Begginer Livestock Help

[Smittenroade]

I am from Texas and live on a 200 acre farm. I was recently looking into getting some livestock to make the land a bit more productive and make a little money. Most people keep cows out here and I was wondering how profitable are they? I know it is no walk-in-the-park because I have helped many ranchers. I'm currently clearing out 15 acres of trees and am going to put up a fence.

What kind of livestock should I get?
How productive/profitable are cows?
Any kind of information you think would be helpful to me would be MUCH appreciated!

 

[kstaven]

:bun

Linked back to the BYC conversation so people can keep up on things. http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=7303979#p7303979

 

[Roll farms]

I saw in the other post you were considering goats.

Get 'Goat Rancher' magazine. I have gotten more wonderful information from my subscription to that than any other source, either online or in a book.
I have a mixed meat and dairy goat herd in IN.

There are a LOT of boer goats in TX. Your best bet would be to talk to some people locally who eat goat and find out what they like. I've heard some don't care for boer (too fatty). Might want to get some Kiko bucks and cross them to Boer does (my favorite cross). Boers take more inputs than other meat breeds (Spanish and Kiko) and won't do as well on forage alone. Also not as parasite resistant.

I've heard there's a drought in TX right now (I know it's a big place and that may not be true state-wide), and that hay prices have gone nuts. No matter how cheap you get the goats, if you have to pay too much to feed 'em, they're not gonna make you a profit.

I've had llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, pigs, emu, etc. etc. Goats are the only ones who've stayed long-term.

 

[20kidsonhill]

sheep seem to be very profitable, meat prices seem consistant. We have goats, but from what I can tell from local farmers the sheep farmers are doing pretty well. Atleast here on the east coast.

suffolk/hampshire crosses are really popular right now.

 

[77Herford]

What part of Texas are you in?
Though I raise cattle, I wouldn't recommend them for a novice. Sheep would be good or Chickens for free range, you can sell the eggs for three times what the grocery store does for the factory made ones.

 

[Smittenroade]

What part of Texas are you in?
Though I raise cattle, I wouldn't recommend them for a novice. Sheep would be good or Chickens for free range, you can sell the eggs for three times what the grocery store does for the factory made ones.

I'm in East Texas. I'm not completely novice I help alot of the ranchers around here take their herd into auction and feed them everyonce in awhile. I already have like 40+ game chickens and leghorns and sell the eggs everyonce in awhile. Can you raise sheep very well in Texas? It seems like it would get too hot for them, at least in east texas...

 

[Smittenroade]

I saw in the other post you were considering goats.

Get 'Goat Rancher' magazine. I have gotten more wonderful information from my subscription to that than any other source, either online or in a book.
I have a mixed meat and dairy goat herd in IN.

There are a LOT of boer goats in TX. Your best bet would be to talk to some people locally who eat goat and find out what they like. I've heard some don't care for boer (too fatty). Might want to get some Kiko bucks and cross them to Boer does (my favorite cross). Boers take more inputs than other meat breeds (Spanish and Kiko) and won't do as well on forage alone. Also not as parasite resistant.

I've heard there's a drought in TX right now (I know it's a big place and that may not be true state-wide), and that hay prices have gone nuts. No matter how cheap you get the goats, if you have to pay too much to feed 'em, they're not gonna make you a profit.

I've had llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, pigs, emu, etc. etc. Goats are the only ones who've stayed long-term.

Thanks for your insight. Yes, we have a drought pretty much statewide right now but we are expected to get some rain pretty soon. I will be waiting until after the drought to start buying. Goats seem like a good investment right now...I'll look into them more thoroughly. I know a lady that makes soap from her goats...She should have some good information.

 

[77Herford]

Goats are a nice option but there are many breeds of sheep that could handle Texas. Australia has more sheep than people so if the sheep can handle Aussieland I'm sure they can handle Texas. Dorpers will shed in hot weather and are good meat sheep.

 

[20kidsonhill]

don't think goats are a bad idea, but as far as sheep in texas, I know they have some high-end farms ,which means they must do well, The gentlemen that sells us our show lambs each year, often goes to texas to purchase his main breeding stock. Sheep do seem a little hardier than goats, so you may keep that in mind while doing your research, but sheep have their own issues and extra chores as well.

 

[Roll farms]

I like goat's personalities eversomuchmore than sheep. We've had 5 difft. breeds of sheep. They're just sorta...there. I like an animal that will at least notice me on occasion besides feeding time. We have an old suffolk x hampshire ewe (and I do mean old - she's 11) and that'll be the last sheep here when she goes.

Hardier? Yup. I've not dewormed Pokey in 6 years. Fun? Nope. If all you want is profit, sheep may be better for you. But goats make me smile.