Livestock Farming
The more time you spend raising animals, the more you realize how much there is to raising animals.
I can remember about a decade ago I thought I could just get a cow and put her in a field and life would be complete.
I wish it was that simple.
We have kept milk cows, beef cattle, sheep, and pigs on our farm. We have also raised rabbits, ducks, broiler chickens, layer chickens, and guineas.
Smaller livestock are much easier to keep, in my opinion. They also tend to present fewer problems.
One would think that large animals such as COWS would be hardy and easy to manage. Our experiences have taught us that being huge does not make you stable. Cows can be surprisingly fragile in spite of their enormous size.
TIPS TO SUCCESSFUL LIVESTOCK FARMING
Livestock farming is the raising of animals for meat or other products (milk, eggs, fiber, hair, labor, etc). These animals can include: dairy or beef cattle, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, buffalos, mules, horses, camels goats, sheep, pigs, alpacas, llamas, rabbits or other animal.
A farm that includes livestock is contributing greatly to our country. We need these products raised near us, and the closer the better. Meat, dairy, and eggs are arguably the best sources of protein humans can consume providing excellent sources of digestibly nutrition.
THE GOD THING
Many believe that keeping livestock promotes a close relationship to God. I will undoubtedly say that when you depend on things like plants, animals, and agriculture for your sustenance, you are depending greatly on God’s provision. We can plant the seeds, buy the day-old chicks, and feed the bottle-calf, but we look to God for the outcome. We have no power over the weather, illnesses, and unforeseeable problems.
SUCCESSFUL LIVESTOCK FARMING
TIP #1: START SMALL
When we began adding animals to our homestead, we did so slowly. We added chickens and spent some time getting to know them and learning all about free-ranging.
Then we added a couple of Berkshire pigs. We bought our first spring pigs and sent them to freezer-camp before Thanksgiving. It was a perfect start to keeping pigs. We had a wonderful experience and because we did not have many other projects going on which provided the time to really get to know and enjoy the experience of raising pigs.
We raised pigs over the summer for the next six years consecutively, increasing the herd as we had customers (our biggest year for pigs we owned 17).
After a few years we added a jersey cow.
SUCCESSFUL LIVESTOCK FARMING
TIP #2: FUNCTIONALITY – SET THE OPERATION UP FOR SUCCESS
When setting up fields, pastures and buildings, be sure to make the most of your farm.
Use rotational grazing. More livestock can be kept in less space when animals are rotated onto different pastures. Fields are healthier, animals are healthier, there will be fewer parasite problems, and rotation will give your land time to rest.
Place drinkers and shelters in between pastures so they can be used from either side.
Taking the time and expense to install automatic drinkers, electricity, and lights will save you time in the future.
Use large buildings for multiple functions. Wall off a corner for chickens, add a small door for them out of the side of the building. Install lean-tos off sides of buildings for shelters. Pour a small concrete floor in a corner of a pole barn to use as the milking parlor.
A little planning can make great use of large buildings and streamline your operation.
SUCCESSFUL LIVESTOCK FARMING
TIP #3: HAVE A TEAM
It is good to involve your children, spouse, or a few responsible neighbors/ farm employees to know how to work with your livestock.
This is extremely helpful when you plan a vacation, get sick, or need help working the livestock for seasonal immunizations, castrations, teethe clipping, tail docking, hoof trimming, or whatever else needs to happen.
SUCCESSFUL LIVESTOCK FARMING
TIP #4: SPECIALIZE
It is a good idea to find your passion and spend time learning and specializing in that area. For me, it was the family milk cow, but it would take me a couple of animals and a few years to find this love.
A jersey cow came to our farm and this is when I fell head-over-heels in love. I was completely smitten and decided to really hunker down and immerse myself in the practice of keeping a family cow as well as home dairying. I consumed volumes of information and spent untold hours researching and poring over the subject. Our experiences taught us even more. Over the years we learned all about mastitis, and how to live with it, prevent it and treat it. We navigated breeding, calving, and training milk cows. We learned how to deal with (or prevent) milk fever, ketosis, grass tetany, parasites and so much more.
I discovered that milking cows is a passion of mine and that I LOVE working with these large animals. I have had the privilege of owning several milk cows over the years. I have bred them, trained them, milked them, cared for them, sold some of them, and truly loved every minute.
An expert, I will never be, but I have cherished my milk cows dearly and have truly enjoyed them.
For you, this may be sheep or goats or other animals. Take some time and find your nitch. Figure out which animals you are passionate about and become an asset in that department. Make sure your farm is known for its expertise/ experience and it will give you a jump over the competition.
TIP #5 BUILD A BUSINESS AROUND YOUR NICHE
Candles made from beef tallow
If you decide your niche is family milk cows create a side business of selling dairy-based products.
If goats are your passion, consider making soap.
If you keep chickens, sell eggs for consumption, sell fertilized eggs for hatching, or even day-old chicks.
If you raise pigs, make and sell pastured lard.
Sell raw fiber from rabbits, sheep or alpacas.
There are usually several options for side-businesses. Do some research around the direction you are leaning.
SUCCESSFUL LIVESTOCK FARMING
TIP #6: STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU LOVE
It is easy to get distracted from your focus. We have been given potbelly pigs, sheep and several rabbits over the years.
Sometimes it can be fun and adventurous to say “YES!” to the new addition, sometimes it can be devastating.
Remember your goals and try to make decisions that align with them. Although a bottle-baby is adorable, it may not be the best fit for your operation or your time.
Keeping livestock may be a challenge, at the same time, I feel they pour out the most joy onto a homestead. I get as excited as the next gal about the tiny seedlings emerging from the soil, but they will never compare to the new, wobbly calf or the just-hatched chicks.
Talk about Joy!
XO,
Candi
