Business of Livestock

Organic Livestock www.strawberryhillfarm.ca

Why Livestock  Many who eat veggies also eat meat

  Pretty much sells itself  Steady year round work/income   Fertility  Use of waste material   Large demand for ethical organic meat

Numbers  Aim for direct cost of 50% or less of retail

  Includes feed   Includes cost of young   Includes processing cost  Does not include labour  Does not include overheads  Does not include tractor etc.

  25% or less in labour  At least 25% for the farm  Easiest to figure for grain fed livestock

Feed  Use unfair advantages

 Get from local farmers   Find a mixer locally ○  Possibly a batch grinder

 Utilize waste products

Young stock  Organic stock  Day old chicks

Labour  Need people with feel of livestock to help  Chores should be easy

  Personally like to limit to 1-2hr max per day on the weekend

 Automate what you can  Water especially

Housing  Barn for winter  Good protection from wet and drafts  Easy to move in summer  Protection from predators  Easy Water and feed  Clean out easy and straight forward

Loft for starting chicks

Fencing/Handling facilities  Electric

  Posts and wire considerations  Wood fences  Metal panels   Trailer/transportation   Loading  Ability to sort and load

Slaughter/processing   Local facility  Willing to do organic  Can they cut/wrap like you want it?

  The more table ready the easier to sell

Market/Storage   Frozen or fresh  By the piece  By the side  Box program  Online order  Your own storefront  Wholesale  Specialty Sausage

Type of Livestock to fit your farm  Cows – long term but least output for feed  Pigs – faster turn around but difficult to

source organic piglets  Chickens – fastest turn around

 Cut up much more popular  Quota system restraints

 Eggs – Steady year round but shelf life is a factor.

 Goats, sheep, geese, ducks   Ethnic markets etc.

Unfair Advantages   Location to market  Marketing system  Alternate feed stock  Box program  Ethnic markets

Synergies   Fertility  Use of waste products  Ease of sales  Cash flow  Employment  Equipment for other uses

Equipment & Land  Can you borrow / rent

 Clean out logs required  Baler, tedder, rake, mower, wagons, etc.   Is there land you can borrow/rent  Separation from vegetable areas

 Cleanliness  Crop protection in case of escapes

Other issues  Ability to deal with all aspects of life and

loss of it  Neighbors and fencing   Investment