Women embrace livestock rearing
As rain soaked the city this monsoon, a different kind of stirring was quietly unfolding within the halls of the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU). A week-long goat farming training programme concluded recently, leaving behind not only the imprint of technical skills—but also a wave of newfound ambition, especially among its female participants.
These women are expanding their backyard initiatives into sustainable livelihoods, using insights from the training to improve herd health, scale operations and boost income.
Five women from different parts of the state stepped into the male-dominated domain of livestock rearing with quiet determination. Free of cost, the training enabled them to engage with topics ranging from goat health and housing systems to disease control and marketing strategies, demystifying goat farming as a viable livelihood path.
Age is no defying factor for 68-year-old Harjinder Kaur from Ludhiana for whom the training was more than academic—it was a step towards a long-held dream. Already managing a small poultry and dairy unit, she currently rears two goats. Her goal now: to scale up to five and eventually many more.
“I’ve always believed work doesn’t see age,” she said, adding that “After this training, I feel more confident handling goats as part of my daily routine. It’s not just an expansion—it’s my ambition.”
For Gurwinder Kaur from Bathinda, the decision to train stemmed from hours spent exploring animal rearing content online. Currently employed, she now dreams of transitioning to a profession that offers both autonomy and purpose. “Your own work holds so much self-esteem where you are your own boss,” she shared. “I have decided to venture into goat farming. With the training done, I feel ready to start my own business.”
The shift towards goat farming was influenced by friends and family, many of whom recommended the profession as a practical path forward, for Amritsar’s Ranjit Kaur. With plans to relocate from the bustle of the city to a quieter rural setting, she saw the training as a gateway to reinvention. “We are done with the city life and want to shift to a village,” she shared. “We’ll be opening up a goat farm and lead a peaceful life.”
The initiative, led by Vice-Chancellor Dr JPS Gill, was part of the university’s sustained effort to promote self-employment through scientific livestock practices. “Goat farming is particularly empowering for rural youth and women,” said Dr Gill, emphasising its role in economic resilience.
Course director Dr Jaswinder Singh added that these women brought a strong practical instinct to the sessions. “They were keen listeners and asked pointed questions. Their interest was not casual—it was rooted in the land, in real-life experience.”
Ludhiana