Raising livestock can be rewarding, educational and profitable. Depending on factors like your property size, farm capabilities and experience, some animals may be a better option than others. Discover some of the most profitable livestock for a small farm.
Important Considerations When Choosing Livestock
To achieve the most profitable livestock farming success, you must consider a few important things before getting started:
- Farm size: Some livestock require more land than others. When deciding which livestock would thrive on your property, keep your farm size in mind, especially grazing and foraging areas, as well as water sources and shelter availability.
- Feed: Depending on what livestock you choose to raise, you could be looking at very different diets and nutritional requirements. While some livestock can live off lower-quality pastures, others will need more nutritional support to be healthy and profitable. Feed requirements will factor into the overall cost of caring for livestock, so be sure you know what everything will cost.
- What you can sell: Also, consider what you can sell from the livestock. If you are in a more remote area, it may be harder for you to sell honey or eggs at a local farmers market, for example. Consider the overall logistics of selling the livestock or their byproducts when deciding which animal would be best to raise on your property.
What Is the Most Profitable Livestock?
Whether it’s your goal to sell dozens of eggs at a farmers market or provide farm-fresh meat to local restaurants in your community, raising livestock can be a rewarding experience.
If you’re not sure where to begin, consider six of the most profitable livestock to raise:
1. Chickens
Chickens are among the most popular animals to raise, especially for individuals just starting out with livestock. They are popular because they are both low maintenance and versatile. Chickens don’t require a lot of land to live on. As long as you provide them with a safe covered area, food, clean water and a nesting area, they will feel right at home.
Many different breeds of chickens are available depending on your goals for raising them. Because a healthy hen usually lays one egg a day, farmers can gain a steady income stream by selling eggs to individuals in their community. You can also raise chickens for meat to feed your family or sell for profit. Even their manure can be used as a fertilizer, making them a worthwhile addition to your farm.
2. Cattle
If you have some pasture, raising cattle can maximize the profitability of your land. Cows require more land than other kinds of livestock, but they are generally low-maintenance and lucrative. Even if your pastures don’t have the highest quality forage, you can still raise healthy cattle and profit from them.
Depending on your needs and farming goals, you can choose from different beef and dairy cattle breeds. You can raise cattle for food like milk, meat, butter and cheese or sell their hide to create leather products.
3. Pigs
Pigs are adaptable enough to thrive on both small and large farms. While pigs will need quite a bit of food unless they are allowed to be free-range, they can produce several litters each year, which means you can easily increase your herd’s size and profit.
You can choose from several breeds of pigs depending on why you want to raise them. From meat production to lard, pigs can be a lucrative livestock addition to your property.
4. Goats
Goats are another low-maintenance animal to consider raising on your property. Goats are versatile and can live and thrive in many environments. They consume various vegetation types, making keeping them happy and healthy on your pasture easy. Because they consume all kinds of wood and shrubbery, you can even rent out your herd as part of a lawn care service to clear out properties.
Goats are commonly raised for milk, cheese and meat. Goat milk can also be used to produce various highly moisturizing bath products, like soaps and lotions.
5. Ducks
Like chickens, ducks are another type of poultry you can raise on your property for profit. They’ll easily adapt to smaller farms and do well if they have some shelter and space to forage for food. Because they forage and consume various bugs and larvae, they effectively and efficiently control pests on your property.
You can profit from raising ducks in a few ways. They are often considered a good choice of meat. Ducks also produce eggs that you can sell.
6. Bees
Even though they may not immediately come to mind when you think of livestock, bees can be a valuable addition to your property. Honeybees don’t require much care and oversight to raise them and make a profit. They only need a hive box and a water source.
They can produce honey throughout the year, meaning you’ll have something available to sell year-round. You can also raise honeybees for beeswax and use the wax to make cosmetic products like soaps and items for the home like candles.
Feed Storage Solutions With TAM Systems
Once you’ve decided on the most profitable livestock per acre of your property, turn to TAM Systems to keep your feed safe and secure. No matter what kind of grain you need to store, you must keep it protected from the elements to ensure it remains fresh, flavorful and nutrient-rich.
Our team is here to help you find the proper feed storage for your farm. We have the right solution for your feed storage needs and goals at a competitive price. We also service everything we sell.
Our grain storage bins can handle everything from oats to barley to shelled dry corn. For your convenience, our grain bins have easy-open access doors so you can get in and out without squeezing through or using extra tools. These high-quality grain storage bins also offer weather-tight, single-piece galvanized spun steel lids and high-strength aeration grain bin floors. We also rely on advanced grain aeration systems to protect grain and prevent it from spoiling.
Choose from BROCK® SOLID grain bin models, including Farm Bins for on-farm grain storage applications and two corrugation profiles. We can also create custom solutions for your specific application needs. You’ll be able to design a grain bin that you can customize to meet your specifications.
Browse our solutions today and reach out to receive a free quote.
