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raising small animals

on small farms

James Theuri jtheu50@illinois.edu 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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Before You Begin …

• Do honest evaluation of resources you have

– Personal:

• 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

`

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

Dairy Goats

Milking Dairy Sheep, Poland

Sheep Breeds • Suffolk – black-face, meat-type breed. Selected for:

– Lamb production

– Growth rate

– Feed efficiency

– Carcass quality

• Katahdin – do not need shearing – hardy, adaptable, docile, low

maintenance

– Lean, meaty carcasses

– Ewes are exceptional mothers

– Lamb easily on pasture; excellent

on grass/forage-based management systems

– Tolerate internal & external parasites

Management & Health Tasks

• Buck care, esp. during non-breeding season

• Kidding: • How to care for ewe and doe before and after birthing

• Assisting doe or ewe in difficult birthing situations

• Taking care of newborn kids and/or lambs

• Handling the weaning process

• Vaccination

• Internal & external parasite control • Regular parasite program

• Foot trimming • Do you know how to?

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Parasites

Recognizing Early Signs of Disease

• Ears down/ out to the side

• Slightly drooped head

• Spacey look in the eyes

• Ruffled coat

• Standing hunched

• Decreased appetite

• Not interacting with other animals (off on their own)

Fencing

• Oftentimes, fencing is the biggest capital expense

• 2 types of fencing

– Perimeter (exterior)

• Keep livestock in and keep predators out

• Need high-tensile fence

• Woven wire also popular (can be expensive)

– Cross-fencing (interior) – used for controlled grazing; portable

• Inclusion of a ‘hot’ wire further repels animals

• Fence types serve different purposes

Sheep & Goat Statistics, USA (NASS 2011) Sheep

5.5 m (<2% than 2010) Goats

3 m (<1% than 2010)

Total Losses

400,000 lambs

234,500 adults

? kids

? adults

Losses due to predators

247,000 (39%) (Loss: $20.5 m)

180,000 (32.5%)

• Predators include coyotes, bears, domestic & wild dogs, eagles

• Management

– fencing

– guard dogs

– companion animals

– lethal & non-lethal methods

~ 550,000

Fence types Keeping Records

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Annual ewe /doe expenses Vaccinations

Hoof trimming

Deworming

Hay/Feed

Forage testing

Pasture renovation

Mineral

Vet fees

Guard animals

Electricity (fence/water)

Fence repair

Replacement costs

Which costs the most?

Example: Annual doe costs – 2009 – 2011 (2 bucks and 23 does)

Vaccinations ($25) Hoof trimming ($25) Deworming ($10) Hay ($1,551) Forage testing ($23) Pasture renovation ($67)

Mineral ($112) Vet fees/supplies ($134) Guard animals ($338) Electricity (fence/water) ($130) Fence repair ($117) Replacement costs ($500)

$3,032 total / 25 goats = $121.28 $1,481 total / 25 goats = $59.24 (without hay)

Marketing

• Production is 20% effort, marketing is 80% (Joel Salatin)

• Study the population of your area

– e.g. in and around Cook County (Chicago):

• Niche markets (Hispanics, Africans , Muslims, Asians, etc)

• Festive holidays (Ramadan, Christmas, etc)

• Sell via • sale barns, processing plants, restaurants, Farm Direct

• online - MarketMaker, etc)

• Breeding stock – sell via breed organizations

References

Sheep & Goat (combined) references

• Illinois SheepNet and Meat GoatNet (Sheep, Goats and other livestock)

• http://www.livestocktrail.illinois.edu/sheepnet/paperDisplay.cfm?ContentID=9808

• Great Grazing With Sheep and Goats. ATTRA News Vol. 13, No. 1. Jan-Feb 2005

• http://ucanr.org/sites/placernevadasmallfarms/Livestock/SheepGoats/

Sheep resources

• http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/em/em8916-e.pdf

• http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/hairsheepprodmktg.html

• Dairy sheep: http://www.sheep101.info/dairy.html

Goat resources

• Study-at-home course: http://extension.psu.edu/courses/meat-goat

• Storey’s Guide to Raising Meat Goats. Maggie Sayer, ed. Storey Publishing, 2007.

Pastures Illinois Agronomy Handbook http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/publications/ay253.htm

» Meat, eggs, or both

» Easier ‘livestock’ to deal with

» Most forgiving among the ‘livestock’

» Fertilizer suppliers

» Can be pastured for added value

» Easier to market?

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» Housing improvement for egg-laying hens Humane Society & United Egg Producers

» Includes: ˃ Doubling space allotted per hen

From 67 (some only 48) sq. inches to 124 sq. inches (white hens)

and 144 sq. inches for brown hens

˃ Provide environmental enrichments

Perches, nesting boxes, and scratching areas

˃ Prohibit feed or water withdrawal (so as to induce molting …)

˃ Euthanasia for egg-laying hens

˃ Prohibit excessive ammonia in henhouses

˃ Label egg cartons to indicate how eggs were produced

+ Caged? Enriched cages? Free-range?

˃ Sustainable future for family-owned egg farms

» Planning ˃ Goals, financial plan, marketing, etc

˃ Zoning laws

˃ Illinois Law (Meat and Poultry Inspection Act)

+ www.agr.state.il.us

» Producer needs license if production and sales over 5,000 birds per year

» How many birds? Two 14-cubic foot freezers will hold 100, 5 ½ pound chickens

On pasture: 400 birds per acre

» What breed? Cornish Rock Cross is popular

» Market Don’t grow till you know how to sell

Use a variety of methods to sell

» Order 6-8 weeks before fair

» Receiving new chicks ˃ Water

˃ Heat

˃ Food

˃ Extreme TLC

• What does it provide • Protection – elements, predators, injury, theft

• Poultry require dry, draft-free house – • but with proper ventilation

• Build on high, well-drained area

• Face front, windows, outside run to the South

Chicken tractor

Free-range chicken

First-year available nutrient content averages* SPECIES N P2O5 K - - - - - - - - - - - lbs/ton - - - - - - - - - - - Dairy 3 (4)** 3 7 Beef 4 (5) 5 9 Horse 3 (4) 4 8 Swine 7 (9) 6 7 Chicken 20 (24) 30 24 * Source: Wisconsin soil test labs

** 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 kkoelkeb@illinois.edu

http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/bf-130-poultry-production/

Organic Poultry production:

Home Processing of Poultry: www.extension.umn.edu

Organic Meat and Poultry Processing Basics: www.mda.state.mn.us/esap.organic

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Agripreneurship: Issues to Consider

1. Plan and set goals

2. MARKETING

3. Select the breed(s)

4. Be health-conscious (internal, external parasites;

diseases)

5. Feed and water: quantity and quality

6. Pastures

7. Grazing management

8. Fencing

9. Housing, Buildings and Equipment

10. Predators

11. Pregnancy & kidding

12. Artificial rearing

13. Milking; shearing; hoof trimming; disbudding & dehorning; castration