Punjab: From dairy to goat farming, an inspiring success story

Punjab: Goat farming has great potential for high returns. It is a viable business opportunity due to the strong demand for byproducts such as meat, milk and manure. Farmer Baldev Singh Sandhu of Manuke Sandhu village was recently awarded the Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence in Goat Farming during the Pashu Palan Mela organised by Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU). After completing his education, Sandhu initially started a dairy farm but aspired to expand his business.

“I did a lot of research before getting into goat farming. It took me six months during which I visited various goat farms in nearby districts and neighbouring state Haryana. I also took training from GADVASU before deciding to start goat farming,” he said. Sandhu started goat farming in 2022 with 65 Beetal goats and today his farm has 270 goats. He has converted his farm into a breeding facility and has also set up a ‘Beetal Breeders Club’. Describing goat rearing as a profession, he said, “It is quite a lucrative business as the input cost is much less compared to the output or returns.”