1 / 29

Raising Livestock on Limited Acreage

Raising Livestock on Limited Acreage. Christine Kelly-Begazo Agriculture Agent. Your Dream Farm. Weed-free pastures Well-stocked barn Cute, cuddly animals Happy children doing chores Lemonade on the veranda. Jonde Lane Farm B&B, Manheim, PA. Only in……. Your dreams! Farmville

devika
Download Presentation

Raising Livestock on Limited Acreage

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Raising Livestock on Limited Acreage Christine Kelly-Begazo Agriculture Agent

  2. Your Dream Farm • Weed-free pastures • Well-stocked barn • Cute, cuddly animals • Happy children doing chores • Lemonade on the veranda Jonde Lane Farm B&B, Manheim, PA.

  3. Only in…… • Your dreams! • Farmville • Facebook

  4. Reality is…. • Dirty, hard work • Little free time • Stressful, little control • Narrow profit margin • Animals die, or have to die • Significant other is not enthusiastic • Your children hate it! Photos taken from Flickr.com

  5. Stillinterested? • Beforeyoubuyyourfirst animal… • Set realisticgoals • Why do youwantthis? - is thisfor $, self-sufficiency or pleasure • What are yourprioritiesforquality of life? - Enjoyfarmingduring free time? - Can you “harvest” animals? • What is yourlifephilosophy (“Big Picture”) - Environmentalism - Foodsecurity

  6. Do Your Research • Learn everything possible about your product • Growing and feeding • Processing and dressing • Packaging and labeling • Marketing and preparing

  7. Other Issues to Consider • Are you zoned for livestock activity? • Will your neighbors mind? • Distance to nearest feedstore or farm supply store? • Are there consumers/buyers? • Are there any other producers? • Where is the nearest processor? • Is your target market close? • Can you sell legally?

  8. What are the Laws? • Zoning & ordinances • Processing • USDA • State Health • Market system requirements • Labeling • Legal to sell • EGGS

  9. Niche Marketing • Free range • Guaranteed tender • Locally produced • Ethnic foods • Custom slaughter • Organic • Sustainable • Pasture fed • Corn fed • Hormone free Cartoonstock.com

  10. Livestock Choices Traditional Non-traditional Llamas Alpacas Ostrich Emus Buffalo Guinea pig Gator • Hogs • Chickens • Goats • Horses • Cattle • Sheep • Rabbits

  11. Major Considerations for Animal Production Biggest issues

  12. Space Requirements(Stocking Rates) • 3 acres per cow • 3 acres per horse • 1 acre per 6 ewes /goats • Ewes and lambs / 20 sq’ • 30” x 36”x18” rabbit cage for medium breed Note: Space requirements differ and careful evaluation needs to be made prior to developing a business plan

  13. For Example • 100 cows = 300 acres • 3 cows = 10 acres • 100 calves = 50 acres • 100 goats = 16 acres • 3 horses = 9 acres • 100 sheep = 16 acres • 100 rabbits = 900 sq’

  14. Mini’s vs. Regular Size • Generally not considered “real” livestock • Cute, but actual production? • Is there a market/consumer for product? • Goals for having them on site • Same production requirements, just less • Less space, less feed, same vet bill, same set of management skills

  15. Recordkeeping • Inicial Outlay • Land, stock, fencing, bldgs, equipment • Labor • YOUR time, volunteers, family & friends • Production • Reproduction, weight gains • Sales/Income • Inventory

  16. Factors That Hinder Production & Success

  17. Poultry • Easiest animal to start out with • From chick to production is quick • Relatively quiet for neighbors (no roosters) • Meat and egg production • Many different breeds • conventional, heritage, fancies • Traditional farms used dual-purpose

  18. Limiting Factors Affecting $$ • Predators • # of laying boxes • Area per bird • Parasites • Inadequate nutrition • Lack of water • Genetics • Age of animal

  19. Rabbits • Easy animal to start out with • Small, medium and large breeds • Meat, fur, hair, show • Positive nutritional factors for meat • Age to market weight is quick • Reproduction is rapid • Easiest to feed

  20. Limiting Factors Affecting $$ • Poor breeding stock • Lack of mothering skills • Time to breeding age • Illness in the herd • Poor hygiene • Old or contaminated feed • Lack of water or food • Overheating

  21. Limiting Factors (con’t) • Predators • Lack of market base • Lack of harvest facilities • Location and transportation • Inability to harvest • USDA regulations • Packaging & marketing

  22. Goats/Sheep • Meat, dairy, hair, and wool breeds • Smaller animal = more animals/acre • More efficient use of pasture/browse • Reproduction is adequate • Increasing demand with ethnic markets • Niche market for wool with weavers

  23. Limiting Factors Affecting $$ • Fencing, fencing & more fencing • Milk production is labor intensive • Limited legal market for milk • Lack of harvesting facilities • Lack of shearing capabilities • Parasites!

  24. Swine • Not very popular in Florida • Except with 4-H & FFA • Wild hogs • Limited market • Strong midwestern industry • Lack of harvesting facilities • For more than just a few • Fun to pasture

  25. Cattle • Meat and dairy breeds • Homesteading self-sufficiency • Integrated farming system • Relatively easy to feed • Cow/calf operations • Can produce milk & meat with minatures but…

  26. Limiting Factors Affecting $$ • Need larger tract of land • Transportation and fuel costs • Larger animal harder to control • Longer time to harvest or sell • Increased costs of hay and feed • Dairy industry is heavily regulated • “Pet consumption only”

  27. Horses • Great sink of money • Need good quality pasture • Not necessarily considered agriculture production • Important for ag exemption • “Greenbelt” • Check with property appraiser’s office

  28. Exotics • Have to get in on the beginning of the industry • Money made via a pyramid factor • Selling the breeding animals is how you make the big money • Little $ is made on the actual herd or product • NOT recommended!

  29. In Conclusion • Livestock can be raised for fun and for profit • Should develop a thought out business plan • Profit margins are generally lower with livestock • Consider your location to feedstores, processors and consumers • Niche markets can be profitable for specialized products • Gain experience by raising small numbers before investing heavily

More Related