An introduction to small ruminant enterprise$

SUSAN SCHOENIANSheep & Goat Specialist

Western Maryland Research & Education Centersschoen@umd.edu – www.sheepandgoat.com

Introduction

Sheep and goat enterprises

What you need to raise sheep/goats

Breed resources

Getting started

Economics

Presentation topics

Monogastric◦ Simple stomach◦ Pigs and poultry (and people)

Ruminant◦ Cud-chewing ◦ 4 compartment stomach.

- Cows, sheep, and goats◦ Pseudo-ruminant

(3 compartment stomach)- Alpacas and llamas

Hind-gut fermenter◦ Fermentation occurs in the caecum

and/or large intestine◦ Horses and rabbits

Classification of farm livestockBy their digestive systems

Economic◦ Profit◦ Tax advantages

Lifestyle

Self-sufficiency produce own food, fiber

Landscape management

Why raise sheep and/or goats?

Less acreage required Less investment Ease of handling Multi-purpose Reproductive efficiency Grazing behavior Niche demand for

products Complement other

farm enterprises

Pros and cons: PROS

Small industry. Lack of

infrastructure. Lack of mainstream

demand for products. Fencing

requirements. Labor requirements. Predator risk.

Pros and cons: CONS

Similar production practices and inputs.

Same diseases.

Similar niche and ethnic demand for products.

Similar constraints to production: the 3 P’s.◦ Prices◦ Predators◦ Parasites

Sheep vs. goatsMore similarities than differences

Differences

SHEEP GOATS

Grazer Prefer forbs Graze close to ground Grow faster Produce better milk More genetic diversity Strong flocking instinct

and group mentality Traditional enterprise

Browser Prefer shrubs Top-down grazer Grow slow Produce more milk Less genetic diversity Curious and

independent New and growing

industry

Meat Dairy Fiber Landscape

management Agri-tourism

Sheep and goat enterprises

Primary income is from the sale of live animals for meat and/or the sale of meat.

Most popular sheep and goat enterprise.

There is a demand for many different kinds of lambs and goats.

Marketing infrastructure is already in place.

Meat production

Dairy production Primary income is from

the sale of milk, cheese, and/or other dairy products.

In most states, operation must be certified grade A or B to sell food products.

Usually requires own product development and marketing.

Fiber sales comprise a significant portion of the income from the enterprise.

◦ Wool◦ Mohair ◦ Cashmere◦ Alpaca

Must direct market to make a profit.

Fiber production

Land improvement on your own farm.

Fee-based grazing

“Turn-key” operation Animals Transportation Fencing Care

Greatest economic potential ! ?

Landscape management

Agri-tourism : trophy hunting

Sell stock for trophy hunting or operate your own hunting reserve. Usually hair sheep rams.

Agri-entertainment

Feed Fencing Housing and shelter

Feeders Watering system Labor

What do you need to raise sheep and goats?

Pasture and browse Hay Grain Alternative feedstuffs

Feed resourceThe largest cost associated with raising livestock is feed.

Purpose◦ To keep livestock

contained◦ To keep predators out◦ To control grazing and

manage livestock

Three kinds1. Perimeter or boundary2. Interior or cross3. Heavy use areas

Fencing

Possible cost share from NRCS (EQUIP program) for

rotational grazing.

Multi-strand, high-tensile, electric.

Woven wire with extra barbed and electric offset wires.

Barbed wire

Adapt existing fences.

Perimeter fencingYour first line of defense against predators.

Permanent

Semi-permanent

Temporary, electric◦ Smooth wire◦ Polywire, tape, or rope◦ Electric netting

Interior fencingFor rotational grazing and animal management.

Outdoor lots Holding areas Working corrals

Net wire Metal gates Solid panels Livestock panels Non-electric

Heavy use areas

Purpose◦ Animal management◦ Isolation area◦ Feed storage◦ Equipment storage◦ Human comfort

Needs vary by◦ Climate ◦ Production system◦ Timing of lambing and

kidding◦ Availability of natural shelter.◦ Personal preference

Housing and shelter

Space requirements

Maybe not, but if they have access to it, they will usually use it.

They “appreciate” protection from bad weather.

Do grazing animals require shelter?

FeedersFor supplemental feeding

Ample feed storage protects your investment in feed and allows you to make bulk purchases.

Annual hay requirements◦ ¼ to ⅓ ton per animal

Hay storage◦ 180 to 240 ft3 per ton

Uncovered hay deteriorates rapidly in quality.

StorageFeed and equipment

Hand◦ Buckets◦ Troughs◦ Tanks◦ Tubs

Automatic waterers

Possible cost share from NRCS (EQUIP program) for pasture watering systems.

Water

Daily care of animals Twice daily milking Annual shearing Pasture management Lambing and kidding Parasite control Hoof trimming

Labor

1) Purposemeat, milk, or wool

2) Usesire or dam

3) Wool or coat typefine, medium, long, carpet, or hair (shedding)

4) Othertail, prolificy, minor, rare, heritage

Sheep breeds (~50 in U.S.)

Classification of U.S. sheep breeds

Grow wool with the smallest fiber diameter.

Their wool is the most valuable in the commodity wool market.

They are best adapted to hot, dry climates.

They are hardy and long-lived, gregarious, and less seasonal in their breeding habits.

50 percent of the world’s sheep population are fine wool based.

Fine wool Rambouillet, Delaine Merino, Debouillet, Booroola Merino, American Cormo

Rambouillet

Merino

Crosses between fine and medium wool.

Whiteface sheep raised for meat, but have better quality wool than the medium meat-type wool breeds.

A few specialty breeds1. East Friesian – dairy2. Finnsheep – prolific3. Polypay – 4 way cross

Medium wool dual-purposeColumbia, Corriedale, East Friesian, Finnsheep, Panama, Polypay, Targhee

Columbia Finnsheep

East Friesian

Polypay

Grow wool that is intermediate in fiber diameter and staple length.

Excel in meat production (growth and carcass).

Mostly of British origin.

Most popular : Suffolk, Dorset, Hampshire, and Southdown.

Comprise 15 percent of the world’s sheep population.

Medium wool (meat)Cheviot, Dorset (polled and horned) North Country Cheviot, Hampshire,Oxford, Shropshire, Southdown, Suffolk, Texel, Tunis

Suffolk

Polled Dorset

Grow wool that has the largest fiber diameter, staple length, and yield.

Their wool is popular among hand spinners.

Best-adapted to high rainfall areas with abundant forage.

Long woolBorder Leicester, Coopworth, Cotswold, Lincoln, Perendale, Romney, Wensleydale

Romney

Lincoln

Romney

Their bodies are covered by hair or a mixture of hair and wool that is naturally shed.

Do not require shearing or tail docking.

Possess some unique characteristics:◦ Caribbean-type

Resistant to parasites (worms)◦ Romanov - very prolific

10 percent of the world’s sheep population.

Growing in popularity in the U.S. and other western countries.

Katahdin and Dorper most popular.

Hair (or shedding) sheepAmerican Blackbelly, Barbados Blackbelly, California Red, Dorper, Katahdin, Romanov, Royal White, St. Croix

Katahdin

Romanov

Vary in the type and quantify of wool they produce.

Vary in characteristics.

Possess some unique characteristics

◦ Double-coated◦ Carpet wool◦ Four horns◦ Rat tails◦ Solid black color◦ Persian lamb skin

Many are heritage breeds.

Minor breedsBlack Welsh Mountain, Blueface Leicester, California Varietated Mutant, Clun Forest, Gulf Coast, Icelandic, Jacob, Karakaul, Navajo-Churro, Scottish Blackface, Shetland, Wiltshire Horn

Karakul

Blueface Leicester

Classify according to purpose . . . ◦ Dairy◦ Meat◦ Fiber

◦ Miniature (small)

Goat breeds (~20 in U.S.)

Boer

Boer Kiko Myotonic

Tennessee fainting goat Spanish (brush) Pygmy Savannah

Meat goat breedsBoer

SavannahPygmy

SpanishMyotonic

Kiko

ADGA recognized◦ Swiss

Saanen Alpine Toggenburg Oberhasli

◦ Nubian◦ La Mancha◦ Nigerian Dwarf

Other◦ Sable

(colored Saanens)◦ Golden Guernsey◦ Mini dairy goats

Dairy goat breeds

Saanen

La Mancha

Oberhasli

Nubian

Toggenburg

Alpine

Angora Cashmere

More of a fiber type than a breed

PygoraPygma x Angora

CashgoraCashmere x Angora

Fiber goat breeds

Angora

CashgoraPygora

Cashmere

Pygmy (meat) Nigerian Dwarf (dairy)

KinderPygmy x Nubian

Mini SilkyMyotonic x Nigerian Dwarf ?

Mini dairy goats Nigerian Dwarf x standard dairy

Mini goat breeds

Pygmy

Nigerian Dwarf

There is a great deal of variation among sheep breeds; less among goat breeds, especially meat.

There are no “perfect” breeds.

All breeds have strengths and weaknesses.

There is usually as much difference within a breed as between breeds.

Sheep and goat breeds

Saanen

Mating animals from different breeds or breed types.

Maximizes performance and profitability◦ Hybrid vigor

Crossbred offspring are superior to their purebred parents

◦ Breed complementarityUse breeds in their appropriate roles

Crossbreeding Systematic, not random

Boer x Kiko x Alpine

If you want to show breeding stock

If you want to sell purebred and/or registered breeding stock

To produce a specific type of fiber.

To produce a consistent type and quality of fiber.

To preserve a rare or heritage breed.

When to raise purebreds

Southdown

Get pastures and facilities ready before buying your first sheep or goats.

Start small and gradually increase size of herd.

Start with healthy animals.◦ Ewe lambs/doelings vs.

mature females. Spend more money on

ram and buck.

Getting started

Reputable breeders Dispersal sales Performance and production sales Consignment sales Local salebarn Free

Sources of breeding stock

Web-based directorieswww.sheepgoatmarketing.info

Breed associationshttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/goatbreedassoc.htmlhttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/sheepbreedassoc.html

West Virginia Shepherd’s Federation http://www.sheepwv.org/

MPWV Meat Goat Producers Associationhttp://www.meatgoat.biz

West Virginia Market Bulletinhttp://www.wvagriculture.org/market_bulletin/market_bulletin.html

Virginia sheep and goat clearinghouse listshttp://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/livestock/

Lancaster Farminghttp://lancasterfarming.com

Where to find breeding stock

EconomicsCan you make any money raising sheep and/or goats?

Yes or No

Business planning

Enterprise budgeting

File a schedule F

Record keeping

Make decisions based on science and economics.

Control costs

Production efficiency

Smart marketing

How to make a profit

Know your costs!

Feed least-cost rations.

◦ Shop around for feed ingredients.

◦ Balance your own rations.◦ Maximize forage

resource.

Do you own vet work.

Cull non-productive and problematic animals.

Control costs

Feed balanced rations.

Aim for a 200% (or more) lamb/kid crop.

Select for lbs. of quality lamb or goat weaned.

Cull animals that fail to raise a lamb or kid.

Manage to breed ewe lambs and doe kids to lamb or kid by the time they are 12 to 15 months of age.

Use performance tested rams and bucks.

Production efficiency (meat)

Aim for the highest “net” price, not necessarily the highest price.

Evaluate direct marketing as a means to increase profitability.

Consider marketing alliances with other like-minded producers and/or entities.

Choose one or two target markets.

Don’t let higher market prices compensate for poor production efficiency.

Smart marketing

Thank you for your attention. Any questions?