Can anybody give me info as how to start a goat & sheep Farm.?
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Question by bilene100: Can anybody give me info as how to start a goat & sheep Farm.?
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3 Responses to Can anybody give me info as how to start a goat & sheep Farm.?
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Both the animals are highly vulnerable to stray dogs, snakes or higher carnivorous animals.Hence priority to their safety by giving them proper shelter is important.Next comes cleaning the shelter everyday to safeguard their health and a highly nutritious diet of cereals, grains and grasses is vital to begin with. You can also consult with your local animal and poultry association for specific related to health inspection, permits and business expansion.
Betty
September 20, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Grow up…..make LOTZA money….buy land,feed, fencing barns & stock….
DON”T QUIT YOUR DAY-JOB!
Commander Vimes
September 20, 2012 at 4:40 pm
The first priority is to do as much research as you can about both animals. Use local university extension offices and the internet as sources. I would suggest visiting a working goat or sheep farm first. Responsible breeders will be happy to give you a quick tour of their operation before you buy animals.
If you are still interested after that, you will need to make sure that you have enough space to keep the animals. That area will need to be fenced with GOOD fencing. Goats are curious animals and will test their confines. Chain link, cattle panels, or woven wire are good choices if installed correctly.
Do some research and pick a breed. All of the various breeds have different pros and cons. Make sure you know them and choose the breed that fits your plan.
Depending on you location you will need shelter. You must keep the animals warm and dry. Personally, we have a location to lock ours up at night due to predators.
Make sure you have a source lined up to buy hay and grain. Make sure you have some idea of how much it will cost to feed them and make sure you can keep them fed. If your pasture is small, you will need to buy more hay than if it is large. I would also suggest setting aside an emergency fund for food and medical supplies.
Most importantly, I would suggest starting with one or two goats. We found the learning curve very steep. Many vets do not know much about goats and you will need to do A LOT of your own medical procedures. Expect to give shots, diagnose problems and administer vitamins and antibiotics. You may need to drain and doctor wounds.
Figure out ahead of time what you are going to do with the poop and old bedding straw, it has to go somewhere.
Try the various Yahoo groups about goats. They are a VAST source of knowledge.
Hope this helps.
Coffee_Fueled
September 20, 2012 at 4:47 pm