And supplementing your farm's income stream by producing that meat to meet the demands of a seasonal market is one consideration. However, you'll want to think about others as well.
Sheep, for example, can also produce raw wool and wool products, along with milk that can be used to produce personal-care products such as lip balms and soaps. Likewise, goats can also produce milk and cheese. Once you begin to consider this diverse range of products, you may start to think about your would-be seasonal income as year-round.
SELECTING SHEEP
Bobby and Debby Collier of Pikeville, Tennessee, raise Border Cheviot and East Friesian sheep on their 3 Hills Farm (www.3hillsfamilyfarm.com). Bobby is a lifelong farmer and retired agriculture teacher. His profession ignited his interest in sheep.
"I had students that couldn't afford to show steers and cattle because they were not as financially able to do that," Bobby says. "They thought they could show sheep. I thought, 'If I'm going to teach them about sheep, I'm going to need to learn about them myself.' What began as an effort to help his students is now a 35-year background in raising sheep.
Currently, 150 head reside on the couple's farm, located on the Cumberland Plateau. Their business is multifaceted. For example, the couple chose Border Cheviots for the market lamb, wool and wool products side of their business. They also have other products they produce from the tallow of the Cheviots. The milk-producing East Friesians supply the needs of the soap the couple produces on their farm.
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LIVESTOCK Health
Prepare yourself for how to spot symptoms of illness in your farm animals so that you can get them help before it's too late.
CUT FLOWER Farming
If you're considering growing flowers for sale, brush up on these five key things to know before diving in.
WINTER Survival
Keep your land, animals and yourself in good shape this winter with this helpful advice.
COVERAGE CONCERNS
Avoid common insurance mistakes for rural and hobby farm businesses.
FARMER'S GUIDE Berries
Set the stage for tasty strawberries, blueberries and brambles with these soil-boosting garden tips.
Preconditioning CALVES
Follow our step-by-step guide to get more money for your calves.
Soil Conservation
Often, outside of having a specific problem that needs to be addressed, soil conservation isn't something every farmer readily thinks about. Yet conserving the soil should be at or near the top of every farmer owner or manager's list of concerns because absent the prevention of soil erosion, we have the opportunity for another dust bowl.
Year-Round Lettuce & Salad Mixes
It's easy to think of salad greens as just a spring- or fall-garden crop, but it's possible to enjoy freshly harvested lettuces, mustards and more from your own garden year-round.
Barn Improvements
Days are never long enough for a farmer. From dawn to well into the night, tasks arise that often require immediate action. Having to search for tools or equipment is an enormous time waster and incredibly frustrating when you can't find what you need, especially when you know you have it.