Intro to small ruminant enterprises
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Transcript of Intro to small ruminant enterprises
Intro to small ruminant enterprises 3/2/2010
S. Schoenian ‐ Univ. of MD Ext. 1
SUSAN SCHOENIANSheep & Goat Specialist
Western Maryland Research & Education [email protected] – www.sheepandgoat.com
Introduction
Sheep and goatSheep and goat enterprises
What you need to raise sheep/goats
Breed resources
Getting started
Economics
Intro to small ruminant enterprises 3/2/2010
S. Schoenian ‐ Univ. of MD Ext. 2
Monogastric◦ Simple stomachp◦ 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
Economic◦ Profit◦ Tax advantages
Lifestyle
Self-sufficiency d f d f bproduce own food, fiber
Landscape management
Intro to small ruminant enterprises 3/2/2010
S. Schoenian ‐ Univ. of MD Ext. 3
Less acreage requiredLess investmentEase of handlingMulti-purposeReproductive efficiencyGrazing behaviorNiche demand for productsproductsComplement other farm enterprises
Small industry.f fLack of infrastructure.
Lack of mainstream demand for products.Fencing requirements.L b i tLabor requirements.Predator risk.
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S. Schoenian ‐ Univ. of MD Ext. 4
Similar production practices and inputs.
Same diseases.
Similar niche and ethnic demand for products.
Similar constraints to d ti th 3 P’production: the 3 P’s.
◦ Prices◦ Predators◦ Parasites
GrazerPrefer forbs
BrowserPrefer shrubsT dGraze close to ground
Grow fasterProduce better milkMore genetic diversityStrong flocking instinct and group mentality
Top-down grazerGrow slowProduce more milkLess genetic diversityCurious and independentNew and growing
SHEEP GOATS
and group mentalityTraditional enterprise
New and growing industry
Intro to small ruminant enterprises 3/2/2010
S. Schoenian ‐ Univ. of MD Ext. 5
MeatDairya yFiberLandscape managementAgri-tourism
Primary income is from the sale of live animals for meat and/or the sale 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 goatslambs and goats.
Marketing infrastructure is already in place.
Intro to small ruminant enterprises 3/2/2010
S. Schoenian ‐ Univ. of MD Ext. 6
Primary income is from the sale of milk, cheese and/or othercheese, 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 h i f hthe income from the
enterprise.
◦ Wool◦ Mohair ◦ Cashmere◦ Alpaca◦ Alpaca
Must direct market to make a profit.
Intro to small ruminant enterprises 3/2/2010
S. Schoenian ‐ Univ. of MD Ext. 7
Land improvement on your own farm.
Fee-based grazing
“Turn-key” operationAnimalsTransportationFencinggCare
Greatest economic potential ! ?
Sell stock for trophy hunting or operate your own hunting reserve. Usually hair sheep rams.
Intro to small ruminant enterprises 3/2/2010
S. Schoenian ‐ Univ. of MD Ext. 8
FeedFeedFencingHousing and shelterFeedersWatering systemLabor
Intro to small ruminant enterprises 3/2/2010
S. Schoenian ‐ Univ. of MD Ext. 9
Pasture and browseHayHayGrainAlternative feedstuffs
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 Possible cost share from
NRCS (EQUIP program) for rotational grazing.
Intro to small ruminant enterprises 3/2/2010
S. Schoenian ‐ Univ. of MD Ext. 10
Multi-strand, high-tensile electrictensile, electric.
Woven wire with extra barbed and electric offset wires.
Barbed ireBarbed wire
Adapt existing fences.
PermanentPermanent
Semi-permanent
Temporary, electric◦ Smooth wire◦ Polywire, tape, or rope◦ Electric netting
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Outdoor lotsH ldiHolding areasWorking corrals
Net wireMetal gatesSolid panelsLivestock panelsNon-electric
Purpose◦ Animal management◦ Isolation areaIsolation area◦ Feed storage◦ Equipment storage◦ Human comfort
Needs vary by◦ Climate ◦ Production system
Ti i f l bi d◦ Timing of lambing and kidding
◦ Availability of natural shelter.
◦ Personal preference
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Maybe not, but if they have access to it, they will usually use it. Th “ i ” i f b d hThey “appreciate” protection from bad weather.
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Ample feed storage protects your investment p yin feed and allows you to make bulk purchases.
Annual hay requirements◦ ¼ to ⅓ ton per animal
Hay storage180 to 240 ft3 per ton◦ 180 to 240 ft3 per ton
Uncovered hay deteriorates rapidly in quality.
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Hand◦ Buckets◦ Troughs◦ Tanks◦ Tubs
Automatic waterersAutomatic waterers
Possible cost share from NRCS (EQUIP program) for pasture watering systems.
Daily care of animalsTwice daily milkingAnnual shearinggPasture managementLambing and kiddingParasite controlHoof trimming
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1) Purposemeat, milk, or wool, ,
2) Usesire or dam
3) Wool or coat typefine, medium, long, carpet, or hair (shedding)
4) Other)tail, prolificy, minor, rare, heritage
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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 h i b di h bitheir breeding habits.
50 percent of the world’s sheep population are fine wool based.
Crosses between fine and medium wool.
White face raised for meat, but have better quality wool than the medium meat-type wool breeds.
A few specialty breedsd
Columbia Finnsheep
East Friesian
Polypay
1. East Friesian – dairy2. Finnsheep – prolific3. Polypay – 4 way cross
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Grow wool that is i t di t i fibintermediate in fiber diameter and staple length.
Excel in meat production (growth and carcass).
Mostly of British origin.
Most popular : SuffolkMost popular : Suffolk, Dorset, Hampshire, and Southdown.
Comprise 15 percent of the world’s sheep population.
Grow wool that has the l t fib di t
Romney
largest fiber diameter, staple length, and yield.
Their wool is popular among hand spinners.Lincoln
Best-adapted to high rainfall areas with abundant forage.
Romney
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Their bodies are covered by hair or a mixture of hair and wool that is naturally shed.
Katahdin
atu a y s ed
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
Romanov
population.
Growing in popularity in the U.S. and other western countries.
Katahdin and Dorper most popular.
Vary in the type and quantify of wool they produce.
BluefaceLeicester
Vary in characteristics.
Possess some unique characteristics
◦ Double-coated◦ Carpet wool◦ Four horns◦ Rat tails◦ Rat tails◦ Solid black color◦ Persian lamb skin
Many are heritage breeds.
Karakul
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Classify according Boer y gto purpose . . .
◦ Dairy◦ Meat◦ Fiber
◦ Miniature (small)
B
Boer Kiko
BoerKikoMyotonicTennessee fainting goatSpanish (brush)Pygmy
SpanishMyotonic
PygmySavannah
SavannahPygmy
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ADGA recognized◦ Swiss
SaanenSaanen
SaanenAlpineToggenburgOberhasli
◦ Nubian◦ La Mancha◦ Nigerian Dwarf
Other
Alpine
Other◦ Sable
(colored Saanens)◦ Golden Guernsey◦ Mini dairy goats
La Mancha
Oberhasli
Nubian
Toggenburg
Angora AngoraAngoraCashmereMore of a fiber type than a breed
PygoraPygma x AngoraCashgora
g
Cashmere
CashgoraCashmere x Angora
CashgoraPygora
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Pygmy (meat)Nigerian Dwarf (dairy)
KinderPygmy x NubianMini SilkyMyotonic x Nigerian Dwarf ?
Pygmy
Nigerian D f
y g
Mini dairy goats Nigerian Dwarf x standard dairy
Dwarf
There is a great deal of variation among sheepvariation among sheep breeds; less among goat breeds, especially meat.There are no “perfect” breeds.All breeds have strengths andstrengths and weaknesses.There is usually as much difference within a breed as between breeds.
Saanen
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Mating animals from different breeds or
Boer x Kiko x Alpine
breed types.Maximizes performance and profitability◦ Hybrid vigor
Crossbred offspring are superior to theirsupe o to t epurebred parents
◦ Breed complementarityUse breeds in their appropriate roles
If you want to show b di t k
Southdown
breeding stockIf you want to sell purebred and/or registered breeding stockTo produce a specific type of fiber.T dTo produce a consistent type and quality of fiber.To preserve a rare or heritage breed.
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Get pastures and facilities ready before b ing o r firstbuying your first sheep or goats.Start small and gradually increase size of herd.Start with healthy animalsanimals.◦ Ewe lambs/doelings vs.
mature females.Spend more money on ram and buck.
Reputable breedersDispersal salesspe sa sa esPerformance and production salesConsignment salesLocal salebarnFree
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Web-based directorieswww.sheepgoatmarketing.infoBreed associationsBreed associationshttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/goatbreedassoc.htmlhttp://www.sheepandgoat.com/sheepbreedassoc.htmlWest Virginia Shepherd’s Federationhttp://www.sheepwv.org/ MPWV Meat Goat Producers Associationhttp://www.meatgoat.bizWest Virginia Market Bulletinh // i l / k b ll i / k b ll i h lhttp://www.wvagriculture.org/market_bulletin/market_bulletin.htmlVirginia sheep and goat clearinghouse listshttp://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/livestock/Lancaster Farminghttp://lancasterfarming.com
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Business planning
Enterprise budgetingEnterprise budgeting
File a schedule F
Record keeping
Make decisions based on science and economics.
Control costs
Production efficiency
Smart marketing
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.
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Feed balanced rations.
Aim for a 200% (or more) lamb/kid croplamb/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.
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 marketsmarkets.
Don’t let higher market prices compensate for poor production efficiency.
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Thank you for your attention. Any questions? Thank you for your attention. Any questions?