Goat farmer using technology to boost production

When Kacheif Brown was six years old, he was gifted a goat by his neighbour, and since that time, he said, he developed an interest in animal farming.

Now 28, Brown is a respected goat and cattle farmer in Westmorland who is utilising some of the latest technology to enhance his business. Last Wednesday, he copped the top prize as the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture awarded farmers for establishing outstanding enterprises and blazing a trail in the local agriculture sector. But despite his innovations, when it comes to securing his animals from praedial thieves, he also utilises 'old-school' techniques - a few mongrels and a German shepherd.

"My goats are mostly inside and I will bring the feed to them. But even when you keep them inside, it can still be challenging, because thieves will still find a way. If you see the size of my ram goats, they are very attractive to the eye; so for me, the dogs play a huge part in protecting them. Even if I let them out to exercise and graze, then the dogs will be going out with them. I let them out with the mongrels, and they will bring them out and bring them in at a timely manner," Brown said.

In addition to the dogs, Brown also uses security cameras and solar lights to deter thieves from entering his property.

"I try not to sell within my community, although I have some people that I trust and I will sell them a goat at a discounted price. But I still do not discuss the real price of my animals with anyone in my community," he said.

Brown said that his grandfather taught him the 'runnings' of livestock farming, as he was also a cattle farmer.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

"When I went to college, my stock went down to zero, but when I finished college I tried again. I decided to take it up full-time, and I started working at a pig farm, where I accumulated some funds. Then I went overseas for four months, and then I came back and went all in. I registered my business officially last year," he said.

Being a livestock farmer is not just about donning water boots and ensuring that his animals are kept dry and fed. According to Brown, the infusion of technology and research has enhanced the growth of his business significantly.

"Technology has been helping us farmers as it relates to research. For example, with research we are now able to use the milk to make goat milk soap, which is very nourishing for the skin. I also use technology to do genetics, because we need to understand about the background of the animal and what they can produce to get the best result. I try to study the lineage of the animal," he said.

"In the 1980s, you had some farmers who had to wait a year to sell a goat for slaughter. But now, we can have those same goats reaching the same weight within four to five months. So, the genetics is so good that we can enhance milk production, and we can then enhance the growth weight, because more milk means faster-growing kid," Brown added.

The entrepreneur said that livestock farming has been attracting many younger folk, including those in the corporate field.

"Gone are the days when only the uneducated is considered to be farmers. A lot of young people are leaving their corporate jobs to go into the livestock farming. While it is challenging, it can be very fruitful. However, our main concern is really praedial larceny, but there are measures to combat it," Brown said.