Dairy Goat Farm Project

Juanita School for Girls will soon embark on a new farm project—a goat dairy farm to supply milk to the student body, and potentially eventually to the local community.

Adding the dairy also expands the school’s curriculum in animal husbandry, bookkeeping, and business.

According to school headmaster Jacinta Chengecha, “raising goats is also much cheaper than raising cows.”

The project arose out of her use of goat milk for personal health needs. “I learnt about the nutritional value of goat milk compared to cow milk and I have seen good results,” she says. Personal benefits include reduced blood pressure and reducing swollen feet.

Currently, she owns five alpine goats that are producing milk or expecting to produce shortly.

Juanita School students will tend the animals as they do with the school’s other farm projects. “The goat project will become part of the curriculum in animal husbandry and the students will become primary caretakers of the animals,” she says.

“The students will also be exposed to the bookkeeping, so they will learn the economics of farming.”

Initially, the dairy will supply just the students’ needs. Jacinta believes one day the meat and milk might become income sources from sales to the community. Goat milk is more marketable than cow milk. “Goat milk is in high demand, especially in hospitals, and sells for five times more than cow milk.”

Beyond milk there are other products the school can produce and potentially market. Cheese, she says, might be made for the students, but overall cheese doesn’t fit into the Kenyan culture. However, goat milk soap and other beauty products could be produced and marketed.

Additionally, goat manure would be used as fertilizer on the farm’s plant gardens. Also, biogas from the dairy could be used to fuel the school kitchen.

The initial outlay for six goats—including a barn, feed, and other needs—is just over $3,000. Donors may purchase goats in other individuals’ names and gift the animals to the school for $350.