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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.
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!
Photo
s ta
ken f
rom
Flic
kr.
com
Still interested?• Before you buy your first animal…
1. Set realistic goals2. Why do you want this?
- is this for $, self-sufficiency or pleasure3. What are your priorities for quality of life?
- Enjoy farming during free time? - Can you “harvest” animals?
4. What is your life philosophy (“Big Picture”)- Environmentalism- Food security
Do Your Research• Learn everything possible about your productGrowing and feedingProcessing and dressingPackaging and labelingMarketing and preparing
Other Issues to ConsiderAre 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?
What are the Laws?• Zoning & ordinances• Processing
– USDA– State Health– Market system
requirements• Labeling• Legal to sell
– EGGS
Niche Marketing
• Free range• Guaranteed
tender• Locally produced• Ethnic foods• Custom slaughter
• Organic• Sustainable• Pasture fed• Corn fed• Hormone free
Cart
oonst
ock
.com
Livestock Choices
TraditionalNon-traditional
• Llamas• Alpacas• Ostrich• Emus• Buffalo• Guinea
pig• Gator
• Hogs• Chickens• Goats• Horses• Cattle• Sheep• Rabbits
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 breedNote: Space requirements differ and careful evaluation
needs to be made prior to developing a business plan
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’
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
Recordkeeping• Inicial Outlay
– Land, stock, fencing, bldgs, equipment
• Labor– YOUR time, volunteers,
family & friends• Production
– Reproduction, weight gains• Sales/Income• Inventory
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 useddual-purpose
Limiting Factors Affecting $$
• Predators• # of laying boxes• Area per bird• Parasites• Inadequate nutrition• Lack of water• Genetics• Age of animal
Rabbits• Easy animal to start out with• Small, medium and large breeds
– Meat, fur, hair, show• Positive nutritional factors for
meat• Age to market weight is quick• Reproduction is rapid• Easiest to feed
• Poor breeding stock– Lack of mothering skills
• Time to breeding age• Illness in the herd
– Poor hygiene• Old or contaminated
feed• Lack of water or food• Overheating
Limiting Factors Affecting $$
• Predators• Lack of market base• Lack of harvest
facilities– Location and
transportation• Inability to harvest• USDA regulations• Packaging &
marketing
Limiting Factors (con’t)
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
• Fencing, fencing & more fencing• Milk production is labor
intensive• Limited legal market for milk• Lack of harvesting facilities• Lack of shearing capabilities• Parasites!
Limiting Factors Affecting $$
Swine• Not very popular in
Florida– Except with 4-H & FFA– Wild hogs
• Limited market– Strong midwestern
industry • Lack of harvesting
facilities– For more than just a few
• Fun to pasture
Cattle• Meat and dairy breeds• Homesteading self-
sufficiency– Integrated farming system
• Relatively easy to feed• Cow/calf operations• Can produce milk & meat
with minatures but…
• Need larger tract of land• Transportation and fuel costs• Larger animal harder to control• Longer time to harvest or sell• Increased costs of hay and feed• Dairy industry is heavily
regulated– “Pet consumption only”
Limiting Factors Affecting $$
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
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!
In Conclusion Livestock can be raised for fun and for
profitShould develop a thought out business
planProfit margins are generally lower with
livestockConsider your location to feedstores,
processors and consumersNiche markets can be profitable for
specialized productsGain experience by raising small numbers
before investing heavily