This document discusses income opportunities from raising sheep and goats. It notes that sheep and goats are ruminant animals with four compartment stomachs that allow them to digest grass and forage. Common enterprises include meat, dairy, fiber production, and landscape management. Raising sheep and goats requires investments in fencing, housing, feeding systems, and labor but can provide economic returns through the sale of animals or animal products. Overall, the document outlines different types of sheep and goat operations and some of the basic requirements and economics of these small livestock enterprises.

1. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
Western Maryland Research & Education Center
sschoen@umd.edu – www.sheepandgoat.com
Introduction
Sheep and goat
enterprises
What you need to
raise sheep/goats
Breed resources
Getting started
Economics
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 1

2. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
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
Sheep
Goats
Cervids (deer)
Camelids (alpacas and llamas)
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 2

3. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Economic
◦ Profit
◦ Tax advantages
Lifestyle – quality of life
Self-sufficiency
produce own food, fiber
Landscape management
Less acreage required
Less investment
Quick return on investment
Ease of handling
Multi-purpose
Reproductive efficiency
Grazing behavior
Niche demand for products
Complement other farm enterprises
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 3

4. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Small industries
Lack of infrastructure
Lack of mainstream
demand for products.
Fencing requirements.
Labor requirements.
Predator risk.
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
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 4

5. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Grazer Browser
Prefer forbs Prefer shrubs
Graze close to ground Top-down grazer
Grow faster Grow slow
Produce better milk Produce more milk
More genetic diversity Less genetic diversity
Strong flocking instinct Curious and
and group mentality independent
(aloof) New and growing
Traditional enterprise industry
SHEEP - ovine GOATS - caprine
Meat
Dairy
Fiber
Landscape management
Agritourism
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 5

6. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Most popular sheep and goat
enterprise.
Primary income is from the sale
of live animals for meat and/or
the sale of fresh, frozen, or
processed meat products.
There is a demand for many
different kinds and sizes of
market lambs and goats.
Primarily an ethnic demand.
A marketing infrastructure is
already in place for meat
animals.
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 dairy products for
human consumption.
Usually requires own product
development and marketing.
More investment required,
but greater income potential.
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 6

7. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Fiber sales comprise a
significant portion of the
income from the enterprise.
Wool (many kinds)
Mohair (Angora goats)
Cashmere
Alpaca
Prices in commodity market
(wool pool) don’t usually cover
costs of production and
marketing.
Must direct market to make a
profit.
Land improvement on
your own farm or
property.
Fee-based grazing
“Turn-key” operation
Animals
Transportation
Fencing
Care
◦ Perhaps, greatest
economic potential ! ?
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 7

8. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Sell stock for trophy hunting or operate your
own hunting reserve. Usually hair sheep rams.
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 8

9. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Feed
Fencing
Housing and
shelter
Feeders
Watering system
Labor
Usually pasture and browse
Hay
Grain
Alternative feedstuffs
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 9

10. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Purpose
1) To keep livestock contained
2) To keep predators out
3) To control grazing and
manage livestock
Three kinds of fencing
1) Perimeter or boundary
2) Interior or cross
3) Heavy use areas
Possible cost share from NRCS
(EQIP program) for rotational grazing.
Multi-strand, high-
tensile, electric.
Woven wire with extra
barbed and electric
offset wires.
Barbed wire
Adapt existing fences.
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 10

11. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Permanent
Semi-permanent
Temporary, electric
◦ Smooth wire
◦ Polywire, tape, or rope
◦ Electric netting
For
Outdoor lots
Holding areas
Working corrals
Materials
Net wire
Metal gates
Solid panels
Livestock panels
High-tensile, non-
electric
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 11

12. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
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
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 12

13. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Maybe not, but if they have access to it, they will
usually use it.
They “appreciate” protection from bad weather.
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 13

14. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
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.
Hand / manual watering
◦ Buckets
◦ Troughs
◦ Tanks
◦ Tubs
Automatic waterers
◦ Possible cost share from
NRCS (EQIP program) for
pasture watering systems.
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 14

15. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Daily care of animals
Twice daily milking
Annual shearing
Pasture management
Lambing and kidding
Parasite control
Hoof trimming
1) Purpose
meat, milk, or wool
2) Use
sire or dam
3) Wool or coat type
fine, medium, long, carpet,
or hair (shedding)
4) Other
tail, prolificacy, minor, rare,
heritage
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 15

16. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
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.
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 16

17. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Romney Grow wool that has the
largest fiber diameter,
staple length, and
yield.
Their wool is popular
among hand spinners
and wool craftsmen.
Lincoln
Best-adapted to high
rainfall areas with
abundant forage.
Grow wool that is
intermediate in fiber
diameter and staple
length.
Excel in meat production
(growth and carcass).
Mostly of British origin.
Most popular breeds:
Suffolk, Dorset,
Hampshire, and
Southdown.
Comprise 15 percent of
the world’s sheep
population.
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 17

18. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Crosses between fine
and medium wool.
Whiteface sheep raised
for meat, but have
better quality wool than East Friesian
the medium meat-type
wool breeds. Columbia Finnsheep
A few specialty breeds Polypay
1. East Friesian – dairy
2. Finnsheep – prolific
3. Polypay – 4 way cross
Hair coats or hair/wool mix. Katahdin
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
Growing in popularity in the U.S. and
other western countries.
Katahdin and Dorper most popular
and suitable for meat production.
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 18

19. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Vary in the type and quantify Blueface
of wool they produce. Leicester
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.
Karakul
Classify according
to purpose . . .
◦ Dairy
◦ Meat
◦ Fiber
◦ Miniature (small)
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 19

20. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Boer Kiko
Boer
Kiko
Myotonic
Tennessee fainting goat Myotonic Spanish
Spanish (brush)
Not really a breed; a type
Pygmy
Savannah
Pygmy Savannah
ADGA recognized
Saanen
◦ Swiss
Saanen
Alpine
Toggenburg
Oberhasli Alpine
◦ (Anglo) Nubian
◦ La Mancha
◦ Nigerian Dwarf
Other
Toggenburg
◦ Sable Oberhasli
(colored Saanens)
◦ Golden Guernsey
◦ Mini dairy goats
Nubian La Mancha
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 20

21. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
3000
2750
2500
2250
2000
1750
1500
1250
1000
750
500
250
0
Source: Breed averages, ADGA, 2008
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
Source: Breed averages, ADGA, 2008
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 21

22. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Angora
Angora
Cashmere
More of a fiber type than a breed
Cashmere
Pygora
Pygma x Angora
Cashgora
Cashmere x Angora
Pygora Cashgora
Pygmy (meat)
Nigerian Dwarf (dairy)
Kinder
Pygmy x Nubian Pygmy
Mini Silky
Myotonic x Nigerian Dwarf ? Nigerian
Dwarf
Mini dairy goats
Nigerian Dwarf x standard dairy
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 22

23. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
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.
Saanen
There is usually as much
difference within a breed
as between breeds.
Mating animals from Boer x Kiko x Alpine
different breeds or breed
types.
Maximizes performance
and profitability.
◦ Hybrid vigor
Crossbred offspring are
superior to their purebred
parents.
◦ Breed complementarity
Balances strengths and
weaknesses of breeds.
Use breeds in their
appropriate roles
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 23

24. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Southdown If you want to show
purebred 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.
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.
◦ e.g. 5x the value of a market lamb
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 24

25. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Reputable breeders
Dispersal sales
Performance and production sales
Consignment sales
Local salebarn
Free
Web-based directories
www.sheepgoatmarketing.info
Breed associations
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/goatbreedassoc.html
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/sheepbreedassoc.html
Maryland Sheep Breeders Association
http://www.mdsheepbreeders.org
MPWV Meat Goat Producers Association
http://www.meatgoat.biz
Maryland Dairy Goat Association
http://www.marylanddairygoat.org
Frederick County Sheep Breeders Association
http://www.fredericksheepbreeders.com
West Virginia Market Bulletin
http://www.wvagriculture.org/market_bulletin/market_bulletin.html
Virginia sheep and goat clearinghouse lists
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/livestock/
Lancaster Farming
http://lancasterfarming.com
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26. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
Business planning
Enterprise budgeting
File a schedule F
Record keeping
Make decisions based on
science and economics.
Control costs
Production efficiency
Smart marketing
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 26

27. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
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 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.
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 27

28. Income opportunities with sheep and goats 3/25/2010
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.
Thank you for your attention. Any questions?
S. Schoenian - Univ. of MD Ext. 28