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GOAT FARMING AS A BUSINESS: a farmer's manual to successful goat production and marketing Compiled by the Department of Agricultural Research and Extension, Matopos Research Station Represented by J.L.N. Sikosana & T.S. Senda For the Department of Livestock Production and Development Supported by: SNV –Netherlands Development Organization ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Department of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD) in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Research and Extension (AREX), Matopos Research Station would like to acknowledge the support and facilitation by the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) in the development and production of this manual. We extend our appreciation to the farming communities in Matabeleland South and North Provinces, for sharing their practical experiences that enriched the content of this manual. This manual was produced with the expertise from the following contributors: Adolf. B. Dube, (Chief Provincial Livestock Specialist-DLPD), Nicholas Nyathi, (Senior Advisor Economic Development-SNV), Darlington Sarupinda, (Advisor Economic Development-SNV), Mbekezeli Mthunzi, (Advisor Economic Development-SNV) Nozipho P. Ncube, (Livestock Specialist – DLPD), Mario Zondani, (Livestock Specialist –DLPD), Sakhiwe Khanye, (Livestock Extension Worker-DLPD), Farai Tavesure, (Marketing Intern-SNV), Brighton Ngwenya, (Livestock Extension Worker-DLPD) and Velaphi Mhlanga, (Livestock Extension Worker-DLPD). Goat farming as a Business i MRS, SNV, DLPD CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Entrepreneurship 2.1 Characteristics of an entrepreneur. PAGE 1 2 3.0 Breeds 3.1 Types of breeds 3.2. Other breeds 3 4.0 Management of does and bucks. 4.1 Management of females. 4.2 Management of males 10 5.0 Breeding 5.1 Breeding systems. 5.2 Mating systems 5.3 Selection and culling 5.4 Breeding calendar 5.5 Buck to doe ratio 12 6.0 Kid management. 6.1 Kidding season. 6.2 Kid rearing 16 7.0 Husbandry Practices. 7.1 Housing 7.2 Detention. 7.3 Hoof trimming. 22 8.0 Goat Nutrition 8.1 Feed Requirements. 8.2 Digestive System 8.3 Fodder production and conservation. 9.0 Crop livestock production system. 10.0 Health. 10.1 Dipping 10.2 Dosing/Drenching 10.3 Injections 11.0 Goat Business Management 11.1Goat marketing 11.2 Financing goat business. 11.3 Business planning. 12.0 Record keeping. 12.1 Physical records. 12.2 Financial records References. Goat13. farming as a Business ii 26 33 34 45 52 54 MRS, SNV, DLPD 1.0 INTRODUCTION There are more than 3 .5 million goats in Zimbabwe, of which 98 per cent are indigenous breeds and owned by the smallholder farmers. Most of them are kept in the drier agro - ecological zones in Natural Ecological Regions IV and V and in Tse -tse infested areas .Natural Region IV has a low rainfall subject to periodic droughts and extended dry spells. Overall, the importance of goats increases as the rainfall decreases. Goats are hardy and easier animals to look after, which can survive under harsh environments. Goats are reared under extensive farming conditions, mainly for meat (chevon) and to a lesser extent for milk. To some extent productivity of these goats is low due various factors such as high kid mortality and lack of good animal husbandry practices. Goats also provide skins of commercial importance and manure for gardens (and crop fields). In other parts of the world goats are kept for their wool (mohair). Human populations are growing, and creating a significant and increasing demand for additional animal protein foods. The goat can play an important role in meeting these demands. This calls for farmers to put value in their goat enterprises by shifting from subsistence production to commercial production. It is easier to increase the population of small ruminants (goats and sheep) than large stock. In economic terms the opportunity costs are low for goat production. "The goat was probably the first animal to be domesticated around 9000-7000 B.C. This long association between goat and human indicates the variety of functions the goat can provide." This manual has been written to provide information to farmers who are in need of knowledge to start a goat enterprise on a commercial basis, and goat husbandry. The information is not completely comprehensive, but combines experiences from authors and farmers. Goat farming as a Business 1 MRS, SNV, DLPD 2.0 ENTREPRENUERSHIP Objectives By the end of the session farmers should be able to: Exhibit entrepreneurial competencies needed to run a successful commercial enterprise. Introduction. An entrepreneur is a person who continuously identifies opportunities in the market for products or services and then develops new products and services to satisfy the identified needs. As an entrepreneur one needs to visualize a successful goat business and then commit resources to achieving the set goals. Most producers have the "Imbuzi ziyazibonela (The goats should look after themselves) mentality. They do not realize the value of goats, their total worth and how much more they could contribute to their livelihoods if well managed as a business enterprise. For the smallholder goat producers to run successful commercial goat enterprises they need: To understand that starting a business has some risks; Access adequate knowledge and information; To identify opportunities; To commit time and resources; and To be ambitious and set goals that are achievable. Characteristics of entrepreneurship The entrepreneurial abilities that one needs to develop in order to be a successful commercial goat producer are identifying business opportunities, calculated risk taking, goal setting, information seeking, commitment to a business plan, persuasion and networking, and systematic planning and monitoring. 1. Identifying a business opportunity The key is the ability to see opportunities in business or personal life where others do not. An opportunity is therefore a chance, an opening or prospect, which avails itself. Thus an entrepreneur is anyone who identifies problems, resources and unmet needs in society and develops these into business ideas. Thus generating business ideas is the first step in business creation. Examples of entrepreneurs are: Goat farming as a Business 2 MRS, SNV, DLPD A farmer who identifies the need for supplementary feeding and goes on to store the feed and sell it to other farmers during the dry season. A group of farmers who realize that the shortage of beef is an opportunity for them to sell more slaughter goats. They organize themselves, hire a truck and transport 50 goats per month for sale in Bulawayo. A trader who buys goats from the small-holder farmers and sells them to abattoirs in Bulawayo and Harare. What goat business opportunities are available in your area? Use the tool below to identify your business opportunities in the goat sub-sector. Problems e.g. Shortage of meat Business idea Buy and sell goats to abattoirs Resources e.g. Goats Business idea Improve condition and sell to retail shops in Bulawayo Unmet needs Business idea 2. Calculated risk taking Once an opportunity is identified, matched with one's capabilities, it is then necessary to take a calculated risk. When one is taking a risk, it is a matter of striking a balance between success and failure. Risk can be minimized by seeking information and making informed decisions. Most goat producers are scared of taking risks because of the following reasons: They might lose their savings; They are not sure whether the goat enterprise will give them a return; and They do not have information on available opportunities. A good illustration of risk taking is that of goat traders. They undertake tasks that most smallholder goat producers do not want to undertake on their own. The traders incur costs that Goat farming as a Business 3 MRS, SNV, DLPD include buying, transportation, pre-financing, personnel costs (for buyers/ herders) and slaughtering fees. Exercise: What calculated business risk have you ever taken in your life? Write down the event below. What happened and how did it happen? ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Objective setting An objective is defined as a specific and measurable achievement to be attained within a specific period of time and cost constraint. A well-defined objective statement is the foundation for goal achievement. Objectives are set to give direction, motivate one to work hard, assist one to be well organized and as monitoring tools. An objective states the following: What is to be achieved? By who? By when? Where? Objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound (SMART) Example of an objective that is not Example of a SMART objective SMART "I want to have more money". "I will sell 5 goats directly to TITI restaurant by September, leading to an increase in my income by 100 %. Goat farming as a Business 4 MRS, SNV, DLPD Exercise: Write a SMART objective for your goat enterprise: ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Taking your objective as it is, if achieved what would it bring to you? ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Information seeking An entrepreneur should access new technologies and other factors that affect their goat business. The information gathered will: Shape the business plan; Help reduce risk; and Enable the entrepreneur to make better/ informed decisions. There are a number of information gathering methods that can be used. These are: Desk research; Interviews; Questionnaire; and Observation. The sources of information include business magazines, books, government records, electronic media (radio and television), Business Development Service (BDS) providers such as One-Up and Women-In-Business, Internet services, competitions (fairs and shows), buyers, suppliers, other farmers and newspapers. Exercise: What are the prices of goats at the local sale points? What are the prices of goats in the nearest urban centre? What business decision would you make based on this information? ………………………………………………………………………………………… Goat farming as a Business 5 MRS, SNV, DLPD ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… The sources of information include Farmer Magazines, books, relevant government departments, electronic media (radio and television), competitions (fairs and shows), buyers, suppliers, other farmers and newspapers. 5. Commitment to the business plan Once one has a business plan in place there is need: To stay focused; To be committed to the tasks ahead; To adhere to a set work plan; Motivate and provide leadership to the people you are working with on the goat business. Exercise: Write your plans for your goat business for the coming 12 months. ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… 6. Persuasion skills and networking Buyers or abattoirs do not just buy your goats. It is your responsibility (individually or as a producers' association) to remind them about the availability of your goats or goat products. This can be done through face-to- face meeting with your clients, advertising and constant communication with suppliers and buyers. Through persuasion and networking you build strong business relationships. Strong business relationships are built on trust, interdependence, fair decision making process, balanced power structure, shared goals, equitable returns, problem solving process, and commitment. Exercise: Give an example of a situation where you have managed to persuade buyers to purchase your products? ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Goat farming as a Business 6 MRS, SNV, DLPD List the different stakeholders you are interacting with and are relevant to your business. ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… 7. Persistence The goat business is full of challenges. You must not give up when the going gets tough. An obstacle can be turned into an opportunity. What is needed is the ability to persevere and quickly adapt to changes taking place. One also needs to be flexible. When you lost some of your kids/ goats, what did you do? ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… 8. Independence and self confidence When one takes up goat production as a business he/ she needs to: Be their own boss; Have a desire to transform their dreams into reality; Have self belief; Be free to make decisions; and Strive to achieve financial independence. 9. Systematic planning and monitoring For the effective planning and monitoring of the goat business write up a business plan that answers the following questions: Step I: Where am I now? (current situation) Step II: Where am I going? (future/ desired situation/ Mission/ objectives ) Step III: What is between here and where I want to go? (The business environment) Step IV: What is the best way for me to get there? (strategic options) When the planned actions will be done and how do I know that I am making progress? (Monitoring Plan and milestones) Goat farming as a Business 7 MRS, SNV, DLPD 3.0 Goat Breeds Objectives At the end of this session farmers should be able to: Identify the breeds found in Zimbabwe and their attributes Choose the appropriate breeds for their goat farming businesses TYPES OF BREEDS The vast majority of goats in Zimbabwe are indigenous and these are mainly the large Matebele and the Small East African (SEA) goat Average birth weights of kids range from 1.5kg to 2.5kg. (up to 3kg) The indigenous breeds are well adapted to their respective environments. Goat farming as a Business 8 MRS, SNV, DLPD In the southern parts of Zimbabwe, there are larger goats, which are termed the Matebele goat with a mature weight of 45kg. Other breeds found in Zimbabwe include exotic types, the Boer goat (mainly for meat) with a mature weight of 65kg. The Saanen goat is for milk production and produces an average of 3.5litres of milk per day. There is also the Angora goat for mohair production. Boer goat Goat farming as a Business Saanen 9 MRS, SNV, DLPD 4.0 Management of does and bucks Objectives At the end of this session farmers should be able to: Properly care for female and male goats Know the age at first mating Proper care of both female and male goats is an essential aspect of goat production. This includes strategic vaccinations and dosing, supplementary feeding, selection of breeding stock, kid rearing and weaning. 4.1 Management of females (does) Young females should be mated as from the age of 12 months. Good nutrition ensures that the animal grows faster and ready for mating. It also increases fertility and litter size. If young animals are mated when they are very young (less than 8months) they will remain stunted the rest of their life and will have poor reproductive performance. A well-managed female can produce kids for about eight years. Pregnancy in goats lasts between 145 –150 days (five months). A mature female can only mate when she is ready (on" heat"). The heat period lasts between 24 –26 hours. During this time she should receive the male. The presence of the male in the flock triggers heat. Coming on heat also depends on the nutrition of the animal. Signs, which may indicate that the animal is on heat: Shaking of the tail Mounting other animals Goat farming as a Business 10 MRS, SNV, DLPD Seeking males Continuous bleating Mucous discharge Pregnant females should be separated from the main flock for close monitoring, at least two months before kidding. This also reduces the loss of kids. At this stage they will need quality feed supplements to enhance feed reserves in the body. This will ensure a healthy kid and enough milk. Female goats (does) separated from the main flock 4.2 Management of males (bucks) Male goats are known to be fertile at an earlier stage than females. In such circumstances males have to be raised separately from females to avoid unplanned mating. Bucks have to be kept in good condition and fed at all times. For breeding purposes bucks with horns have to be used, so as to avoid haemophrodism (incukubili/bisexual), which comes with the use of hornless/polled bucks. Bucks can be selected at an early age. A male kid born weighing about 2.5kg or more kg could be selected for future breeding. Heavier and fast growing bucks should be selected. Select bucks from twin births so as to increase the chances of twinning. Males not suitable for breeding should be castrated or culled. Goat farming as a Business 11 MRS, SNV, DLPD 5.0 Breeding Objectives At the end of the session farmers should be able to: Understand different breeding systems Understand different mating systems Formulate their own breeding calendars. 5.1 Breeding systems The breeding system is an important aspect of goat production in terms of meat and milk production. It has a significant influence on immediate and long-term flock productivity. Crossbreeding: This involves the mating of different breeds to combine characteristics found in the different breeds and to make use of the "hybrid vigour". In simple terms this means that the offspring performs better than the parents. Crossbreeding is one of the methods used in meat and milk production. It can be disastrous, if not done properly, leading to the disappearance of the existing genetic pool. Goat farming as a Business 12 MRS, SNV, DLPD A B (Boer Goat male) X (Indigenous female goat) AB (Crossbred) Pure breeding: In this system purebred females are run with purebred males (bucks) to maintain the desired traits (colour, size, meat and milk qualities) of that particular breed. 5.2 Mating systems It is important for the farmers to know different mating systems that can be applied to their breeding flock. Random mating is letting any number of bucks to run with a flock of females uncontrolled Advantages of random mating 1) Simple 2) Cheap 3) Goats can kid any time, therefore a farmer can sell any time. Disadvantages 1) High risk of inbreeding 2) High risk of spread of diseases. Assortive mating is putting the best females to the best buck. This is better than the random mating Advantages of Assortive mating . 1) High quality breeds 2) Maintain genetic base Disadvantages 1) Unavailability of appropriate breeding stock Goat farming as a Business 13 MRS, SNV, DLPD 2) Difficult to implement in communal set ups 3) Lack of technical skills, including records 5.3 Selection and Culling Selection: is a process of choosing the animals with desirable characteristics to be parents of the next generation. Culling: It is the process of removing unproductive animals (old goats, animals with poor mothering abilities, poor reproductive performance, and animals with chronic sicknesses) from the flock 5.5 Mating Ratio In a controlled mating system: A male goat should run with females for 36-42 days. The reason being that a female which misses mating or coming into heat has a second chance within the mentioned period. A mature buck can be given 40-50 females to service. A young buck can be given 25-30 females. The effectiveness of both male and females depends on their body condition at mating. Goat farming as a Business 14 MRS, SNV, DLPD 5.4 Breeding calendar Below is a calendar that can assist the farmers to plan their flock breeding cycles. This helps the farmer to plan when to purchase inputs, market and to carry strategic operations. Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Selection of Mating End of Separate Supplement Kidding End of Care of kids Vaccination Flushing breeding starts mating the and starts kidding against Pulpy females stock (Puttin pregnant vaccinate kidney g the and the against Weaning buck nonpulpy to the pregnant kidney all female pregnant s for females 42 days) Flushing Routine management of the flock-Dipping, dosing, vaccinations Goat farming as a Business 15 MRS, SNV, DLPD of 6.0 Kid management At the end of this session farmers should be able to: Know the advantages and disadvantages of different kidding seasons. Know the recommended kid rearing strategies. Understand the importance of weaning Acquire skills on different methods of castration It is important to take good care of kids so as to reduce mortalities and improve kid growth rate. A reduction in kid mortality translates into an increase in flock size and consequently the increase in offtake. 6.1 Kidding seasons Kidding should coincide with times of abundant feed availability so that the does will be producing enough milk for the survival of the kid. This is usually in the December –to February period. Sometimes goats may kid when the condition of the range is not good that is in winter. In such cases it is always important to make sure that the doe is adequately fed and is producing enough milk. 6.2 Kid-rearing 1. Preparation Kidding area should be clean with dry bedding (Stover or hay). The doe may be kept in the kidding area for a few days before kidding The signs of a goat that is about to kid are: Restlessness, separating itself from the flock, discharges mucus, The advantage of separating pregnant does from the rest of the flock is to ensure undisturbed birth process and creates good bonding between the doe and kid. 2. At birth To allow bonding the doe must clean and groom her kids and remain undisturbed for two to four hours When to intervene in the birth process: When there is mal-presentation or difficulties in kidding. When the kid does not bleat or breathe because the doe failed to clean it, remove the membrane over the nostrils Goat farming as a Business 16 MRS, SNV, DLPD Cutting the navel and application of iodine. Iodine application is not necessary if bedding is clean. When there is no bonding between the doe and the kid 4. Kid Housing Keep the kids at home for the first few weeks to about one month (especially if the does have to travel long distances to browse and water). The kids require warm and dry conditions during their first four weeks of life. Housing should protect kids from heat, cold or even spread of diseases among kids An example of kid housing is the Kid boxes. The kid box has the following: made of wood or bamboo measuring, 500-600mm long, 400-500mm wide and 300-400mm deep. Bedding in the box should be kept clean and fresh. This makes it easy to detect diarrhoea. The kid can be kept in the box for three days and moved thereafter. 5. Feeding kids Kids should suckle the first milk (colostrum-umthubi) within the first six hours of birth which is rich in antibodies that increase the immunity of the kid. If the doe is not producing enough milk for her kid, fostering (ukumunyisela) or bottle feeding is recommended. From about 3 weeks of age kids start nibbling grass and leaves. This is important for rumen development. They should be allowed to browse/graze from no later than one month. Effective grazing and browsing starts at 6-7 weeks. 6. Identification It is important to have identifications for individual animals as this makes record keeping easier. There are a number of methods that can be used. These include ear tagging, ear notching and attaching names to animals. It is also a government requirement that all the animals have standard identification for traceability when exporting livestock and livestock products. (a). Ear tagging If numbers are used with tags the system of numbering should be logical for example one can have the year of birth, sex, and order of birth. For example: If an animal is born in 2007, male and its kid number 23 in the flock it can have the number 07123, meaning that 07 is the year of birth, 1-for male and 23 being the order of birth. Females can be having a 0 on their tags to show the sex. Ear tagging is quick and easy. Tags can be made of plastic or metal. The disadvantage of this method is that the tag can get torn out of the ear and in a large flock the animal cannot be readily re-identified. To avoid this problem put tags on both ears. Goat farming as a Business 17 MRS, SNV, DLPD Plastic tags (can come in various shapes, size and colors) Metal tags (b) Ear notching This involves cutting V-shaped notches on the ear. The position of a V notch stands for a certain number. The disadvantage is that it cannot be unique to one farmer especially where there is communal grazing and the farmer may have to hold animal before reading the notch. Goat farming as a Business 18 MRS, SNV, DLPD The right ear represents tens and the left ear represents units. 7. Health care in kids A clean environment will reduce the incidence of diseases. A farmer should always be on the look out for diarrhoea & for respiratory problems- coughing or nasal discharge Prevention is better than cure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Make sure kids get colostrum within six hours of birth Make sure bedding is clean and dry Do not confine many kids in a small area Avoid damp conditions and excessive heat or cold Avoid overfeeding kids with milk as this result in scours. To improve the general health of the kids ensure the following; to the whole flock: Dry sleeping places Clean drinking water (about 5litres per animal per day) Adequate feeding (3-5% of their body weight per day) Control of internal and external parasites 8. Predation Ensure that the kids are housed to protect them from being eaten by jackals, eagles and other dangerous animals. Do not allow kids to browse in dangerous places unattended Healthy kids Alternative kid houses Weaning This should be done when the kids are hundred days old on average and weighing between 8-12 kilograms The most common weaning method in goats is complete separation of the kids and the does. Goat farming as a Business 19 MRS, SNV, DLPD It is however critical to vaccinate the kids and the does against pulpy kidney (PK) just before weaning as this stresses them, making them vulnerable to PK. Weaning enables the does to be in good body condition in preparation for the next mating season 9. Castration This is the severing or cutting of the spermatic cords so that the animal cannot mate with the females. Castration improves the quality of meat by reducing the characteristic smell of the entire male. There are three main methods of castration used in goats i.e. the rubber ring, knife/razor and burdizzo. (i). The Rubber ring method The rubber rings are used within the first two weeks of life. An elastrator is used to stretch and apply the ring over the spermatic cords. One person should hold the kid with both its right legs in his right hand and its left legs in his left hand and its rump on his knee. The scrotum then becomes easy to reach. One should make sure that both testicles are drawn to the lower part of the scrotum Using an elastrator put the rubber ring over the scrotum. The scrotum will shrivel and drop off a few weeks later. This method is quick and easy to use. Its advantage is that no disinfection is required and the disadvantage is that there might be screw worm infection after rubber ring and testicles have dropped. Opening the rubber ring using an elastrator Rubber ring applied on spermatic cords (ii). Knife/Razor This can be done between three weeks and three months. A sharp knife/razor should be used and it has to be sterilized in boiling water or antiseptic solution. Hold the animal in sitting position Clean the scrotum with a disinfectant Using a sharp knife or new razor blade cut open the lower end of the scrotum Gently pull the testicles from the scrotum and rub the top part of the scrotum to prevent over bleeding, and then cut the spermatic cords. Dip the whole scrotum in iodine solution or antiseptic solution and apply wound powder. Goat farming as a Business 20 MRS, SNV, DLPD (iii). Burdizzo The burdizzo is used to squeeze the spermatic cords so that after some days the testicles wither, but the outer surface of the scrotum is not damaged. This is most effective when the kid is more than three months old. Draw one testicle down the scrotum and clamp that side of the scrotum above the testicle to crush the spermatic cord. (see picture below) Squeeze the spermatic cords one at a time A burdizzo Castrating using a burdizzo Other methods Use of a hammer Biting with teeth These methods are not recommended as they inflict a lot of pain to the animals. They also increase the risk of spreading diseases from animals to humans. Goat farming as a Business 21 MRS, SNV, DLPD 7.0 HUSBANDRY PRACTICES Objectives At the end of this session farmers should be able to: Know the different housing systems for goats and their attributes Construct appropriate goat housing structures Use dentition to determine the age of the goats so as to influence management decisions 7.1 Housing The main reasons why goats are housed: 1. To make management easier 2. To reduce kid/adult mortalities 3. To reduce predation/theft Goats should be housed to protect them from bad weather for example rain, sun and. Wind. Each adult goat should be allowed a floor space of 1.5 square metres. For example if one has 10 goats then the house/pen should be 1.5*10 which is 15 square metres. Types of housing (a). Walled and Roofed Attributes The wall is usually up to one metre high. Well ventilated Protects animals from wetness during the rainy season Easy to clean It is warm *In some cases the wall could be made from pole and dagga and the roof from thatch grass or stover. This can be designed to accommodate different flock sizes. (b) Raised floor with wooden walls, flat roof and a feeding area Attributes Warm and easy to clean Animals can be fed at the pens Floor is well drained resulting in reduced foot rot incidences This is usually ideal for small to medium size flocks Goat farming as a Business 22 MRS, SNV, DLPD (c) Poles only with no roof Attributes Well ventilated Floors get wet and increase foot rot cases Cheap to construct Expose animals to rain, heat, cold and draughts. These structures can be upgraded. 7.2 Dentition Dentition is often used to determine the ages of goats. Goats have no teeth in the upper jaw but have eight front teeth (incisors) in the lower jaw. Towards the back of the mouth goats have large teeth called molars used for chewing. In animals less than one year the front teeth are small and sharp. This is the milk tooth stage At one year the centre pair of teeth drops out and two large ones replace them. This is the two tooth stage. Two tooth stage Goat farming as a Business 23 MRS, SNV, DLPD At about two years to the next two small teeth (one on each side of the first centre pair) drop out and two large ones emerge. This is the four tooth stage Four tooth stage At 3-4 years the next set drops out and two large ones emerge; this is the six tooth stage Six tooth stage At 4-5 years the last two milk teeth drop and two large ones emerge, the goat will now be having eight permanent teeth. This is called the full mouth stage. Full mouth Goat farming as a Business 24 MRS, SNV, DLPD As the animal grows older (from six years onwards) the teeth start to wear off, spread apart become loose and finally drop out. Front teeth worn out at adult stage All teeth have dropped at old age. Broken mouth Management Tips At two tooth to six tooth the castrates can be marketed. Start culling at broken mouth stage for does and bucks. Goat farming as a Business 25 MRS, SNV, DLPD 8.0 GOAT NUTRITION Objectives At the end of this session farmers should be able to: Understand the digestive system of goats Understand the nutrient and feed requirements of goats Know the sources of the required nutrients for goats Identify suitable fodder crops for semi-arid areas Produce and conserve fodder crops for dry season feeding. Goats are natural browsers but they do also graze. They are however selective in their feeding behaviour and they do well where they feed on a variety of feeds. Their main feed is shrubs, bushes (and wild fruit/pods) and grass. 8.1 Digestive system To understand the feeding of goats one has to know their digestive system. The goat like any other ruminant (cattle, sheep) has four stomachs which are; rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasums as illustrated in the diagram below. Goat farming as a Business 26 MRS, SNV, DLPD Feed requirements The quantity of feed consumed by a goat depends on: age; breed; sex, size and physiological status (pregnant /lactating.) Goats will consume about 3-5% of their own body weight in dry matter daily Young goats will consume relatively more than mature goats Pregnant and lactating animals will need more feed to produce milk and to enable the foetus to grow. Goats need a balanced diet comprising of water, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and fibre. The table below shows the nutrients and some of the feeds from which the nutrients can be obtained. NUTRIENT Protein Carbohydrates Vitamins Minerals Water Fibre SOURCE Leguminous plants, Poultry litter, Cotton seed cakes, Cereals(maize, sorghum, millet, corn),molasses Vegetables, green forage Agro-industrial residue, limestone flour Water bodies, succulents(water melons, cacti, etc) Crop residues, hay Types of feeds: Compound feeds Straight feeds Supplements Problems encountered in feeding Bloat Feeding leguminous feeds which are high in nitrogen content causes bloat, which is the accumulation of gases in the stomach. If animals are not attended to in time they may die. Acidosis Bladder stones Plant poisoning (Umphaphapha) Goat farming as a Business 27 MRS, SNV, DLPD 8.2 Fodder Production and conservation The major constraint to livestock production is the unavailability of sufficient feed, especially in the dry season. The rangelands do not provide adequate (quantity and quality) feed throughout the year to support goat production. Therefore it is necessary to produce fodder crops for supplementary feeding during the dry season. Fodder crops These are crops that are grown for livestock feeding. They can be fed while still fresh or preserved. Some examples are given in the table below. Goat farming as a Business 28 MRS, SNV, DLPD Fodder crops classification Class Crop name Varieties Planting Preservation Usage Grasses Sorghum -Sugar drip -Sugar graze Sow seeds with the first effective rains Spacing-90x20cm -Harvested at milk dough stage -Make silage. Add legumes to the silage Refer to the local AREX extension officers. Millet -Nutrifeed -Sow seeds with the first effective rains Spacing-90x20cm -Harvested at milk dough stage -Make silage. Add legumes to the silage Refer to the local AREX extension officers Bana grass - -Planted in furrows/rows with the first effective rains -Rows should be 1m x1m in irrigated lands and 1.5mx1m in dry lands -Use plant cuttings (vegetative propagation) -Allow the plant to grow for one year before it can be harvested -Thereafter harvest when the plants reach 1m and maintain a height of 10-15cm above the ground. -Continue to harvest for the next 3 years - Make hay or silage Refer to the local AREX extension officers Cowpeas, Dolichos bean, Velvet bean -Sow seeds with the first effective rains -Spacing-10cmx10cm -For Dolichos the spacing is 75cmx15cm -harvest after flowering but before hard dough stage before they lose lots of leaves -Mix with cereals for silage making -May harvest them when the seeds have matured. -Crush seeds and mix with cereals. - Refer to the local AREX extension officers Goat farming as a Business 29 Legumes MRS, SNV, DLPD Class Crop name Varieties Planting Preservation Usage Forage tree Leucaena -Leucacephala -Pallicida -Cut, wilt and feed -Cut, dry and feed -Cut, wilt and include in silage mixtures - Refer to the local AREX extension officers Acacia -Anguistissma - -Scarify the seeds or soften the coat of the seed before planting. -Raise plants in a nursery -Transplant them when they are 20-30cm -Spacing-5mx5m -Scarify the seeds or soften the coat of the seed before planting. -Raise plants in a nursery -Transplant them when they are 20-30cm -Spacing-5mx5m -Cut, wilt and feed -Cut, dry and feed -Cut, wilt and include in silage mixtures - Refer to the local AREX extension officers Goat farming as a Business 30 MRS, SNV, DLPD Fodder conservation Reasons for conserving fodder are: • • • • To ensure all year round supply of good quality feed for livestock. To maintain milk production and fertility in livestock. Maintain good body condition and prevent deaths. To minimize stress to animals through food search. Conservation methods The two major fodder conservation methods used in Zimbabwe are silage and hay making. Preservation of crop residues is also a common practice in the smallholder sector. Silage making Silage is material produced by the controlled fermentation of green succulent crop material with a high water and sugar content in a sealed container called silo. A silo can be: a pit covered with plastic a drum a plastic bag. The silo has to be sealed completely and the contents should be chopped and well packed together so that all air is driven out and therefore fodder inside will ferment. Bacteria convert some of the sugars in the plant into pleasant tasting lactic acid which prevents spoilage bacteria or moulds from making the fodder to rot. Wrongly fermented fodder rots, is unpalatable and toxic. Properly ensiled fodder has energy and protein in it. The Plastic Bag Method • Every year before ensiling begins, the room should be checked. • 15kg plastic bags are usually used and these should be clean. • Chop clean material (with no soil) to 15-20mm • Seal the material completely in the bags so that all the acid is retained. • Store in a dry, place at room temperature, safe from rodents. • The silage should be ready after 3 weeks. The whole bag can be fed completely once opened which reduces chances of spoilage to the remaining fodder. Bags are easily stored and portable. It also reduces the workload in comparison with the pit method. Storage after preparation • It is important to store bags of silage in a room safe from rodents and ants. • Empty bags must be carefully washed, dried and stored in a safe place for use the following year. Goat farming as a Business 31 MRS, SNV, DLPD The Pit Method • Dig a pit 2m in depth and 1,5m wide x 3m long with one end sloping to allow easy entry and exit of the water drums • The pit is dug where the water table is not near the surface e.g. on an upward slope. • The side walls of the pit should slope slightly inwards at the bottom so that settling of the silage will not produce pockets of air at the sides, which causes spoilage. • Sides must be completely smooth with no rock outcrops or bumps. • Trenches should be dug either sides of the pit to facilitate surface drainage / run-off. • Chopped length of fodder material should be not more than 20cm and compacted as thorough as possible with the use of heavy water drums pulled / rolled over each layer. • Pit must be filled as quickly as possible and sealed with plastic sheeting well tucked in at the sides • The silage pit should maintain a doom shape to avoid seepage of water into the pit and allow runoff. • Leave to ferment for three weeks It is good for mass production. Hay making • Excess grasses and legumes which are in abundance in summer can be conserved and made use of in winter and during dry periods. • They should be cut during the growing season when they are young and tender, and have sufficient minerals and vitamins. • The grass should be cut out in dry weather, left to wilt and then heaped in small bunches in order to dry thoroughly. • The dried hay should then be stored on a properly constructed hay rack to avoid losses. Goat farming as a Business 32 MRS, SNV, DLPD 9.0 Crop- Small Livestock production systems. Objectives At the end of this session farmers should be able to: Understand the co-existence between crops and livestock Improve outputs from their crops and livestock enterprises by making use of the relationship between crops and livestock Integrated crop-livestock production systems explain the inter-dependence between crops and livestock that is each benefiting from the other. For most small scale and marginalized farmers, crops and livestock are often the major sources of income. These products are often disposed of during times of need where cash is needed urgently to provide for other services. Integrated systems can increase farm productivity for most resource poor farmers. Crop –livestock Interaction Benefits of Livestock to Crops Sold to procure crop production inputs Supply of manure for crop production Nitrogen supply through urine. Livestock helps balance ecosystems through foraging Help in seed dispersal of certain crop and grasses Insurance against of crop failure Goat farming as a Business Benefits of Crops to Livestock Crops sold to procure inputs for livestock Provide feed. Produce Oxygen used by livestock Use of crop residues as bedding and roofing material. 33 MRS, SNV, DLPD 10.0 HEALTH Objectives At the end of this session farmers should be able to: Differentiate between a sick and a healthy animal. Identify common goat diseases, how they are prevented and treated. Understand the importance of dipping and the different methods of dipping Understand the importance of hoof trimming Understand the importance of dosing and vaccination. Acquire skills in administering drugs using needles and syringes Diseases contribute to high mortalities in goats, and they reduce animal performance. It is therefore important for a farmer to closely monitor the flock. This enables the farmer to detect any sick animals and render assistance as early as possible. Early treatment reduces the chances of spread of the disease. It is important to note that different diseases may present similar symptoms therefore one disease must not be confused for another. Proper and accurate diagnosis is required before attempting to treat the animal. It is recommended that you consult your local veterinary officer if in doubt or if your goats are exhibiting some strange conditions. The flock can be kept healthy by applying these simple techniques: provision of clean fresh water adequate feeding provision of dry, warm and well ventilated housing The general symptoms of an unhealthy animal are: Dullness of the coat; Ruffled hair; Loss of appetite; Drooping ears; Dull and pale eyes; Difficult in movement; Dropping tail; and Going off feed. Goat farming as a Business 34 MRS, SNV, DLPD A farmer should have a simple veterinary kit containing the following items: One bottle (100ml) of antibiotic Wound powder (100g) Healing oil Needles Surgical blade Iodine (100ml) Syringe (20ml) Broad spectrum dosing remedy ( 100 ml) Cotton wool Clinical thermometer Plastic gloves Goat farming as a Business 35 MRS, SNV, DLPD Guide to diagnosis, prevention and treatment of some common diseases Disease /Parasites Pulpy kidney (Isimeme, umkhuhlane wegazi) Causes Signs and Symptoms Caused by a bacterium which is aggravated when there is a sudden change of diet or when the goats are stressed Unsteady gait and convulsions When Pulpy Kidney is Do not change feed suddenly Animals found dead without showing any suspected use antibiotics Strategic vaccination is the best signs way of prevention At post mortem Soft pale kidneys Kidneys may look bloody You may see gas filled red intestines (this may also be seen in animals which have been dead for a while) Increased amount of fluid around the heart, which gets thicker and like jelly when sac is opened Heart water Caused by blood parasite. The bont tick transmits the parasite. This tick is found mainly in frost-free drier parts of the country, so heart water is mainly found in these areas. Sick animals may have temperature of 40ºC or higher Strange behaviour, for example the goat may turn its head towards its body in a strange manner. Nervous signs such as a high stepping walk, convulsions or kicking very hard. Goats that are very sick with heart water may die. Goat farming as a Business Treatment When you notice signs of the disease, treat immediately with a broad spectrum acting antibiotic Prevention Dipping to control ticks is recommended. Keep domestic animals away from wild animals Post mortem Froth and fluid from the nose. Fluid in the belly, chest and sac surrounding the heart, Swelling of the lungs with froth, and fluid in the windpipe. 37 MRS, SNV, DLPD Disease /Parasites Coccidiosis (Isihudo) Liver fluke Causes Signs and Symptoms Treatment Caused by a type of a single celled organism. This disease happens when there are dirty conditions in the animal pens, sleeping areas and kraals. Young animals get this disease very easily. How do animals get liver fluke? The adult fluke lays eggs which hatch in water or wet pasture, giving rise to immature flukes, which cling to the plants growing around marshes and vleis and are swallowed when the goats graze there. Watery diarrhoea Dehydration Loss of appetite Loss of condition Separate all sick animals Pale mucous membranes Weight loss. Bottle jaw, which is a soft swelling under the chin of the animal. Use a registered dewormer in your animals in early spring, in midsummer, and in late autumn or early winter Goat farming as a Business Prevention Make sure that you keep the animal pens, sleeping areas and Treat all sick animals with kraals dry, clean and well a remedy for Coccidiosis ventilated. Do not crowd animals into an Mix ½ teaspoon of salt and area that is too small. Post mortem There may be spots on the surface of the 6 teaspoon of sugar in 1 intestines. litre of clean warm water. When the intestines are cut open, they Give the dehydrated kid ¼ have a bumpy appearance. to ½ litre of the solution 4 times a day for 3days. Post mortem Bleeding in the liver. Thickened bile ducts in the liver. Firm, lighter areas in the liver (fibrosis) Liver flukes in the bile ducts. Where possible, fence off vleis streams and dams to stop the goats going there. Fence off the pastures that are known to give liver fluke If fluke infection is problems. They should be serious; animals may need grazed only in the winter additional treatments months, when the fluke numbers during summer. are much lower. If you have been treating Strategic dosing for liver fluke and there is no improvement, then you need to ask your veterinarian or animal health technician for help. 38 MRS, SNV, DLPD Disease /Parasites Roundworms (izilo zesisu) Pneumonia (Isihlabo) Causes Signs and Symptoms Goats get roundworms when they take in the immature worms while eating grass. These immature worms grow into adult worms in the animal. Young animals are most badly affected You may see bottle jaw If you see the signs treat Have a The inside of the eyelids could be pale with a worm remedy. programme Diarrhoea may occur but remember diarrhoea may also have other causes (such as Coccidiosis or toxic plants) During winter or the dry season, animals may be in poor body condition. Caused by a bacteria Usually occurs if goats are under stress due to exposure e.g. to wind, cold and heavy rain Animals usually develop the disease after travelling for long distances Animals may seem tired and walk behind Treat with a long acting Provide shelter all the time the rest of the flock antibiotic product During long journeys allow May stop eating properly goats stops to rest, eat and drink High temperature Animals show fast breathing and breathe with difficulty Mucus discharge from the nose Goat farming as a Business Treatment Prevention flexible dosing Post mortem There may be bleeding or having worms on the stomach or intestinal lining. Post mortem The lungs look patchy with red patches and normal pink areas Large part of the lung will be firm and red in colour Lungs may be covered with white layer which sticks to the inside of the ribs Froth in the windpipe If put in water the lungs will sink instead of floating 39 MRS, SNV, DLPD Disease /Parasites Causes Orf (izilonda emlonyeni) Caused by a virus Small round scabs seen usually at the The disease usually clears found in the soil. corner of the mouth on its own Apply petroleum jelly to This virus gets into These scabs spread to the muzzle, nose keep the scabs soft the animal through and eyes Cannot be treated but you a cut in the skin can spray with an aerosol Encrusted sores may develop on the teats antibiotic to avoid An infected kid can of suckling females secondary infection spread the disease NB always wear gloves as to its mother during this can be transmitted to suckling humans When a few animals are affected, vaccinate the healthy animals Caused by bacteria found in the dust or manure Usually develops from injury caused by ticks, thorns or wire If the animal has several bad abscesses or often gets abscesses it should be culled Control ticks Abscesses (Amathumba) Signs and Symptoms Treatment Round swelling which maybe red and painful on touching Usually develops in front of the shoulder on the head or neck or on the flank on the hind quarter, but can also develop on other areas on the body. Should be done after hair has fallen off and there is a soft spot in the middle. For hairy goats, shave and cut a cross over the soft spot Use your finger to squeeze out puss. Clean the wound with boiled salty water Use a suitable wound spray to keep away flies (If this is not possible use some herbs that repel flies) If possible give an antibiotic injection Prevention Do not vaccinate healthy animals when there is no orf in the flock Kids should be bottle fed when affected to avoid spreading the disease to its mother For other diseases consult your local veterinary office Goat farming as a Business 40 MRS, SNV, DLPD ROUTINE HEATH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES The routine health management practices include dipping, dosing, vaccination and hoof trimming. Dipping There are quite a number of diseases that are caused by external parasites such as ticks and mange mites. The most effective way to prevent these diseases is to control these parasites using acaricides. There are different methods of dipping that can be applied to goats. Pour On The acaricides comes in small containers and is poured on the back of the animal using the weight of the animal to determine the quantity to be poured. The acaricide then spreads throughout the animal as it sweats and in the process killing all the external parasites on the body of the animal. This method requires individual handling of the animal and in large flocks it becomes very laborious. It is recommended when a few animals are affected by ticks and during the dry season. Greasing This involves the use of acaricides in the form of grease with tick grease being the most common. The tick grease is applied directly on the ticks usually under the tail, on the udder and the ears. This is also commonly used when a few animals have ticks. Some tick greases are used as tick repellants. Spraying At times the animals pass through a spray race and the animal is sprayed throughout its body. The acaricide will be in the spray coming out through the nozzles. The only problem with this method of dipping is that sometimes the nozzles get blocked and the animals do not get sufficiently sprayed. In some cases the knapsack is used to spray the animals. (iv). Plunge dip In this type of dipping the animals swim through a plunge dip with an acaricide. The whole animal's body gets in contact with the acaricide thereby killing all the parasites on the body. This is recommended in large flocks as it is not laborious and does not require handling of the animals. Goat farming as a Business 41 MRS, SNV, DLPD When the dip tank has not been constructed one can make use of half drums to dip the goats in a plunge way. It is however critical to dispose the dip solution safely and not cause harm to the environment. The typical dip tank for small ruminants has a capacity of 4266 litres. The dip tank should drain well. Frequency of dipping In summer dip once every week because tick burden will be high and dip once in two weeks in winter because tick burden will be low, but aim to dip on warmer parts of the day to avoid pneumonia. A typical plunge dip tank for small ruminants. Dosing/Drenching This is making the goat take liquid medicine orally. This is usually done to control internal parasites. A dosing gun fitted to a two litre container and a graduated syringe is usually used in large flocks. For small flocks the medicine can be drawn from the container using a small syringe. Sometimes a bottle with a long neck is used for drenching. It is important to exercise caution when drenching your animal. Goat farming as a Business 42 MRS, SNV, DLPD The syringe, gun or bottle should be placed in the animal's mouth in such a way that the liquid runs slowly into the mouth and swallowed. Hoof trimming When animals walk on hard rough ground hooves become overgrown and need regular trimming to prevent injury. A sharp curved knife is used or a pair of foot shears. Cut away the overgrown part of the hoof. If the heels are overgrown cut them as well. Be careful not to cut too much hoof and expose the live tissue. Dip the hooves in copper sulphate solution to make them hard and prevent cracking and foot rot. This can be done once a year before the onset of the rains. Injections Injections are use when vaccinating and when treating some diseases. There are three routes for injections: (i). Intravenous This is the kind of injection given to the animal directly into the blood stream through a vein. This is usually for treatment of some diseases and to get a quick response. A veterinary specialist usually does this. A long needle is used for this type of injection. (ii). Intramuscular These injections are given deep into the muscle of the back leg or the shoulder. This is usually for treatment of diseases and a long needle is used. (iii). Subcutaneous This kind is given under the skin usually in the neck or behind the shoulder. A fold of the skin is lifted up and the injection is given beneath it. This is used normally used for vaccination and uses a short needle. NB: Syringes and needles should be sterilized by boiling them in water for twenty minutes Subcutaneous method of injecting goats Goat farming as a Business 43 MRS, SNV, DLPD 11.0 GOAT BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Objectives: By the end of the session farmers should be able to: Understand the practice of goat marketing Understand the different market structures and marketing options available. Understand the key areas they have to manage for effective goat marketing. Understand the requirements for effecting negotiation and bargaining power. Understand how to plan for their business. Understand how to keep records. Understand how to budget and finance the business. GOAT MARKETING Introduction When one takes goat farming as a business, the major objective is to make a profit. One can make a profit by providing a quality product that meets the market requirements. Therefore in simple terms, marketing is identifying the needs of the customers/ buyers and then supply a product (goats) that meets the required needs in the right quantities at the right time and place. 11.1 Understanding goat marketing Identifying needs: Buyers require goats of different ages, size, breeds, etc. Some buyers such as the local traders are much concerned about the size while some buyers from the urban, high value markets emphasize on quality. Specific group of customers: Some of the specific goat markets are individual traders, abattoirs, NGOs, ethnic groups and export market. Product: In the goat business the products that we can sell to the market are live goats, goat meat, skins, milk, mohair and manure. Right quantities: It is also important for farmers to be able to plan their production so that they consistently supply the required quantities at specified time intervals (e.g. 250 slaughter goats every month). This is key in business as this helps towards building longstanding and mutually beneficial (win-win) relationships with your buyers. Right time and place: When we start our goats to organized high value markets, we need to plan our production and logistics to meet the market requirements. Goat farming as a Business 44 MRS, SNV, DLPD 11.2 Goat markets Currently, the market for goats is highly informal and middlemen dominate transactions. Sales are predominantly at farm gate level. There is lack of market information. There following are some of the market options available to goat farmers. Individual traders This market comprises individual buyers who buy goats for resell in high value urban markets. Private sector companies (Abattoirs, butcheries and others These normally require huge volumes of goats to serve both the local market and the export market. . This market emphasizes on quality, consistency and timely supply. There is high transport costs involved when accessing this market. Ethnic groups: The Moslem community provides a market during their religious events. The goats are slaughtered according to Halaal tradition. There are specific butcheries and abattoirs that service the Moslem community. Non-Governmental Organizations: NGOs involved in restocking programmes provide a market for breeding stock. They pay competitive prices. Export market: The export demand is found in Asian countries and other African countries. The market is more demanding in terms of requirements. Why are the buyers offering low prices for your goats? ……………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………………. What do you think should be done to address the problems? ……………………………………………………………………………………………. Goat farming as a Business 45 MRS, SNV, DLPD ……………………………………………………………………………………………. Marketing Tips Goat farmers should be able to negotiate for prices that are commensurate with the quality of the animal. Farmers can come together as a group to strengthen their bargaining power. Farmers should gather up to date information about market trends. Produce good quality goats in the right quantities (optimum production). .Farmers should avoid desperate/ distress selling. The farmer can sell directly or sell at an auction. Financing the Goat Business Most farmers lack knowledge of how much they need for their goat businesses. Farmers should have an estimate of how much they require for start up costs and operating expenses. They must produce a financial plan/budget. This will help the farmer to source for funding. The plan should state how much money is needed for the following items: Infrastructure Breeding stock Feeds labour Veterinary supplies Transport It should also estimate income from the business. Sources of finance are: Own savings: which is normally cheap but not easy to raise. Loans from commercial banks: These are very expensive and not readily available to most rural goat farmers. The requirements for these loans are normally stringent and rigorous. The requirements include among other things: Track record Formal registration of entity or enterprise. Financial information Collateral. Institutions that provide short term facilities include commercial banks like Agribank, ZABG, Premier Banking Corporation, Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe, development Goat farming as a Business 46 MRS, SNV, DLPD institutions like the SEDCO and the Infrastructural Development Bank and a range of lower level financial institutions such as microfinance institutions and village banks or savings and credit cooperatives. Issues financed through short term facilities are of a working capital nature such as feeds, veterinary medicine, breeding stock etc. Group lending: A scheme whereby groups comprising approximately five to fifteen smallholder farmers or rural entrepreneurs come together to borrow money from the bank. These should be staying within the same locality. They are bound by a group constitution and operate a group savings account. They should have similar project interests for them to qualify for the loan. The group will have joint liability on the group loan granted Credit schemes: There are traditional schemes where communities loan each other animals. These are rare. There are schemes that are government driven on agricultural inputs. However most of them concentrate on crop farming. Donors: available only for poor farmers for restocking exercises. These are cheap funds. They are available for group projects. However, these funds are not usually enough to run viable enterprises. Contract farming or out grower schemes: are relationships in which buyers of agricultural products lend funds (either in-kind or in cash) to producers. The loan is generally tied to a purchasing agreement. This scheme is not yet available in the goat sub sector. The out grower scheme is operational in the cattle, pigs, poultry and ostrich sub sectors. The processors provide farmers with inputs and deduct the equivalent amount plus interest from the farmer on delivering the products. Contract farming and out grower schemes allow producers to gain access to high-value markets, as well as to increase their productivity by offering them credit with embedded services such as technical and marketing assistance. . Goat farming as a Business 47 MRS, SNV, DLPD COSTING AND PRICING When you are running any business venture it is very important for any businessperson to understand how much it costs to source or produce their products. The cost of the product (goat) will assist you calculate a good selling price for it. Many people do not know the cost of their products and sometimes the selling price of their products is too low, so that they do not make money from their businesses. This is bad news! If it costs you $400 000 to raise your livestock, it is no good selling that animal for $300 000. You should try to sell it for more that the cost of raising it. To make money in a business you must make sure that the selling price of your product is more than the cost of producing it! Assumptions: 50 breeding does 2 bucks required Kidding once a year Kidding: 150% Kid mortality: 10% Replacement of breeding stock: 20 % Young male goats to be sold at an average age of 2 years Budget of Raising Goats: Herd Composition Number of Does 50 Number of Bucks 2 Adult Death Rate 5% Kids to be sold Income Market Kids 34 males Number 34 Market Does Cull Bucks Milk sales 10 1 10 Goat farming as a Business Biological Parameters Kids born 75 (40 males and 35 females) Kid mortality 8 (4males and 4 females) Kids raised 67(36males and 31 females) Young bucks 2 KG 35 Price 60000 40 50 450 litres 40000 40000 10000 Unit Kg live kg kg litre Total 71400000 16000000 20000000 4500000 48 MRS, SNV, DLPD Total Income Operating Feed Costs: Salt Health program Deworming Adults Deworming kids Vaccinations Other Vet Costs Transport Labour Total Costs Return/Surplus Capital Costs Does Bucks Fencing Housing Watering System Supplies and Equipment Working pens Start Costs 93900000 Number Amount Cost/animal/yr Total 119 100000 11900000 animals 50kg 119 200000 23800000 45 1 300000 13500000 12000000 61200000 1000000 Number 50 2 Costs 2m 3 3m 5m 5m Unit Total 50m 6m 3m 5m 5m Per Cash Flow Statement This statement lists the inflows (revenue generated by the business) and the outflows (expenses incurred by the business). The difference between the inflows and outflows give the net cash flow. This net cash flow can be positive or negative. If it is positive that means the project is making money but if it is negative it means the business is not generating enough income. It should be noted that this net cash flow could initially be negative but increase gradually to become a positive cash flow. Goat farming as a Business 49 MRS, SNV, DLPD MONTH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 10 11 Sales: Does Buck Kids TOTAL INFLOWS Capital Expenditure Feed Costs: Salt Health program Deworming Adults Deworming kids Transport Supplies Labour Opening Balance Closing Balance Goat farming as a Business 50 MRS, SNV, DLPD 12 Total 12.0 Record keeping Record keeping is of utmost importance in livestock production. 12.1 Physical records Record keeping is of utmost importance in livestock production. Records, which should be kept, include: (i) Mating recordsThese records include taking note of the female number, male number, when mated, when kidded and whether aborted or not, (ii) Births Record the date of birth, sex and weight of kid and doe at kidding, (iii) Deaths Record the date and cause of death if known, (iv) Sales Record the number of sales, costs, name of buyer (v) Health Keep record of when the animals were vaccinated, dosed or given any other treatment Name of farmer………………………… Type of animals being raised…………………goats/sheep Number of Animals: Adults Kids Males Females Sex: Male/Female Doe……………Sire…………. Type of birth( Single/Twin/ triplet)………………………. Date of Birth………………. Weight at Birth (kg)……………. Weight at weaning(kg)………….. Weight at time of disposal (sales)………….kg COST Z$………..Date…….. Comments: Health….. (vi) AssetDeath……….. Records Sales………… Goat farming as a Business 51 MRS, SNV, DLPD Whenever, expenditure results in a benefit beyond the year, – such as for a plough, sprayer, fencing – the item must categorized as a business asset. For your record-keeping purposes, the costs of these items are likely to be treated as capital expenditures. Assets must be tracked separately from other business expenses by your record system. Show the date of purchase and the type of asset: truck, machinery, and so on. And unless it is obvious, write a short explanation of how the asset is used in the business 12.2 Financial records The Importance of Good Record Keeping Some fledgling entrepreneurs believe that if there is money in their business checking account at the end of the month, they must be making a profit. But only if you keep accurate records will you really know if your business is making or losing money. A record-keeping system helps business to check whether it is making or losing money. Records can also serve as an early warning system to let you know whether changes need to be made in your operation. Indeed, operating without good records is like flying a small plane in dense fog with no instruments. Keeping Income Records Your operation may take in money from one or many sources, depending on what line of work you are in. Most of what you receive is called gross income or gross receipts, for goods sold. Your records should account for all gross income and also show the source of each item – for instance, "buck sales, doe sales and kid sales. Keep track of where your money come from. Make notes explaining the origin of all money put into your business and personal bank accounts. Write down the source of the deposit on the slip or in your checkbook. Keeping Expense Records To make money in your business, undoubtedly you will have to spend money. It is important that you record all the expenses you incur, such as labour, vaccines, transport, etc. Theses are then deductible from your income to determine whether you are making profits or not. Goat farming as a Business 52 MRS, SNV, DLPD 13.0 REFERENCES Charray, J., Humbert, J.M and Levif J. 1989. Manual of sheep production in the humid tropics of Africa. Translated by Alan Leeson. Published by C.A.B International. Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation. Devendra, C and McLeroy, G.B.1982. Goat and sheep production in the Tropics. Intermediate Tropical Agriculture series Sheep Producers Association. 1982. Sheep handbook. Goat farming as a Business 53 MRS, SNV, DLPD
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Timmins gym eager to welcome back members when province declares stage 3 reopening
TIMMINS -- Ontario is on the brink of entering stage 3 of its reopening plan. Although the provincial government has yet to say when regions will be allowed to go the next level, businesses such as movie theaters and fitness gyms could be on the list to welcome back patrons.
One gym owner in Timmins says she was ready when stage 2 was implemented and is excited to get back to work.
Equipped with a new disinfecting fog machine, thanks to a personal protective equipment grant from the Timmins Chamber of Commerce and Newmont, Lisa Tremblay says Discover Fitness/Discover Performance is going above and beyond to ensure a safe environment.
"We are ready to rock and roll. We have been ready for so long and we just need them to flick the switch and be like yes, you can have people in."
Co-owner of Discover Fitness/Discover Performance, Lisa Tremblay, is excited to welcome back clients to her gym. She tells CTV News many changes have been implemented at the facility to make it safe, including the addition of a disinfecting fog machine. July 12/2020 (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)
The past few months put the owners to the test in order to survive. They rented out equipment; they offered virtual classes and races; and they reconfigured the facility.
"The equipment will be spread out on the floor. Some equipment will not be able to be used, because of those rules. Our private studios are already re-set in terms of boxes, you have an area that you can work."
Porcupine Health Unit officials emphasized that good behavior got the region to stage 2 and must continue.
"As restrictions are lifted and more businesses are allowed to open there is a risk of further outbreaks so we do need the community support and the help to ensure that they are following the public health measures," explains Chantal Riopel, manager of foundational standards and chief nursing officer for the Porcupine Health Unit.
She adds, COVID-19 surveillance and contact tracing performance are taken into consideration when the province determines who goes on to the next level.
"I feel at the Porcupine Health Unit, we do have good processes or procedures in place to respond to a positive test so that we can prevent further spread of the infection in our communities," states Riopel.
In order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Tremblay has implemented other big changes at the gym. It's now a private member fitness centre--no more revolving door; and it will not be open 24 hours.


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From 'deactivation' to 'activation', Robotboy also has a third (and last) mode, known as 'superactivation'. Throughout the series, Robotboy transforms into this mode during battle; normally when it seems that he had enough in combat and is ready to take on superactivation mode. He also tends to superactivate when Tommy is in danger. The same applies to his other friends, Lola and Gus. Robotboy will also superactivate to protect Tommy's family, such as when he did so in "Everybody Loves Grandma", in order to save Grandma Turnbull from a couple of General Yakitori's mechs. In this form, Robotboy is almost unstoppable in combat.
Robotboy becomes much taller when he transforms, nearly two or three times the size of Tommy, and his own regular mode. While he's superactivated, Robotboy is able to use more weapons, such as miniature missiles and saw-blades, all of which he doesn't have in activated mode. Robotboy's appearance also changes drastically. His base color goes from a whitish-blue to a medium silver, and he has larger, dark-blue hands, and boot-like feet attached to longer, more powerful thighs. His ears become twice their initial length, and curve upwards, into a horseshoe shape. Ro's face has a dark-blue, mask-like design, with a red outline, and his blue eyes are now red, with a white outline, and small tear tracks on the upper-left and bottom-right corners. In some episodes, they release steam. Ro's body is now separated by a thin, cylindrical dark-blue waist. His pelvis and torso are boxier and he has a jutted chest and sharp, pointy, dark-blue shoulder blades.
Superactivated Robotboy is a formidable fighter, nearly winning in almost every battle he is in, and often strikes fear and panic in most of his foes, just by his appearance alone. He tends to look emotionless while he's superactivated, and is unable to speak in this mode. However, he can express some looks, such as shock and smiles with his eyes and/or mouth. Though these are rare, and seen in only a few episodes ("Don't Fight It", "I Want That Toy", and "Science Fear"). He even released a single tear in "Crying Time" in this mode, when he realizes that he almost killed Tommy.
Just like in Activated mode, Superactivated Robotboy is able to survive and move without his head. In "Kurt's Father", he had detached it, to put it on the inactive body of one of his duplicates, in order to fool Special Agent, before he tossed it to the ground and reattached his head. He also has the ability to produce a new head, should something happen to his current one. In "Bambi-Bot", his head was trapped in a energy pom-pom. When Bambi-Bot threatened to kill Tommy, Robotboy had no choice but to activate a self-destruct sequence to explode his own head to rid himself of the pom-pom. A new head then popped up, and Robotboy destroyed the cheer-bots and Bambi-Bot, saving Tommy. Lastly, in "Brother Bjorn" when Bjorn Bjornson told Superactivated Robotboy and Superactivated Bjornbot to take a five minute break for battery replacement, both took off their heads and threw them to the ground, where they exploded, and then immediately grew new ones.
Super Strength
- Superactivated Robotboy is much stronger than his activated mode, which is showcased many times throughout the series. For example, a single punch from him was able to cause a landslide that blocked lava flow from Kamikazi's volcano lair in "The Legend of Brainy Yak".
- Superactivated Robotboy is a faster flyer; able to circle the Earth 10 times in just minutes.
- Robotboy can fire missiles at any target from numerous places on his body.
- Superactivated Robotboy can fire various lasers which come in different colors.
- Superactivated Robotboy hands are equipped with flamethrowers that make it too hot for enemies to handle! He can even use the thrusters in his feet as flamethrowers.
Saw Hands
- Superactivated Robotboy can switch his hands into saw blades or produce them from his wrists so he can still use his hands.
Reoccurring Abilities
Energy Blasts
- Robotboy can fire energy blasts from the holes in his hands.
Grappling Hook
- Robotboy can shoot out a grappling hook to hold onto stuff. This is mainly used for saving his friends.
Eye Beams
- Robotboy can shoot lasers from his eyes.
Wrist Rocket Launchers
- Superactivated Robotboy can fire rockets from his wrists.
Gatling Gun
- Superactivated Robotboy can rapidly fire lasers from his right arm with his gatling gun.
One Time Powers/Weapons
- Shoulder Blaster ("War and Pieces")
- Light Vision ("Metal Monster")
- Waist Missiles ("Underwater")
- Twin Foot Rocket Blasters ("Kamikazi Nightmare")
- Ear Missiles ("Robot Rebels")
- Foot Energy Blaster ("Crying Time")
- Roller Blades ("Robotman")
- Record Player ("Kindergarten Kaos")
- Drill Ears ("Up a Tree")
- Knuckle Saws ("Up a Tree")
- X-Ray Vision ("Journey to the center of the Gus")
- Ear Blasters ("The Old Switcharobot")
- Waist Nuke ("The Old Switcharobot")
- Energy Bubble ("Mancation")
- In one of Cartoon Network's City bumpers, Robotboy gets annoyed by a fly who is flying around in Tommy's backyard. He superactivates and shoots a laser to the fly, but the fly just lands on Tommy's head. So Robotboy aims at him and fires. Instead of what usually happens to those who get blasted by Robotboy, Tommy's hair is just somewhat singed and he has soot marks all over him, but is relatively unharmed. The fly is also okay as it just buzzes away. This can mean that Robotboy in his Superactivated mode can use lasers or very bright light that doesn't cause harm; possibly realizing at the last moment that he could hurt Tommy. It's difficult to tell, of course, because the bumpers were made by Cartoon Network and not by the writers and was made for a comic effect only.
- Exclusively in the French dub, Robotboy can talk in this mode. However, his voice is the same as his voice in his normal mode. The episodes Robotboy speaks in Superactivated mode are "Double Tommy" and "Robot Girl".
- Superactivated Robotboy's eyes have been shown to glow or flash a brighter red numerous of times, specifically when he locks onto a specific target, such as the cotton candy rabbit's open mouth in "Door To Door". They also glow when he's focusing intently on someone such as Tommy falling to his death in "The Babysitter" or Agent 17, who was pretending to be Tommy in "Double Tommy".
Number of times Robotboy superactivated per season:
Season 1: 35
Season 2: 25
Season 3: 18
Season 4: 12
Number of times Robotboy superactivated per episode:
- Season 1:
- "Dog-Ra"/"War and Pieces": 3-1
- "Cleaning Day" / "Constabot": 0-2
- "Teasebots" / "Constantine Rising": 2-1
- "Metal Monster / "Time Transmission": 3-1
- "The Donnienator" / "Halloween": 1-1
- "Don't Fight It" / "Kurt's Father": 3-1
- "Brother" / "Roughing It": 1-1
- "I Want That Toy" / "Sweet Revenge": 1-1
- "Robot Love" / "Brother Bjorn": 2-1
- "The Boy Who Cried Kamikazi" / "Christmas Evil": 1-1
- "Underwater" / "Kamikazi Nightmare": 1-2 (SA Robotboy in Tommy's dream does not count)
- "Human Fist On Ice" / "Robot Rebels": 0-1
- "Crying Time" / "Runaway Robot": 2-1
- Season 2:
- "Robotman" / "A Tale Of Two Evil Geniuses": 1-2
- "Something About Stevie" / "The Homecoming": 1-1
- "Kindergarten Kaos" / "Robot Girl": 1-1
- "Bambi-Bot" / "Double Tommy": 1-1
- "Tether Tommy" / "The Tune Up": 1-3
- "Shelf-Life" / "The Babysitter": 0-1
- "The Manchurian Robot" / "Door To Door": 1-1
- "The Consultant" / "Feline Frenzy": 1-2
- "Attack Of The Killer G-Men" / "Party Out Of Bounds": 1-0
- "Tummy Trouble" / "Valentine's Day": 1-1 (Almost 2 in "Tummy Trouble")
- "Fight" / "Cast Iron Constantine": 0-1
- "Kamispazi" / "Kami-Chameleon": 0-1
- "Wrestling With Gus" / "Soothsayer": 0-1
- Season 3:
- "Six Million Euro Man" / "Robogus and the G-Machine": 2-0
- "Foot Brawl" / "Remote Out of Control": 0-1
- "Hair-A-Parent" / "Clammadon Rising": 2-1
- "Bad Language" / "Up a Tree": 3-1
- "Wunderpark" / "Zap! You're Old": 0-0
- "Racer Zero" / "The Legend of Brainy Yak": 0-1
- "Nursing a Grudge" / "Stuck On You": 0-0
- "The Sleepover" / "Rowho?": 0-1
- "C.H.O.P" / "Destroy All Robots": 1-0
- "Science Fear" / "Automatommy": 1-1
- "Mancation" / "Journey to the Center of the Gus": 1-1
- "Traffic Slam" / "Tragic Magic": 0-0
- "Ooh That Smell" / "Museum Madness": 1-0
- Season 4:
- "Gus's Big Mouth" / "Small Problems": 0-0
- "Vitamin Sucker" / "Ogbot": 0-0
- "Runaway Robot" / "Grow-No-Mo!": 1-0
- "Aunty Gravitee" / "Cheezy Fun for Everyone": 1-0
- "The Curse of Truckenstein" / "Robolympics": 1-0
- "Knockoffs" / "Gus' Mix": 1-0
- "Robotboy's Fifteen Minutes" / "The Old Switcharobot": 0-1 (Technically Protoboy was the one who used Ro's body to superactivate, so that still counts.)
- "I Hero!" / "Rats!": 0-0
- "Udder Madness" / "Bad Nanny!": 0-0
- "Bowling for Dummies" / "Tween For a Day": 1-1
- "Donnie Turnbull's Day Off" / "Robomonkey Shines": 0-0
- "The Revenge of Protoboy" / "Everybody Loves Grandma": 1-2
- "The Return of Robotgirl" / "Momma's Boy": 1-1


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Australia, though it does not have the population of the United States, is also a big melting pot of diverse cultures and backgrounds. Melbourne, where my dad was from, is the oldest city in Australia, and I think the second largest, following Sydney. We still have a ton (or tonne for all the Aussies out there) of friends and "rellies" in Melbourne and the surrounding areas, as well as other parts of Australia. Melbourne equals multi-cultural and is very diverse, but one of the largest ethnic groups in Melbourne is the Greek population. Melbourne has the largest Greek population anywhere in the world outside of Greece. So there are many great Greek restaurants and recipes that can be found all throughout the city, and if you love Greek food like I do, this is fantastic news.
We are going Greek today, with a small, but very delicious taste of Melbourne's wonderful Greek flavors. This recipe has become my new favorite dessert. You're going to love it as much as I do. It is Risogalo Rice Pudding.
Rice pudding is a dessert that is found in many cultures and many countries, but this one is by far my favorite version, with the addition of a smooth, rich caramel sauce, almond shortbread cookie bits and pistachios. It is rich and delicious without being overpowering or too sweet. Each bite is like a little bit of Heaven with just enough sweetness to give it a bit of decadence as well. When I am cooking, quantities are not really that important to me, because I mix and match and change things all around all the time, but when I bake that is a different story. Baking is more of an exact science and measurements are very important. The most difficult part of this recipe for me was converting everything from the metric measurements to our standard US measurements. All my math teachers would be so proud of the fact that I can still use my brain to find mathematical solutions and make my metric/US measurement conversions. My numbers may be off a bit, but as you can see, they were not off by much, because the results came out very well, and were very tasty. I will be nice too all of you today and give you both the metric and the American measurements. For those of you who know both, please feel free to correct my numbers wherever needed.
There are three components of this dessert. The rice pudding or risogalo, the caramel sauce and the kourambiethes or almond shortbread cookies. The kourambiethes can be made ahead and stored. They are also very tasty when dipped in coffee or used like biscotti.
175 g or 1 1/2 cups rice
700 ml or 3 cups water
900 ml or 2 3/4 cups milk
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla
70 g or 1/2 cup powdered sugar
300 ml or 1 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp cinnamon
Add the rice and water together in a heavy sauce pan and bring to a boil. Once it comes to a full rapid boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 6 minutes, then strain. After straining the rice and discarding the water, place the rice back in the saucepan along with the milk, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Bring it back to a boil, then reduce to a simmer again and cook for about 20 minutes or until the liquid thickens and the rice is cooked. Add the sugar and mix together well. Change the rice to a flat dish and refrigerate for at least an hour to make sure everything sets. Whip the cream and powdered sugar together and gently fold into the rice mixture. Put back into the refrigerator until needed.
Cooking the rice with the milk, salt, cinnamon and vanilla.
Adding the whipped cream and powdered sugar.
Salted Caramel Sauce
500 g or 1 3/4 cups sugar
150 ml or 3/4 cup water
400 ml or 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
30 g or 3 TBSP butter
pinch of salt
Place the sugar and water into a heavy saucepan and cook over a medium heat. Stir until all the sugar has dissolved, then leave it alone. You will need to use a candy thermometer and cook it until the temperature reaches 170* C. Brush the sides of the saucepan down about every 3 minutes so the sugar does not crystallize on the sides. You want the sauce to be a nice golden brown. It takes awhile for it to start browning, but once it does, it browns and cooks very quickly, so be careful not to overcook it. Add the cream, butter and salt and whisk together. Cool to room temperature before using. If your sauce is too thick, add some milk as needed to the mixture. Mine was too thick at first, but I added some milk and it came to a nice thick syrupy sauce, which is what I was looking for.
Kourambiethes or Almond Shortbread Cookies
170 g or 1 stick + 5 TBSP butter, softened
50 g or 1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond extract
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup toasted almonds
2 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour
water as needed to help mix the dough together and bind it.
Preheat the oven to 350*F or 160*C
Mix the butter and sugar together. Mix all the dry ingredients together, then add to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix everything together. Since I live in Colorado, where it is very dry and also a high altitude, I needed to add about 1 1/2-2 TBSP of water to the mixture to help it mix and bind together. You are looking for a dry mixture, so you do not want to add a lot of moisture, but just enough to make everything stick together. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the dough onto the paper. Press it down with your hands and spread it out to about 1/2 " or 1 cm in thickness. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely, then cut into "fingers".
When you are ready to indulge in this delicious dessert, assemble it all together in your serving dishes. Layer it with the rice first, then the caramel sauce, followed by breaking bits of the shortbread cookies and then top with a few roasted, salted pistachios. The result – DELICIOUS!


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A huge thanks to the knitters, spinners, felters, and other assorted fibrephiles who joined us at the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show 2011. We appreciate your business and hope you enjoy with your new SIOz yarns and fibres.
Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair: this year, SIOz will be there — July 28, 29, 30, 31 at the Jeff Shed.
Thank you to the quick on the draw customers who scored a free ticket to the event! Enjoy it all. I know it is a big show — I usually find myself wandering around with my mouth hanging open saying, there are not enough hrs in my day to make all this gorgeous stuff! Can't wait to get a big dose of quilter's colours into my system.
What's in store at the Fair: I've just gotten fresh shipments of my fave wool/soy blend, Karaoke. Lots of cool stuff to make with this yarn and patterns to boot.
The colours are divine and it is so soft, I want to make a big pile of them and sleep on it like a giant, smooth pillow. Don't worry, that isn't going to happen!
Terra: I decided this year that this is still my favourite bamboo/cotton yarn . There are so very many colours to choose from. I've loaded them onto the webshop for you to peruse. Plenty of new patterns for you to make something gorgeous to wear.
BLING — String Me Along, Jazz, and more hanks of Glinda, the Good Wool. The spinners at Bendigo snapped up some lovely cones of SMA — and if you have some old balls of Tofutsies or need new Toe-Toe, there's copies of the free shawl pattern that uses SMA and Tofutsies. I've dyed some of the hanks to coordinate 'natch.
For the Market Tomorrow: new oddballs from my fave European mill — this time, oddballs of fine wools, superfine merino spun like fine cashmere. I've bagged these up in coordinating colours. The pricing is so low, it is criminal. These are all superfine balls and would make incredible shawls and baby garments. There are also some very strange custom blends — when they run the ends off they combine them into one-off fun balls of yarn. Each is unique and inspiring.
Namaste, Inc. Update: the new messenger bags and skinny minis are on the way to Oz. Seriously, you will want one of these new bags. No hype, just the facts. It's a GAWJUS bag — not too big, not too small, with a nice big opening at the top. You'll even get a very cute Karatstix bag tag included. Kazza made the cutest little tags for SIOz.
Word has it this is one of the most beautiful bags they've come up with in some time. Pre-orders are loaded onto the webshop.
Kollage Square Needles: the next order is on the way, with the most popular sizes restocking asap.
Back to the show prep and more, Melissa


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By Marty Denzer
Catholic Key Associate Editor
KANSAS CITY — The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception downtown is a Kansas City landmark. The dome, cupola and cross, which in 1883 towered over all other buildings in the city, was covered in 23-carat gold leaf in 1960 by Bishop Cody, later Cardinal Cody, and many Kansas Citians are familiar with the sight of it. There have been several renovations over the past 135 years, but what most parishioners and visitors to the Cathedral see is the 2003 renovation by Bishop Raymond J. Boland. That renovation created an alcove off the front vestibule which, in 2004, was put into use for a gift shop.
While the renovation was ongoing, a listening campaign was held to learn what parishioners liked, didn't like and what they considered a need. A sizeable number said they wanted a gift shop, so visitors and parishioners could purchase items related to the Cathedral for gifts or for themselves.
Parishioners also wanted a more structured organization for the parish. The Cathedral Guild was founded about this time for that reason.
Through the visionary leadership of John and Mary Margaret Parks, who were nicknamed Mr. and Mrs. Cathedral, the St. Joseph gift shop was established and, by 2006, was a weekend fixture.
Run by volunteers, the gift shop is open before and after all Saturday and Sunday Masses. Recently Melissa Rosado de Christenson, M.D., took over as manager of the gift shop. A long-time volunteer, Jeanne Matthews, spoke to The Catholic Key about its Christmas displays and promotions.
Hospitality is a major focus of the gift shop, and cookies are often set out for shoppers after Masses. A visitor can't help but smile when looking at the items displayed for sale. They aren't haphazardly arranged. Greenery, flowers and scarves in colors that make the statues noticed complete the displays. Presentation of the merchandise is important, Matthews said. It makes shopping more fun when it's attractively presented. And the volunteers want to make the customers happy so when they leave they go with a smile.
And the gift shop is getting in new merchandise and ideas for the future every day. Volunteers dedicate their own personal time to stocking, straightening up, and displays.
A tabletop tree decorated in red-and-gold features Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception's 2018 Christmas ornaments — the "Mystical Rose" window — installed during the 2003 renovation. The Cathedral's Self-Guided Tour book describes the window. The Rose Window titled "Mystical Rose" is an abstract of the idea of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. (Revelation 12:1 speaks of the sun, the moon and a crown of 12 stars.) Commissioned by the late Bishop Boland, the Mystical Rose Window, which can be seen on the south wall of the church, was fabricated by Michael Pila of Minneapolis, Minn. Beautifully boxed, the ornaments may be purchased with a tabletop hanger or hung on a tree.
There are statues, holy cards, and many other items of interest to parishioners and visitors.
Proceeds from St. Joseph's Gift Shop go to Cathedral projects, including the purchasing and care of altar linens, arts and environment, which ensures that the worship space is prayerful, beautiful, even festive, and celebrations of anniversaries of the priests assigned to the Cathedral, senior activities, funeral luncheons and Cathedral tours. Not long ago, the gift shop was able to purchase a washer and dryer for the priests.
The volunteers are hoping soon to open up a wall of the shop next to the vestibule with gates similar to those of the Tabernacle Chapel near the sanctuary.
Both cash and credit cards are welcomed. You are invited to stop in before or after a weekend Mass and look around. Who knows, you might see something special!


text:
Dear Husband,
I write you here the things I am denied to tell u in person, the words that when I utter I am berated and belittled. I am constantly asked shut-up or threatened to be called names or beaten. This will be my venting world that I am disallowed in reality. You say I am unable to let go of a conversation and do not know when to stop, so before I explode with madness, I am writing you these for the world to listen, if anyone ever will.
I have always loved to write and was mesmerised by how little words in a sentence can mean a lot and trigger so many emotions. However, and through out the years that i have known, you have done nothing but make fun of words and writings and books.. etc. So here I am again, trying to rejuvenate my love for the written words,
Years have passed and day-by-day I grow lonelier and more desperate to speak. I want to share my experiences even if very little. I want to share my feelings and thoughts and my take on matters life changing be it or not. i want to take your advice, but be able to debate it and give out of what I have seen and learnt just by mere observation. You say I have not proven my qualifications and abilities and utilized my life, although given opportunities to do so, to be allowed to do just that. Nevertheless, I have been observing and consuming all the emotions and thoughts and happenings around me in a way that makes me eligible to converse.
I just want to vent and have a documentation of what is happening inside my world. Either one-day for you to actually listen or for my babies to learn from my documented experiences.
You have been capable of altering my clearly visible truth that I have become blind of my own reality. So here goes trying to document whatever I can remember of my truth without being shut up.
Best regards,
Your still existing wife