1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Small-scale goat farming: your step-by-step start

Keep a small herd of indigenous or meat goats and sell live animals to neighbours, for ceremonies, at auctions or to speculators.

  • 18 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 1 hour
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • People in rural areas or on smallholdings with grazing, water and someone to watch the herd every day.

Think twice if

  • You need money within the next two weeks: first income usually takes about 240 days.
  • You cannot put about R5 000 into getting started.
  • You cannot free up about 10 hours a week.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 240 days.
  • Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.
  • The main risk to plan for: disease and worms: vaccinate and dose on a schedule.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How small-scale goat farming worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Pricing and getting paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Fix the kraal and fencing before buying any animals3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Talk to the local animal health technician about vaccines3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first customers: who to message5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Buy a few healthy does from a known seller3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Start a record book for each animal3 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Plan sales before festive seasons3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Keep the best does for breeding3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R5 000 to R40 000 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Secure kraal and fencing
  • Water trough
  • Vaccines and dosing gun
  • Record book

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.