This document is a checklist for small ruminant farmers to assess the sustainability of different components of their farm operations. It contains over 30 questions organized under topics like forages, livestock, marketing, economics, and farm management. Farmers are prompted to investigate options for strengthening any components they answer "no" to by referring to relevant sections of a guide on small ruminant sustainability. The checklist is intended to help farmers identify weak links and make improvements to fully utilize resources and maximize profits from their small ruminant farms.

1. A project of the National Center for Appropriate Technology 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org
Small Ruminant Checksheet
Quick Start
By Linda Coffey and These questions are bottom-line questions about components of your farm. If your answer to a ques-
Margo Hale, NCAT tion is “yes,” proceed to the following question. If the answer is “no,” mark the question and investigate
Agriculture Specialists options for strengthening that component by turning to the relevant section of the Small Ruminant
© 2010 NCAT Sustainability Checksheet, which is found on the page listed in parentheses.
Forages
YES NO 1. Inventory (page 8)
   Do you have a grazing system plan that ensures you are grazing in the
most efficient manner possible?
2. Utilization (page 9)
   Do you have the right number of animals on your farm?
   Do you have adequate forage year-round?
   Are you making full use of your available forage?
Livestock
1. Nutrition (page 11)
   Do your animals appear to be lively, healthy, and vigorous?
   Do your animals have appropriate condition (fat cover) for the stage of
production they are in?
2. Observation (page 15)
   Do you check your animals daily?
   Do you know the look and behavior of a healthy animal?
   Do you act promptly when you observe an animal that is not acting “right”?
3. Parasites (page 16)
   Are parasites kept at a level that does not affect animal performance?
   Do you use a variety of practices to reduce and/or avoid resistant parasites?
4. Sanitation (page 17)
   Is sanitation generally good?
   Do you use preventative measures toward all disease on your farm?
5. Predator Control (page 18)
   Are your animals safe from predators?
The National Sustainable
Agriculture Information Service, 6. Reproduction (page 19)
ATTRA (www.attra.ncat.org),
was developed and is managed    Are you satisfied with your lambing or kidding percentage?
by the National Center for
Appropriate Technology (NCAT).    Does your farm depend on a high level of reproduction?
The project is funded through
a cooperative agreement with 7. Breeding and Selection (page 20)
the United States Department
of Agriculture’s Rural Business-  Are you satisfied with the performance of your current breeding animals in the
Cooperative Service. Visit the following areas?
NCAT website (www.ncat.org/
sarc_current.php) for  Number of kids or lambs weaned
more information on
our other sustainable  Weaning weights
agriculture and
energy projects.

2. YES NO
 Milk production
 Health and longevity
   Are your animals suited to your management and your market?
Marketing (page 22)
   Are you selling your products for the best possible price?
   Are you timing production to ensure the best price?
   Are you selling all the products from your farm?
Records (page 24)
   Do you use records for management decisions and future planning?
Economics (page 25)
   Can you make a good profit after feed and other costs are paid?
   If you are selling a processed product, are you being compensated for the
extra time you have invested?
Quality of Life (page 30)
   Is there enough labor available at all times of the year?
   Do the people involved in the care of the animals like to work with sheep
or goats?
Systems Management
1. Timing (page 31)
   Are you timing lambing or kidding in order to make the best use of your
resources and maximize profit?
2. Coordinating Enterprises (page 33)
   Do each of your enterprises bring benefits to your farm as a whole?
   Do your enterprises complement one another?
Conclusion (page 35)
   Have you identified the weak links of your whole farm?
Small Ruminant Checksheet Quick Start
By Linda Coffey and Margo Hale, NCAT Agriculture
Specialists
© 2010 NCAT
Paul Williams, Editor • Robyn Metzger, Production
This publication is available on the Web at:
www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/quickstart.html
or
www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/quickstart.pdf
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