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



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



FeedFeedFencingHousing and shelterFeedersWatering systemLabor



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.



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



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



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.



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.



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



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



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



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



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



Classify according Boer y gto purpose . . .

◦ Dairy◦ Meat◦ Fiber

◦ Miniature (small)

B

Boer Kiko

BoerKikoMyotonicTennessee fainting goatSpanish (brush)Pygmy

SpanishMyotonic

PygmySavannah

SavannahPygmy



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



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



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.



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



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



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.



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.



Thank you for your attention. Any questions? Thank you for your attention. Any questions?