02/13/13 1 raising small animals on small farms James Theuri [email protected]815-933-8337 Why raise sheep and/or goats? • **Meat • Wool, fiber • Milk • Value-added products • From hides and skins • From milk – cheese and yoghurt • Breeding and show animals • Companion animals • Ideal for small farms • Many niche markets for goat & sheep products Calorie, Fat, and Protein Content of Various Kinds of Meat Roasted red meat (3 oz) Calories Fat (g) Saturated fat (g) Protein (mg) Goat 122 2.58 0.79 23 Beef 245 16.0 6.80 23 Pork 310 24.0 8.70 21 Chicken 122 3.50 1.10 21 Lamb 235 16.0 7.30 22 Source: USDA Handbook No. 8, 1989 Raising Sheep and/or Goats Advantages • Easier to handle • Production – less elaborate facilities and equipment • Consume roughage as primary feed • Help control weeds • Two sources of cash income: meat and wool • Minimum amount of supplemental feeding • Quicker return on investment Disadvantages Enterprise must be well managed Subject to predation Require better fencing than do cattle and horses Internal parasites can abound, especially in irrigated pastures All Sheep & Goats, USA (NASS, 2012) All Sheep & Lambs (‘000) Meat & Other Goats (‘000) 2010 2011 2012 ? 2010 2011 2012 ? 1. TX 830 880 1. TX 990 950 2. CA 610 610 2. TN 125 115 3. WY 375 365 3. CA 93 100 4. CO 370 370 4. OR 90 91 5. SD 325 275 5. NC 90 85 6. UT 290 280 6. MO 84.5 80 7. MT 245 230 7. KY 79 72.5 8. OR 225 215 8. GA 77 75 9. ID 220 235 9. AL 60 56 10. IA 210 200 10. FL 60 55 25. IL 64 56 23. IL 22.5 20 Illinois Farm Production: Sheep & Goats 0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 sheep meat goats National Ag Statistics >>>> Sheep 5.5 m (2% less than 2010) Goats 3 m (1% less than 2010)
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If you plan to raise sheep … and or goats … … plan well, ahead · 2013-03-01 · Why raise sheep and/or goats? •**Meat •Wool, fiber •Milk ... •Keep livestock in and
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• Attitude; Do you like them? Remember, it is a 24/7/365 commitment; family support? Vacation time? PT or FT?
– Land:
• how much? Productivity? Companion animals? Better forage, rotational grazing, may be needed to improve productivity
– Buildings:
• Extreme adverse weather;
• 20 sq. ft per animal; more, better g for lactating animals. Machine sheds, barns, etc can be used: should be open, cool and dry (not tight, warm and humid)
Before You Begin …
• Machinery & Equipment: • to clip pasture and clean barns; fencing; pens; small pieces of
equipment for tagging, hoof trimming, shearing, etc. • hay: cheaper to buy smaller quantities
• Labor: got time on your hands? If you are the labor:
• Walk among animals often; refill feed & water as necessary; spot issues and take action promptly!
• Capital (a personal issue): • $$ to get started; income: supplementary, or sole source of
income? Aim for sustainability in 3-5 years
BE WELL INFORMED • Read, research, and seek advice as much as possible
Goal-setting • Type of goals
• Short-term, long-term? Or both?
• Make positive statements • Both positive and with time frame
• Be specific with your goal(s) • and be S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic
& Timed)
• Prioritize one or two goals – Better chance of success
• Get organized, and determine what is needed to achieve goals. Evaluate goals
Establish Production Goals
• Needed to make a profit
• Highly productive females, great mothers, minimal maintenance
• Adaptable to the environment
• Goals will depend on
– Your resources
– Management abilities
– Products you hope to raise
Nutrition - basics
• Goats & sheep - efficiently use low-quality forages
• Forage may be supplemented with grains or other concentrated feeds to meet shortfalls
• Certain minerals are deficient in the Midwest
• Desirable to analyze hay for nutrient content to allow feeding plan adjustment
• Average doe or ewe needs ~1 ton of hay per year. If hay equivalent is known, carrying capacity of land can be
calculated; use “Illini Graze” program
Nutritional requirements Protein (CP) Energy (TDN) Buck 11% 60% Dry Doe 10% 55% Late Gestation 11% 60% Lactating Doe 11% 60% High Producing Doe 14% 65% Weaned Kid 14% 68% Yearling 12% 65%
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Nutrition: Pastures
• If available, pastures cut on feed cost (~70% of cost of raising livestock)
• Feeding needs depend on weight of animal, age and stage of growth, and breeding cycle
• Consider: – Weaned lamb or kid
– Developing animals
– Females in late pregnancy
– Lactating mothers
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Clover (protein source) is mixed with grass species in pasture, at maximum 30% in the mix
Example of a Pasture Mix
Water • Least emphasized ‘nutrient’
HOUSING
•Clean, dry, well-ventilated shelters help animals stay healthy •Moveable shelters help prevent manure buildup in an area •Shelters and working facilities can be home-built for lower cost
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Housing & Equipment Goat breeds
•Fainting goats (myotonic) •Indigenous to USA •Good quality meat
Kiko Goat, developed in New Zealand Better-suited for wetter climates Great for Southeast and Midwest; thrive well in a many conditions Low-maintenance; good reproductive rates
5 major breeds in the US: Boer, Kiko, Myotonic, Savannah, Spanish Others: dairy and wool goats (Lamacha, Angora, etc)
Boer goat
• Developed in South Africa; suitable for drier climates
• Breed could be too big, with high maintenance costs
• High rate of weight gain, good body conformation for meat
• Cross between Kiko and Boer produces vigorous offspring
** Use values in parenthesis for incorporated manure
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» Salmonella, E.coli, Campylobacter or others » Clean nest boxes once/week to remove dirty litter » Remove and bed regularly when moist » Wash hands and/or wear gloves when cleaning
pens » Anticipate around 75 lbs of manure/year per hen » Can be
˃ fed to cattle
˃ composted
» Movable coop $200
» Broody boxes $150
» Lamps, feeders, waterers, etc $175
» Electric poultry netting $200
» Fence charger, wire, ground posts $250
Total equipment costs $975
» *Movable coop, broody boxes, fence charger, fencing and some of the other equipment will last for several years if
cared for. Assuming a 5-year armortization yields a per-year fixed cost of about $195.00.
» **If more than one batch is raised per year using the same equipment, the cost per batch will be lower e.g. 3 batches per year yields a pre-batch fixed cost of about $65.
» 100 meat chicks $250
» Wood shaving for bedding $20
» Organic chick starter feed: 100 lbs $200
» Organic chicken grower feed: 2,000 lbs $1,500
» Processing at abbatoir ($4 per bird) $380*
» Total variable costs $2,350
» *assumes you successfully get 95% of your birds to the abattoir
» Time to figure out the pricing of your birds ˃ First, the ‘per-pound’ cost
˃ Assumptions:
Ended with 95 marketable birds
Average weight of each bird is 5.5 pounds
Plan on 3 batches per year, and a 5-year armortization plan
total fixed costs for 95 birds $65
total variable costs per 95 birds $2,350
total costs per 95 birds $2,415
total weight of birds (95 x 5.5 lbs) 522.5 lbs
total cost per pound (2,415/522.5) $4.62
So, ‘all in’ your birds cost you $4.62 per bird to raise
» Chickens are relatively easier to raise
» Start small; scale up
» First attempt may not go as planned
» Children learn to be responsible
Extension Professional Staff Ken Koelkebeck Extension Specialist, Poultry Department of Animal Sciences 282 Animal Sciences Lab 1207 W Gregory Dr MC-630 Urbana, IL 61801 Phone: 217-244-0195 [email protected]