David Tomé González, 19 years old and raised in Torrox, has moved his livestock project to the district of Corumbela, in Sayalonga, where he now has around 200 goats. He started with three animals at the end of 2022.
The young David Tomé González, aged 19 and raised in Torrox, has launched a livestock farm in Corumbela, a district of Sayalonga, with around 200 goats. The project, named 'Ganadería Mi Ilusión', began at the end of 2022 with just three animals in a small pen near the old N-340, in his hometown.
The evolution of his farm has once again caught the attention of regional and national media, as reported by Diario Sur. Tomé does not come from a farming family: his parents worked in the tourism sector, and his passion for goats, as he has recounted, arose spontaneously. "I preferred to go see goats than to be in the park playing with my friends," he explained when this newspaper told his story in March 2024.
The move from Torrox to Corumbela took place this summer. The young man claims that he did not find the necessary conditions in his village to develop the farm he had in mind. "I am originally from Torrox and until just a month ago I lived in Torrox. I grew up there, my people are there, and leaving my village has not been easy at all," he admits. Despite this, he believes that the move has been "a complete success" and his intention is to settle permanently in this locality of Sayalonga.
"Today I can say something that for years seemed impossible: my dream of being a goatherd is now a reality"
His daily routine includes feeding the flock, milking, cleaning and disinfecting the facilities, unloading forage, repairing equipment, or installing water troughs. "In a livestock farm, it's not enough to be a farmer; here you have to know everything," he sums up. He has also installed a scratching roll to improve the animals' welfare. "For me, this is not just a job. It is my dream, my illusion, and my way of life," he asserts.
The young farmer has built a network of support to carry the farm forward. He appreciates the collaboration of the company from Vélez-Málaga, Hermanos Busto Díaz, which supplies him with feed, and professionals in the sector who have helped him with the transport of animals. "Among farmers and agricultural workers, we need to help each other. We are part of the same sector, sharing the same problems," he says.
Tomé has warned on his social media about the lack of generational change in the countryside. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Agriculture, based on the 2020 Agricultural Census, 41.3% of holders of Spanish farms were 65 years old or older, and only 8.9% were under 41. Furthermore, barely 28.5% of young people entering the sector start from scratch, without continuing a family farm. "If we do not invest in our youth and our countryside, one day we will ask ourselves who will produce the food we need," he states.
The goat sector is facing difficulties. Spain had around 2.36 million heads in 2024, with Andalusia accounting for approximately 35% of the national census. Although the total number of animals increased that year compared to 2023, the Ministry later noted a 5.2% drop in Spanish goat milk production during 2025, a trend that continued in the first quarter of 2026, with a year-on-year decrease of 10.8%.
Tomé defends the role of grazing in preventing forest fires. "While we worry about fires in summer when it's already too late, we forget that goats and sheep have been silently performing this preventive work for centuries, clearing brush and cleaning the mountains," he reflects. He also calls for the countryside not to depend solely on sun and beach tourism.
The arrival of the farm in Corumbela has received institutional support. The deputy mayor of Sayalonga, María Natividad Córdoba (PSOE), recently visited the facilities, a meeting after which the young man publicly thanked the support and welcome he received.
You may also like
