Training on the breeding plan
There is general awareness that breeding stock can be improved by cross-
breeding local animals with introduced (‘exotic’) varieties. But few people understand the details of how to go about this and what to expect from the offspring. The following flash videos are based on the flip charts that we use for village training.
JOY Goat Development Programme is a department of Deliverance Church Uganda, which grew from underground Christian cells in the days of Idi Amin, and now has over 500 churches nationwide. Schools, clinics and other practical ministries of DC all have the name ‘J.O.Y’:
Jesus first
Others next
Yourself last
The long-term of the aim of the Programme is to develop a breed of dairy goat which is productive but also adapted to Ugandan conditions. This is only feasible if there is a large breeding population – larger than we are able to create through our own farmers’ groups.
In 1992, Deliverance Church Uganda founded a congregation in Masaka Town, and wanted to also establish a community development programme. This was made possible when Open Door Community Church of Uxbridge UK seconded David & Jacqui Dowdy in August 1993 to establish JOY Children’s Centre (now known as JOY Youth Training Centre). The aim of the Centre is to release the potential of orphaned young people so that instead of being a problem, the start to become part of the future of the country.
Why Goats
We chose to specialize in the keeping of dairy goats, which in the Masaka area has great potential. We bought our goats, and learnt how to look after them, from other organisations. But over the years our goats multiplied, and because of the comprehensive records that went with them, they were in demand from other projects and individuals. And not just the goats, but also the expertise that had been built up on the farm and within the associated community projects. Experience which made it possible to set up the Goat Development programme.
JOY Goat Development Programme is now building on the legacy of the Youth Training Centre, using experience gained and the large number of contacts developed during the years of goat breeding there.