For the tenth year running, Vision Group, together with the Embassy of the Netherlands, KLM Airlines, dfcu Bank and Koudijs Nutrition BV, is running the Best Farmers Competition.
The 2025 competition will run from April to November, with the awards in December. Every week, Vision Group platforms will publish profiles of the farmers. Winners will walk away with sh150m and a fully paid-for trip to the Netherlands.
Many farmers in Uganda are venturing into goat farming for the purpose of harvesting milk, droppings, the skin and meat.
Dr Hannington Byarugaba took a different route — he is breeding the goats for sale at his enterprise registered as City Farm.
Located in Nyamasoga village, Buseruka sub-county in Hoima district, City Farm has over 4,000 goats. These are kept in four blocks, with each measuring 35 acres.
Byarugaba started the project in 2019 with 50 females and four bucks that he imported from South Africa. This cost him over sh100m, including buying the land in Buseruka.
“At City Farm, we are passionate about breeding goats for performance, resilience and productivity. We specialise in Boers, Savannah, Red Kalahari, British Alpine, Blackberry and local Mubende breeds, each known for exceptional qualities,” Byarugaba says.
To ensure the best returns, he says he has employed veterinary experts who manage the farm and carry out supervisory roles.
Best agronomical practices
Byarugaba says for one to succeed with goats, one must start with healthy and high-quality parent stock.
“Choose breeds suitable for your goal — whether for milk or meat production. Ensure the goats are disease-resistant and well-suited for the local climate. Selecting good stock will save you time, money and resources down the road,” he says.
Goats are active animals and need ample space to roam, Joshua Mukonge, a veterinary expert at the farm, says.
“We invested in clean, well-ventilated shelters with proper drainage and protection from the elements and intruders. Goats are sensitive to extreme weather conditions, so providing them with a safe and dry shelter is key,” he says.
Proper housing and space reduce stress and help maintain healthy goats, which directly impacts their productivity.
Each of the four blocks, Mukonge says, is managed by an expert, who is at the farm full-time. A health management programme is essential to prevent disease and promote long-term productivity.
“We schedule regular veterinary check-ups, vaccinations and deworming treatments.
Keeping detailed records of each goat’s health history helps identify early signs of illness and can increase the animal’s survival rates,” he says.
Modern farming techniques
Dr Fred Emusuguli, another expert, says modern methods at the farm include the use of digital tools or apps for record-keeping, breeding tracking and performance monitoring.
“We have information about every goat and keep tracking them. We also have cameras at the farm, which also help in monitoring both the workers and the animals,” he says.
The goats are kept under an intensive and semi-intensive system for commercial production.
Managing parasitic infestation
“Goats carry parasites, but their burden is not serious until the population rises to the extent that the host animal starts showing signs. These include weight loss, diarrhoea, bottle jaw (a condition characterised by swellings under the goat’s jaw) coughs, loss of hair and scratching themselves against the wall.”
Emusuguli says there are also worms like roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, lung worms and flukes, which affect the goats. The parasites are managed by regular deworming every three months.
“We advise the other workers at the farm to repeat deworming to any animal showing worm infestation. Also, avoid grazing animals on pastures in the early morning because wet grasses lead to diarrhoea and foot rot,” he adds.
The goats and cattle are also affected by ticks, flies, fleas and mites. These can be controlled by spraying with an appropriate acaricide.
Castration
Edison Nabasa, the business development manager at City Farm, says they do not encourage castrating of the animals since their major goal is breeding. However, animals in poor health are castrated.
“Castration helps the goat to gain weight, which, in the end, earn good money from meat,” Nabasa says.
Feeding
Nutrition is vital for the goats’ growth, health and productivity. Thus, the goats are given a balanced diet of high-quality forage, supplemented with minerals and vitamins.
“The goats on our farm mainly feed on grass, but we also supplement them with other feeds like maize bran and we ensure the goats have access to clean, fresh water at all times,” Mukonge says.
He says goats must consume a higher quality diet than cattle because their digestive tract is smaller with regard to their maintenance energy needs.
“We feed our goats on grass between 10:00am and 5:00pm. We also give them other supplements like high quality forage,” Mukonge says.
Types of goats at the farm
The farm has specialised in breeding Savannah and Red Kalahari goats, both known for their exceptional qualities and resilience, Nabasa says.
Both breeds are perfect for farmers looking to enhance their herds with robust and productive goats. Savannah goats are prized for their strong build, fast growth rate, and high-quality meat production, making them a favourite for commercial farmers.
On the other hand, the Red Kalahari goats are hardy and disease-resistant, with a distinct red coat and superior meat quality, perfect for Uganda’s climate.
The farm also has Mubende goats, an indigenous breed, prized for their resilience and adaptability.
Known for their hardiness in harsh climates, these goats thrive in Uganda’s environment. They are excellent for meat production, which is lean and flavourful.
Low-maintenance and disease-resistant, Mubende goats are perfect for both smallholder and commercial farming.
Byarugaba says they also import British Alpine goats from South Africa, which are renowned for exceptional milk production, making it a favourite choice for dairy farmers.
“At City Farm, we raise these goats with great care, ensuring they thrive in our environment while producing up to five litres of milk a day,” he says.
Common milking goats produce an average of two litres per day. Another breed at the farm are Boer goats, renowned for their exceptional quality, strength, and rapid growth.
Originating from South Africa, Boer goats are recognised worldwide as the leading meat goat breed.
“We are proud to maintain pure, superior bloodlines on our farm. Our Boer goats are selected to ensure superior genetics, good health and adaptability to local conditions,” Nabasa adds.
Other enterprises
The farm has over 30 head of Fleckvieh cattle, which are good for milk production.
On average, a cow gives 30 litres of milk compared to the local breeds, which give about 10 litres. Byarugaba imported the cows in 2020 with the aim of breeding them.
He says they have also started breeding them although they are not yet selling them.
Physical and bio security
Nabasa says they have fenced off all the pens and they have ensured that all of them have light and night patrols to avoid intruders.
He says they also have cameras around the farm and dogs, which scare away intruders at the farm at night. Mukonge notes that almost every day, they have about 150 kids.
“So we have to be careful with them because if we become careless, we shall lose them,” he says.
Marketing
Nabasa says they have adopted a digital marketing strategy. They advertise their products on websites and social media channels like Facebook pages and WhatsApp groups.
“We have enough market for our products at the farm because we have adopted a digital system of marketing,” he says.
Nabasa says a goat at the farm is sold at sh400,000 and sh1.2m depending on the size.
Earnings and expenses
Byarugaba employs over 5o workers, who include experts and casual labourers.
He spends about sh20m per month on farm expenses and payment of salaries. Most of the casual labourers are hired from the community.
Social impact
Nabasa says they offer training to the communities and individuals who visit the farm and also encourage the people to walk in and buy the animals.
challenges
The major challenge, Nabasa says, are the prolonged dry spells, which affect the area. To manage water scarcity, the farm has rainwater harvesting tanks and a dam.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Some of the Boers which have been crossbred at the farm in Nyamasoga village, Buseruka sub-county in Hoima district. (Photo by Wilson Asiimwe)
