Muttappa Biradar, a farmer from Hitnalli village of Sindagi taluk, had no idea that his decision to venture into a new field in animal husbandry would not only fetch him significant profit but also would make him a progressive farmer.
Mr. Biradar, who has a modern sheep farm in his agricultural land, has around 350 sheep which has earned close to Rs. 12 lakh last year.
Revenue yielding
Having started with 50 sheep that he bought at around Rs. 3,500 each, Mr. Biradar has adopted stall feeding method which has proved to be cost-effective and also revenue yielding. He said that though being a farmer, his family always had had some head of cattle. However, he had never thought of setting up a full-fledged sheep rearing farm.
“It was one of my relatives, who works in the Department of Animal Husbandry, advised me to take up sheep rearing by adopting the stall feeding system,” he said.
About stall feeding, he said that unlike in traditional farming where sheep are allowed to graze in open areas, in the modern method, sheep are fed under one roof by providing protein-rich fodder.
Mr. Biradar, who has a shelter built, keeps all his sheep over a raised platform. Since the platform has mesh, it allows droppings and the urine to collect in a pit below the platform.
Good manure
He said that this waste acts as good organic manure for crops and is in demand.
“Selling only waste, I have earned about Rs. 1 lakh. Besides, I use the same manure for lemon and other horticulture crops that I cultivate in my 70-acre land,” he said.
Mr. Biradar said that he keeps each sheep for six months after purchasing it young.
After feeding them for six months, I sell them off for about Rs. 8,000 each which is almost double the cost of purchase, he said.
Initial investment
He said that the initial investment for 100 sheep is around Rs. 5 lakh, which could be easily recovered within two years itself. “The stall feeding method is highly profitable for aspiring youth if done with proper guidance and some training,” he said and added that every month, he receives at least five persons at his farm for guidance.
