We crossbreed goats for quality meat – Danhassan

Can you tell us how it all started?Well, this project dates back to 2005 when we started cross breeding animals, especially goats. We started this project with three Boars; two female and a male that we purchased from former Adamawa State governor’s farm, Murtala Nyako. Then we started the cross breeding with our local breeds […]

Can you tell us how it all started?
Well, this project dates back to 2005 when we started cross breeding animals, especially goats. We started this project with three Boars; two female and a male that we purchased from former Adamawa State governor’s farm, Murtala Nyako. Then we started the cross breeding with our local breeds known as the Sokoto red and the Sahelians from Niger Republic. The cross breeding is in two aspects, We allow the pure breed to breed among themselves to have more pure lines and then mix then up with the locals for the cross breeds.
What is peculiar about this Boar breed of goat that necessitates cross breeding?
The Boar goat which is a southern African breed is known worldwide as the type of goat that gives a lot of meat and of high quality. Even the Europeans have realised that and so they develop great interest in them. They are known to grow so well, big and with quality meat. There are a lot of farmers in Europe who indulge in keeping herds of Boar goats, they are economical and with good meat. Most farmers buy and multiply then cross breed them even though butchers are yet to start slaughtering them and sell the meat in the market because they are still very expensive for that. So we are intervening by cross breeding so that at least a 50 percent of the specimen can be available at a lower cost. People come for the pure breed while others come for the 50 percent breed.
What is the process of cross breeding them?
Well, we partition the goats into three areas; we seclude the male goat and allow it to have access to both the Sokoto, Sahelian and its fellow Boar breed almost at the same time. The gestation period from pregnancy to delivery of goats is between 115 to 120 days. After their birth normally from three months we release the male Boar into them and within two weeks all the female goats will take in, giving us another cycle to go on with. At most times they deliver in pairs.
Can you give us an idea of their cost?
Their cost depends on size. For example, when we bought in 2005, each cost us N35,000 and recently I got one from Minna for N80,000. You can see how they cost and because we want to accommodate more people into the business we sell at 50 percent less than what we bought. An average one goes between N25,000 to N30,000 depending on size. We are doing this to boost farming of goats and sheep in Northern Nigeria.
You have been into cross breeding of goats for long, do you have any plan to commence that of cows?
Well, I would have love to, but the fear of the growing cattle rustling is greatly undermining us in this area. Cattle rearing is a worthy investment. We shall continue to observe the situation and as soon as it improves we may look at it again. This kind of business is interesting. If we get other goat specimen that can live in our environment and have other capabilities like we know the Boar for meat, let say another for milk, goats that produces enough milk, why not? We will try it out as well so that our people can have it.
You see this place is receiving a lot of attention especially from Masters and PhD students who normally come to visit for on site assessment and for research purposes. Even students from colleges as far as Gumel in Jigawa State do come to visit and see what we are doing. We are open to engagements from scholars to boost knowledge.