which goat breeders from 42 Russian provinces united over time, and a thematic magazine called "Russian Goat Breeding" began to be published once a month;
- the second phase began in October 1917. State support for goat breeding came to naught, and the industry, despite all the efforts of enthusiasts, simply faded away. And yet, thanks to the unique genetic qualities of previously imported Zaanen animals, even in this difficult time for goat breeders, it was possible to improve Russian outbred low-yielding goats. There were such domestic breeds as Gorky and Soviet Saanen, alas, not preserved to this day. Moreover, goat breeding in the USSR interfered with the plans for the development of collective farms and state farms, since the villagers who had at least five goats refused to go to work on dairy farms, since it was more profitable to comb down and, sitting at home, knit woolen products and live from their sale. The country's leadership made a "wise" decision and limited the number of heads of this small animal allowed per family. cattle up to three. If a person worked on a collective farm and was a leader, so be it, he could keep five goats. And if a person was a communist or occupied leadership position(chief agronomist or chairman), then he was forced to voluntarily refuse to keep these animals in his farmstead;
- the third stage is the current state of this industry. Despite the most difficult nineties of the last century, domestic goat breeding has survived and is beginning to develop. The current state of this livestock direction in Russia lags far behind the same United States of America, in which it began to develop simultaneously with the Russian one, but at present it is significantly ahead of it (the number of purebred goats in the United States totals more than a million individuals).
Despite the emergence of the first large goat-breeding enterprises in our country, this industry is still developing mainly due to personal subsidiary and small peasant farms. At present (according to information from Rosstat), it is in them that more than 91 percent of the entire goat herd of the country is located.
No other livestock industry has such a concentration of livestock among the population. For example, in sheep breeding this figure is 80 percent.
It should be said that the breeding of small cattle (goats and sheep) is included in a separate section in the state program for the development of domestic agriculture. This allows us to hope that goat breeding will gradually develop in our country, especially its dairy direction.
For the successful development of downy goat breeding (including the coarse wool direction), it is necessary to organize a developed network of marketing cooperation. This allows you to create manufacturing enterprises by the type of folk crafts, to organize a competent marketing and advertising campaign both within the country and abroad. It is possible to organize the processing of goat down into yarn right at the places of its production, and create small workshops for sewing products from it, attracting schoolchildren and young people for this. This will significantly increase the employment of the population and increase its level of income.
Wool goat breeding, most likely. will be limited to a relatively small number of livestock. Its main product, wool, will be used to meet the needs of a part of the Russian population, for whom the use of goat wool products is associated with local traditions.
Dairy goat breeding in Russia looks the most promising, since goat milk is a valuable dietary product that is well suited for baby food and useful for the elderly. By the way, the demand for such milk is gradually and steadily increasing.
Already, domestic entrepreneurs have begun to invest in this industry. significant funds. First dairy goat farms industrial type created in the Leningrad region (CJSC "Prinevskoye"), in the Moscow region (SPK "Krasnaya Niva"), it is planned to create similar enterprises in Siberia and Tatarstan ("LukozSaba"). Large breeding farms are already operating in the Republic of Mari-EL ("Lukoz"), in the Stavropol Territory (SNIIZhK and KH "Rus-1") and others. Such breeding farms, in addition to the direct production of milk, also raise breeding animals, the demand for which now significantly exceeds the supply.
However, since the purebred herd imported a hundred years ago has practically ceased to exist, the import of breeding dairy goats is still necessary. So far, it is limited due to the high price of such animals, due to the lack of supply. However, there is certainly a way out of this situation. This is a wide selective crossbreeding of local breeds with highly productive producers of either the Saanen or a related breed group. The management of Lukoz LLC, following this path, in a fairly short time managed to obtain a breeding stock, the average milk yield of which per lactation exceeds 800 kilograms.
Despite the fact that there are examples of successful transfer of goat breeding to an industrial basis, in the near future, nevertheless, its development will occur at the expense of personal farmsteads and small peasant farms. This is due to the fact that dairy goat farming as a business is perfectly suited to many existing programs for social development Russian village (for example, a resettlement program from Far North, the program "Family Dairy Farm", a project to increase employment in the village, and so on). start-up capital and pretty quick payback enterprises.
There are still many problems in domestic dairy goat breeding. This is the lack of infrastructure that could ensure high-quality processing and subsequent sale of products, and the lack of marketing and supply cooperation, and, finally, the inability of the domestic industry to produce low-power milking and processing equipment. However, all these problems are completely solvable.
Summarizing the above, we can say that Russian goat breeding is rapidly and gradually developing, but no global changes have yet been observed. The fastest growing this moment is dairy.
Continues and scientific work in this industry. It is dedicated to improving the technologies of feeding and keeping these domestic animals, the problems of rearing young animals, the issues of reproduction and improvement of the existing herd, as well as the development of new and improvement of existing methods of artificial insemination. The selection work on the creation of new domestic goat breeds is not forgotten either. In addition, a set of necessary regulatory documents has been developed (which still require approval at the state level). These include assessment standards, the system of breeding and zootechnical accounting of animals, and so on. There is a possibility of the appearance in our country of such a direction as meat goat breeding.
In 2015, the “Industrial Goat Breeding Association” was established in our country.
It was founded by well-known domestic goat breeders, the Kozhanov brothers. The goat-breeding enterprises Lukoz (Mari Republic) and LukozSaba (Tatarstan), headed by them, became its first members, and then the Chuvash agricultural firm Putilovka joined them. At the moment, it has more than 10 members from the Moscow region, the Leningrad and Kaluga regions and other regions of Russia.
BREEDING GOATS. PURCHASE AND SALE. All breeds of goats in Russia are divided into two categories - mostly wool and mostly dairy. In addition, goat meat is used for food, their skins can also be used on the farm. Goat farming is enough profitable business in conditions modern Russia. But in order for the herd to have good production characteristics, it must be formed from breeding goats. Goats have good reproductive qualities. Breeding goats reach sexual maturity at 5-9 months, they can be involved in breeding at a year and a half. Pregnancy lasts about 150 days. The quality of the offspring depends on the goat-producer, which must be changed every second pregnancy. A goat usually gives birth to 1-2 kids, less often 3-4 kids. The goat gives birth to the most healthy offspring at 3-5 years, although it can give birth up to 8, the goat can serve as a producer for up to 10 years. When purchasing breeding goats, attention should also be paid to the age of the parents. The main breeds of goats that are bred in Russia are the following - first of all, the well-known Saanen goats, there are Alpine and Nubian. Lots of mestizos. Goat's milk is in great demand due to its greater nutritional qualities than cow's, which determines the profitability of goat breeding. Goat meat is used for food mainly in the steppe regions of the country - this is not typical for cities. Goat hair is used to make textile products, but not on an industrial scale. Milk remains the main goat product in the country. Breeding goat farms offer a lot of breeds for sale, but the Saanen goat continues to be the most popular goat breed in Russia. She has very high milk yields - with one milking, an adult goat after the third lambing can give up to 6 liters of milk. It is quite easy to buy a breeding goat of the Saanen breed, its cost is approximately 10,000 rubles. When purchasing a breeding Saanen goat in breeding reproducers or from private breeders, it is necessary to inquire about its breeding cards, making copies of them, and the productive characteristics of the parents. If the plans include further breeding of goats and the sale of breeding goats, then, naturally, the Saanen goat is better suited for this. It is clear that goats that do not differ in breed characteristics will cost less - an average of 4-6 thousand rubles, but no one guarantees the stability of their milk yield and the quality of milk. It is also necessary to check the availability of vaccinations and veterinary certificates. Goats are vaccinated against brucellosis and other diseases, which must be confirmed by relevant certificates. The sale of breeding goats usually draws attention to their exterior characteristics. The Saanen goat is very decorative - pure white or milky in color, with characteristic earrings - woolen curls - on the neck. About 40% of Saanen goats are born hornless. When buying breeding goats to improve the pedigree qualities of the livestock, be sure to track all the genetic lines of its ancestors. The qualities of the ancestors will certainly appear in the offspring. And it is necessary to deal with the gradual improvement of genetic lines - this will improve production characteristics.
In 1989, goats of the Saanen breed were brought to the USSR from Australia. In Russia, they were placed in the Nikonovskoe GPP in the Moscow Region. Due to difficult economic situation V agriculture country in the 90s of the last century, the dairy goat farm in this farm ceased to exist. In order to preserve the unique gene pool of these animals, in 1994, purebred goats of the Saanen breed at the age of 4 months were brought to the experimental farm of the All-Russian Research Institute of Sheep and Goat Breeding from the Nikonovskoye State Nature Reserve, 4 months old - 4 goats and 21 goats.
The scientists of the institute were given the task of creating a breeding reproducer. In this regard, it was necessary to increase the livestock and develop a system for keeping animals for the period of expanded reproduction of the herd.
A stall-pasture system for keeping goats was used (Fig. 7, 8.)
Rice. 7. Goats breeding reproducer in the pasture.
The offspring after goatling did not fight off the queens and were kept on suction until 4 months of age. With the development of cicatricial digestion, coarse, succulent feeds and concentrates were introduced into the diet in a standardized manner. IN one month old the live weight of the young was 10–12 kg. In the process of development, the goats sucked out more milk and thus gave the goat milk. But in specialized dairy goats of the Saanen breed, kids are not able to completely suck milk from the udder. Therefore, the goats were milked daily, although the ability not to fully give milk during milking was preserved in the queens even after weaning the kids from them. In our experiments with repeated milking of queens after 30–40 min. after the first milking, it was possible to additionally obtain 0.2–0.4 kg of milk.
The lactation period for suckling goats is 210–240 days, which is 30–60 days less than the genetically inherent possibility of Saanen goats. Therefore, with this method of growing kids, the duration of the lactation period and the milk productivity of the queens were not as high as when weaning kids from the moment of birth. However, with this technology, by the age of 4 months, goats weighed 32.5 kg, and goats - 27.6 kg. By the age of 7 months, the average live weight of goats reached 36 kg.
Rice. 8. Stall keeping of goats with feeding with hay in the walking yard.
For accelerated reproduction of the herd, early insemination of goats at the age of 7–8 months, which reached a live weight of at least 32.5 kg, was used. The first goat took place at 12-13 months. The offspring from one-year-old goats practically did not differ in live weight, growth and development from peers obtained from older queens. However, in queens inseminated at 7–8 months of age, more singles were born. The milk productivity of these animals for 1 lactation was low and amounted to 0.5–0.9 kg of milk per day.
At the initial stage of the reproduction of the herd, the method of manual mating was used. The load on one adult goat-producer was 40–50 heads per breeding season, on a replacement goat of 7–8 months of age - 10–15 heads. Subsequently, methods of artificial insemination and synchronization of estrus in dairy goats were developed. This made it possible to conduct a random campaign in a short time using the best producers.
The domestic industry does not produce equipment for machine milking of goats. Therefore, studies were carried out to determine the optimal modes of milking goats using individual milking machines for cows of the AID type. Approximate milking time for one animal with machine milking is 2.5–3.0 minutes. Machines for milking goats have been developed. Machine milking of goats is successfully used at the institute's dairy farm.
As a result of targeted selection and breeding work in 2001, the dairy goat farm received the status of a breeding reproducer and a license for the right to breed Saanen goats. In 2005, the total number of dairy goats was 250 heads, of which 57.6% are queens. The average milk productivity per lactation is 546 kg, the average daily milk yield is 2.2 kg with an average milk fat content of 3.81%. The average milk production of goats of the elite class was 637 kg of milk for 250 days of lactation. For carrying out selection and breeding work in the herd, a selection group of goats with a milk productivity of 704.5 kg for 250 days was allocated.
Goats of the Saanen breed of the SNIIZhK breeding breed are rather large animals (Fig. 9).
Rice. 9. Goats of the Saanen breeding breed SNIIZhK.
The height at the withers of adult queens is 73–75 cm, the average live weight is 51 kg. In goats-producers, the height at the withers is 80 cm, the average live weight is 89 kg. The constitution of animals is strong and dry. The body is long, deep and fairly wide. The skeleton is strong, the limbs are correctly set. Goats of white color, their coat consists of a thin awn without a noticeable undercoat.
Specialists of the breeding reproducer conduct selection and breeding work aimed at increasing milk productivity, improving the class composition of goats and the reproductive abilities of animals. At the same time, methods of targeted selection and selection are used, work is underway to identify the ancestor of the line of high milk production and high fertility. On the basis of the breeding reproducer, experimental work to clarify selection indicators and technological parameters for the development of a new OST for grading dairy goats.
The breeding reproducer has accumulated experience in various technologies raising kids and milking goats. Experiments were carried out on growing goats by suckling, sucking-and-milking and manual watering. Defined best options rearing kids, depending on the conditions and goals of keeping. The rate of milk transfer during manual and machine milking of goats has been established.
The breeding reproducer is a regular participant and winner of Russian exhibitions of breeding animals. Its creation had a positive impact on the development of dairy goat farming in many regions. Russian Federation and CIS countries. During the existence of the loudspeaker, more than 150 heads of goats and replacement goats were sold to the tribe in order to improve local dairy goats. In this direction, cooperation is being carried out with government organizations, private and farms the following constituent entities of the Russian Federation: Republics of Sakha (Yakutia), Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Tatarstan, Mari El, Mordovia, Altai, Dagestan, North Ossetia (Alania), Kabardino-Balkaria; Krasnodar, Stavropol, Altai Territories; Astrakhan, Vologda, Volgograd Kaluga, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Samara, Saratov, Sverdlovsk, Chita regions, city of Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as the states of Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia.
Goat breeding is a business with high potential, because a goat is not only milk and meat, but also wool and fluff! By purchasing a goat of a suitable breed and properly equipping a goat house, you can regularly receive a stable income without spending a lot on the maintenance of this unpretentious animal.
Although goats are by no means exotic animals for Russia, there is currently very little goat meat and milk on the food market. And the reason for this is by no means a lack of demand, but the fact that, for certain reasons, even in Soviet times under the planned system, preference was given to cattle, and where it was difficult to raise cattle, sheep. As a result, goat breeding remained the lot of only private households, and this situation remains to this day. Meanwhile, the goat business can become a reliable source of good income.
Today, about 80% of the total number of goats in Russia is concentrated in private households of villagers. large livestock complexes specializing in this type of animal, only a few dozen throughout the country. However, in the last couple of years, the situation has begun to change. Entrepreneurs working in the agricultural sector are increasingly interested in the commercial production of goat milk, which is likely to lead to the emergence of an increasing number of goat farms in the coming years.
The main deterrent that for a long time scared investors away from this direction in agribusiness is the high cost of goat's milk - more than 3 times higher than cow's. However, in the current economic instability, this disadvantage has been significantly offset by the main advantage of the goat business: the payback period is 5-6 years, while cattle farms pay off twice as long.
Goats are quite convenient farm animals for small businesses, since they do not require large roomy premises. Unlike cows, goats can do just fine with a small shed, which is very important for those who are ready to invest only a small amount at the initial stage. Goats are also quite unpretentious to the conditions of detention and diet. All this makes breeding goats at home for beginners a very convenient type of business.
It should also be borne in mind that goat's milk is valued even higher than cow's milk, since it is considered more useful: it contains much more vitamins. Goat milk is also actively used for medical and cosmetic purposes. In addition, there are woolly and downy breeds of goats that make it possible to earn money on the production of raw materials for the textile industry.
Goat breed selection
Starting a serious goat business, you should not buy ordinary animals from a grandmother from a neighboring village. It is better to spend a little more money and buy highly productive thoroughbred goats at a breeding plant.
Of the dairy breeds, the most popular are the Saanen and Megrelian. Saanen goats, bred in Switzerland, are quite demanding on the conditions of keeping and the quality of feed, but they are the most productive. With an average weight of females in the range of 45-55 kg, they give 600-700 kg of milk per year, and with enhanced feeding - up to 1200 kg. Megrelian goats (originally from Western Georgia) have slightly lower performance indicators: weight is about 40 kg, milk yield is within 500 kg per year, but with good fattening, milk yield reaches 900 kg.
Breeding dairy goats is just one of the activities. A goat farm can also specialize in the production of wool. For this type of product, the Angora breed is most preferable, which is distinguished by a very long (up to 25 cm) and uniform coat. Angora goats are less prolific than dairy animals.
Another type of product that can be obtained from goats is goat down, a very soft and light type of wool. At the same time, downy goats give up to 300 liters of milk per year, and their meat is almost as good as lamb in taste. Downy breeds include the Don (little milk, but high fertility), Orenburg (give up to 400 grams of down and 350 grams of coarse wool from one animal).
For a small farm, dairy specialization is more suitable, since caring for these animals is extremely simple. In addition, it is much easier to find a market for dairy products than for textile raw materials. An important condition for the prosperity of the goat business is the presence in the farm of its own goat-producer (one goat for 50-60 females).
For all the unpretentiousness of these animals, breeding goats at home still requires the creation of minimally comfortable conditions. In particular, goats do not tolerate cold quite well, so it is best to breed them in the southern regions, where even in winter it is warm enough. So, if in summer animals can be kept without problems in an ordinary barn or barn, then in the cold season they need a bright and dry room with a constant supply of fresh air (but without drafts) and with an average temperature of at least + 8 ° C.
To keep the goats warm, the entrance to the barn must be organized through the vestibule. Floors are best made of wood, but earthen is also allowed. Not only straw, but also sawdust and needles are suitable for the role of bedding. To prevent diseases, in the summer the goat's rue should be regularly cleaned, and the feeders should be cleaned with water with lye and soda.
The corral with an area of 20x20 meters can easily accommodate up to 15 animals. However, it should be borne in mind that the quality of milk, wool and fluff noticeably deteriorates in goats with a constant indoor content, and the risk of diseases also increases. In this regard, it is necessary to provide at least a small walking yard. In summer, if possible, animals should walk as much as possible in the fresh air, in winter - depending on the air temperature - a walk can last from 2 to 6 hours. In this case, the corral should be fenced with a net or a high fence, since goats are very jumpy and quite capable of jumping over a low fence.
Breeding and keeping of adult goats is possible in small groups, but goats should always be kept separately, because otherwise the milk of dairy goats will acquire a characteristic goat smell. However, each goat needs a separate feeder. The simplest option is a system of partitions that divide the feeder into sectors, one for each animal.
Goat feeding
Goats are ruminant herbivores, and therefore their diet is fundamentally no different from the diet of cows and sheep. Juicy, coarse and concentrated foods are preferred. In summer, goats are recommended to graze on natural pastures, since grass is the most complete and healthy food for them. For this animal species, mountain pastures are most preferred, but ordinary steppe or meadow areas are also suitable. But swampy pastures are not suitable for goats categorically, since excess moisture in the feed can lead to stomach and leg problems in these animals. For the same reason, even on ordinary pastures, goats are recommended to be driven out only after the dew has dried.
In winter, the basis of the goat's diet is roughage: thin branches of trees, straw and hay. To increase the productivity of dairy goats, they are also recommended to give grain, compound feed and bran. Of course, we should not forget about top dressing with minerals, for which chalk is used, salt and meat and bone meal.
In the summer, goats need to be watered at least twice a day. In winter, water should be warmed to room temperature, as cold water can harm these animals.
You can learn more about the rules for breeding, keeping and caring for goats on specialized websites, as well as in books.
Profitability of a goat farm
On average, the cost of one breeding goat of the Saanen breed is about 20 thousand rubles, although offers can be found at both higher and lower prices.
Start any livestock business recommended only if the entrepreneur has own site land or the opportunity to purchase / rent it very cheaply. Otherwise, you should look for another type of business to invest in.
The costs for the construction of a goat’s house and a paddock, the purchase of equipment and all kinds of inventory will amount to at least 250 thousand rubles, depending on the scale of the planned production, the presence / absence of premises that can be converted, and the willingness of the entrepreneur to part construction works do it by hand. Even up to 100 thousand rubles will be spent on the purchase of feed. Also, about 20 thousand rubles should be included in the starting costs, which will be spent on transport (transportation of animals, building materials, feed, etc.)
Now let's move on to the more pleasant part - income. Goat breeding as a business involves the sale of milk as the main source of income (about 75% of the income). With the cost of a liter of goat milk at the level of 20-40 rubles, its retail price is 50-90 rubles per liter in different regions. Depending on the volume of production, the product is sold:
- Retail to the final consumer:
- through own outlets,
- targeted delivery,
- Wholesale:
- processing plants,
- catering establishments,
- retail stores.
The remaining 25% of the goat farm's income will come from the sale of by-products - young animals, meat, wool, manure.
Based on statistics, we can say that the average payback period for a small farm of 20 goats is 24-30 months. A goat farm with more than 50 livestock will pay off the initial investment in three years. On average, the profitability of such production is 25%, but in certain circumstances it can even exceed 40%.
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