Best animal to get into as business?

[boykin2010]

Selling registered breeding stock is usually the way to go when trying to make money.
Hair sheep are in a huge demand around here. Katahdins especially. Breeders usually sell out of stock a year in advance

 

[exotica]

but will such things die in demand? like the poor alpacas did?

or will sheep never die?

Is higland cattle a few something good to invest in? Just rying to plan this ahead and research before i go investing a lot of money and a bigger space. Also gonna look at farms etc.. But would rather have a wide variety.


As long as the yearly net profit will grow eventually. And i dont have to butcher my own animals.

 

[BrownSheep]

With any animal that you plan on breeding there is a good chance some will be butchered. Not all animals that are born have the potential or quality to become breeding stock. The future of the breed depends on selective breeding to better the health and quality of the animals. Of course you don't have to butcher them yourself! You should be aware people will indeed butcher some of the animals they buy from you. You cam always do a no breeding flock of fiber animals.

Sheep like most livestock are generally meat animals. I raise sheep and send some to the butcher every year. It can be difficult but I know they live a good life and provide an important supply of substance.

 

[pridegoethb4thefall]

I know you said you don't want to raise meat animals, but from what I have read... you might want to look into a few breeder pigs. Cost of feed ratio to actual body weight gain is about the highest you can find in many animals. And the cost of pork usually stays decent. 1 male and 2 or 3 females can keep you in feeder pigs pretty well. Cost of feed would be offset by sales of baby pigs, and you could do trades for other items/livestock.

Sorry, I don't know of many other $ making ventures in the livestock biz.. Really, if there was a way to make a 'real' living off livestock, everyone would be doing it, OR they wouldn't share their secrets to keep the market from being upset thus destroying the profit margin.

Really small time, you could make some money off poultry. Selling eggs and chicks can offset costs of feed for your breeder flock. Free ranging is a great way to help offset costs as well. You can also sell started pullets, consider selling some as meat/egg producers, or raise a specialty breed hard to find in your area.

Could also buy ALOT of chicks from hatchery and re-sell at a higher price on CL- (happens a lot)

All in all, consider your lands' ability to support each type of livestock, look into real costs to feed, house, medicate/treat illness, rotate pasture, and really look into WHERE you will buy your feed and at what costs. Look into where you will get your basic supplies and fencing needs, feeding supplies, medical supplies, and even into what kind of veterinarians are in the area.

It can be hard to find a ruminate vet in an area dominated by horses and dog/cat owners. Vice/versa it can be hard to find a vet for horses in a ruminate dominated market.
Check your potential area for mobile vet services too- if you ever need one, you'll be glad you're in a place where one is available.

Oh, and maybe rabbits? Again they are pretty much for show or meat, so....

Tough to limit yourself to species not used for meat- REALLY will cut into profitability potential. Like another poster mentioned, nearly all livestock has food potential and someone, somewhere, will eventually find your product appetizing.

 

[Bitterroot]

but will such things die in demand? like the poor alpacas did?

Seems to be the way of things. What's hot today will be given away a few years from now. Look at all the past crazes. Emu, alpacas, etc.

I've yet to see anyone claim they're making a decent living off livestock/farming anymore. At least, not the little guys.

Personally, I'm picking animals I like and selling a few here and there. If I make any cash or manage to break even on the feed bill that's awesome. But I'm letting my love of the animals come first, not the love of money. If you get into it just for money, you're setting yourself up for heartbreak, IMO.

 

[exotica]

i see a lot of people though they do have nice houses and nice living off of animals


Right now i do make a nice living i admit but to be honest ? I hate my life , i hate the business, ive worked for other people also i hate that, I have money I could easily invest into something but i mean id eventually have to turn it around and make a living from it or we would all starve lol

I would like a nice life the way i have right now money wise i just hate it. I just know if i could find some sort of animal related business with all the $$ invested would be great.

Ive seen people purchase hundred thousand dollar show horses and all kinds of expensive stock. Eventually after making a nice living id love to branch off and get into more risky animals but start off small.


My issue with meat is just cause i do like love cows love pigs love everything but as long as it is humanly dipsatched i could live with it. I have meat eating dogs so i mean it is reality i feed my dogs/cats raw anyway.


It seems like there will always be a demand for certain sheep also.


Id also purchase a place that would be best suitable for such a farm.


Ive kept all kinds of puultry ducks geese turkey and bred parrots i had a lot of fun doing it as a hobby i found everything very easy to keep because i just let them out during the day with a guard animal and never suffered any losses. This was just for fun as a hobby i didnt want to make profit i just wanted pets.

My parents raised buffalo (water), mixed horned cattle, goats, pigs but this was more than 40 years ago when they were kids.

 

[exotica]

bitterroot are beef cattle the big guys?


a dream would be something like dogs, or horses but that is just not realistic. Unless someone gives me a world winning lipazanner stallion as a gift or a dog that won the ring 3 title of france lol

 

[BrownSheep]

It sounds like you want to make a career of livestock instead of just some extra cash that most of us do it for. I have to agree with what some of the others posted about registered stock. More expensive with initial start up but better selling prices along as its a desirable breed.

 

[exotica]

is start up usually about 100k? can one person u think do it themsleves? a dainty woman even? lol I was hoping for hardy strong animals. Highland and longhorns really appeal to me as well as some sheep.


I see what u guys mean registered stock kinda gives us the proof we have legit animals and will make it much more easy to sell as long as our animals are healthy of course.

 

[bonbean01]

I believe I understand what you want...I also made a good living as a legal secretary, but totally hated the stress and wanted to make a living off my 15 acres that at the time I had my pleasure horses on. Researched many ideas, but truly, there is not a lot of money to be made in livestock...and if you are against livestock for meat...well...your options are limited.

Hair sheep are great and we raise them and chickens and a pond of catfish, a young orchard, and do veggie gardening. Make a living off that??? Nope...but we are feeding ourselves and friends, but then again...it is meat and eggs we raise...so, guess that is not for you. By the way hair sheep are also known as meat sheep...doesn't mean you have to eat them, but someone else will, or their offspring.

Good to dream big...but reality comes into it too. Hope you find what makes you happy