Giving goat farming a go

Goat farming has many advantages, but be warned, goats are natural roamers, climbers and escape artists. Keeping them contained requires strong, well-maintained fencing, as the leader of the flock will inevitably find and exploit a weak spot.

Another common concern is the potential for environmental damage. Overstocking with goats has been linked to desertification in Africa and Asia, and, closer to home, to the degradation of the Eastern Cape’s valuable spekboom thickets. Dedicated goat farmers will tell you, on the other hand, that with proper management goats can actually improve veld conditions and help control bush encroachment. In the United States, entrepreneurs have even turned this trait into a business, renting out goat herds to clear overgrown plots, including in residential areas.