Things nobody prepared me for in goat farming 1. Start Small: Farming is a master class in humility. Its not lack of ambition, but the lack of experience will frustate you. You don't build a herd overnight. You build the knowledge first, and the herd follows. Start small. Learn as you go. Scale when you're ready. 2. Invest in Housing: Lesson learned the hard way, fleas and parasites will wreck your herd before you even see it coming. Good housing isn't a luxury. It's your first line of defense. Dry floors, proper ventilation, easy cleaning. Your goats spend most of their lives in that space. Invest in it like your profits depend on it, because they do. 3. Fodder and Feeds. Goats are not picky eaters, but they are smart ones. They thrive on variety. Mix your fodder. Plant what you can. Stock what you must. A goat that browses on a good mix of legumes, grasses, and shrubs is a healthier, happier, and more productive animal. Your feed strategy is your nutrition strategy. Don't shortchange it. 4. Breed Gradually: Starting out with high-producing exotic breeds as a first-time farmer is a trap. When production dips, and it will, you'll think you failed. But you didn't. You just weren't ready. Phase into better breeds gradually as your skills grow. Let your confidence and your herd improve together. Sustainable progress beats a discouraging shortcut every time. 5. Worker Management: If you're not on the ground daily, your workers can quietly become your biggest risk. Feed going to neighbors, poor hygiene, sloppy record-keeping. It's not always malicious, sometimes it's just a lack of accountability. Vet your team, train them properly, set clear standards, and check in consistently. Your herd's health reflects the people managing it. 6. Know Your Zone: Not every breed belongs everywhere. Before you invest, understand your climate, your altitude, your disease pressure, and your local market. A breed thriving in the highlands may struggle in the lowlands and vice versa. Knowing your zone is knowing your advantage. Farm smart for where you are not just what looks impressive on another farmer's farm. 7. Never Stop Learning: No matter where you are in this journey, there is always a farmer ahead of you who has figured out something you haven't. Visit them. Call them. Follow them. Ask uncomfortable questions. The best farmers I know are also the most curious. Farming isn't a destination, it's a practice. Keep learning, and the herd will keep growing. #farmerslife #continuousimprovement #goatfarming #agriculture #dairygoats - @itsgachoki