Money Making Livestock for a Hobby Farm

[onthespot]

To the Original Poster, have you googled St. Croix sheep? If I had acreage, I would have some of those. I grew up on the island of St. Croix, where these originated from, and let me tell you, anything from that island is Harrr....DEEEE!!!!! The also have good PR up here in the states and there are enough people who know what they are now that it would help you to market them.

Marketing is the number one thing that you have to be good at to turn a profit at anything. Get good at that, and the rest should fall into place.

 

[blueoval1]

Thanks everyone for all the great replys.

Yes I have googled st. croix sheep and I am very interested in them I have plenty of room for them. Thanks again

 

[willheveland]

Quote:
They are becoming more popular in my area with small herds popping up here and there. (not very pretty though) Will

 

[Beekissed]

I think they are beautiful!!! I am getting two Khatadin/St. Croix ewes in a week or so. The rams are very tall and regal looking with this great mane that hangs down. Easy care animals with proliferant production levels....and so very sweet and docile!

 

[blueoval1]

Hey everyone thanks so much for the replys it has really been helpful.

I think I have decided on St. Croix sheep. I am reall excited about this new adventure. Thanks again

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote:
Did you look at Dorpers?
They are a good meat breed and easy to take care of
And I happen to know where you could find some! LOL

 

[Chick_a_dee]

With sheep, around here it's safe to say that you can expect to make almost zero money on meat sheep, but I think with wool sheep you might clean up at least a little.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Quote:
Did you look at Dorpers?
They are a good meat breed and easy to take care of
And I happen to know where you could find some! LOL
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k238/Bearfootfarm/42976f30.jpg

plus they're so freaking cute

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Things must be vastly different where you are (??) -- in most of ON it is almost difficult to *give* wool away, certainly not going to make any money back after feed and so forth. If you are already connected to a bunch of handspinners/weavers they can be a small audience for fancy-quality fleeces, but you'd have to be lucky and/or an excellent entrepreneur to do more than pay back feed on three or four sheep.

There are people around here who sell freezer lambs but AFAIK it is done as a hobby not for profit.

Varies regionally of course.

Pat

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Quote:
Things must be vastly different where you are (??) -- in most of ON it is almost difficult to *give* wool away, certainly not going to make any money back after feed and so forth. If you are already connected to a bunch of handspinners/weavers they can be a small audience for fancy-quality fleeces, but you'd have to be lucky and/or an excellent entrepreneur to do more than pay back feed on three or four sheep.

There are people around here who sell freezer lambs but AFAIK it is done as a hobby not for profit.

Varies regionally of course.

Pat

Haha yeah it definitely varies. Meat farmers and hobbyists here practically give away their meat sheep ... Wool I think is a different matter though and varies quite drastically because in this area there seems to be a lot of pride in locally produced products and a lot of small small stores offer for sale things like quilts, and the like and people buy it. The cottagers we get love that kind of stuff.