Bio-economic study for establishing of a goat farm in Costa Rica

A goat project was developed in the province of Cartago, Costa Rica, from September 2007 through January 2009, with the objective of implementing a practical system to determine productive and financial data for dairy production under a given integrated system. This involved the design and application of techniques related to livestock and environmental management, animal resources, feed, agronomy, administration and financial projections. The economic results showed a investment of cent 14 305 000 (570 colones per dollar) for a 60 female goat unit with a production cost per liter of milk of cent 459, with utilities of 18%. Financially, the projection generated a net present value (NPV) of cent 13 700 000, with a lifetime estimated in ten years. Simultaneously, a value of Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 26.23% from the sale of milk was determined. Regarding production costs, the most important item represented the acquisition of the concentrate, with 41% of the total production cost, followed by labor (22%) and the monthly payment for the credit requested (17%). The economic profitability was 15%.