#Running sheep with cattle how to#

Many producers choose to breed females to produce lambs or kids to sell for breeding stock or market animals. The intended products will determine what breeds will be best suited for the operation. Sheep and goats may be used to produce meat, wool, fiber, or milk.

This decision should directly reflect the markets a producer has available to sell sheep or goats, and consider the resources available on the farm and the producer's individual goals. The first thing to decide when starting a new sheep or goat enterprise is what type of animals to raise. This fact sheet may be used as a guide for those sheep and goat producers getting started in the industry. Savvy producers will let markets identify the type of animals they should raise in order to generate a profit. Producers also need to consider how they will feed their animals and what health care practices they will use to keep the animals healthy.

#Running sheep with cattle how to#

In addition to managing resources, new producers must ask themselves, What do I need to get started? This question involves considerations for the type of animals a producer wishes to raise as well as where to find these animals, how to select them, and what equipment will be needed for the operation. To raise sheep or goats sustainably, you must manage these resources. Each livestock enterprise has different resources: land, labor, capital, feed, and management. However, there are a number of management skills that each sheep or goat producer should have to be successful. Raising sheep or goats for profit can be a satisfying enterprise.