Aim - How goats are handled is very important. Goats can be quite sensitive if not handled correctly. They must be kept calm to prevent injury to themselves or other goats. Keeping the goats in smaller enclosures can help improve productivity. Goat housing is very important especially with Zambia’s intensive and high rain fall. Goats need to be kept in a dry shelter.

Goats that are kept in an enclosure without any shelter will be exposed to bad weather, theft and predators. You must build a proper shelter that is big enough for all the goats and provide the necessary protection. The shelter must have the following features:
∎ A roof to protect the goats from the rain.
∎ Walls or side panels to protect the goats from wind.
∎ Raised floors for droppings to fall through and good drainage to prevent muddy
conditions after rain. Goat droppings make good compost that can be used for crops or fertilizing pastures.
∎ The roof of the shelter must be at least 1,5 m from the floor, roof must either be high pitched or be slated if it is a flat roof, sides of the house must provide adequate airflow to control temperatures in the house and allow ammonium build-up. You must clean the shelter and enclosure often to keep the area hygienic and prevent bacteria and parasites from growing and spreading to the animals.

KDY Organization has taken keen interest in animal husbandry (goat rearing) because of the benefits in this project.