income opportunities with sheep and goats

Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010

S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 1

SUSAN SCHOENIANSUSAN SCHOENIANSUSAN SCHOENIANSUSAN SCHOENIANSheep & Goat Specialist

Western Maryland Research & Education Centersschoen@umd.edu – www.sheepandgoat.com

� Introduction

� Sheep and goat enterprises

� What you need to raise sheep/goats

� Breed resources

� Getting started

� Economics

� Monogastric◦ Simple stomach◦ Pigs and poultry (and people)

� Ruminant◦ Cud-chewing ◦ 4 compartment stomach.- Cows, sheep, and goats◦ Pseudo-ruminant (3 compartment stomach)- Alpacas and llamas

� Hind-gut fermenter◦ Fermentation occurs in the caecum and/or large intestine◦ Horses and rabbits

�Sheep

�Goats

� Cervids (deer)

� Camelids (alpacas and llamas)

� Economic◦ Profit

◦ Tax advantages

� Lifestyle – quality of life

� Self-sufficiency produce own food, fiber

� Landscape management

� Less acreage required

� Less investment

� Quick return on investment

� Ease of handling

� Multi-purpose

� Reproductive efficiency

� Grazing behavior

� Niche demand for products

� Complement other farm enterprises

� Small industries

� Lack of infrastructure

� Lack of mainstream demand for products.

� Fencing requirements.

� Labor requirements.

� Predator risk.

� Similar production practices and inputs.

� Same diseases.

� Similar niche and ethnic demand for products.

� Similar constraints to production: the 3 P’s.◦ Prices◦ Predators◦ Parasites

SHEEP SHEEP SHEEP SHEEP ---- ovineovineovineovine GOATS GOATS GOATS GOATS ---- caprinecaprinecaprinecaprine

� Grazer

� Prefer forbs

� Graze close to ground

� Grow faster

� Produce better milk

� More genetic diversity

� Strong flocking instinct and group mentality (aloof)

� Traditional enterprise

� Browser� Prefer shrubs� Top-down grazer� Grow slow� Produce more milk� Less genetic diversity� Curious and independent

� New and growing industry

� Meat

� Dairy

� Fiber

� Landscape management

� Agritourism

� Most popular sheep and goat enterprise.

� Primary income is from the sale of live animals for meat and/or the sale of fresh, frozen, or processed meat products.

� There is a demand for many different kinds and sizes of market lambs and goats.

� Primarily an ethnic demand.

� A marketing infrastructure is already in place for meat animals.

� Primary income is from the sale of milk, cheese, and/or other dairy products.

� In most states, operation must be certified grade A or B to sell dairy products for human consumption.

� Usually requires own product development and marketing.

� More investment required, but greater income potential.

� Fiber sales comprise a significant portion of the income from the enterprise.

� Wool (many kinds)� Mohair (Angora goats)� Cashmere� Alpaca

� Prices in commodity market (wool pool) don’t usually cover costs of production and marketing.

� Must direct market to make a profit.

� Land improvement on your own farm or property.

� Fee-based grazing

“Turn-key” operation� Animals� Transportation� Fencing� Care

◦ Perhaps, greatest economic potential ! ?

Sell stock for trophy hunting or operate your own hunting reserve. Usually hair sheep rams.

�Feed

� Fencing

� Housing and shelter

� Feeders

� Watering system

� Labor

�Usually pasture and browse

� Hay

� Grain

� Alternative feedstuffs

� Purpose1) To keep livestock contained

2) To keep predators out

3) To control grazing and manage livestock

� Three kinds of fencing1) Perimeter or boundary

2) Interior or cross

3) Heavy use areas

� Possible cost share from NRCS (EQIP program) for rotational grazing.

� Multi-strand, high-tensile, electric.

� Woven wire with extra barbed and electric offset wires.

�Barbed wire

� Adapt existing fences.

� Permanent

� Semi-permanent

� Temporary, electric◦ Smooth wire

◦ Polywire, tape, or rope

◦ Electric netting

For� Outdoor lots� Holding areas� Working corrals

Materials� Net wire� Metal gates� Solid panels� Livestock panels� High-tensile, non-electric

� Purpose◦ Animal management◦ Isolation area◦ Feed storage◦ Equipment storage◦ Human comfort

� Needs vary by◦ Climate ◦ Production system� Timing of lambing and kidding

◦ Availability of natural shelter.◦ Personal preference

� Maybe not, but if they have access to it, they will usually use it.

� They “appreciate” protection from bad weather.

� Ample feed storage protects your investment in feed and allows you to make bulk purchases.

� Annual hay requirements◦ ¼ to ⅓ ton per animal

� Hay storage◦ 180 to 240 ft3 per ton

� Uncovered hay deteriorates rapidly in quality.

� Hand / manual watering◦ Buckets

◦ Troughs

◦ Tanks

◦ Tubs

� Automatic waterers◦ Possible cost share from NRCS (EQIP program) for pasture watering systems.

� Daily care of animals� Twice daily milking� Annual shearing� Pasture management� Lambing and kidding� Parasite control� Hoof trimming

1) Purposemeat, milk, or wool

2) Usesire or dam

3) Wool or coat typefine, medium, long, carpet, or hair (shedding)

4) Othertail, prolificacy, minor, rare, heritage

� Grow wool with the smallest fiber diameter.

� Their wool is the most valuable in the commodity wool market.

� They are best adapted to hot, dry climates.

� They are hardy and long-lived, gregarious, and less seasonal in their breeding habits.

� 50 percent of the world’s sheep population are fine wool based.

� Grow wool that has the largest fiber diameter, staple length, and yield.

� Their wool is popular among hand spinners and wool craftsmen.

� Best-adapted to high rainfall areas with abundant forage.

Romney

Lincoln

� Grow wool that is intermediate in fiber diameter and staple length.

� Excel in meat production (growth and carcass).

� Mostly of British origin.

� Most popular breeds: Suffolk, Dorset, Hampshire, and Southdown.

� Comprise 15 percent of the world’s sheep population.

� Crosses between fine and medium wool.

� Whiteface sheep raised for meat, but have better quality wool than the medium meat-type wool breeds.

� A few specialty breeds1. East Friesian – dairy2. Finnsheep – prolific3. Polypay – 4 way cross

Columbia Finnsheep

East Friesian

Polypay

� Hair coats or hair/wool mix.

� Do not require shearing or tail docking.

� Possess some unique characteristics:◦ Caribbean-typeResistant to parasites (worms)

◦ Romanov - very prolific

� 10 percent of the world’s sheep population.

� Growing in popularity in the U.S. and other western countries.

� Katahdin and Dorper most popular and suitable for meat production.

Katahdin

Romanov

� Vary in the type and quantify of wool they produce.

� Vary in characteristics.

� Possess some unique characteristics

◦ Double-coated◦ Carpet wool◦ Four horns◦ Rat tails◦ Solid black color◦ Persian lamb skin

� Many are heritage breeds.

Karakul

BluefaceLeicester

� Classify according to purpose . . .

◦ Dairy

◦ Meat

◦ Fiber

◦ Miniature (small)

� Boer

� Kiko

� MyotonicTennessee fainting goat

� Spanish (brush)Not really a breed; a type

� Pygmy

� Savannah

SavannahPygmy

SpanishMyotonic

� ADGA recognized◦ Swiss� Saanen� Alpine� Toggenburg� Oberhasli◦ (Anglo) Nubian◦ La Mancha◦ Nigerian Dwarf

� Other◦ Sable (colored Saanens)◦ Golden Guernsey◦ Mini dairy goats

Saanen

La Mancha

Oberhasli

Nubian

Toggenburg

Alpine

0250500750100012501500175020002250250027503000

Source: Breed averages, ADGA, 2008

� Angora

� CashmereMore of a fiber type than a breed

� PygoraPygma x Angora

� CashgoraCashmere x Angora

Angora

CashgoraPygora

Cashmere

� Pygmy (meat)

� Nigerian Dwarf (dairy)

� KinderPygmy x Nubian

� Mini SilkyMyotonic x Nigerian Dwarf ?

� Mini dairy goats Nigerian Dwarf x standard dairy

Nigerian Dwarf

� There is a great deal of variation among sheep breeds; less among goat breeds, especially meat.

� There are no “perfect” breeds.

� All breeds have strengths and weaknesses.

� There is usually as much difference within a breed as between breeds.

Saanen

� Mating animals from different breeds or breed types.

� Maximizes performance and profitability.

◦ Hybrid vigor� Crossbred offspring are superior to their purebred parents.

◦ Breed complementarity� Balances strengths and weaknesses of breeds.

� Use breeds in their appropriate roles

Boer x Kiko x Alpine

� If you want to show purebred breeding stock.

� If you want to sell purebred and/or registered breeding stock.

� To produce a specific type of fiber.

� To produce a consistent type and quality of fiber.

� To preserve a rare or heritage breed.

Southdown

� Get pastures and facilities ready before buying your first sheep or goats.

� Start small and gradually increase size of herd.

� Start with healthy animals.◦ Ewe lambs/doelings vs. mature females.

� Spend more money on ram and buck.◦ e.g. 5x the value of a market lamb

�Reputable breeders

� Dispersal sales

�Performance and production sales

� Consignment sales

�Local salebarn

�Free

� Web-based directorieswww.sheepgoatmarketing.info

� Breed associationshttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/goatbreedassoc.htmlhttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/sheepbreedassoc.html

� Maryland Sheep Breeders Associationhttp://www.mdsheepbreeders.org

� MPWV Meat Goat Producers Associationhttp://www.meatgoat.biz

� Maryland Dairy Goat Associationhttp://www.marylanddairygoat.org

� Frederick County Sheep Breeders Associationhttp://www.fredericksheepbreeders.com

� West Virginia Market Bulletinhttp://www.wvagriculture.org/market_bulletin/market_bulletin.html

� Virginia sheep and goat clearinghouse listshttp://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/livestock/

� Lancaster Farminghttp://lancasterfarming.com

� Business planning

� Enterprise budgeting

� File a schedule F

� Record keeping

� Make decisions based on science and economics.

� Control costs

� Production efficiency

� Smart marketing

� Know your costs!

� Feed least-cost rations.

◦ Shop around for feed ingredients.

◦ Balance your own rations.

◦ Maximize forage resource.

� Do you own vet work.

� Cull non-productive and problematic animals.

� Feed balanced rations.

� Aim for a 200% (or more) lamb/kid crop.

� Select for lbs. of quality lamb or goat weaned.

� Cull animals that fail to raise a lamb or kid.

� Manage to breed ewe lambs and doe kids to lamb or kid by the time they are 12 to 15 months of age.

� Use performance tested rams and bucks.

� Aim for the highest “net” price, not necessarily the highest price.

� Evaluate direct marketing as a means to increase profitability.

� Consider marketing alliances with other like-minded producers and/or entities.

� Choose one or two target markets.

� Don’t let higher market prices compensate for poor production efficiency.

Thank you for your attention. Any questions? Thank you for your attention. Any questions?

income opportunities with sheep and goats

Education

hawd pastoral (camel, sheep & goats)

castration of sheep and goats

animal genetic resources in malaysiaseladang, the selembu...

sheep and goats as alternative enterprises

eu sheep and goats meat market situation

properly handling sheep and goats

internal parasites of sheep and goats

sheep and goats in humid west africa

feral swine disease risks to sheep & goats · sheep and...

border disease of sheep and goats

income opportunities with sheep and goats

sheep goats

all about sheep and goats

castration of sheep and goats - ethiopia

forage development for sheep and goats

sheep, goats, wood and woolly things

parturition related disorders in sheep and goats

specific diseases of sheep and goats

shelters and housing for sheep and goats

making money with sheep and goats