Animal ProductionBasics to Being Successful

What’s The Purpose?

• What are you producing your animals for?– Example:

• Sheep – Wool

– Meat

• Cattle– Dairy

– Meat

Do You Have What It Takes?

• Facilities– Are your facilities appropriate for the animals

you are producing.

– Is the environment

appropriate

The Basics - Health• What signs does a sick animal show?

• What types of diseases are your animals susceptible to getting?

• What does your health program involve?

– What types of vaccines do you need to administer?

The Basic’s - Nutrition

• Are your animals ruminant or non-ruminant?

• What types of feeds do they need?

• Is clean, fresh water available?

• What are your goals for feeding?– Growth?– Maintenance?

The Basic’s - Reproduction

• When does the breeding season take place?– When would you like the offspring to be born?

• How does the reproduction cycle work for your species?

• What methods are you using to • breed your animals?

– Artificial Insemination– Pasture Breeding

RecordsWhy are they so important?

Record Keeping

• What types of records should I keep?– Birth Record– Weight/Growth Record– Health Records– Vaccination Record– Breeding Record– Feed Record