GOAT farmers in Matabeleland region could reap huge profits from domestic and export markets if they invest on improving the quality of their breeds, a farmer has said.

In an interview, Mr Honest Dlamini, who is a successful boer goat and cattle farmer based in Nyamandlovu in Matabeleland North province, said both the export and domestic markets were hungry for quality meat.

He advised goat farmers to embrace cross breeding techniques and supplementary feeding to boost their herds before searching for markets.

Mr Dlamini said most farmers need to improve the size of their goats and achieve a good weight.

He said a pure boer goat, for instance, could weigh up to 100kgs and above and that could earn a farmer good money.

“Boer, Kalahari red and Savannah goats can give a farmer US$400 per goat and take just four months to mature compared to local breeds that take long time to mature,” he said.

Mr Dlamini said most indigenous goat breeds weigh about 60kgs and below, which hardly gives farmers enough money to buy stock feed and vaccines.

He also said indigenous breeds demand a lot of labour as one needs to have a large herd.

“A farmer can have as many as 200 goats        but getting very little from selling the goats   yet it involves a lot of labour,” said Mr Dlamini.

He said a farmer can have just 15 to 20 quality goats which give him a lot of money.

Mr Dlamini said many farmers were now buying boer goats from as far as South Africa at an estimated price of 6 000 rand per goat.

This means farmers who invest more on breed building and enhancing the quality of their animals stand a chance to tap into the export market as well.

“People come from as far as Bindura and other provinces around the country to buy these goats and offer very good prices,” said Mr Dlamini.